Oxford has one of the lowest drop-out rates in the country, with around 0.9% of admissions not completing a degree, much lower than the UK average of 5.3%. Absent from the University’s “facts and figures” section is the number of students each year who suspend their study – or “rusticate” as it’s more commonly known.  

The practice isn’t new – Oxford students have been rusticating for hundreds of years. Historically, however, rustication was not taken as seriously as it is now; Oscar Wilde rusticated for one term merely for returning late from holiday in Greece. 

Today, the rustication experience varies massively depending on your College. Despite the university’s new “Common Approach” initiative to mental health, each college still has a unique combination of policies, JCR involvement, and collections standards for returning students. So with 50% of students considering rustication at some point, according to a Cherwell poll, what exactly does the experience entail? 

How many actually rusticate?

Across the university, around 4% of undergraduate students choose to rusticate every year. However there is significant variation between different colleges, with the rate ranging from 2% to 9%. 

One standout is Regent’s Park, which averages 15 rustications per year, despite only having 166 undergraduates. Proportionally, Regent’s Park has the highest levels of rustications at 9%, with more students rusticating per year than St Anne’s, a college with nearly triple the undergraduate population.

While Regent’s has greater assets per student than four colleges, as a Permanent Private Hall and not a college, it was not included in the wealth redistribution scheme attempting to alleviate inter-collegiate financial disparity. With mental health often cited as the cause for rustication, colleges that are already struggling with essential funding might not be able to sufficiently support students. 

When approached for comment, Regent’s Park told Cherwell: “Suspensions can be for many different reasons: health – both mental and physical, personal and academic. We have a robust system of mental health support and welfare provision within the College, and the number of suspensions bears witness to our being willing to entertain requests for suspension in order to support students through challenging circumstances.”

Experience of rustication

The majority of colleges impose a restriction on rusticated students’ access to college facilities. St Hilda’s suspension of status regulation states: “The presence in college of undergraduates who are not on course are a potential distraction to other students.” Lincoln students are required to obtain written permission from their Senior Tutor before visiting College premises. 

Library usage across colleges broadly follows the same pattern, with permission being required from a college authority. The difficulty of obtaining permission and the reasons needed, however, differ between colleges, with some requiring a student to petition for access to specific college resources, such as archives, before being granted entry. St Anne’s students are categorised alongside other guests, gaining access to the library so long as they form an agreement with the Librarian. Balliol, by contrast, only allows library access by “exceptional appointment.” 

Some college JCRs, such as those at Lady Margaret Hall and previously at St Edmund Hall, have dedicated representatives for suspended students. Multiple colleges refer to the JCR Welfare Officers and peer mentors as points of contact for support. These schemes are largely unregulated by colleges, existing primarily within the JCR, and do not provide a source of consistent, centralised support that may be needed. 

In response to a request for comment, the University referred Cherwell to the Common Approach, which aims to “ensure that each student at Oxford can receive excellent support, regardless of their course or college.” Similarly, when asked for their policies, all colleges told Cherwell that students have continued access to University mental health services. The page for the Common Approach, however, does list the “college community” as the first source of support. 

Collections for returning students

College policies concerning collections for returning students are a major source of discrepancies in the rustication experience. Many colleges have students sit collections alongside their new cohort, with no grade requirement for resumption of academic studies. Pembroke has some students sit collections to “assess the student’s level of knowledge,” but does not use them as a barrier to re-entry.

Some colleges, however, do impose a required grade in collections for students to resume their study. University College displays a particularly stringent policy, which it grounds in the College’s need “to assure itself that the Student is academically prepared for return to College following a period of suspension.” Therefore, at least one collection is taken with specific grades required. Previous versions of their handbooks stated that students who failed these return collections could cease to be college members, but the College declined to comment on their current policy.

The most common pass mark for Colleges that impose such requirements is a 2:1, which can be a high bar to clear for students who’ve been suspended for a year. Students in these colleges are usually allowed library access in the weeks before their exams to facilitate their studies.

The discrepancies in college policies regarding collections means that one student’s minor roadblock might be another’s second entrance exam.

