Why Reuben?
As a member of Oxford's newest college, you will have many opportunities to help shape the College’s ethos and activities, creating a diverse and intellectually-stimulating community that addresses the big questions of the 21st century. In that endeavour, you will be supported by fellows and advisors who are world-leading researchers.
At Reuben College you will be provided with an academic experience that complements and enhances your departmental activities, supporting you to engage with a wide range of people across disciplines, professional career stages and types of expertise, including close association with public engagement and entrepreneurship teams. By stimulating intellectual curiosity, facilitating cross-disciplinary knowledge exchange, and placing your academic activities within a wider context, Reuben College provides an exciting and supportive environment for academic growth.
College life is built on a rich programme of interdisciplinary activities, which will enable you to explore the intersection of your doctoral or masters research, or PGCE studies with other disciplines. These activities will largely be organised around our four cross-cutting themes of: Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Environmental Change, Cellular Life and Ethics & Values.
On completion of refurbishment work, the College will be situated in architecturally-renowned buildings close to both the University's central Science Area and the University Parks, and within five minutes’ walking distance of the very centre of Oxford city. Until that time, Reuben will continue its successful partnering with Linacre College, providing both shared and independent spaces for academic, social, sport, music, and other activities.
Accommodation
A large room in an 8 bed cluster at Farndon Court
Accommodation for almost 100 first-year students is provided at Farndon Court, a newly-refurbished complex, which is a fifteen-minute walk from the main college buildings. A mix of studio accommodation, and single rooms in two and eight-bedroom clusters are available, with some accessible units also available. All single rooms share bathrooms and kitchens within small clusters, complemented by a number of large communal living spaces. The building also has excellent Wi-Fi, an on-site laundry, a live-in caretaker, bike storage and a picnic/garden area.
Students not living in Farndon Court can seek alternative options through the University’s Graduate Accommodation Office and associated Advisory Service. This office manages a wide range of accommodation types, as well as the application process through which graduate students can be considered for University-owned accommodation.
Catering
Students at a formal diner at Linacre College
There will be a variety of dining and catering options for students to choose from. Within this, the College will offer weekly dinners each academic term in conjunction with a dedicated Reuben academic talk or guest speaker, as well as student guest nights. Breakfast, lunches and dinner will be offered, on the shared college site throughout the year, along with formal dinners and other celebratory meals.
Until the completion of Reuben College's buildings at 1-2 South Parks Road, we will be sharing a variety of features with Linacre College, including dining facilities. Our Formal Hall at Linacre is hosted every Wednesday night during term time.
Personal circumstances allowing, both students and academic staff will be strongly encouraged to shape the College community through attendance at college meals and dining events. There is no ‘High Table’, and so the fellows and students present eat lunch and dinner together in the communal dining hall.
Library and IT services
On completion of refurbishment work, Reuben College will share its permanent site with the Radcliffe Science Library, the University’s science library, which is situated on the top floor of the college’s buildings. This will allow Reuben College students to benefit from specialist services and the Library’s collections of over 20,000 books on open shelves, as well as e-books for all subject areas covered by the college’s interdisciplinary themes. Until then, Reuben benefits from full access to shared college library and IT facilities (with support from an IT Manager). All College buildings (including residential sites) will have high-speed network connections and access to University of Oxford Wi-Fi services, OWL and Eduroam, as well as printing and scanning facilities.
Sport, music and college facilities
Reuben-Linacre-Nuffield Boat Club rowers celebrating at Summer Eights 2022
You will have the opportunity to participate fully in extra-curricular student life in a college that supports a holistic understanding of health, well-being, and personal growth. You will have access to a full range of sporting, social and recreational activities, either organised by the College or through partnership with other colleges. For example, we partner with Linacre and Nuffield Colleges for our boat club. Many of our students are involved in sporting groups, from amateur levels through to Blues (high-level university sports).
The College has close links with the University’s Gardens, Libraries and Museums, and will in time be co-located with a number of stunning museum collections, accessible to Reuben students through the support of dedicated post-holders.
Facilities for students with disabilities
You will find an inclusive approach to provision for all students. Regular liaison with student representatives, architects and building contractors during the re-development of the main site has ensured that students with specific needs will be able to participate fully in College activities and services. The College is supported by a link to the Jericho Health Centre, two linked advisors from the University’s Disability Advisory Service (one specifically supporting mental health), a link University Counselling Service contact, and a dedicated college Welfare Dean.
The main College buildings will be fully wheelchair-accessible and there are specially-adapted rooms in the Farndon Court accommodation site for students with disabilities. Applicants with disabilities or special access requirements are welcome to contact the College to discuss their individual requirements: both the Bursar and Senior Tutor act as ‘Disability Leads’ for the college.
Graduate Common Room Committee
All Reuben College students are members of the Graduate Common Room (GCR), of which elected student members serve to support the graduate community and represent students on all major College committees. The Graduate Common Room President and their committee advise and support students from the time of their offer of a place at Reuben, to pre-arrival welcome events, and activities across your time at the College.
The GCR Committee leads a variety of social events, which may include book clubs, film screenings, days out or other activities that are developed by and for the students. Students are encouraged to take part in these activities and help facilitating them by getting involved in the GCR committee.
Your first weeks at the College will include an introduction to the diverse opportunities available by way of activities and informative sessions organised jointly by the College and the GCR. These events will enable you to get to know other students at the College, as well as introduce the College’s academic programmes and welfare network. All activities will be organised with sensitivity to diverse cultural backgrounds and to encourage full participation by all students.
