Offer Holders FAQ
Here are some Frequently Asked Questions that have been submitted by Offer Holders during our live Q&A sessions recently and in previous years. We will update this page regularly during the summer of 2025.
College Accommodation
Q1: When is the earliest time I can move in?
Q2: If I don’t live in college accommodation will I be at a disadvantage for being a part of the community?
Q3: Can I view the floorplan/kitchen of our rooms or have a virtual video tour?
Q4: Will you refund my deposit if I change my mind?
Q5: Can I arrive in college early to familiarise myself with Oxford before term starts?
Q6: Do you operate a waiting list if I apply for college accommodation late?
Q7: Do you have any suggestions for alternative accommodation in Oxford if we have not been successful yet with university or college accommodation?
Q8: What is the policy for visitors at Green Templeton?
Q9: Are meals included in the rent?
Q10: For international students, is it necessary to open an account with an in-person bank, or can we have an online bank account to pay for accommodation and food?
Q11: Where do I collect my keys on arrival in Oxford if I have booked college accommodation?
Q12: Can I extend my college accommodation contract into future years if my course if more than one year?
Q13: Can I stay in my accommodation outside term time in the vacation periods?
Eating in college
Q14: Do you provide meals in college apart from formals?
Career and Professional Development
Welfare, Support and Student Advice
Q16: What do you wish you had known or done before you started your programme?
Q17: What was the thing you didn’t pack from home that you wished you’d brought with you?
Q18: What’s the best way to find support academically during your studies?
Q19: How do you cope with the pressure/expectations of being a student at Oxford?
Q20: Is there any time to settle in before courses start?
Oxford and Green Templeton Life
Q21: As a student on a distance-learning or part-time programme, I will only be in Oxford for short periods. Do you have any tips to how to stay connected to the College and other students?
Q22: Where can I find exact dates of the start of term?
Q23: What sports clubs and societies do you have at Green Templeton and Oxford?
Q24: Is there a LGBTQ+ society at Green Templeton?
Q25: How do I find out about events and opportunities at Green Templeton?
Q26: What is transport like in Oxford?
Q27: Will Oxford be very different from my previous university experience?
Q28: Where can I get academic dress in Oxford?
Q29: What’s unique about Green Templeton? Does the college have any key dates, unique features or nice traditions?
Q30: Can guests use the college library? What other libraries can I use in Oxford?
Q31: Are there any ongoing building works or facilities refurbishment we need to be aware of at GTC?
Finance at college
Q32: Is there any on-course college financial support for study and extra-curricular activities?
Q33: Can I apply for casual/paid work to support my studies while in Oxford?
Student Parents and Partners of Students
Q34:Can partners or dependents of students have access to college facilities or resources too?
Q35: What childcare options are available for my baby?
Q36: What happens if a student parent cannot attend classes because a child is sick? Are the classes recorded for watching at a later time?
Q37: Is it too late to register a child for reception school for the autumn? If not, what is that process?
Q38: Are nurseries free of charge or how much do they cost?
Q39: What if I am unsure of what days I will need for nursery or which nursery will be best? Should I wait to make an application until I’m sure?
Q40: What time are the nurseries open? My course may require evening work.
Q41: How can we get put in touch with different communities?
College Accommodation
Q1: When is the earliest time I can move in?
- Most of our college rooms with the exception of rooms 34 – 42 in Rewley Abbey Court have a license period which runs from 26 September 2025 until 30 June 2026.
- If you need to arrive earlier than 26 September, please contact Green Templeton Accommodation to see if the room is available earlier. If you need to arrive later, you are still liable to pay rent from the beginning of the license period.
- If you are not living in college accommodation then arrive when you can depending on your accommodation contracts. It is best to arrive at least a couple of days before things start (for early-arrivals this is dictated by your course start date, for others on standard course dates this would be before ‘0th week’ (i.e. 6 October 2025).
Q2: If I don’t live in college accommodation will I be at a disadvantage for being a part of the community?
