Exams: Celebrate SMART

• Stay safe – look after each other, and avoid areas near water, particularly if you’ve been drinking

• Make it green – Celebrate together in ways that don’t damage the environment  

• Avoid Fines - Don’t take part in 'trashing’ to avoid getting £150 littering fines 

• Respect others – Celebrate away from exam venues to respect other students 

• Tidy away – Clear up after your respectful celebrations in consideration of our community and to protect wildlife

Stay safe

Look out for yourself and your friends so everyone has a good time and stays safe while celebrating.

Always stay together with friends and regularly check in with yourself and those around you. Be particularly careful around areas near water. Never swim (even where allowed) after drinking alcohol, or go near areas of water if you have been drinking. Open water can be deceptively deep, hide harmful objects, and pose life-threatening risks, even on the warmest days. You should also never enter water wearing inappropriate clothing or footwear. Further guidance on water hazards is available on the personal safety page. The University’s Security Services are available to support you 24/7 in the event of any issues. In an emergency, always dial 999.

Make it green

Avoid antisocial celebrations and be mindful of our environment.

Wasted materials, particularly plastic, are harmful to animal life, and materials used in this way can find their way into local waterways. There’s no such thing as ‘eco-trashing’: whatever you use still leaves an impact. Minimise waste and protect our shared spaces for everyone in Oxford’s community.

Avoid fines

Join other students who celebrate in ways that don’t make a mess or disrupt others.

‘Trashing’ isn’t an Oxford tradition, it’s anti-social behaviour, and whatever you use, someone still has to clear it up. Littering as a result of ‘trashing’ is illegal and will incur a £150 fine. Instead of wasting food or other materials, you could donate them to those most in need in our community, through food banks or local charities.* Proctors’ Officers and the University’s Security Services will be around the city to keep you safe and issue fines.

*Suggestions of some of the Oxford-based charities you can donate food and toiletries to:

• Oxford Food Hub
• Oxford Emergency Community Foodbank
• The Gatehouse
• Asylum Welcome
• Students can also take part in community litter picks with OxClean, and find tips on keeping green spaces tidy. 

Respect others

Celebrations don’t have to come at the expense of other students sitting their exams.

Keep noise to an absolute minimum in and around exam venues. You must not congregate around the Exam Schools or other exam areas. Be respectful by leaving your own exams quietly so that you don’t disrupt others who are still in theirs. Remember that exams take place in colleges and departments as well as in University venues.

Tidy away

Take pride in keeping Oxford’s shared spaces clean and safe.

If you’re celebrating outside in Oxford’s green spaces, make sure to clear up after yourselves. Broken glass and discarded BBQs kill and injure animals every year. Help play your part so everyone in our community can enjoy Oxford’s shared spaces, with no mess left behind.

Littering is against the University’s Student Code of Discipline. It could lead to disciplinary action and a £150 fine.

Please think carefully when celebrating after your exams, and follow the dos and don’ts: 

Proctors’ Officers and the University’s Security Services team will be present throughout the city centre to help keep you safe and discuss any concerns. Further personal safety guidance and information on being a good safety citizen as part of the University’s EveryDaySafe campaign is available on the University's website.