Finals results of those who rusticate

Students struggling and choosing to rusticate are more likely to achieve lower degree classifications. However, the large gap in achievement prompts questions regarding college support for students suspending their studies and how effective rusticating is as a process for maintaining a high standard of work. 

Graduating with a First is the clearest benchmark of academic success. While 39% of all Oxford students graduated with first class honours in 2021/2022, for students who rusticated, that figure was only 27%.  

On the other end of the spectrum, while only 5% of Oxford students achieve a 2:2 and a miniscule 0.6% graduate with Third class honours, these rates rise to 11% and 4% respectively for students who have rusticated at any time. Since the vast majority of graduate schemes require a 2:1 or higher, these students are expected to fall further behind their peers after graduation. 

In addition to these disparities in results, around 10% of students who rusticate end up failing to complete their degree. Again, it is important to emphasise that there are significant variations between colleges. Regent’s Park, Teddy Hall, and LMH all have more rusticating students failing to complete their degree than graduating with Firsts, but Somerville has over double the amount of students achieving a First than failing to complete. There, a term before their students return, they are in contact with both the Academic Office and their tutors. It seems clear that the support structures in place for returning students have a significant effect on their ongoing success. 

The effect of COVID

Students disproportionately rusticated in the 2020/21 academic year when COVID-19 restrictions reached their peak. However, the impact of COVID on suspensions was not equal across all colleges. Somerville had the largest increase from 8 students in 2019/20 to 23 in 2020/21. In the same period, Worcester saw the amount of students rusticating jump from 7 to 16 and Regent’s Park numbers doubled. Other colleges, however, appeared largely unaffected, with both St Hilda’s and New College dropping from previous years’ figures.

Furthermore, rustication numbers have not returned to the levels they were before the pandemic. This is in line with recent studies conducted by the University which show an increase in mental health problems both during and after the pandemic. 

What do the students think?

A Cherwell poll showed that around 50% of students had considered rustication during their time at Oxford. Considering that only 4% of students rusticate every year, what explains the reason for the low uptake?

The poll also asked students who had contemplated rustication why they hadn’t gone through with it. 51% of respondents were afraid of social isolation/stigma, 29% were worried of falling behind academically, 16% were concerned about finances, and 4% thought their college lacked the resources to support them through it. 

Written responses to the question ranged from one student saying “I realised rusticating wouldn’t solve my problems. I had to face them head on, rather than delay them” to another claiming “My college wouldn’t let me! I had no legitimate academic or mental reason apparently.”

Rustication Discrepancies 

To rusticate, students need to work closely with their College as an institution and make a personal case as to why they need to suspend their studies. However College policies and guidelines can be confusing and unclear, while prospective support during rustication may seem insufficient. When combined with social stigma, these factors go a long way to explaining why most students don’t seriously consider rustication. 

The personal nature of rustication already makes it a difficult experience to capture, but the diversified attitudes and actions of colleges offer no help: devolution of procedure to the colleges regarding rustication leads to vast differences in outcomes for students. 

There is no university-wide standard for the responsibilities of rusticated students. The resources and academic support provided during and after rustication also depend on the particular college’s guidelines. Colleges exist to provide a smaller, more supportive, academic community, and their individual nature is framed as an asset to the University, however in helping rusticating students, their differences appear to do more harm than good.

Elections for Student Union president open Monday to Thursday of 4th Week. Candidates include SU veterans and outsiders with a radically different vision for the role of the organisation and president. Cherwell sat down with seven candidates to hear about who they are and what they hope to accomplish in the presidency. 

Addi Haran Diman: 

Who are you?

Addi Haran Diman, third year in a DPhil in Politics at Lincoln College. 

On previous experience in the SU: 

I’m pretty much an outsider to that babble and I think that’s good because what’s really needed right now is someone who can shake up the system and is not part of the problem. 

On other relevant experience: 

I have been political for over a decade now. I have mainly been focusing on LGBTQ+ work as the President of OULGBTQ Society, founder of Oxford Trans+ Pride, and a community officer at Oxford Pride. I have an experience that not many students in Oxford have of negotiating with the University and advocating to achieve actual things. 

What would be your top goals as SU president? 

