Sources of support
Information about support available to both students and staff at the University of Oxford.
For students
Emergency contacts: https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/help
Welfare and wellbeing
Help and support is available from central Student Welfare and Support Services, advice is also available from your college, the department, fellow students and the Student Union.
Coffee Ambassadors
Coffee Ambassadors are trained Peer Supporters who provide a diverse team of friendly Oxford University Peers who listen to any and all Oxford University undergraduates, graduates and postdocs from across the university who want a chat. This is done in a series of local networked cafes around the city, providing free coffee, tea and cake over a confidential chat.
Please contact @email
Peer Supporters
Peer Supporters are not mental health professionals, but peer students with additional training. They can listen effectively, communicate sensitively, maintain confidentiality where appropriate, respect boundaries and know when to refer on. College peer supporters are also available in many colleges.
To contact a peer supporter, including specially trained Peers of Colour, Rainbow Peers, Disability Diversity Peers, or Peers of Faiths, please email @email. Find out more about peer supporters.
Oxford Nightline
Oxford Nightline is a completely independent listening, support and information service run for and by students of Oxford Brookes University and the University of Oxford. Nightline is open 8pm to 8am by ringing 01865 270 270 or via IM.
Mental Health First Aiders
If you feel distressed or in need of support and guidance about how to look after your own mental health, or if you have concerns about someone else’s mental wellbeing, please contact one of the department’s Mental Health First Aiders. They have received training to understand mental health and the factors that can affect wellbeing. They will listen to you non-judgementally and confidentially and will guide you to further support.
A list of the department's Mental Health First Aiders.
Every college has a welfare team, which provides support to students including signposting to specialist services when necessary.
Find the contact details for your college's welfare officer.
For appointments and enquiries for the Counselling Service, please email @email. The full contact details for the Counselling Service are:
Student Welfare & Support Services
Counselling Service
3 Worcester Street
Oxford
OX1 2BX
Tel: 01865 270300
Email: @email
Find out more about the counselling and mental health services and resources available.
If you experience or witness discrimination or harassment:
- Contact Arham Farid, the department's Equality and Diversity Officer, for guidance and support
- Speak to a trained harassment advisor who can offer a listening ear and practical advice. Advisors in the department are Bethan Cobourne, Hannah Hughes, Naomi Kraker, Panagiotis Papazoglou and Christoph Reisinger.
- Email the University's Harassment Advisory Service to confidentially speak to someone outside of the department
- The Oxford SU Student Advice Service can provide additional support for students.
All reports are treated confidentially and investigated promptly.
Policies and procedures
- Harassment procedure flowchart for students
- The University of Oxford’s Policy and Procedures on Harassment are available online.
The Sexual Harassment and Violence Support Service provides a safe space, with advisors offering free support and advice to any current student who has been impacted by sexual harassment or violence. All specialist caseworkers at the service are trained to support you at your pace, non-judgementally and in confidence.
To arrange an appointment with a caseworker, please complete an online appointment request or email @email. You do not have to provide any information in your submission regarding what has happened.
Find out more about the services and resources available.
Disability support
The Disability Advisory Service provides information and advice on disability issues and facilitates support for those with, for example, sensory or mobility impairments, long-term health conditions, specific learning difficulties, autistic spectrum conditions or mental health difficulties.
During term time, the Disability Advisory Service provide a ‘drop-in’ service at 3 Worcester Street for short 10-minute appointments for students to talk with a disability advisor. This is available from Weeks 1-8, 1pm-3pm, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
- Support and resources at the Mathematical Institute (including floorplans)
- Find out more about the University's Disability Advisory Service
- Your Disability Support at Oxford (information and lifecycle map).pdf
- Find your college Disability Coordinator
For specific support and guidance:
- Please contact @email or the Disability Advisory Service (@email)
- Mathematical Institute Disability Coordinator: Charlotte Turner-Smith
Networks
Campaign for Racial Awareness and Equality (CRAE) is one of Oxford University Student Union’s permanent campaigns to create a more just and inclusive student experience at the University through action and engagements with racial diversity and difference.
International Students’ Campaign is a student-run organisation committed to representing and improving the welfare of the more than 6,500 international students from 139 different countries at Oxford.
LGBTQsoc aims to provide a safe space for all members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Queer community and is focused on providing welfare and social events for students.
LGBTQ Campaign is the autonomous campaign within the Oxford University Student Union that works in the interests of Oxford’s LGBTQ students. If you would like to be added to the mailing list, please email @email or get in touch with the LGBTQ Officer at @email
Mathematrix is our student-led group in the Mathematical Institute where postgraduates and postdocs discuss and explore topics related to challenges in academic life and being a minority in the maths community. Mathematrix hosts regular events during term-time.
The Mirzakhani Society is our society for female undergraduates. With over 100 active members, the group holds relaxed weekly ‘Sip and Solve’ meetings (aided by high-quality baking), socials and talks. The society is open to both undergraduates and postgraduates.
Oxford Students’ Disability Community is a group of interested students who represent the needs and aspirations of students with disabilities within the University. Their mission is to provide a student-run space for individuals with disabilities and their allies to work towards greater accessibility and access to all aspects of University life.