No – a lot of college accommodation is not within the college walls to begin with. What is important is that you become part of the college community which normally happens through coming to its various in-person, hybrid and virtual activities. Where you live does not inhibit your participation in the Green Templeton community.
Q3: Can I view the floorplan/kitchen of our rooms or have a virtual video tour?
We do not have floorplans, but see the accommodation pages for more details on housing. We cannot provide video tours of all the different rooms and houses but this youtube video gives a good overview.
Q4: Will you refund my deposit if I change my mind?
Deposits are non-refundable if you find alternative accommodation prior to moving in, unless agreed by the Domestic Bursar. See the Accommodation Frequently Asked Questions for further information on deposits.
Q5: Can I arrive in college early to familiarise myself with Oxford before term starts?
Only if your room is available. Therefore, please check with the Accommodation Office before you organise travel arrangements, as some rooms will be occupied until the middle of September. We will do our best to offer you an earlier move in date if your course starts earlier in September, but cannot guarantee you an earlier move in date for group treks, personal travel and socials, etc.
Q6: Do you operate a waiting list if I apply for college accommodation late?
Please contact the accommodation office to go on our waiting list if you haven’t already, and they will contact you if a room becomes available in college. Please also try the Oxford University Graduate Accommodation Office, as they may have a room suitable for you and their website also has alternative suggestions. We are not sure how many rooms will become available but it is likely during the summer months that some more rooms will become available.
We will not provide regular updates on the waiting list if there have been no updates specific to your room request but the waiting list is active and if/when college accommodation becomes available relevant to your request, you will be contacted by the Accommodation team. *We kindly request that you do not forward the waiting list link to offer holders and students at other colleges, as this puts additional pressure on the rooms available, and we wish to keep priority for Green Templeton students.*
Q7: Do you have any suggestions for alternative accommodation in Oxford if we have not been successful yet with university or college accommodation?
The Spireworks, Amber, The Mews, North Oxford Property Services (NOPS) is a reputable student letting agency.
If you are considering house shares with others, SpareRoom, Rightmove and the local Oxford Daily Info listings service Rooms to Let – Daily Info | Daily Info are good places to look.
Also, a new Collegiate Accommodation Support Service (CASS) is expected to launch in July 2025. The contact email is: cass@admin.ox.ac.uk. Please note that this service is launching this month so you may not hear anything for a few weeks. The aim of CASS is to provide a platform for Colleges to let their unused rooms to full-time graduate students from other Colleges, and to provide a single point of contact for eligible students who have not been successful in securing accommodation at their own College, or with the Graduate Accommodation Office.
Q8: What is the policy for visitors at Green Templeton?
Visitors to students in single college rooms are currently permitted to stay a maximum of 3 consecutive nights per week in our communal houses and student blocks. In fairness to the other students in communal houses and blocks, these cannot be joined to consecutive weeks – there must be a break between each visiting time period up to the 3 nights per week maximum.
Q9: Are meals included in the rent?
No, meals are not included in the rent for college accommodation. Lunches are available Monday to Friday in the Radcliffe Observatory Dining Room, as well as informal and formal suppers and dinners several nights a week during term time. See the Food and Meal bookings page for more information.
Q10: For international students, is it necessary to open an account with an in-person bank, or can we have an online bank account to pay for accommodation and food?
Yes, we accept many of the major online banking accounts too. We also have a link to CONVERA for making bank transfers for course fees and accommodation deposits but we recommend that once you are here in the UK that you set up a ‘battels’ account to pay on a monthly basis for college meals and rent if you are in college accommodation.
Q11: Where do I collect my keys on arrival in Oxford if I have booked college accommodation?
Our Porters Lodge is open 24/7 so you can collect your key from them to move in any time from the start of your accommodation contract (normally 26 September, unless you have agreed an earlier moving-in date and you have been advised by the Accommodation team that your room will be available earlier). Note that some of our accommodation is not on the main site, so if you are coming with a lot of luggage we advise that you ask your taxi to wait while you collect your key so they can take you on to your accommodation, especially if you are arriving late at night. Some of the self-contained flats at Rewley Abbey Court and St Margaret’s Road may have different arrangements for checking in directly without needing to go to the Lodge first, and you will be advised of this in good time in advance of your arrival by the accommodation team. Please also advise the accommodation team if you are planning to move into your college accommodation significantly later than your stated college accommodation contract start date.
