Arrival information and processes

This page is for graduate Freshers | Back to graduate Freshers home page

N.B. Executive MBA students will be contacted by Said Business School with details concerning arrival processes and registration.

Arrival in Oxford

When you first arrive in Oxford, if you are:

  1. living in College accommodation: please report to the Porters’ Lodge at Holywell Manor. The Porters’ Lodges (one at Holywell Manor, one at Broad Street site) are the receptions of the College (amongst many other things). The Porters will issue a temporary fob giving you access to your room and then give you directions to your room. Location maps are available below along with maps for the Balliol sites (Broad Street, Master’s Field and Holywell Manor) for finding your way around, and a guide to Holywell Manor is here. The Porters’ Lodge is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so you can arrive at any time. If you arrive after midnight the front door will be locked but you can knock and the Porter will open the door for you. If the Porter has been called away for any reason you can phone the Lodge number: +44 1865 271501 and they will answer from wherever they are.
  2. living out: please see ‘completing your University registration process’ below as well as site maps at the end of the page, for finding your way around, and a guide to Holywell Manor is here.

Completing your University registration process and collecting your University card

Hilary or Trinity Term 2024 starters — From Monday 15 January 2024, you may come into the Balliol College Office to complete the University registration process and to collect your University card, if it has arrived.

N.B. Executive MBA students will be contacted by Said Business School with separate details concerning online registration.

You must bring a valid international passport with you for registration as we cannot register you without one. If you are a non-UK national please also bring your relevant visa or proof of pre-settled status/settled status/indefinite leave to remain (e.g. e‑Visa, share code, BRP (Biometric Residence Permit) card).

If you are a returning Oxford student please bring your current/expired university card with you as this needs to be handed in before issuing your new card.

The College Office is located at Balliol main site at Broad Street (see Broad Street map here): Enter via the Broad Street Lodge, walk through the Front Quad and then Library Passage into the Garden Quad and then turn immediately left and walk to the door marked ‘College Office’. When you enter, my office is straight in front of you, Room 4, Graduate Administrator. 

I will be available Monday, Wednesday and Thursday between 09:0011:30 and 13:0015:30 for registrations. Please do not come outside these hours as there will be no one available to help you. It is worth emailing in advanceto check that your university card has arrived (graduate@​balliol.​ox.​ac.​uk).

In person enrolment/registration needs to be completed by the end of 1st week at the very latest.

Before you come make sure you have started your University Registration online using Student Self-Service (Guide to Student Self-Service).

Enrolment certificate/proof of student status

You will be able to access and print out your own enrolment certificate/proof of student status once you fully complete your registration. The certificate is accessed through your Student Self Service (link to guide above).

There are printers in the computer suite at the Broad Street site and in the Holywell Manor postroom.

To find the Broad Street site computing suite, go into Staircase 3 (III) located in the front quad, follow the stairs down, go through the white door on your left, then follow round to the left. The computing suite has a green door and a ‘Beware Step’ sign on it.

If you need the certificate to be signed or stamped, print out your enrolment certificate, then bring the printed certificate to Genny Teague who is in the College Office (room 3).

Travelling to Oxford

Details on how to get to Oxford are below and here.

Unloading luggage — information for car users: If you are arriving by car, there is no parking at Holywell Manor, but the Lodge has a number of very short stay street parking permits which they can provide for the purposes of unloading. PLEASE NOTE: The agreement with the vigilant Oxford traffic wardens is for unloading only and needs to be completed in 15 minutes — after this time you are likely to receive a parking ticket.

Similarly, cars can unload on Jowett Walk, but there is no actual parking. Paid street parking can be found on Mansfield Road. Both these options may be some distance from your room: please see the maps below for the location of the buildings in the Graduate Centre, including the Master’s Field.

When you report to the Holywell Manor Lodge to check in, the Porters will be able to advise you, according to which room you are moving into.

Disabled students: if you need special parking arrangements, please contact the Graduate Administrator. Information on Oxford parking for blue badge holders is here.

Maps and directions