Introducing Oxford
Introducing Oxford
Each academic year we run a programme of welcome for postgraduates new to Oxford.
Joining with partner churches and organisations, we host a sit-down dinner for 300+ students from all over the world, plus offering cream teas with senior academic hosts and speakers, and other orientation events to help you find your feet. And the welcome doesn’t end in October—we organise a year-round programme of day-trips, weekends away, and other social and cultural activities. Drop us a line if you would like to know more. Whether you’ve been here a couple of days or a couple of years, we’d like to help you make the most of your time. The University is consistently ranked among the world’s top academic institutions while the City is one of the most varied and lively communities in the UK.
Each academic year we run a programme of welcome for postgraduates new to Oxford.
Joining with partner churches and organisations, we host a sit-down dinner for 300+ students from all over the world, plus offering cream teas with senior academic hosts and speakers, and other orientation events to help you find your feet. And the welcome doesn’t end in October—we organise a year-round programme of day-trips, weekends away, and other social and cultural activities. Drop us a line if you would like to know more. Whether you’ve been here a couple of days or a couple of years, we’d like to help you make the most of your time. The University is consistently ranked among the world’s top academic institutions while the City is one of the most varied and lively communities in the UK.
International Student Guide to Oxford
If you are an international student who has just arrived in Oxford, the Oxford Inter-Collegiate Christian Union (OICCU) have produced a helpful booklet you can download from the green tab below to help orientate you in your first few weeks in Oxford.
If you are an international student who has just arrived in Oxford, the Oxford Inter-Collegiate Christian Union (OICCU) have produced a helpful booklet you can download from the green tab below to help orientate you in your first few weeks in Oxford.
Christian Community
Postgraduate study at Oxford University is immensely rewarding. Most postgraduates count it a privilege to have lived and worked here and take away fond memories they will retain all their lives.
Postgraduate study at Oxford University is also extremely challenging. Most students experience feelings of frustration, inadequacy and isolation at some point in their course or research.
To make the most of the good times and to endure the hard times, it is essential to have strong friendships and a lively community.
The Oxford Pastorate partners with chapels, societies and, particularly, churches who offer fun, caring community to postgraduates. These are Christian groups but would welcome postgraduates of any or no religious faith.
The University is blessed with an abundance of beautiful chapels and friendly chaplains and all are delighted to receive and involve postgraduate students in their worship and other activities. For a full list of religious provision within the university visit the Chaplaincy page here.
The Graduate Christian Forum (GCF) is the university-registered society for Christian postgraduate students. They meet on Monday evenings. Each week there is a stimulating lecture from a Christian academic and an opportunity for mingling over refreshments. To see their termcard and listen to podcasts of recent lectures visit their website.
Oxford is home to many excellent churches representing the full breadth of Christian traditions and cultures. We would be delighted to discuss your spiritual background and needs and help you connect with whichever congregation best suits you. The Oxford Pastorate is institutionally linked to four Anglican Churches and their senior ministers are all members of our board, the Oxford Pastorate Council. Further information about these partner churches may be found below.
Postgraduate study at Oxford University is immensely rewarding. Most postgraduates count it a privilege to have lived and worked here and take away fond memories they will retain all their lives.
Postgraduate study at Oxford University is also extremely challenging. Most students experience feelings of frustration, inadequacy and isolation at some point in their course or research.
To make the most of the good times and to endure the hard times, it is essential to have strong friendships and a lively community.
The Oxford Pastorate partners with chapels, societies and, particularly, churches who offer fun, caring community to postgraduates. These are Christian groups but would welcome postgraduates of any or no religious faith.
The University is blessed with an abundance of beautiful chapels and friendly chaplains and all are delighted to receive and involve postgraduate students in their worship and other activities. For a full list of religious provision within the university visit the Chaplaincy page here.
The Graduate Christian Forum (GCF) is the university-registered society for Christian postgraduate students. They meet on Monday evenings. Each week there is a stimulating lecture from a Christian academic and an opportunity for mingling over refreshments. To see their termcard and listen to podcasts of recent lectures visit their website.