Q12: Can I extend my college accommodation contract into future years if my course is more than one year?
Continuing students will be invited to apply for another year of college accommodation through a college ballot which is normally run in Hilary term (March/April).
Q13: Can I stay in my accommodation outside term time in the vacation periods?
Yes, your accommodation licence agreement runs on a continuous basis, for most rooms from 26 September 2025 until 30 June 2026.
Meals in college
Q14: Do you provide meals in college apart from formals?
Yes, Green Templeton has a good reputation for catering and we offer informal lunches and suppers, and formal evening dinners. Note that currently we do not offer any breakfast or weekend catering and we do not offer evening meals on every weekday evening. You can find out more about opening times, dress code for formals, how to book and pay for meals once you are enrolled, and current costs on the Food and Meal Bookings page.
Career and Professional Development
Q15: What career/professional development opportunities (i.e. relevant career fairs or talks, research conferences) does the college provide for students?
There are a lot of different opportunities for exploring or adding to your career and professional development! Green Templeton is a great college for personal and professional development as there is a whole programme open to Green Templeton students that focuses on additional development outside of your academic pursuits. This will include termly lectures, workshops, and a coaching programme. You will receive further information in later summer newsletters when dates and events are confirmed. We also have a range of student-run academic and pastoral initiatives and it is possible to apply for funding to set up your own. Visit the Student Projects and the Funding for college-based activities pages for further information.
Welfare, Support and Student Advice
Q16: What do you wish you had known or done before you started your programme?
Here are some answers from current students:
- I wish I’d known more about Imposter syndrome and that I was not the only one having those thoughts.
- I wish I’d known how busy term time is. I had these grand plans to travel places during term over the weekends, but there is so much going on you really do not have time to travel out of Oxford – nor will you want to really. Take advantage of the green spaces in Oxford if you’re feeling a bit cramped, and make sure to look into all the incredible lectures and events happening every day!
- Make sure to check your prescriptions and medication with your doctor at home to ensure you can access it in the UK. If not, make sure to bring enough with you. This can also go for medicine you like when you have a cold or allergies that may not be the same in the UK – so you might want to bring it with you!
Q17: What was the thing you didn’t pack from home that you wished you’d brought with you?
- First of all we would advise not to worry too much about bringing too many bulky or heavy practical household items, as there are many local shops and mail order services where you can get most items easily and quickly, catering for a range of budgets.
- However, when thinking about transferring medication to the UK or bringing enough to last with you, make sure to check the UK government advice to see what you need to have with you if you are bringing larger quantities of prescription medication with you to the UK.
- To save on packing space, you could order a bedding pack from the accommodation team to be available when you move into your accommodation.
- If you are able to, purchase some roaming cell coverage so you have a grace period where your phone will still work before you can either get a UK sim card, or you can get on the University WiFi.
- Make sure to bring a dark suit and a white collared shirt or blouse. We will update you later in the summer about academic dress which you will need for matriculation, exams and graduation.
- The UK has a variable climate and we’d advise particularly in the winter months that you have waterproofs/umbrella, comfortable shoes for walking around Oxford and some warm clothes or layers.
- Lastly, if manageable, you may wish to bring something unique and memorable with you that reminds you of ‘home’, for example a picture or small sentimental item, something that is of value to you as a good memory.
Q18: What’s the best way to find support academically during your studies?
- Your department will allocate an academic adviser or supervisor who is your first source of academic support
- There is an incredible amount of further support available to you at Oxford, and at Green Templeton. The Senior Tutor is the college officer responsible for academic support and is available to discuss your studies with you by appointment.
