Information for New Undergraduates 2025

Please make sure you have completed the following:

1. Met the conditions of your offer (academic and financial)
2. Returned the University card form by email to academic.office@some.ox.ac.uk, this can be found, along with other essential forms on this webpage. 
3. Received your Single Sign On account details by email
4. Completed your registration online.

Registration is a two part process: 

1. You must register online when you have received your Single Sign On (SSO). This will come via email from IT Services so please also check your junk mail folder. You will only receive your SSO when you have returned your card form. This process can take a little while so do send your card form back as early as possible.
2. You will then need to enrol in person at Somerville College on your arrival. Please head to the “Enrolment and Arrival” section below to find out what you need to do and what you need to bring with you. 

International students: Before you arrive at Somerville, please upload your passport to our secure SharePoint site and email us your immigration status share code.

• Please upload your passport ID page to our secure SharePoint site. Please title your upload in the following format: surname, first name – Document e.g. Smith, Bob – Passport. You’ll only be able to do this once you have your SSO.
• Your immigration share code: If you have an online eVisa, or pre-settled/settled status then we need your immigration status share code and date of birth in advance of registration.  Please visit this page https://www.gov.uk/view-prove-immigration-status, enter your personal details and you will see your share code. Please email your share code and DOB to academic.office@some.ox.ac.uk and title your email ‘Immigration status share code (undergraduate)’.

Your room in College has already been allocated so there is no need to apply for accommodation. Please visit the accommodation page to find out more. 

Prior to moving, you will need to complete and return your License to Occupy Form – this can be found, along with other essential forms on this webpage. 

UK based students: you will not be able to access your room until you have signed in, collected your University Card and key at the Undergraduate Freshers Arrival and Registration on Sunday 5 October from 12pm to 2pm. 

UK-based Students:  You will directed by the JCR Freshers Committee the Mary Somerville Room in the House building to complete the enrolment process and collect your University card and room key. There will be members of the JCR welcome committee to help direct you. You must arrive during the times specified above.

International Students: After you have picked up your room key at the Lodge, please come to the House building where members of the JCR Freshers’ Committee will bring you to the Academic Office (House 8) to register you. You must arrive during the times specified above. Please bring your passport with you.

All Students: We will need to see your ID (passport or driving license for UK students) at enrolment.

Parking at Somerville: There is no parking available in College for student arrivals. If you have mobility difficulties and require parking, please request this at the earliest opportunity by emailing the Lodge Manager (lodge.manager@some.ox.ac.uk). There are double yellow lines at the front of the College and parking there will be entirely at the driver’s own risk. There is Pay and Display parking on roads near the College, but this is limited.

If you have any queries about parking or unloading, please email the Lodge Manager (lodge.manager@some.ox.ac.uk).

Oxford Park and Ride: We recommend parking at Pear Tree Park and Ride, which is north of Oxford. The Pear Tree Park and Ride Bus is the 300 and is run by Oxford Bus Company. Our nearest stop is the Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, which is about 120 metres from the Somerville main entrance. 

Oxford City Council have more information on car parks and parking spaces on their website. 

UK-based students: on arrival on Sunday 5 October, please come to the Mary Somerville Room where you will be enrolled and will collect your room key. There will also be the opportunity to talk to the Treasury and Housekeeping. 

International students: you will be able to collect your room key from the Lodge on arrival, just before you enrol. Note that if you arrive before Friday 3 October you can collect your room key but won’t be able to obtain your University card or register until 12pm on Friday 3 October.

Arriving early – International Students Only: If you are moving to the UK and need to arrive before Friday 3 October (but no earlier than Tuesday 30 September) please email the Academic Office  academic.office@some.ox.ac.uk and the Housekeeping Dept housekeeping.desk@some.ox.ac.uk.  Please note that you will be charged for vacation residence and there is no catering available until Sunday 5 October.

All new students and their parents/guardians are invited to a welcome tea on Sunday 5 October 2025. Refreshments will be available from 1pm until 3pm in the Margaret Thatcher Centre. Please feel to stop by once you have enrolled. There is no need to book in advance.

In some subjects, our tutors or your faculty will invite students to come up to Somerville early for a pre-sessional course to help to bridge the gap between secondary school and university. If you would like to move in for term immediately once your pre-sessional course has finished rather than go home, please email the Housekeeping Department (accommodation.desk@some.ox.ac.uk). Requests must be made well in advance of your planned arrival at Somerville. Please copy the Academic Office (academic.office@some.ox.ac.uk) into any emails so we know that you will be arriving early.

When you arrive in the UK we strongly recommend that you set up a UK Bank account and register with the College doctor. 

We strongly recommend that you register for a UK mobile phone number when you arrive in the UK. You may experience difficulties accessing certain healthcare services if you do not have a UK mobile phone number. We advise all international students to use a UK mobile whilst studying in the UK so that they do not encounter such difficulties.

Please also note that the weather in Oxford can be very cold and wet in winter, often not rising above freezing. You’ll need suitable footwear for cold weather and a good winter coat. 

The University has a dedicated webpage for international students, including pre-arrival information and links to relevant University pages. 

The College Parents system is organised by the JCR, and is common to many Colleges in Oxford. Your College Parent(s) will probably be in the second year of an undergraduate degree at Somerville, and one of them will be studying the same subject as you. They will be on hand to welcome you when you arrive at College, and they will help you settle into life at Oxford and the Somerville community. 

There will be compulsory College induction sessions on Monday 6, Tuesday 7 and Wednesday 8 October. We will give you a copy of the induction timetable as part of your registration on arrival.

There will also be the opportunity to attend optional events organised by the JCR and Oxford SU.

• Please note that all College and JCR events will have non alcohol beverages on offer.

The Principal will host a welcome dinner in the Dining Hall for all new undergraduate students on Wednesday 8 October. There is a reception before the dinner where both non alcoholic and alcoholic drinks will be on offer. 

Please take a look at the menu here.

This is a formal occasion so you will be expected to dress smartly although gowns will not be worn (gowns almost never feature at dinners in Somerville). To book a place at the dinner, fill in this form: 2025 Freshers’ Dinner Booking Form. The deadline for booking is noon on Friday 26 September 2025. 

Please note that there is no charge for this dinner. 

Matriculation is the ceremony by which you officially become a member of the University of Oxford. It is held in the Sheldonian Theatre and typically sees students from a number of colleges matriculating at the same time. The ceremony will take place on Saturday 18 October 2025. You will be sent further information about this during freshers’ week. You must attend this ceremony unless:

1. You have previously matriculated at Oxford.
2. You hold a degree from the University of Cambridge or Trinity College Dublin. You might be able to incorporate your degree instead of matriculating. Please email academic.office@some.ox.ac.uk if you would like to incorporate instead of matriculate. Please note that the University charges a fee for incorporation.
3. If there is a very good reason why you cannot attend on this date, please let the Academic Office know immediately. Please note that you will be required to matriculate at a later date.

The dress code for matriculation is full academic dress (sub fusc).

Traditionally, the College’s Freshers’ photograph is taken before the matriculation ceremony. Even if you will not be matriculating, please attend the photograph in Academic Dress as it will be a record of your year group. Copies of the photograph will be available to you and your family to purchase later in term. You will be sent further information about this during freshers’ week.

Upon your arrival in College you’ll be able to access the Somerville College WiFI using your SSO and scanning the QR code that will be available around the College. You can also visit https://it.some.ox.ac.uk/getting-connected/ for more information.