Health & disability support
We take mental health, physical health and disability seriously at Hertford, and have support in place to make sure that you get the help and advice you need.
We’re committed to doing all we can to make sure that every student can achieve their full academic potential, whether or not they have a disability. If you’re applying to study here, we encourage you to disclose any disabilities you may have – this way, we can accommodate your needs, be it at interview or when you come to study here. We’ll work with you to assess and support your needs. Our in-house Welfare Team and the college’s Admissions Office are here to help – let us know if you have any questions or wish to discuss your situation.
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College Doctors & Nurses
We have a close relationship with 28@Northgate, an NHS Doctors’ Surgery a short distance from college. We strongly encourage you to register with this surgery when you come to Oxford to make sure you can quickly and easily access medical support if needed. Once a week, the College Doctors hold a clinic, with appointments solely for Hertford students, although you’re welcome to also make appointments outside of this designated time.
Nurses from the practice – Jo Stenning and Ev Francis – also hold daily surgery hours in the college’s medical room during term time. At the current time these are booked appointments only – please book by contacting the patient advisors at 28@Northgate on 01865 311811. You will be booked in for a phone appointment with the nurse. The nurse will decide if a further face to face appointment is necessary. Please do not “walk in” to either the nurse clinic or the GP surgery, please phone first. The College Nurses are able to help and advise you if you are ill and can also quickly refer you to the College Doctors.
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Disability support
At Hertford, our Disability Lead is the Registrar. You can also get advice from the Student Welfare Lead and the JCR Disabilities Rep, elected by students to represent them. Jane Corrigan, our Student Welfare Lead, is the college’s Disability Coordinator and provides support with administration and liaison for all current students with disabilities.
The University and college provide a very high quality of support for students with disabilities including generous funding. At a University level, the Disability Advisory Service (DAS) plays an important role. They will discuss your experiences and expectations with you, review your evidence of disability, and consider your current studies – all of this helps to determine what support might be appropriate and reasonable for you while you are at Oxford. The DAS offer support in the following areas:
- Teaching adjustments
- Human support
- IT equipment and study technology
- Travel re-imbursement
- Examinations and assessment provision
- Library support
You can read the University’s Common Framework for Supporting Disabled Students here.
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Accessibility
Our listed college buildings date from the 16th century and the multi-level site is not universally accessible. If you have accessibility requirements, the following information might be helpful, and you may also find the Oxford University Access Guide a useful resource.
- Access to the main-site quads is available via ramp.
- Portable ramps are available for access to ground-floor rooms and the College Chapel.
- There is currently no lift in college, and the dining hall is only accessible via a steep staircase. Our library redevelopment plans include the construction of a new lift which will provide access to the dining hall and upper/lower floors of the library.
- There is an accessible WC in the Old Buildings Quad. This is reached via a short stair lift, for which the Porters can provide a key and assistance.
- There is a hearing loop in the dining hall and portable hearing loops available.
- Assistance and advice can be always be sought from the Porters’ Lodge on Catte Street.
The precise locations of our entrances can be located using the what3words app or website, which generates a chain of three words corresponding to a three metre square map location:
Main entrance and Porters’ Lodge ///broke.quiz.whites
New Buildings Quad ///tuck.force.runner