International Students' Handbook

Dear International Fresher,

Congratulations and welcome to Oxford! 

The OUSU International Students’ Campaign are delighted to be able to share with you the ‘Oxford International Students’ Handbook’. Written by international students for international students, the Handbook gives you unparalleled access to much of the information you need to help make your transition to student life here that much more enjoyable. The Table of Contents is included below for your reference.

The print version of the Handbook will be available to you on your arrival in Oxford. For a web and PDF version of the Handbook, visit www.handbook.oxfordisc.com

Behind this Handbook is a team of international students who have worked hard to make this guide a reality. The International Students’ Campaign (ISC) is one of six autonomous, equal opportunities campaigns of the Oxford University Student Union (OUSU). Staffed entirely by student volunteers, we are committed to representing and improving the welfare of the >6,500 international students from 139 different countries at our University, who make up one-third of the total student body, including 14% of full-time undergraduates and 63% of full-time postgraduates.

Our aims at the ISC are:
International Students’ Handbook

• To represent and voice the problems, interests and experiences of all international students;

• To engage and involve all students on the issues affecting international students;

• To provide support to University societies and International Representatives at colleges in their work on these issues;

• To serve as a unifying forum for discussion and action on them.

As such, our projects focus on improving the representation and welfare of international students across the University as well as celebrating and raising awareness of cultural diversity. Apart from the Handbook, our projects include:

1. Campaign for Representation, which seeks to expand international student representation by proposing the election of international student representatives in all colleges
2. Welfare Clinics, which focus on issues of particular interest and relevance to international students, for example, we recently organised with the University Careers Service a panel on careers and work regulations in the UK
3. ISC Newsletter, which generates awareness about the plethora of events and opportunities with an international/cross-cultural theme in Oxford among the general student population
4. Oxford International Festival (www.oxfordinternationalfestival.org), a week-long cultural extravaganza organised for the first time this year that began with a five-day showcase of international events in Oxford and culminated in a day-long International Fair attended by >500 people

We look forward to working with you and for you. To find out more about who we are and what we do, join our Facebook group Oxford University International Students or come along to one of our open meetings. You can also e-mail us at internationalstudents@ousu.org.

So, welcome again and best wishes, as you embark on the experience of a lifetime.

Xin Hui Chan & Kudrat Virk
Co-chairpersons 2006-2008

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International Students’ Handbook
Table of Contents

1. Adjusting to a Different Country and Culture
2. Arriving at Oxford
3. Finance and Funding
4. Accommodation
5. Academics
6. Social and Leisure Life
7. Shopping
8. Keeping in Touch with Home
9. Transportation and Travel
10. Health and Welfare
11. Careers
∑ Directory of Resources

Website: handbook.oxfordisc.com