University groups
Clubs and societies at the University are open to both students and academic staff and their partners. They cover just about every imaginable national, special interest and sporting group, including Quidditch (see 'Did you know?' section below)!
The University Club on Mansfield Road offers a bar, cafe and restaurant and indoor and outdoor sports facilities. Ordinary membership is free to University staff (including pensioners), graduate students and academic visitors. Associate membership is available to people in other categories for a small annual fee.
The Oxford Research Staff Society welcomes anyone involved in research at the University, providing professional training and networking opportunities as well as social events such a pub quizzes and formal dinners in colleges.
The Equality and Diversity Unit supports many different networks for University staff, and produces regular newsletters highlighting events such as Oxford Pride or Black History Month.
International
If you would like to connect with people from your home country or who speak your native language, country and language-specific groups can be found at Meetup Oxford and Oxford Expats. The Newcomers' Club for partners of University staff has a weekly conversation group which discusses aspects of different cultures, such as food, travel, family life, or national celebrations and customs.
Community centres
There are community centres throughout Oxford which host neighbourhood events and activities such as fitness activities, gardening, playgroups, building projects and more. They are a great way to get involved and meet others living near you. For more information, please visit Oxford City Council's Community Centres page.
For details of community centres and community groups outside of Oxford, please see individual district sites:
Did you know?
Quidditch is a game played by the pupils at Hogwarts in the 'Harry Potter' books by JK Rowling. Several Oxford venues feature in the films, including the Duke Humfrey's Medieval Library and the dining hall at Christ Church. Of course, quidditch players in real life can't fly, unlike their wizarding counterparts!
