Information for New Graduates 2023

The University requires all students to register online at the start of each academic year. Please do this before travelling to Oxford so there aren’t any delays when you arrive.

In order to register, you need to take the following steps:

1. Meet the conditions of your offer (academic and financial)
2. Receive the University card form from your department or faculty
3. Return your completed University card form to the University
4. Receive your Single Sign On account details by email
5. Register online using Student Self Service
6. Collect your Biometric Residence Permit if applicable

If you are a full time graduate student you will also need to register in person at the College. Registration will take place in the Academic Office, which is located in House 8 of House Building. You will need to make an appointment with the Academic Office to complete the registration process and collect your University card. If you are a part-time student or on a distance learning course you can complete your registration process in person or remotely via MS Teams.

If you are on a part-time or distance learning course, we will meet you online via MS Teams to complete your registration. We will be in touch about how to do this in mid-September.

All students must bring their passport with them to their registration appointment (whether in person or online appointment) We will also need to see your visa and BRP or Immigration share-code if applicable– so don’t forget to bring your documents.

• Please note that we cannot register you until you have collected your BRP

To book a slot for graduate registration, please click on one of the following links: 

Graduate Registration

Graduate Registration extra slots (for additional morning slots on 25th to 28th September)

* We will register Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery students separately and will be in touch directly to facilitate early registration for these students.

You should arrive to start your course by 2 October 2023, although please note that some faculties and departments might ask you to arrive earlier than this to complete induction sessions.

When you get to Somerville, you should go to the Porters’ Lodge which is just inside the main entrance on Woodstock Road. They will give your room key and some directions if you are living in college. If you have requested college accommodation, you should receive an email in August with further details. The date you will be able to move in will vary depending on your course and the type of accommodation, so read the email carefully.

They will also give you a temporary access card to use until you can pick up your university card from the academic office. Please check your pigeonhole straight away and collect any post. If you have any questions about graduate accommodation, please email graduate.accommodation@some.ox.ac.uk.

If you have college accommodation please note that parking is limited. 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. We therefore recommend parking at Pear Tree Park and Ride, which is north of Oxford. The Pear Tree Park and Ride bus stops are very close to the College’s main entrance on Woodstock Road. There is more information on the Park and Ride website. If you have any queries about parking or unloading, please email the Lodge Manager (lodge.manager@some.ox.ac.uk).

You will need to upload the following documents: Passport ID page and both sides of your BRP-Biometric Residence Permit if you have one, to our shared access site.

You need to do this before your registration appointment. You will need your Oxford SSO to log in to upload your document.

Click here to upload 

Please title your upload by surname, first name – Document (so Passport or BRP 1, BRP 2)  e.g. Smith, Bob – Passport 

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

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.

If you have an online eVisa, or pre-settled/settled status then we need your immigration status share code and date of birth.   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 us at academic.office@some.ox.ac.uk and title your email Immigration status share code.

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

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.

The week beginning Sunday 1 October 2023 is Freshers’ Week.

During this week, you will be required to attend induction sessions both at Somerville and at your department or faculty. It is essential for your safety and your ability to use the facilities and services on offer here that you attend induction sessions. There will be induction sessions on Wednesday 4 October and the afternoon of Friday 6 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 MCR and Oxford SU.

The Principal will host a welcome dinner in the Dining Hall for all new graduate students on Monday 2 October. It will be preceded by a drinks reception. 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: 2023 Postgraduate Freshers’ Dinner. 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 14 October 2023. 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. You are studying the Advanced Diploma in British and European Studies.
4. You are studying the MSc in Sleep Medicine.
5. There is a very good reason why you cannot attend on this date. If you are unavailable, 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 graduate freshers’ photograph is taken before the matriculation ceremony. Even if you will not be matriculating, please attend the photograph 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.

If your course starts later in the year and you are required to attend a Matriculation in person,  you will do so at a ceremony on either Thursday 7 March 2024 or Thursday 13 June 2024.

Once you have completed the online registration you will be sent an email from Somerville’s IT department with information on how to connect to the Somerville WiFi once you arrive. 

The Academic Office is in House 8 on the first floor of House building.  We can help with matters such as lost Bod Cards, exam and collection queries, awards and grants queries, and other general admin questions. If you have difficulty accessing House 8 you can make an appointment by contacting us at academic.office@some.ox.ac.uk. 

The Academic Office is open on weekdays, 09:00-12:00 and 14:00-16:00.

Somerville also has a dedicated Student Welfare Lead, Jo Ockwell, in House 4. If she is not available, you can talk to the Senior Tutor, the Academic Registrar or the College Nurse.

Further information on the Academic Office, who to contact and their contact details can be found on the Somerville website.

The Treasury is in House 10 on the first floor. It is open on weekdays, 09:00-12:00 and 14:00-16:00.

College Accountant (Elaine Boorman)
Email: college.accountant@some.ox.ac.uk, Tel: 01865 270626

Senior Treasury Assistant (Ian Wooldridge)
Email: treasury@some.ox.ac.uk, Tel: 01865 270625

Housekeeping and Accommodation Manager (Teresa Walsh), Hostel 3
Email: accommodation.desk@some.ox.ac.uk, Tel: 01865 270623

Principal’s Executive Assistant (Alice Tattersall), House 9
Email: principals.office@some.ox.ac.uk, Tel: 01865 270630

Email: ict.desk@some.ox.ac.uk

Tel: 01865 270597

Email: lodge.desk@some.ox.ac.uk

Tel: 01865 270600

Email: catering@some.ox.ac.uk