SPECTRA is the Oxford Mathematics, Humanities and Philosophy LGBTQ+ Network. The Network is open to all postgraduate students and all academic and professional services staff who identify as LGBTQ+ or an ally.
The BIPOC STEM Network is an inclusive group of research staff, academic staff and postgraduates who work within the University’s STEM departments and identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC), or Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME).
The University of Oxford Pride Alumni Network (OxPAN) represents the estimated 35,000 Oxford graduates worldwide who identify as LGBTQ+
Queer Intersections Oxford convenes a diverse, interdisciplinary coalition of scholars, activists, and artists to consider their role in the production of knowledge related to identity, power, and their intersections. The group meets weekly for lectures, book launches, reading groups, seminars, workshops and research lunches.
Oxford University Newcomers’ Club is an organisation, run by volunteers, whose aim is to help the newly-arrived partners of visiting scholars, of graduate students and of newly appointed academic members of the University to settle in and to give them the opportunity to meet people in Oxford.
The Oxford Physics Gender Equity Network is run by a committee drawn from students and staff in the Department of Physics. They organise events and campaigns to promote gender equity in the department.
The Oxford Women in Computer Science Society (OxWoCS) aims to support and promote women in computer science.
Complaints and academic appeals
Find out more what steps can be taken and who the best person to approach would be if you have a concern. Advice and guidance can also be sort from individuals such as a College Tutor/Advisor, Senior Tutor, Supervisor or Oxford SU.
Policies and procedures
For faculty and staff
Emergency contacts: Mental health crisis support
Welfare and wellbeing
Mental Health First Aiders
If you feel distressed or in need of support and guidance about how to look after your own mental health, or if you have concerns about someone else’s mental wellbeing, please contact one of the department’s Mental Health First Aiders. They have received training to understand mental health and the factors that can affect wellbeing. They will listen to you non-judgementally and confidentially and will guide you to further support.
A list of the department's Mental Health First Aiders.
MPLS Resolution Service
The MPLS Resolution Team is a group of internal trained resolvers who have volunteered to support people in conflict. Find out more about how the Mathematical, Physical, and Life Sciences (MPLS) Divisional team can help and the services offered by the MPLS Resolution Service.
Occupational Health referrals
Occupational Health provides a service that promotes and supports physical and mental wellbeing in the workplace; there is detailed advice and guidance on offer, as well as the option for referral to a specialised clinician.
Health Assured Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
A confidential employee service to help you deal with your personal and professional problems that could be affecting your home life or work life, health and general wellbeing. Benefits include counselling, legal information and guidance, financial guidance, and more. Find out more about the University's Employee Assistance Programme
If you experience or witness discrimination or harassment:
- Contact Arham Farid, the department's Equality and Diversity Officer, for guidance and support
- Speak to a trained harassment advisor who can offer a listening ear and practical advice. Advisors in the department are Bethan Cobourne, Hannah Hughes, Naomi Kraker, Panagiotis Papazoglou and Christoph Reisinger.
- Email the University's Harassment Advisory Service to confidentially speak to someone outside of the department
- Staff can use the Report + Support online tool
All reports are treated confidentially and investigated promptly.
The University of Oxford’s Policy and Procedures on Harassment is available online.
Disability support
The Staff Disability Advisor provides information and advice on disability issues and facilitates support including reasonable adjustments and Workplace Adjustment Plans. Find out more about support for disabled staff.
Networks
The BME Staff Network is open to all University of Oxford staff who identify as BME. The group has an email list that acts a confidential discussion forum, and holds various meetings throughout the year, both social and work-related. Membership of the group is kept confidential.
The Disabled Staff Network is for staff with a disability or long-term health condition who work for the University, colleges or Oxford University Press.
The LGBT+ Staff Network welcomes all Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans + Oxford University staff, including OUP and the colleges. Postgraduate students are also welcome to join. The + represents minority gender identities and sexual orientations not included explicitly in the acronym LGBT. The network is inclusive of people with multiple identities, and work collaboratively with the Disabled Staff and BME Staff Networks.
The Menopause Support Network is a safe space for colleagues who are going through menopause to share experiences and information, and find or offer support.
The BIPOC STEM Network is an inclusive group of research staff, academic staff and postgraduates who work within the University’s STEM departments and identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC), or Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME).
The University of Oxford Pride Alumni Network (OxPAN) represents the estimated 35,000 Oxford graduates worldwide who identify as LGBTQ+
Queer Intersections Oxford convenes a diverse, interdisciplinary coalition of scholars, activists, and artists to consider their role in the production of knowledge related to identity, power, and their intersections. The group meets weekly for lectures, book launches, reading groups, seminars, workshops and research lunches.
Oxford University Newcomers’ Club is an organisation, run by volunteers, whose aim is to help the newly-arrived partners of visiting scholars, of graduate students and of newly appointed academic members of the University to settle in and to give them the opportunity to meet people in Oxford.
The Oxford Physics Gender Equity Network is run by a committee drawn from students and staff in the Department of Physics. They organise events and campaigns to promote gender equity in the department.
The Oxford Women in Computer Science Society (OxWoCS) aims to support and promote women in computer science.