Does anyone know the absolutely last day we can arrive at Oxford? My letter from the university says I have to be there on 24 September but from reading the calender the Michaelmas term doesn't start until 7 October. The calender says you have to be in residence a week before term starts, which would be 1 October.
Are any of the current Oxford students able to help me?
Thanks!
fg

There's been some debate on this in other threads. Apparently the university suggest to come on September 24 to start preparing for the course, but what supposedly what matters is what the college wants you to do. Usually they want you there for Week 0, which starts on 1 October indeed...

I have consulted with the accommodation authorities of my college. They told me that the early starting date of my programme would be taken into account, and I can be accommodated on 24 September.

Thanks everyone. I want to go traveling first, which is why I want to arrive on 1 October.
Look forward to meeting you all
fg

You should would probably double-check with the university to check how serious they are about the starting date... See you there in September or October!

btw, even though the University says to be there on 24 September, my college (Balliol) won't let me into the accommodation until 2 October. Anyone else in this situation?

I checked with someone who's currently at Oxford doing an M.Jur. He suggested it was good to be there on September 24, although some people only arrived in time for the lectures in Week 1. So I'd try to be there on September 24. I wrote to my College and they suggested it should not be a problem for me to arrive early. I guess worst case you'd have to look for a hostel or something...

Yeah but the lectures don't start until 7 October so 24 Sept. seems very early to me....
Last year classes started on 1 October so I would understand why your friend would recommend getting there on 24 September if that were the case this year. But two weeks early?! That seems a little OTT to me...

Is there any introductory course to non-common lawyers, starting on September 24? Is there any event at the Faculty of Law? If not, it seems that there is no reason for two weeks...

You could always consult with the Law Fellow at your college. I did so, and was told that September 24 would be a good time to arrive as there would be little formal academic activity in that week and it would allow ample time for settling in.

True it might allow for settling in but if Balliol won't let me in their accommodation until 2 October...I am not sure the sketchy hostel by the train station will allow for much settling into life at Oxford Uni.
You are right though, I should just contact them directly. It sounds like it varies from college to college.

Hi, does anyone know if there any need to inform the university/ law faculty that I will be arriving late (few days after the 24th) or do I just inform my college?

To try to answer a few of the questions which have been raised, from the perspective of someone who had just finished the BCL:

i) Definitely do contact the faculty if you intend to arrive late - Geraldine Malloy is the person to speak to.

ii) The BCL/MJur induction programme (have you had information about this yet? It is on the Law Faculty intranet already) begins on 25th September, but it is mostly library and IT stuff (although having been to most of it myself, a lot of it is worth going to. Accessing electronic resources in Oxford is complicated, and you can miss a lot if you don't realise just how many different sources you can access).

iii) The first absolutely unmissable event is the series of taster lectures all day on 2nd October.

iv) There is nothing in the Michaelmas term lecture list which starts before week 0 ie 1st October.

v) The introductory course for students without a common-law background starts on 1st October.

vi) I would be *extremely* surprised if Balliol would not let you into accommodation in time for the university start date of your course. Clinical medics start on 3rd September - I can't see Balliol telling them to live in a hostel for a month. If this is just a standard date on a letter to all new grad students at Balliol, it is worth checking with the accommodation office there what the position is if your course starts earlier than their accommodation start date.

vii) If that fails, you could try contacting one of the Balliol law fellows. Professor Endicott is very friendly and is the chairman (and newly appointed Dean) of the law faculty. I can't see the faculty being terribly impressed by colleges subverting the start of the course by not allowing students to arrive on time.