- The university has a counselling service as well as a careers service if you’re looking for career support. The counselling service not only offers 1:1 counselling, but also runs useful workshops and therapeutic groups exploring themes relevant to students, and has a wide range of online resources. There is also the Disability Advisory Service (DAS) who are there to help with any disability or long-term health condition and will work with you to make your Oxford experience the best it can be, including reasonable adjustments to support your assignments, exams and academic milestones.
- You will be allocated a college adviser who can provide general support for your college life and academic journey. If you are in need of support, contact a member of the college welfare team and they will be able to signpost you to the best person to support you.
Q19: How do you cope with the pressure/expectations of being a student at Oxford?
- Recent tips from current students are to remind yourself of your achievements outside of academia. Additionally, trying to have a good ‘work-life balance’ while studying is crucial to ensuring you feel you are accomplishing what you want and still thriving as a person. Make sure you are connecting regularly with friends and family both within and beyond Oxford even if you feel you do not have much time.
- The college Senior Tutor and welfare team are available to you to discuss any concerns you may have about your academic progress and/or wellbeing.
Q20: Is there any time to settle in before courses start?
- This will depend on your course start date. The official term start date this year is Monday 6 October, which is the week before full term begins and in this week there will be inductions, welcome events and a college life fair, as well as induction events put on by your department. Some students, for example MBAs, PGCEs, MPPs, Medics, MFEs and some part-time students may have earlier start dates and we will provide earlier college induction dates for these early starters. Please check the college welcome events link which will be updated regularly throughout the summer. Please ask your department administrator if you are still not sure what date your specific course starts on and need to start planning your travel (your course start date should be included on your first offer letter from your department).
- If you are struggling to adjust, or feel you need some more time, you are not alone! Don’t hesitate to speak to a welfare team member in college about what you’re going through, for example one of our peer supporters or Junior Deans, or if you are comfortable, you can speak to your course director or supervisor.
Oxford and Green Templeton Life
Q21: As a student on a distance-learning or part-time programme, I will only be in Oxford for short periods. Do you have any tips to how to stay connected to the College and other students?
- Join the Facebook group to stay up to date on what is happening in college and community. This is a student run page which includes informal social information, ad hoc events, and other opportunities. It’s also a great way to check in with your peers at Green Templeton as well. You will also be added to all the standard college email lists which will give up to date information on upcoming events.
- Plan ahead and when you know you will be in Oxford try your best to join events offered by the college, this will help you establish people you can keep in touch with when you’re outside of Oxford but will give you a good place to start to build relationships, even if this is just booking in for a college lunch, supper or dinner. You are welcome to use the university and college’s communal spaces and libraries once you are enrolled.
Q22: Where can I find exact dates of the start of term?
You can check the term dates on the university website. However, your particular course may follow a slightly different timeline for deadlines. Check with your department administrator if in doubt.
Q23: What sports clubs and societies do you have at Green Templeton and Oxford? Is there a college gym?
You can find out more about our current sports clubs and societies at college. Of note, we have a thriving music scene including a community choir and Big Band. We have our own gym on site, and a boat club, squash and tennis courts. You can find out more about all the college spaces and facilities for sports, societies and music, and how to book if necessary on our Facilities page. If you can’t find what you are looking for in college, we are very supportive of students starting up new groups if there is enough interest. Our funding for college-based activities and events page gives further information. Throughout the university, there are a huge number of sports clubs and societies available to join if you cannot find them in college. You will be able to find out more at our College Life Fairs and the Oxford SU Freshers Fair, dates and times now available on our college Welcome Events page. This university link gives a fully comprehensive guide to the many hundreds of clubs and societies throughout the university.
Q24: Is there a LGBTQIA+ society at Green Templeton?
We have a LGBTQIA+ student rep who leads college-wide advocacy efforts and collaborates with other colleges to run events! Soon after you start, there will be elections for various student representatives who will work alongside our current Vice-President for Equality and Diversity in the first term. If you have a vision for college policies and programming, please consider running for the GCR when the time comes! In the meantime, you can find out more about recent Equality and Diversity initiatives in college.
