Information for New Students

The College's 2026-27 Student Administrative Handbook is available here. Please read this as it contains lots of useful information about accommodation, food, and other services.

What equipment you will need

Please review the University’s guidance about IT equipment for new students.

Computers and printers are available for students' use in the Library. There is a charge for all printing (billed via battels in arrears). All College rooms have wireless internet access through the University network. The College's IT Helpdesk (it-help@spc.ox.ac.uk) can advise on queries relating to computing facilities in the College.

Accessing email, Wi-Fi and other IT services

Once you have returned your University Card form and it has been processed, your Oxford Single Sign-On (SSO) account will be created. You will receive an email with instructions on how to activate this directly to the email address held by the University (usually the address you provided in your application, unless you have updated it subsequently). (Please note that if you have ever had an Oxford SSO before, you will not have a new one created.)

Once your SSO (which will be in the format spetXXXX or similar) is active, you should do the following:

• access your Oxford email address
• set up your Remote Access account and password

Information on the services available, your Oxford email account, and how to set up your IT access, is available on the University’s Getting Started with IT web pages. These pages contain simple step-by-step information to help you access Oxford’s IT provisions. Please note that the College also has an IT service, which is provided by SOCIT and oversees resources such as College printers and College Wi-Fi. More information about College IT is available here.

Once you have returned your University Card form and it has been processed, you will be sent details of your Single Sign-On (SSO). Once you have your SSO you should also complete the University’s online enrolment forms in Student Self Service. This will only be possible after 1 September 2026.

You will need to register in order to attend your programme of study, release your loan from your UK student funding body/sponsor/awarding body, print an enrolment certificate, be eligible to take examinations, and access your results.

As part of your enrolment/registration process, you should complete the University's Harassment and Sexual Misconduct online training course. This will be available from 1 September 2026, accessible using your SSO and should be done before you complete your online enrolment.

Your status as a member of the University is not confirmed until your registration has been confirmed by the St Peter’s College Office team which usually takes place in Week 0 of term, once you have collected your University Card and shown the team your identification documents (see below).

International students requiring a Student visa should read the University's detailed guidance about Student visas carefully.

The date you can arrive in the UK will be the 'valid from' date on your visa confirmation email. This will usually be one month before the course start date given on your CAS, but if your visa is decided less than a month before the course start date it will be seven days before the ‘intended date of travel’ you put on your visa application. You should not attempt to enter the UK before your travel visa is valid, and you must travel on the same passport that you used for your student visa application.

You will need to collect your University Card (often referred to as a 'Bod Card') soon after you arrive in Oxford, because it is a key form of identification within the College and the University. It acts as a key to buildings on the College site. The College Office will run regular sessions in which you can collect your University Card.

UK or Irish students

Please ensure you bring your passport or driving licence (or other photographic ID) with you when you come to Oxford. The College Office team will need to see a form of ID when issuing you your University Card.

International students

Due to UK Home Office requirements, we will need to have a copy of your passport and related information about your immigration status (a “share code”) before you can take your University Card away from the College Office and your enrolment can be completed. We will provide further information about what is required in early September.

To protect yourself and those around you, the University strongly recommends before arriving at Oxford that you receive the MenACWY  vaccination for meningitis if you are under 25 years old, and two doses of MMR  for measles, mumps and rubella.

The NHS is also offering free MenB vaccinations for all students starting university this year. You will need two doses of the MenB vaccine, at least 28 days apart, so it is recommended you arrange your first vaccination appointment as soon as possible.

You should also check that your vaccinations for tetanus, diphtheria and polio, and human papillomavirus (HPV) are up to date.  Where possible, international students should receive immunisations in their home country, including the first dose of the MenB vaccination if available.

All students are required to register with a doctor in Oxford. The College strongly advises registration with the College-connected medical practice Dr Leaver & Partners, who are the College Doctors for St Peter’s students at the Jericho Health Centre, Walton Street. The practice is a 10-15 minute walk from the College; telephone 01865 311234, website www.leaverandpartnersjericho.nhs.uk).

To register with the College Doctors, go to www.campusdoctor.co.uk/oxford/ and follow the instructions. You are asked to complete your registration before you arrive in Oxford.

• Letter for incoming students from the College Doctors
• Information sheet about the College Doctors

International students are advised to consult the University's guidance page for further information about access to UK health services. Student Visa holders can find information about the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) on the University's webpage about Student Visas.

Students living in College-managed accommodation are automatically covered by a Room Contents group insurance scheme provided by Howden Insurance. The annual premium is paid by the College.

The main items covered are:

• Personal possessions in your room up to £10,000 against theft, fire and flood (including walk-in theft)
• Computer Equipment (e.g. Desktops and Laptops) in your room up to £2,500
• Musical Instruments up to £1,000 in your room
• Visual & audio equipment such as televisions and CD or DVD players up to £1,250 in your room
• Mobile phones (forced entry only) up to £1,000 in your room

Restrictions, limits and conditions apply and you should read the full details of the policy to identify what is covered and what is not.

The College’s Policy number is HH1071. You can download an insurance certificate here.

The above group insurance scheme does not cover students living in private accommodation, who are therefore strongly advised to arrange their own cover.

Matriculation (the moment when you formally join the University) will take place on Saturday 17 October (end of Week 1). You must plan to be present for Matriculation on this day - please keep the whole morning free.

Sub fusc: the dress code for the Matriculation ceremony and for University Examinations

You should wear a gown, a mortarboard or soft-cap, and items from the following list:

One of:

a) Dark (virtually black) suit with black socks, or
b) Dark (virtually black) skirt with black tights or stockings, or
c) Dark (virtually black) trousers with black socks

Plus:

Dark (virtually black) coat if required
Plain black shoes
Plain white collared shirt or blouse with sleeves
White bow tie, black bow tie, black full-length tie, or black ribbon.

Undergraduates and Visiting Students should obtain a ‘commoner's gown’. Graduate Students should obtain an ‘advanced student gown’ (also known as a ‘graduate gown’). For further information about sub fusc and gowns see: www.ox.ac.uk/students/academic/dress.

Gowns and mortarboards can be purchased or hired from various academic outfitters in Oxford including Shepherd and Woodward, Walters of Oxford, and The Varsity Shop. For incoming undergraduates, the JCR is running a scheme (for the first time this year) where you can apply to receive a gown and mortarboard donated by a previous student who has completed their studies. Priority will be given to students in financial need: an application form will be added here when available.