St John's College

College facilities

Library and IT services

In 2019 St John's opened a new library and study centre equipped with 90 study seats and multiple seminar rooms. There is also a specialised law library for law students.

Wireless networking is available across College and most of the external housing.  Almost all student rooms also have high speed wired network connections.

There are resource rooms within the college, including one which is for use by graduate students only, located in the MCR, which can be used for study. Most student rooms have network connections. College provides free mono printing (for academic purposes) and paid colour printing is also available. There is a printer just for graduate use in the MCR building. Many teaching and some study spaces have interactive displays which can be used as whiteboards or for showing presentations.

Sport, music and college facilities

Students at St John’s enjoy playing a diverse range of sports within College and for the University, and many of the College’s sports facilities are of a professional standard. The MCR run various teams and sports, specifically for graduates, in addition to those of the college. In College there are two fully equipped gyms, a table tennis room, two squash courts and a croquet lawn. A third specialised gym is used for training by rowers. The large College Sports Ground and Pavilion provides excellent playing, changing and socialising facilities, and on the River Thames the Boathouse is fully equipped for rowers.

St John’s students partake in a lively mix of music and drama events in college. The college hosts regular concerts, has a number of well-equipped music rooms, a joint orchestra with St Anne’s College and a chapel choir. 

The Oxford Alternative Orchestra is also based at St John's.

The College is active in promoting the visual arts, through commissions, exhibitions and a programme of Artists-in-Residence.

St John’s College Chapel welcomes all members of college, and all are encouraged to enjoy the possibility that the Chapel and its services offer for reflection. Members of every Christian denomination, as well as those with no Christian faith, are valued participants in all aspects of Chapel life.

Our Bainton Road Nursery was established in November 2016. It is primarily for the fellows, students, lecturers and staff of St Johns College. Early enquiries are encouraged as there is usually a waiting list. 

Facilities for disabled students

St John’s College is committed to being an open and inclusive community where everyone has access to the support they need to succeed. The college welcomes students with any kind of visible or invisible disabilities and works closely with them to ensure they can participate in college life as fully as possible. Many of the buildings are accessible to those with physical disabilities. There are several accessible bedrooms on the main College site, two of which have access to a kitchen which has been adapted to the needs of students with visual impairments.

Further information about building accessibility is available through the college website. Please contact the College Disability Co-ordinator about any specific accessibility requirements. 

Welfare

The college's Welfare and Wellbeing team support students with any aspect of their life at Oxford. The team is led by the Head of Student Wellbeing who will always meet with students for a “starting point” conversation aimed at supporting them to find solutions and support for any issue they may be facing. The college has a College Nurse and College Psychologist and a dedicated 24/7 online or phone helpline for support with “in the moment” issues which might be causing stress and anxiety. There is a welfare team who support the Main Porters’ Lodge to deal with any issues which arise out of hours and the college also runs a wellbeing activity programme in term time and in most vacations. The welfare and wellbeing team will support students to access college or University services that they need as well as offering tips, advice and support to help them enjoy life and thrive at St John’s.

MCR

The college has a very active Middle Common Room (MCR) committee who organise a wide range of social and intellectual activities for graduate students including guest night dinners, excursions, film nights and bops.

The MCR is located in a modern building which includes a resource room, television room, kitchen and a large function space where many events are held. The international nature of the graduate community and the organisational skills and enthusiasm of the MCR committee ensure that new members are made to feel immediately at home.