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Each of the college's and permanent private hall's (PPH's) are independent from the central University. Therefore if you need to complain about a student or staff member's behaviour in college, you should raise this via the college's complaints process. 

Step one: Find your college Complaints Policy

Find your college's policy

Step two: Raise your complaint informally

How do I raise an informal complaint?

If you feel safe and able to do so, write to or tell the person that you are unhappy with their behaviour. However, if this wouldn't be appropriate given the nature of the complaint, then you can skip this stage.

What should I include in my complaint?

We'd recommend including the following:

  • (i) What has happened to give rise to the complaint - explain briefly what your complaint is in relation to

  • (ii) The underlying facts, including key events and dates - explain in chronological order what happened on which dates which created the timeline of what's happened. You can report both one-off incidents and ongoing instances. If you are unsure of exact dates, its ok to give best guesses - for example 'in the first few weeks of Trinity Term'

  • (iii) What you think the subject of the Complaint did wrong - explain where you think the student or staff member has failed to abide by relevant college policy.

  • (iv) The evidence that supports your Complaint - direct the college to any evidence you have which supports what's happened. This could include screenshots, witnesses and/or evidence of the impact on you (e.g. medical evidence). It's ok if you haven't got any evidence however, and you should still report this if you feel comfortable to do so.

  • (v) The impact you have faced as a result of this - explain the impact this has had on you, this could include if it has exacerbated or caused any health (including mental health) difficulties, if its impacted your ability to engage in the course/college/Oxford life fully or any other impacts on you.

  • (vi) Your ideal outcome - whilst the college cannot guarantee any particular outcome, it is helpful for them to have an understanding of what would feel like a good outcome for you.

All college's of the University subscribe to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator, who are an ombudsman of Higher Education institutions. If you go through all of the college's processes without a satisfactory resolution, you can complain to them for a final decision. Therefore, the college looks to their guidelines in how to satisfactorily resolve situations. Their guide to 'Putting things right' is therefore a helpful place to get suggestions on different types of remedies available.

Step Three: Raise your complaint formally

How do I raise a formal complaint?

If you are unhappy with the outcome of your informal complaint, or were unable to informally raise it for whatever reason, then you can generally submit a formal complaint. You should check your individual college as to whether there is a specific form to fill out or whether you should email in your complaint. Your complaint should include all of the information included in your stage one complaint (as above) as well as an explanation as to why you are unhappy with the outcome of your stage one complaint.

Step Four: Appeal

How do I appeal?

If you are unhappy with the outcome of your formal complaint, you will be able to appeal or request a review of this decision. This could be:

  • • To an reviewer within your own college
  • • To the Conference of Colleges Appeals Tribunal (CCAT)
  • • To the Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA)

You should check your individual college's complaints process to confirm which of these would apply.

CCAT    OIA

If you would like advice on your specific college's complaints procedure or your draft complaint/evidence checked over by a member of our team, then read our Advice Agreement then Contact Us and we'd be happy to help.