Preparing for life at Oxford Brookes

You're joining the Oxford Brookes community! Find out more about what to expect.

Accommodation

Many students at Oxford Brookes choose to live in halls of residence for their first year and some stay for later years too. We have a selection of halls of residence with different prices and styles of room. Other students, including those based in Swindon, will choose to rent a private house alone or with housemates, or commute in from home. Wherever you live, you are welcome to use the campus facilities and get involved in events.

Oxford Brookes halls of residence each have a WhatsApp group which all residents are welcome to join. Make sure to join yours to find out about events, activities and receive other useful information. You can find out details about how to join when you arrive at your hall.

Finance and managing your money

There are a variety of ways of funding your studies. Many students will apply for student finance to cover for tuition fees and help with living costs. There are also bursaries and scholarships available for certain courses and students in particular circumstances.

If you need some extra advice, the Student Money Advice Team would be pleased to help you. You can book an online appointment with them for advice about the Student Loans Company (SLC), welfare benefit entitlements or anything related. Appointments are available up to two weeks in advance.

Discover your campus

It's useful to get to know your campus as not only will you attend classes here, you can study and socialise here too.

Headington Campus is made up of three sites:

Gipsy Lane - the main site and where many key activities like the Freshers' Fair take place.
Headington Hill site - opposite the Gipsy Lane site, the other side of Headington Road
Marston Road site - approximately 20 minutes' walk or a short bus ride from the Gipsy Lane site

You'll find that people often use the term 'Headington Campus' to refer to the Gipsy Lane site.

We also have a campus in Swindon for nursing courses.

Our maps and campus pages provide lots more information, including PDF maps of all the sites, guides to which subjects are based there, facilities and directions. If you'd like to know specifically which campus and buildings you'll be using the most, you are welcome to contact us and ask.

Preparing for studying

You can find a lot of information about how university teaching and learning works, the different support and development services, and how to develop good study habits in our university Quick Guide. You should receive a paper copy in your university induction but there is also an online version with links to key information which you can access before you arrive if you wish.

University Quick Start Guide

Think Space is an initiative which brings together workshops, drop-ins and social events hosted by a range of departments that are aimed at helping you reach your full potential. Events focus on a wide range of topics including research and writing, wellbeing and motivation, employability, mathematics and statistics and digital skills including use of AI. Think Space events are a great way to meet new people and develop your skills at the same time.

Learn more about Think Space

If you'd like to start your reading early, you can find information and support via the Centre for Academic Development and the Oxford Brookes library. Find your module reading lists, learn about reading academic texts and get help if you need it.

Advice and support for disabled students and dyslexic/SpLD students

The Inclusive Support Service includes a range of specialist advice and support available to disabled and dyslexic/SpLD students and students with long-term physical and mental health conditions. We recommend contacting the team in advance so that they have plenty of time to discuss your options with you. They can put any agreed support in place ready for your arrival. If you think you will need adapted accommodation or assistance on campus, please let the Inclusive Support Team know as soon as possible by emailing inclusivesupport@brookes.ac.uk.

Other options for advice and support

There are a number of different teams, services and support structures available at Oxford Brookes. What would you like to know more about?

Shopping in Oxford

We've put together a shopping map of Oxford for anyone new to the city. This isn't a full list of all shopping options but gives suggestions for good places to try.

The map includes food shops, homeware stores for bedding and kitchen supplies, pharmacies, pick-up points for online delivery collection and more. You can also find cultural food stores including halal butchers.

If you follow a specific diet, such as a vegan or gluten-free diet, you'll find a good selection of options both in large supermarkets and in local health food stores.

Many businesses offer student discounts. We've included links to some of the biggest student discount schemes below. These include business and services all over the country and internationally, so wherever you are based, you should find some great deals.

Travelling in Oxford

Oxford has a huge number of bus routes including the 400 and 100 bus routes which connect Headington Campus to our halls of residence and the city centre. All Oxford Brookes students are entitled to a discounted bus pass for use on most buses and routes within Oxford city. Find out more about discounted bus travel for Oxford Brookes students.

