Living

We are a relatively small department, so you will have ample opportunities to get to know your fellow students and the members of the faculty during your time here.Student organisers run our annual Connected Life conference which attracts attendees not only from the OII but from across many departments at Oxford, universities across the UK, and elsewhere in the world. Students have also organised group trips to places like Brussels, Berlin, and Barcelona where they have met with policy leaders and industry representatives.

With over 200 student societies across the University, whatever your interests or level (whether sporting, music, politics, journalism, etc.) there will probably be a group of students with similar interests. OII students have been involved as leaders in the Oxford Union, on college and university athletic teams, and in many forms of political and social engagement. Also, many choose to be active participants in college life at Oxford, serving on college academic and social committees and earning positions such as Junior Dean.Students are also encouraged to reach out to the world via social media by posting, tweeting, blogging, podcasting, and sharing their thoughts with the world.

The collegiate system

Oxford is a collegiate university: students and teaching staff belong both to a department and to a college. There are 38 independent, self-governing colleges at Oxford University. The collegiate system is at the heart of the University’s success, providing intimate and multidisciplinary communities, where graduate students meet academics and fellow students from around the world and from a broad range of subjects, well beyond their own fields.

Colleges typically provide library and IT facilities, accommodation, welfare support, and sports and social events. Graduate students also benefit from the Middle Common Room (MCR) in their college – both a physical space and an organisation, it provides social events, advice, and a link to the graduate community.

Your college will have a Tutor for Graduates or Senior Tutor whose role includes general oversight of all graduate members of the college, although your academic studies will be directed by your department or faculty. Each graduate student has a college adviser, a senior member of the college’s staff who will be able to offer support and advice.

Further information is available on choosing a college on the University website, and from college prospectuses.

International Students

Studying in a new country is a major life change, and it can take some time to adjust. Opportunities to socialise with other students, including other international students who are experiencing the same change as you, are abundant inside and outside the department. The University hosts over 400 clubs and societies you can join, many of which are international student groups from various countries around the world. An Orientation Programme specifically for international students is also held each year, which will give you the opportunity to meet with other international students as well as ask questions.

Practicalities

If you are an overseas student, you will require a student visa to study at the OII. Once your acceptance to the OII and University of Oxford is unconditional (i.e. all conditions have been met), you will need to apply for a Student Visa from the UK government. The visa process involves a number of steps. Visit the Oxford Student Visa and Immigration web page for more information.

Studying at the OII is intensive and challenging, whether you are embarking on one of our MSc or DPhil programmes. To help you prepare, you may be interested in registering for the summer Pre-sessional course in English for academic purposes. This six-week course run by the University Language Centre is focused on language proficiency, academic writing and study skills to help you perform your best when the course begins. The Language Centre also offers year-round courses and support for students with English as a second language, as well as training and resources in many other languages.

Information on traveling to Oxford from airports around the UK, opening a UK bank account, registering with a doctor, fulfilling your visa conditions, and much more is available on the Oxford Students website.