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Residency requirements
The University's residency requirements apply to all full-time students. This usually means that students are required to live both within a certain distance from the University (called limits in the regulations) and for a set period of time during their studies (called terms in the regulations).
There are some normal limits and terms which are set by the Regulation for Residence in the University. However, some courses have a different number of terms as a minimum which will be set out in their Examination Regulations.
Residence limits do not apply to students on part-time courses, or to students carrying out approved study abroad, or to DPhil. students who have permission to work away from Oxford.
Undergraduates
In general undergraduate students must adhere to the following rules:
- Limits: reside within six miles of Carfax Tower. However if a student holds the status of Senior Student (please see Regulation for Senior Student Status), or has already satisfied the examiners in a Second Public Examination, or resides in the home of a parent or guardian, they can reside within 25 miles of Carfax Tower.
- Terms: be in residence for at least six weeks of each term of their course. Some courses have a different number of terms as a minimum which is set out in the relevant Examination Regulations. If this is not prescribed in the relevant course’s regulations the standard terms as set out in Regulation for Residence in the University will be applicable.
Postgraduate taught students
In general, postgraduate taught students must adhere to the following rules:
- Limits: reside within 25 miles of Carfax Tower, unless given special permission to work away from Oxford for a period of time (typically agreed and approved by the department).
- Terms: be in residence for at least six weeks of each term of their course. Some courses have a different number of terms as a minimum which is set out in the course’s Examination Regulations. If this is not prescribed in the relevant course’s regulations, the standard terms as set out in Regulation for Residence in the University will be applicable.
Postgraduate research students
Residency requirements for postgraduate research students (PGR) are more flexible than those for post graduate taught students. In general, PGR students must:
- Limits: reside within 25 miles of Carfax Tower, unless given special permission to work away from Oxford for a period of time (typically agreed and approved by the department).
- Terms: be in residence for at least six weeks for six terms over the duration of the programme for full-time students if they have no prior study at Oxford, or six weeks for three terms if the student has successfully completed a Masters at Oxford. The terms do not need to be consecutive. Students applying for an MSc by Research should discuss residence requirements with their department in the first instance as the requirements are different from those for the DPhil.
The DPhil regulations allow boards to approve a student’s residence elsewhere for educational reasons whilst studying.
Any application for dispensation from residence should first be discussed with the supervisor and/or Director of Graduate Studies in order to determine what progress the student can reasonably make on their DPhil outside Oxford. Options such as suspension or extension could also be explored, if appropriate.
Probationer Research Student
Most postgraduate students are first admitted as a Probationer Research Student, unless they are admitted directly to DPhil status having successfully completed an MPhil and are pursuing research in the same field as their MPhil thesis. The General Regulations Governing Research Degrees include the expectation that Probationer Research Students (PRS) are physically studying at Oxford. However, the regulations allow boards to approve a student being resident elsewhere whilst studying. COVID-19 related reasons are acceptable grounds for boards to grant a PRS student permission not to be resident in Oxford while they hold this status. To apply for such a dispensation, new students will need to complete a GSO.8 Application for Dispensation from Residence form, existing students will need to apply using the online GSO.8 form available via Student Self-Service.
Individuals requesting to live outside University residence limits
The Proctors may excuse a student from residing within the specified limits, if there are good reasons why this is not possible. Students should discuss this first with their College, or with their department if they have no college, as they will need support from both the College (where applicable) and department for the Proctors to consider approving a request.
For postgraduate research students only, a distinction needs to be made between students who are not able to study in-person in Oxford for COVID-19 related reasons, and those who are not able to study in-person in Oxford for other reasons. Students in the former category should apply to the relevant board as described in the section above whilst students in the latter category should apply to the Proctor’s Office using the dispensation form below. Students who require dispensation to live a greater distance than 25 miles away from Carfax Tower, but who commute into Oxford, should read the section on living outside University residence limits and apply to the Proctor’s Office using the dispensation form below.
A residency limits application form should be submitted to the Proctors’ Office, detailing the support for the request from both the College (where applicable) and department, along with any supporting evidence.
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