If you'd like advice on bus travel, Oxford Bus Company will be attending the Fair in the Forum, 12:00pm to 4:00pm on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September. You'll find the Fair in the John Henry Brookes Building on Headington Campus.

If you'd like to cycle, there are plenty of places to buy bikes. The Bike Doctor visits campus regularly to offer maintenance and repair sessions.

You can also get around the city quickly and easily on Voi e-scooters. As a student, you will be eligible for a 20% discount on Voi passes and subscriptions. Make sure to read Oxfordshire County Council’s rules and regulations before using an e-scooter.

If you plan to commute into Oxford by car, we recommend using Thornhill or Seacourt Park and Ride as there is limited parking on campus and it is reserved for students with certain permits. You can get buses from the Park and Rides directly to Headington Campus. If you would prefer to travel by train, you might want to get a railcard. These provide you with 1/3 discount on your rail fares.

Please note that in most cases students living in halls are not permitted to bring cars with them to Oxford.

Purchasing a laptop

The University provides computers in laboratories, computer rooms and in social learning spaces for all to use. In addition we have a Windows laptop loan service (Smart Lockers) and Chromebook loans from the Chromebook Cabinets.

Many students also like to bring their own laptops. In most cases, any laptop or MacBook for study use will be suitable for the basic software and platforms that students need to access, such as:

Google Workspace (Gmail, Google Drive, Google Calendar, etc)
Word processing software such as Microsoft Word or Pages
Online platforms such as your Student Information Portal and Moodle
Zoom or Google Meet

Some courses will require you to have a laptop with certain specifications or additional software (i.e. for specialist tasks like video editing or 3D modelling). Your faculty will often provide you with information and advice about this before you start. If not, please feel free to contact induction@brookes.ac.uk requesting advice on purchasing a laptop. Include your course title and we will put you in contact with your course team for help.

Many retailers provide student discounts on laptops. You will usually need to create an account with your student email address, either directly with the retailer or via platforms like Student Beans and UNiDAYS . Provided you've enrolled, you'll be able to access your student email account two weeks before the first week of classes.

Part-time work and volunteering

Lots of students work part-time alongside their studies. There are plenty of opportunities for work both internal to Oxford Brookes and around your city. We recommend speaking with the Oxford Brookes Careers Team. They will be at the Fair in the Forum during Welcome Weekend, plus they will run a workshop all about finding part-time jobs on Tuesday 15 September. The International Student Advice Team will run a workshop on money and employment in the UK on Wednesday 16 September, specifically tailored to international students.

An alternative option to consider is volunteering. This is often a great boost to your CV/resume, but can also be a great way of meeting people, keeping busy and learning new skills. If you think you might be interested, look out for the volunteering workshop during Induction Week or come and speak to the Careers team at the Fair in the Forum.

Societies, networks, clubs and teams

There are a range of ways to get involved at Oxford Brookes. The Brookes Union societies provide opportunities for students with similar interests or cultures to meet and socialise, while the networks represent and bring together students from underrepresented communities. Brookes Sport offer different approaches to sport and fitness, whether you are a casual player or would like to join a team. Whoever you are, there should be an opportunity for you to meet like-minded people and enjoy yourself.

Congestion charge for cars in Oxford

There is currently a temporary congestion charge operating in Oxford, as a way to reduce traffic in and around the city. A map of the congestion charge locations, plus information about charging times and how to pay the charge if you choose to drive through the congestion zone, are available online. The charge locations are also clearly marked by road signs across the city.

View the congestion charge map, charging times and payment information

From Monday 28 September, a traffic filter trial will replace the congestion charge scheme. The filters will operate in a similar way in the same six locations as the congestion charge. The key difference is that car drivers will need a permit (only for residents of Oxfordshire). Anyone without a permit will no longer be able to pay to go through the traffic filters.

If you’re planning to drive to your accommodation or around Oxford when you arrive, please be aware of these schemes and plan your routes accordingly to avoid receiving a fine.