As part of their commitment to student wellbeing, a department or faculty can initiate a process when there are concerns that a student’s mental or physical health is significantly affecting their ability to participate in their academic studies or life generally at Oxford.
Concerns about undergraduate student fitness to study are normally addressed using the relevant college procedure. For graduate students, where the concern about fitness to study occurs in a college context, the relevant college procedure can be used. Otherwise, the department or faculty should address the concerns using the University Support and Fitness to Study Procedure.
A student is considered ‘fit to study’ if they are able to continue or return to a course of study, and to engage with university life, both academically and otherwise, without reasonable detriment to their mental and physical health, safety and welfare, or that of other students and staff once any reasonable adjustments have been made under the Equality Act 2010.
There are three stages in the Support and Fitness to Study Procedure. Stage 1 offers early support through a collaborative discussion between the student and the department. Where Stage 1 has not sufficiently resolved concerns about the student’s support arrangements and fitness to study, Stage 2 is the formal consideration of the case. Stage 3 allows the student to submit an appeal to the central panel if they are dissatisfied with the Stage 2 outcome.
Protective Measures
Where there are concerns about a student’s fitness to study, the University’s first priority is to protect the welfare of all involved. The Support and Fitness to Study panel can impose protective measures where immediate action is required due to a possible risk to an individual’s mental or physical health, or where there is a threat of serious disruption to university activities. Protective measures are usually temporary, and may include restricted access to particular University buildings or services, alternative teaching arrangements, or suspension.
Appeals
Students may appeal decisions made under the Fitness to Study Procedure by emailing the Support and Fitness to Study panel secretary at fts@admin.ox.ac.uk. Appeals against protective measures should be made withing 10 working days of the decision to impose the measure. Appeals against a Stage 2 outcome should be made within 10 working days of the date of the Stage 2 outcome letter.
Two Support and Fitness to Study panel members, who have had no prior involvement with the student’s case, will determine the outcome, usually on the basis of the material submitted.
Information for students is available in the Student Handbook (Proctors' and Assessor's Memorandum) and on the Support and Fitness to Study page of the student area of the website. Support and Fitness to Study arrangements are governed by statute XIII.