Oxford is home to many excellent churches representing the full breadth of Christian traditions and cultures. We would be delighted to discuss your spiritual background and needs and help you connect with whichever congregation best suits you. The Oxford Pastorate is institutionally linked to four Anglican Churches and their senior ministers are all members of our board, the Oxford Pastorate Council. Further information about these partner churches may be found below.
St Aldates have three services on a Sunday. On Tuesday evenings, the postgrad community gathers in the Parish Centre (at 40 Pembroke Street) to share a meal, enjoy each other’s company, and participate in prayer, sung worship and a short talk on a Bible passage by a student lead team.
St Aldates also run Forum, a student run conversational group for those who would like to explore the Christian faith in an open, non-judgmental environment. No questions are barred. All views are welcome.
St Andrews has 4 services on a Sunday including Holy Communion, a Family Service, Morning Worship and Evening Worship.
Refresh 20s&30s meet every Thursday evening. After coffee and cake there is a break into smaller groups for Bible study, prayer and mutual encouragement in our walk with Jesus. The meetings are relaxed, friendly, and informal, and always open to newcomers, whatever your previous involvement with the church. During the term there are also socials for both small groups and the larger group.
Meets here for morning and evening worship every Sunday.
There are also small groups and alpha courses running throughout the year.
St Ebbe's has 4 Sunday services, but most postgrads come either for the 6.30 p.m, or (particularly those with families) at 9.45 a.m.
Thesis is the St Ebbe's postgraduate student group. It is a diverse community from over 20 nationalities (including spouses of postgrads). They meet every Tuesday night at 7:30pm during term time in St Ebbe's church for a delicious meal (£3), and Bible study or a talk and discussion. Thesis also runs fun afternoons out, a weekend away in the Cotswolds in November, and seasonal events at Easter and Christmas. Both Christians and those interested in Christianity are equally welcome. For more information please contact the postgraduate student minister, Glenn Nesbitt
Beyond Oxford
Oxford Connections - Macedonia
The Pastorate seeks to enable postgraduates to use their academic gifts and qualifications to serve beyond Oxford. Since 2010 the Pastorate has partnered with St Aldates' Church in running Oxford Connections. Each year 6-12 Oxford postgraduate students travel to Macedonia with Oxford Pastorate leaders. In Macedonia, we support the exciting work of Dr Kosta and Nada Milkov who are Oxford alumni and the founders of the Balkan Institute for Faith and Culture (BIFC) a Christian think-tank using theological insight and dialogue to develop relationships, build community cohesion and work towards the common good for all of Macedonia’s and the Balkans’ peoples.
The week-long Oxford Connections trip focuses on three areas: learning about and praying for Macedonia and its people; cultural engagement (including lots of excellent meals out!) with the different religious and ethnic communities that make-up Macedonian society; and academic engagement, with each participant offering a lecture or paper on their postgraduate research at the state university and in other educational forums.
The next trip will take place in Spring 2019.
Oxford Connections - Macedonia
The Pastorate seeks to enable postgraduates to use their academic gifts and qualifications to serve beyond Oxford. Since 2010 the Pastorate has partnered with St Aldates' Church in running Oxford Connections. Each year 6-12 Oxford postgraduate students travel to Macedonia with Oxford Pastorate leaders. In Macedonia, we support the exciting work of Dr Kosta and Nada Milkov who are Oxford alumni and the founders of the Balkan Institute for Faith and Culture (BIFC) a Christian think-tank using theological insight and dialogue to develop relationships, build community cohesion and work towards the common good for all of Macedonia’s and the Balkans’ peoples.
The week-long Oxford Connections trip focuses on three areas: learning about and praying for Macedonia and its people; cultural engagement (including lots of excellent meals out!) with the different religious and ethnic communities that make-up Macedonian society; and academic engagement, with each participant offering a lecture or paper on their postgraduate research at the state university and in other educational forums.
The next trip will take place in Spring 2019.