New Students

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. 

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

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.

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. 

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.

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. 

Eating together is an important part of life at St Cross, and our catering team is proud to offer some of the best food in Oxford. Whether you’re looking for a quick coffee, a weekday lunch, or a formal black tie dinner, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Breakfast

Served in the dining hall Monday–Friday, 8.30–10.30am, choose from freshly cooked classic english breakfast items, as well as a porridge bar with a selection of toppings, as well as pastries, juices, coffees and teas too. A great way to start your day.

Café

Located on the lower ground floor and open weekdays, 10.00am–3.00pm. Drop in for barista coffee, hot drinks, freshly made sandwiches, pastries, and cakes. The perfect spot to grab a snack on the go or catch up with friends over coffee.

Lunch

Served in the Dining Hall Monday–Friday, 12.00–1.30pm, with seating available until 2.00pm. A freshly prepared three-course meal including soup, salad bar, hot main, dessert, fruit, and yoghurt — an ideal chance to eat well and connect with the College community.

Brunch

Served in the Dining Hall every Saturday of term, 10.00am–12.00 noon. Enjoy a relaxed brunch menu with both classic and contemporary dishes, designed to set you up for the weekend.

Hall Dinners

Join us every Tuesday evening during term in the Dining Hall for a themed dinner — a weekly tradition that brings the College together to share good food and good company.

Special Dinners

Twice a term on a Friday the College hosts a Special Dinner where we serve a delicious four-course meal with a drinks reception to start.

Black Tie Dinners

Each term the College hosts two Friday night Black Tie dinners. These evenings offer a chance to celebrate, dress formally, and enjoy exceptional food in the historic setting of the Dining Hall.

How to Book

All meals and events (except Breakfast and Brunch) are booked through the College’s Meal Booking System. To find out how to create your account and how to book meals ahead of the start of term please download the Meal Booking System Guide here.

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. 

On arriving at St Cross, you will meet with the Academic Office Team, to complete your registration process and issue your student card and welcome pack.

Dates and time for registration will open shortly and you will be notified how to book via email.

You will also be issued with your Fresher's Welcome Bag with some St Cross Merchandise to help you feel part of the community.

Date for 2025: Saturday 18 October

Matriculation is a formal ceremony in which you are officially admitted to the University of Oxford. It’s a historic tradition that marks the beginning of your academic journey as a full member of the University — and it’s often one of the most memorable moments of your time here.

The ceremony takes place in the Sheldonian Theatre, in the centre of Oxford, and includes all new students across the colleges. You’ll attend as part of the St Cross College group, accompanied by staff and fellow freshers.

What to expect

The ceremony itself is relatively short and quite formal — but don’t worry, there’s no speaking involved! Students are seated while a few key words are spoken in Latin by University officials. It’s more about the tradition and the experience than anything else.

After the ceremony, many students take the opportunity to explore the city with family or friends and take photos around Oxford in their academic dress.

What to wear (sub-fusc)

You’ll need to wear sub-fusc, the traditional academic dress worn for matriculation and some other formal University occasions. It includes:

• A dark suit, dark skirt or dark trousers

• A white shirt or blouse

• A black ribbon or black tie

• A black academic gown (postgraduate gown)

• A mortarboard cap (carried, not worn, for Matriculation)

• Black smart shoes (no open toes, sandals, or buckles)

• If wearing a skirt: black opaque tights

You can purchase your gown and mortarboard from one of the Oxford academic outfitters (we’ll provide more details closer to the time).

What to bring from home

It’s a good idea to bring with you:

• A plain white shirt/blouse

• Black formal trousers or a black skirt

• Black opaque tights (if wearing a skirt)

• Smart black shoes suitable for walking and standing (no buckles)

You don’t need to bring your gown or cap with you when you first arrive — you’ll have the chance to buy or hire these in Oxford ahead of the ceremony.

More information to follow

Closer to the date, we’ll send you:

• Your exact ceremony time

• Instructions on where to meet the St Cross group on the day

• Details of how to buy or hire your gown and mortarboard in Oxford