Computing/IT Services

Every College has its own IT staff and computer facilities, and many have student IT officers too. These should usually be your first port of call with computer problems. Some faculties and departments also have IT staff.

The central Computing Services (OUCS) also offer a range of services and support, outlined on their website. These services include various induction and training programmes and support for individuals with computer problems. OUCS is located on Banbury Road.

Email is the main form of communication within the University, and so it is important to get started with your email as quickly as possible. Any University emails will be sent to your Oxford email - only a very few Colleges or Departments would ever email current students using another email account. Email at Oxford follows the following format: firstname.lastname@college/dept.ox.ac.uk You can search for current students and staff at the University to get their email address here. For new students, you should receive information about your email account (which will already be set up) with your username (following the format abcd1234) and password on arrival -  login at https://webmail.ox.ac.uk

Some departments/faculties use weblearn as a place to store information and reources. Accessing any password-protected parts of weblearn requires the same username and password as your email.

You can connect your own computer to the University's ethernet and through that access very fast internet and all the pages of the University's website which are Oxford only (e.g. exam past papers) in University or College rooms. Find out more about this from your College IT staff - there will be strict requirements about anti-virus software, for intance). OUCS outlines how to access the University's network internally and from outside on this page.