Wellbeing and Welfare
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Brasenose takes student wellbeing seriously. Life at Oxford can be brilliant – and hard work too – so we've built a strong support network to help you thrive here.
Our Welfare Team, student representatives and peer supporters are here to listen, offer practical help, and make sure you can find the right support if you need it.
Our Welfare Team
Our friendly and approachable Welfare Team offers advice and support through any struggles you might face. They’re easy to contact and offer free confidential appointments.
The Dean and Sub Dean oversee welfare provision in College, ensuring you can find the most appropriate person to speak to. Our Junior Deans are your first point of contact for welfare issues overnight and during weekends. The Chaplain can help with any welfare needs too, regardless of religious faith and the Senior Tutor can also be contacted to discuss any concerns you may have, academic related or otherwise.
During term time, the College Nurse runs a daily surgery and can refer students to more specialised support when needed, alongside our College Counsellor, who provides a safe and non-judgemental space to be heard.
Student-led support
Alongside staff support, both the JCR and HCR have welfare representatives who are trained to offer advice, attend College meetings and organise welfare events. Recently, these have included drop-in sessions, welfare teas and doughnuts, dog petting and walking, board games, arts and crafts, mindfulness sessions, sexual health support and yoga.
Our peer supporters are students trained to offer confidential listening and to know when referral to another source of help would be appropriate. They receive regular supervision from the Counselling Service and are coordinated by the Chaplain.
As a new student, you’ll join a College family in the summer before arriving. Second-year students (‘College parents’) will informally mentor and look out for you as you settle into life at Brasenose.
Students with Disabilities
Brasenose works closely with the University’s Disability Advisory Service (DAS) to provide support for students with disabilities and long-term health conditions, and fully supports the University’s Common Framework for Supporting Disabled Students.
Disclosing a disability
The University and the College encourage disclosure of a disability at the point of application. This helps us to prepare for your arrival and to make your transition to university life as straightforward as possible. If you have a disability, it is important that you let us know about it, so that we can provide you with appropriate support while you’re studying with us. We will make every effort we can to make adjustments to accommodate your needs.
University Disability Advisory Service
The Disability Advisory Service (DAS) provides information and guidance so that disability-related study support can be put in place throughout Colleges and University departments and faculties. Over 25% of Oxford students have declared a disability or long-term health condition to the DAS. Their experienced staff can also guide you through your application for Disabled Students Allowance, or other disability related funding.
The DAS also works with the Brasenose Disability Coordinator and the Disability Coordinator at your department to ensure that any required adjustments to teaching and examinations (such as extra time, resources in alternative formats, and scribes to name just a few examples) are put in place for you. They may also create an individual Student Support Plan for you, which can be circulated to all those involved in your teaching and learning, including staff in the libraries and departmental facilities that you use.
Physical Accessibility
The nature of our old buildings inevitably makes access difficult to some areas, but many major spaces in the College, such as the Hall, JCR, HCR, bar, and ground floor of the Library are now accessible by wheelchair. We also have a number of fully accessible rooms with ensuite bathrooms and an accessible kitchenette.
The Brasenose Access Guide is available here: https://www.accessguide.ox.ac.uk/brasenose-college.
If you have any questions or queries, please email admissions@bnc.ox.ac.uk.
Current Students
Please go to the College Intranet for welfare information such as how to book an appointment with our excellent welfare team and the support we can provide for students with disabilities.