Q25: How do I find out about events and opportunities at Green Templeton?
Once you are enrolled and your Oxford email is set up, you will be on a number of regular bulletins weekly during term time, for example the Student Bulletin which will highlight college and university opportunities, and the Catering Bulletin with reminders for booking lunches, suppers, formal dinners and themed events. Additionally, the Graduate Common Room circulates the ‘Grapevine’ which includes social events and student information and you can sign up to the current student Facebook group and term card.
Q26: What is transport like in Oxford?
- Oxford is a small city and manageable to walk around most of the central colleges and departments.
- There are two train stations in Oxford providing direct links to London, the Midlands and Manchester, and the south coast. There is also a regular coach service to London and London airline coach services from Heathrow and Gatwick airports.
- Many staff and students use bicycles to get around Oxford as it is quick, easy, sustainable and affordable. If you are thinking of buying a bike when you arrive, ask around your fellow college peers to see if they have any recommendations – there may even be someone wanting to hand their bike down to the next Green Templeton generation. We have also partnered with Oxbykes, so an alternative is to rent a bike if you prefer. This is also good for the environment, as Oxbykes recondition old bikes to rent.
- Information for disabled students and visitors is available in the Accessible Oxford Guide.
There will be a charity bike sale in college on 24 September offering a good selection of second-hand refurbished bikes. We will provide further details nearer the time. If you are not in Oxford at this time, you can find useful general advice about hiring or renting bicycles in Oxford.
Q27: Will Oxford be very different from my previous university experience?
- The college system is new to many students! The extra layer of support that being a college member provides ensures that you always have access to additional and alternative sources of guidance and community. If you do feel you want to seek additional support from your college, people are always willing to help in any way they can.
- The UK system may be different in terms of grading. Make sure to familiarise yourself with your course handbook (issued by your department) and exam regulations and get to know your Graduate Studies Administration team.
- Postgraduate study requires independence and self-motivation. Getting to know other students on your programme and within your college is an excellent way to share experiences and support each other as you adjust to the Oxford environment. Interdisciplinarity is at the heart of the Oxford experience and colleges like Green Templeton provide a great opportunity to meet students and fellows outside from over a hundred different courses across the university.
- There is also a lot of Oxford specific terminology, check out the Oxford Glossary if you get confused by the terms and phrases!
Q28: Where can I get academic dress in Oxford?
University of Oxford students wear full academic dress at formal ceremonies such as matriculation and degree days. You can find out more about academic dress on the University website. There are several shops in Oxford that can provide academic dress:
Shepherd & Woodward, Walters of Oxford and the Varsity Shop. For convenience, we will provide a link and booking form for you to order the academic dress you will need for Matriculation on 18 October so it can be delivered to college for you before the event, although you are welcome to make your own orders and arrangements if you prefer. We will let you know when the booking form is available later this summer.
Q29: What’s unique about Green Templeton? Does the college have any key dates, unique features or nice traditions?
Every college has a similar infrastructure but its own character led by the community of staff and students. Positive comments from current and former students are the beautiful gardens, an associate membership scheme for partners of students and the spectacular views from the Observatory. Students are invited to lead on an annual Human Welfare Conference every spring. For further information on events embedded in the college year, visit this link: Events Series | Green Templeton College and also our News link.
Q30: Can guests use the college library? What other libraries can I use in Oxford?
The college library is for enrolled students and staff members only. Students also have access to their department and university libraries throughout Oxford once they are enrolled. There is also a vast catalogue of online resources. For further information on the University library system: Home | Bodleian Libraries and for an online tour of the college library: Green Templeton College Library Tour
Q31: Are there any ongoing building works or facilities refurbishment we need to be aware of at GTC?
The new Stephen A. Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities, adjacent to the college, is close to completion and due to open in October 2025. We will continue to communicate through the staff and student e-bulletins with essential updates. For more information about this exciting new development, please visit: Home | The Stephen A. Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities building project
Finance at college
Q32: Is there any on-course college financial support for study and extra-curricular activities?
