Our extensive support network for students at Oxford Brookes University.
Coming to university is a big change - you're adapting to a new place, new people and new ways of doing things. All of this can be exciting and enjoyable but it can also sometimes feel overwhelming. It’s quite normal and it’s okay to ask for support or advice at these times.
How can we help you today?
Everyone will have a slightly different experience at university so our best advice is to contact us directly. We are more than happy to talk you through your first few weeks at Brookes, focusing on the kind of activities and support that suits you the best. However, there are some things that work for nearly everyone, so we recommend considering the following.
Learn about and consider joining Brookes Union societies, Brookes Union networks or seeing what Brookes Sport has to offer. You can invest as much or as little as you want - for instance, you can play a sport casually or join a team.
It can feel intimidating if you have a fairly empty schedule and haven't met many people yet. From August we will provide a calendar of events open to all students so you can find things to do in your free time. Many of these activities are low cost or free and plenty don't involve alcohol, so there is something for everyone. You might also want to consider volunteering some of your time to a local cause or activity through the Volunteer Centre.
As well as all the support at Brookes, there are some really useful external resources available. Student Minds is excellent for helping you manage the transition to university while looking after your mental health. If you'd like to work on your cooking, take a look at the Student Food Project.
Lots of people in your faculty are invested in your success, from your Academic Adviser to your Student Support Coordinator. Once you've met them as part of your course induction, make sure to check in with them if you need to.
Lastly, while it's great to talk to family and/or friends from home, doing it too much can make you feel more isolated. It's important to also set aside time to immerse yourself in Oxford life and meet new people.
The International Student Advice Team (ISAT) offer lots of support for international students, from visa advice to social events. They run the Global Buddies programme, offer accommodation meet and greets, and provide practical guidance for living in Oxford. We recommend all international students read about the services they offer.
During the induction period they will run an International Students Welcome Session and a selection of useful workshops to help you adapt to life in the UK.
Find out how to meet or contact the International Student Advice Team
Other useful resources include:
Oxford Brookes is proud to have a vibrant LGBTQ+ student community and is a Stonewall Diversity Champion. There are a variety of options for support including a peer support group for trans and gender non-conforming students and the LGBTQ+ student network.
There is dedicated support at Brookes for mature students including advice on topics such as finance, child care and academic support. You are also very welcome to join the mature students' network for peer support and socialising.
The Inclusive Support Service provides advice and support for disabled students. This includes specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, dyspraxia/DCD, attention deficit disorder and dyscalculia, autistic spectrum conditions and long-term physical and mental health conditions. They are happy to discuss with you the options for support at university, from your studies to your accommodation. We recommend getting in contact with them as early as you can, to ensure that the right support is in place ready for when you start at Brookes. It's worth contacting them even after you arrive though as there is still plenty they may be able to help you with.
Read more about the Inclusive Support Service
During Induction Week there will be regular online and in-person drop-in sessions with the Inclusive Support Service. Anyone can join these sessions. You can find these on the events calendar from 13 August onwards.
Other useful resources include:
We want to make sure student carers get the most out of their time at Oxford Brookes and have full access to all our support services. We have a dedicated student welfare adviser who works with student carers to agree the best support plan for you. We also offer a bursary for young carers subject to eligibility.
We understand that you may require some extra support if you are coming to university from care. We have a dedicated student welfare adviser who can work with you to agree the most appropriate support plan. There are also practical services we can offer, such as bursaries (subject to eligibility) and guaranteed 52-week accommodation.
We understand that you may require some extra support if you are estranged from your parent/s or guardian/s. We have a dedicated student welfare adviser who can work with you to agree the most appropriate support plan. There are also practical services we can offer, such as bursaries (subject to eligibility) and guaranteed 52-week accommodation.
Starting university involves many new experiences, and involves navigating processes, systems and even language that will be unfamiliar to you. To help with this, the Centre for Academic Development has produced the Oxford Brookes Quick Start Guide.
The Quick Start Guide can be used as a glossary of university terminology, which can be really helpful if there is an issue you would like to explore but you are not sure who to talk to about it. It will explain who does what within the University, how your coursework is assessed, what the difference is between a Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor and much more. The Quick Start Guide is designed to help you understand how university works and, therefore, how you can make the most of the opportunities waiting for you at Oxford Brookes University.
A link to the guide will be added here once the 2025/26 edition is published. In the meantime, learn more about how the Centre for Academic Development can help you.
During Induction Week there will be part-time jobs workshops running to help get you started. There are often specific workshops for international students looking for part-time jobs too. More details will be available on our events calendar from Wednesday 13 September.
You can also visit the Oxford Brookes Careers website to find out what help is available. As well as the Brookes Job Shop, the Careers team offer useful advice and guidance on topics such as CVs, applications and interviews.
You might also want to consider volunteering. It's great experience for your future career and can be a brilliant way of meeting others and filling your time, plus you might learn some new skills. Find out more about volunteering.
We recommend taking a look at the University's guide to living costs which includes topics like:
Other useful resources include:
It’s not unusual to be thinking about safety in a new environment, especially if you are moving away from home. Oxford generally ranks high on the list of safe university cities, but it’s still good to know about the things you can do to keep yourself safe, plus who can help you if you need it.
Calling for help
Here are the security contact details - please add them as contacts.
Students in halls of residence
Each hall has an on-site residence manager and hall supervisors. There is support on-site through the night too, and our hall staff are experienced at making new students feel at home. Your hall team can give you the right contact numbers to call if you need help out of office hours - these may be on display in your kitchen or hallway, or available in the hall office. Make sure to save them as contacts in case you need them any time.
All students
The Nightsafe Oxford Network is designed to help people feel safe in Oxford at night. We also have a University-wide security team. They offer plenty of useful information including a short video about personal security and advice on how to stay safe during nights out.
Sexual consent
Oxford Brookes is an inclusive, safe and respectful university. There’s no place for sexual violence or abuse here. We expect all Oxford Brookes students to play their part in building an inclusive, safe and respectful campus by engaging with our sexual consent education course. You will be asked to complete this from August onwards. The course is mandatory, but you can opt out if the content may prove challenging or upsetting to you. We encourage you to take a look at the information and support available if possible.
There are a range of different resources and teams that can assist you in maintaining good mental health and/or help you if you are struggling.
If you are unsure who to contact or wish to talk to someone about your support needs, use the student support contact form. The Student Support Services Team aims to reply within three working days of receiving your form. If you need help filling in the form, or if you cannot access it, please contact studentsupportservices@brookes.ac.uk.
The Multifaith Chaplaincy is here to offer companionship and spiritual care to all members of the University. They offer a range of events including regular worship and religious services and social events. You don't have to be religious to join their social events - everyone is welcome. They also offer pastoral care and a safe place to talk. If you are looking to meet new people, they run Student Connect, a service to put you in touch with like-minded people.
The first few weeks of university can be a lot to handle. If you need to take a break somewhere away from all the activity, we recommend the following:
The Sensory Space
JHB 1.07, Library Wellbeing Zone, Headington Campus
Monday to Friday 8am-6pm
Rooms for prayer or quiet reflection
Prayer/quiet room, ground floor of the Buckley Building, Headington Campus
Prayer room, G.42, Marston Road site
Quiet room, 1.63, Marston Road site
Headington Hill Park (quiet and leafy with places to sit)
Head down Headington Road in the direction of Oxford city centre. It will be on your right before you reach the bottom of the hill.