New Students

About St Cross

You may be hearing about the College for the first time, perhaps because the University has made you a conditional offer or for a multitude of other reasons.

So if St Cross is destined to be your new academic home, you will be coming to a College that is unique at Oxford for being egalitarian, international, and inclusive - plus our food is noted as some of the best across the entire University!

Please visit our page About St Cross for more information, though at glance, here are several special features that give the College a distinct character:

  • The College is smaller than the Oxford average, ensuring its members can share in an intimate and friendly community atmosphere 
  • Amongst all the Graduate Colleges in Oxford, St Cross has the highest proportion of professors for the size of its Fellowship 
  • People come to St Cross from all over the world and from a wide variety of backgrounds, and there is a good mix of students on one- or two-year taught courses and those pursuing research degrees
  • Students share facilities with the Fellows on equal terms

https://www.youtube.com/embed/2PyNMH1bSdI

Financial Declaration

As an offer holder, you are required to complete a Financial Declaration in order to meet your financial condition of admission. This aims to ensure that you are fully aware of the expected fees and living costs associated with your chosen course of study at Oxford.

You will be contacted directly if more information is required for your form.

Find more information at the University's Financial Declaration page

Setting Up a Bank Account

The University's page for International students (under Finances and Banking) has detailed information to help you open a UK bank account.

GP Registration

It is strongly recommended that you register with the College doctors, Drs Leaver and O’Shea at the Jericho Health Centre, unless you are already registered with another doctor in the local area. You can do this online in advance of arriving in Oxford at www.campusdoctor.co.uk/oxford/

International students are advised to register with the NHS in order to obtain an NHS number.  

How to access NHS services in England if you are visiting from abroad - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Overseas visitors - Oxford University Hospitals (ouh.nhs.uk)

 

Medical Contact Details once you are registered:

Emergencies: If you have a serious medical or mental health issue requiring immediate attention you should call an ambulance or the police on 999 from any phone.

If you have registered with the Dr Leaver and Partners (as recommended by the College) you can reach them on 01865 311234 (Opening hours: 8.30am – 6pm, Mon-Fri).

If you have non-emergent medical or mental health issue outside of the GP’s opening hours you can call 111 (NHS non-emergent helpline). They will ask questions to access your needs and if necessary book you an out-of-hours GP appointment. 

If the matter does not require medical assistance or the police, call the Junior Deans on + 44 (0)7585 600441, or the Lodge on 01865 278 490.

Vaccinations

Covid-19

We strongly encourage you to take up the offer of a Covid-19 vaccination, ideally before arriving in Oxford at the start of the autumn (Michaelmas) term. If you are unable to receive it before arriving in Oxford international students in the UK are still eligible for the Covid-19 vaccination for free, regardless of their nationality or immigration status. This can be obtained through your GP once you are registered or you can request to book your Covid-19 vaccination appointments as an unregistered patient through a local GP practice. For more information on the Covid-19 vaccine visit the British Council's FAQ page.

Recommended Vaccinations

The University also strongly recommends that you receive the following vaccines before you arrive in Oxford, if you have not already received them:

  • Meningococcal ACWY (MenACWY) if you are under 25 years of age
  • Measles Mumps and Rubella - MMR1 and MMR 2, i.e. the normal two doses
  • Tetanus, diphtheria and polio (known in the UK as the 3-in-one teenage booster)
  • Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine if you are under 25 years of age

Contact your General Practice to arrange this, if necessary. These immunisations should be available outside the UK for international students. 

Find more details at this document dedicated to immunisations. 

Biometric Residence Permit card collection

If you applied for your visa from outside the UK, you’ll need to collect your BRP once you’re in the UK. You must usually do this before the vignette sticker in your travel document expires or within 10 days of arriving in the UK, whichever is later.

Please refer to this government webpage regarding different options for collecting your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) card.

IT

We expect students to bring a suitable computer with them to College, and software should be up to date with all security patches, etc installed. Please read the University's guide to IT equipment  which offers advice on IT and AV equipment, particularly to use the centrally supported software for online learning - Canvas, Panopto and Microsoft Teams.

It provides equipment recommendations, best-practice on using the software options, and advice on set-up. 

Digital Freshers' Pack

With the previous key steps completed, it's time to start preparing for arriving and living in Oxford. This Digital Freshers' Pack includes maps, guides, and a wealth of information about life at the University and across the city. In addition to this digital resource, you will receive a hardcopy Welcome Pack at your in-person College Registration Session. 

Registration Session

On arriving at St Cross, you will meet with Academic Registrar, Sharon Durno, to complete your registration process and issue your student card and welcome pack. Please visit this Eventbrite page to select your preferred date and time.

Matriculation Photos

Matriculation Photos

 

Both the group photo and your individual (portrait) photo from matriculation are now available. Please see below for details on how you can view the proofs and place orders online:

 

Group photo:
Visit the website and log on using the login and password (below) to access the group photo. On the site you will see a proof of the photo along with purchasing options.

Please note that digital copies of the group photo are not available for purchase, due to GDPR (privacy) reasons. You can buy physical copies only. 

Website:  www.gillmanandsoame.co.uk
Proof card login: 416275
Proof card password: 631688

 

Individual (portrait) photo:
Please collect your 'order postcard' from your pigeonhole in the St Cross porter's lodge. This postcard will contain your personal log-in credentials for your individual photo. Both digital format and physical photos are available for purchase.  Once you log in for your individual photo site, you will see that you can also access the group photo.  So you will be able place a single order for both your group photo and individual photo at the same time.

If you have any questions, please contact Gillman & Soame at:
action@gillmanandsoame.co.uk
Tel: 01869 328200
 

Freshers

Once all your conditions have been met, it's time to start preparing for living and studying in Oxford. To help get settled at St Cross, please browse the pages below about resources offered by the College, and register for the Freshers' Fortnight events which take place leading up to the start of term. The below video, Translating St Cross, will help explain some of the Oxford vocabulary and traditions you will soon become acquainted with, as well as those unique to St Cross.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/rzRwMy-X0PY

Useful Links

Starting at Oxford is an exciting time, but it is normal to feel some anxiety about making this move. The Oxford Transition Support page helps to set you up for success at the University.

Here you can find information and advice to help you settle into life as an Oxford student: https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/new

The Oxford University Newcomers' Club aims to provide an opportunity to meet people in Oxford and to help newly-arrived partners of visiting scholars, graduate students and newly appointed academic and administrative members of the University to settle in.

See more information here: https://www.newcomers.ox.ac.uk/

Full academic dress should be worn at all formal University ceremonies including matriculation and degree ceremonies.

Guide to academic dress can be found here: https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/academic/dress

University’s Disability Advisory Service provides information and advice on disability issues and facilitates support for those with, for example, sensory or mobility impairments, long-term health conditions, specific learning difficulties, autistic spectrum conditions or mental health difficulties.

Find out more about what support is available at https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/welfare/disability?wssl=1

One of the essential resources that you will need is the Oxford Glossary.

You can find it following the link: https://www.ox.ac.uk/about/organisation/history/oxford-glossary

Information on the type of visa you require and how to apply before you arrive, also includes advice and requirements for EU, EEA, and Swiss nationals. An explanation about your visa conditions, including working, travel, family visits, renewing, extending, and changes to your student status. 

See more details here.