6 | Student life and support

A wide range of sources of support is available in your College, at the Faculty, and centrally in the University. Details of the University’s welfare provision are available from the university website, including in relation to mental and physical health and disability: www.ox.ac.uk/students/welfare.

Personal and academic support

Students often face personal problems, which will almost inevitably affect their academic work.. If this is the case for you, you are not alone. It is entirely normal to have issues in your life that impact to a greater or lesser degree on your work.  Your first recourse should ordinarily be to your supervisor(s), but in addition to them, a number of people are available, not necessarily to solve your problem, but to listen to you and advise you on where to turn to for appropriate help.

For welfare issues, in addition to talking to your supervisor, you should first contact your College welfare team, and if appropriate your College nurse, doctor, or other medical professionals, and/or the central University’s Student welfare and support services (see details below). You can also contact Maya Blackwell as the Welfare Lead for the department. She can be reached at maya.blackwell@history.ox.ac.uk. 

Financial difficulty can often be discussed, in confidence, with your College’s senior member responsible for graduates (Tutor for Graduates, Senior Tutor, or Dean for Graduates) and/or a College welfare officer or financial officer. Every college has its own systems of support for students: please refer to your college handbook or website for more information on whom to contact and what support is available.

For academic difficulties, whether or not connected to other problems, you should speak to your faculty-appointed supervisor, and if this is not possible or desirable, your College advisor; for issues related to classes or coursework on a master’s program, speak to your class tutor or strand convenor.

Your College graduate common room (GCR, MCR or JCR in graduate colleges) will provide both social and welfare support (often including peer supporters) as well as intellectual community. Within the Faculty, the officers of the Faculty's Graduate Joint Consultative Committee (GJCC) and of the Oxford History Graduate Network (OHGN)can also provide support through the organisation of academic and social events which bring you together with fellow students. See Section 5 for details.

A range of other services led by students are available to help provide support, including the peer supporter network, the Oxford SU’s Student Advice Service and Nightline. For more information visit www.ox.ac.uk/students/shw/peer. Oxford SU also runs a series of campaigns to raise awareness and promote causes that matter to students. For full details, visit https://www.oxfordsu.org/communities/campaigns/.

The Disability Advisory Service provides specialist advice for students with mental health disabilities, and for students with other visible and/or invisible disabilities, including sensory or mobility impairment, long-term illness or physical health condition, specific learning difficulties (SpLD) such as dyslexia, dyspraxia or ADHD, or social or communication difficulties such as autism spectrum condition. Full information is available at: https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/welfare/disability/aboutdas.  

The University Counselling Service (www.ox.ac.uk/students/welfare/counselling) assists students who are experiencing psychological stress. Appointments can be made either by calling (2)70300 or by calling in person at their offices (3 Worcester Street); you do not need a referral from your GP or anybody else. The office of the Service is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm throughout the year, except for short periods in the vacations which are publicised on their website well in advance.

The University also has a specialist Sexual Harassment and Violence Support Service whose caseworkers provide free, confidential support and advice to any current student who has been impacted by sexual harassment or violence. Details are available at: https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/welfare/supportservice.

Administrative support

The Faculty’s Graduate Office aims to provide advice as well as administration for students on taught Master’s courses and research programmes in all fields of history. Day-to-day responsibility for the running of the Graduate Office lies with the Graduate Officer (see the History Faculty website for details: https://www.history.ox.ac.uk/administrative-staff), who also acts as the liaison officer to the University’s Student Administration Section.

The overall supervision of the activities of the Graduate Office lies with the Director of Graduate Studies, who chairs the Faculty’s Graduate Studies Committee and manages the development and implementation of policy on graduate matters. The DGS also available to offer confidential advice and assistance to graduate students, particularly on matters of teaching, learning and administration, and/or more sensitive difficulties.

Students should use the shared email address: graduate.office@history.ox.ac.uk or call 01865 615001.

There is a wide range of student clubs and societies to get involved in - more details can be found at: https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/life/clubs

“The University of Oxford is committed to fostering an inclusive culture which promotes equality, values diversity and maintains a working, learning and social environment in which the rights and dignity of all its staff and students are respected. We recognise that the broad range of experiences that a diverse staff and student body brings strengthens our research and enhances our teaching, and that in order for Oxford to remain a world-leading institution we must continue to provide a diverse, inclusive, fair and open environment that allows everyone to grow and flourish.”

University of Oxford Equality Policy

As a member of the University you contribute towards making it an inclusive environment and we ask that you treat other members of the University community with respect, courtesy and consideration.

The Equality and Diversity Unit works with all parts of the collegiate University to develop and promote an understanding of equality and diversity and ensure that this is reflected in all its processes. The Unit also supports the University in meeting the legal requirements of the Equality Act 2010, including eliminating unlawful discrimination, promoting equality of opportunity and fostering good relations between people with and without the ‘protected characteristics’ of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion and/or belief, sex and sexual orientation.

Visit the EDU website for further details: edu.web.ox.ac.uk or contact them directly for advice:​​​​ equality@admin.ox.ac.uk.

The Equality and Diversity Unit also supports a broad network of harassment advisors in departments/faculties and colleges and a central Harassment Advisory Service. For more information on the University’s Harassment and Bullying policy and the support available for students visit: edu.web.ox.ac.uk/harassment-advice

There is also a range of faith societies, belief groups, and religious centres within Oxford University that are open to students. For more information visit: edu.admin.ox.ac.uk/religion-and-belief-0