Yes, we offer funding in the form of Learning Grants and Competitive Conference and Fieldwork Funding to support study-related needs and course-related activities. Support for fast-track language learning and sports-related awards may also be available. Please refer to this link: Funding and Awards For All Students | Green Templeton College
Q33: Can I apply for casual/paid work to support my studies while in Oxford?
The workload for all courses at Oxford is intense; full-time graduate students on taught courses should generally expect to spend at least 40 hours per week during term-time on study-related activity; for research students this is a year-round commitment. Therefore it is not generally recommended to be taking up paid work that will take more than 8 hours a week during term-time and further restrictions may apply to international students on visas. However, there are often casual opportunities at college and throughout Oxford for paid work opportunities, for example as a mentor, student ambassador, teaching assistant or Junior Dean. We cannot say when or where these opportunities may arise, but once you are enrolled you could look at the vacancies sections on the university and college websites, and the local listings website Daily Info often has casual vacancies advertised.
Student Parents and Partners of Students
Q34: Can partners or dependents of students have access to college facilities or resources too?
Yes, we have an associate membership scheme for a reasonable annual fee that gives access to some of the college facilities that students use, for example the grounds and communal rooms, the gym and eating in college. Please refer to our Associate membership page for full details of the current scheme. We expect this to open again for partners of new students at the beginning of full term (early October 2025).
Q35: What childcare options are available for my baby?
Nurseries around Oxford accept children from 3 months of age until ‘reception’ age (aged 5) when they can begin attending full-time school. You can also look at getting a babysitter if you need support on a more ad hoc basis. University Childcare Services has useful information for support with pre-school children.
Q36: What happens if a student parent cannot attend classes because a child is sick? Are the classes recorded for watching at a later time?
This will be down to your individual course, department, and division. We recommend you get in touch with your course administrator to explain your situation and they will be able to advise you on what is available.
Q37: Is it too late to register a child for school for the autumn? If not, what is that process?
It’s never too late as there is always a waitlist you can join if you’ve missed out on a place at the start of the year – there may be places that open up throughout the year anyhow! We do recommend you register your child for school as soon as possible even if you are unsure of your exact situation – it is better to register your interest and information and change it later rather than waiting. Check this link for making a late application to register your child for school: Late application or change of preference – Oxfordshire County Council
Q38: Are nurseries free of charge or how much do they cost?
Nurseries do charge, but the university-associated ones are at a discounted price. Depending on how much time your child attends nursery and which nursery they are attending the prices may differ. Get in touch with university Childcare Services as early as possible to discuss your needs. Government funding is available to help with the cost of nursery fees. All 3 and 4 year-olds in England are entitled to some free childcare per year. Some families may be entitled to up to 30 hours of free care per week, depending on personal circumstances. Check here for more information.
Q39: What if I am unsure of what days I will need for nursery or which nursery will be best? Should I wait to make an application until I’m sure?
We recommend registering interest for a place as soon as possible even if your needs may change. It’s better to be in the system and change what you need than to wait and possibly not get a space.
Q40: What time are the nurseries open? My course may require evening work.
Nurseries are only open during the day, and unfortunately, babysitting costs will have to be fully self-funded, but it’s always helpful to use the community around you for support as well. If you need help connecting with other student parents, get in touch with Caitlin, our Academic Administrator who can help put you in touch with different communities for support and will set up a dedicated mailing list closer to the enrolment period. Former student parents have suggested linking up with other student parents to do exchange babysitting, or seeking childminders or nannies. These may have childcare qualifications of various levels and type. There are several websites for locating these, for example through the council or privately on sites such as www.childcare.co.uk. The University Childcare Services Team works with an out of hours childcare provider, Oxford Sitters.
Q41: How can we get put in touch with different communities?
Green Templeton has a vibrant and active student parent and families network with events each term for families to participate in, especially around holidays. You can keep up to date via a mailing list of student parents coming with children which will be set up closer to the start of term.
