Introducing Oxford SU's Student Advice service

I’ve worked as a Student Adviser in Oxford SU part time since July 2024 and full time since October 2024. A large part of my role involves giving students independent 1:1 support through any collegiate university process, from responding to a misconduct allegation to submitting a mitigating circumstances application. We offer advice via email or appointment, attend formal and informal meetings with students and can check over a copy of their statement and/or evidence prior to submission. I also help use the insights gathered from this casework to support Oxford SU’s Sabbatical Officers in representing the student voice at University and Conference of Colleges committees and contributing to collegiate University policy work.

Since graduating in 2017, I’ve worked primarily in Students’ Unions with a focus on empowering and supporting students in a variety of different roles. My first role was as a Student Adviser, before switching over to leading the SU’s training provision, then supporting student-led democracy before returning to Student Advice. Most recently I’ve been co-manager of Kings College London Students’ Union Advice Team, a Wellbeing Adviser within a University and led interim capacity support for SU Advice Services at a consultancy company before starting full time at Oxford SU. Outside of work, I’m currently studying for my MSc in Mental Health.  

We’re working on a big overhaul of the Oxford SU website so that more information and advice is available for students to ‘self-serve’ to allow us to focus on providing more in-depth guidance to those who have complex circumstances or accessibility needs in accessing our support. 

I love feeling like I’ve made a difference – for example where a student’s been facing something really daunting and has felt less alone in that process, whether they got the outcome they wanted to or not. It’s also brilliant when we’ve been able to support a student to advocate for themselves through a process and they’ve been able to successfully make their case, especially when that outcome has led to a policy change in the collegiate University which will positively impact the lives of future students. 

Just how many different policies we advise across! As we advise across both college and University policies, we’d estimate there’s over 400 different policies which students may come to us seeking advice on. 

If you're going through a collegiate University process then please do get in touch with our team. We are friendly, professional, free, confidential and independent from the University and so can provide a reassuring supportive support system for you. Simply fill out our online form.