I would mainly focus on advocacy. There are so many glaring problems in Oxford, such as college disparities, rent rates, and backlog of the disability and welfare services. We are expected to perform exceptionally and so we should expect world-class support. It can be done with powerful representation and powerful advocacy. 

Describe your platform in one sentence:

Competence, seriousness, inclusion, powerful representation, advocacy. 

Shermar Pryce: 

Who are you? 

I’m Shermar Pryce, a third year PPEist at Univ.

On experience and motivations to run: 

I’ve always had a passion for student representation. I’m not really from a background which was traditionally represented in Oxford. I’ve interacted with the SU quite a lot in various capacities, including working directly for them this year, and before that as [University College] JCR president. 

On what the SU have done well: 

I think this year they’ve done well on EDI issues. They’ve worked hard to maintain the fine line between representation of people’s views and grievances while at the same time not necessarily becoming overly political as we’ve seen in previous years.

On top priorities as president: 

Empowering [College] Common Rooms – making sure they’re equipped to fight for the rights of students. I hope to collect data from colleges – anything from sustainability to rent and food prices – and make that available for everyone to see. It’s an invaluable tool for common rooms negotiating with colleges by leveling the asymmetric information that reps usually have to go off. It also embarrasses colleges. 

Describe your platform in one sentence: 

An SU that’s actually useful.

Reuben Constantine: 

Who are you? 

My name is Reuben Constantine, 2nd year at St. Peter’s studying Modern languages – specifically French and Modern Greek.  

On experience and motivations to run: 

I’m the treasurer of the 93% Club and access and outreach ambassador for my college, my faculty, and for the university as a whole. I’m also heavily involved in Class Act, which is an initiative run by the SU to address class disparities. I would ultimately love to be involved in allowing the university to become more diverse in that way [and] to profit from the same life changing opportunities that I’ve had.

What’s one thing you would have handled differently?

Honestly, nothing. I think in all the situations the SU have been, they’ve dealt with it the best they could.

Describe your platform in one sentence.

My campaign slogan is Make Oxford Smile; I want to contribute to building an environment where everyone can truly be happy.

Elliot (Riz) Possnett

Who are you? 

Elliot (Riz) Possnett, 2nd year, PPE, Wadham

On motivation to run: 

I love so much about this university, but there are so many things that infuriate me and that create massive barriers for certain groups of people. I want to make sure that everyone can get the best out of Oxford, and Oxford can be a better place for the wider world. 

On experience: 

[I’ve been involved in] strategy coordination for UK Student Climate Network and youth delegate to COP C40 Cities “Women 4 Climate” conference, as well as Oxford Trans Pride activism, including leading direct action protest inside the [Union] debating chamber. I’m also Chair of the Economics Undergraduate Joint Consultative Committee.

On doing things differently: 

I would replace the role of SU President with an “internal coordinator” role, taking the pressure and attention off of one person so the team can work in a more equal and efficient way.

Describe your platform in a sentence: 

I’m an experienced youth advocate and campaigner, and I want to use that experience to leverage collective power in the university with the support of targeted data-driven projects to put greater pressure on the university to make essential changes.

Tim Green

Who are you?

My name is Tim Green. My course is PPE. And I’m in my third year at Regent’s Park College. 

On experience with the SU:

Most students have had very little interaction with the SU, and that’s despite the fact that the SU has over a million pounds in budget and 17 members of staff. I think that’s not good enough. 

On background:

I was diagnosed with a disability in Oxford and I’m a bursary holder. I’ve led an access committee of about 15 people, we’d have meetings every week devoted to representing different groups. 

On specific policies:

A referendum for a reading week. A cap on rent inflation. A universal lecture recording policy. A helpline if people are experiencing issues. Because we have the resources to do these things, it just isn’t there at the moment. 

Describe your platform in a sentence.

To build an SU that works for every student in Oxford, with policies prioritising mental health and improving accessibility to forge an Oxford that leaves no one behind. 

Q Sun 

Who are you? 

I’m Q. Third year material scientist at Teddy. 

Why do you want to run for SU?

I’m running for empty chair; I envision a year without an SU president. The money that would go to the presidency – around £27,000 — would go to other things. The SU in Oxford functions with much less effect on the student population than it would at other universities because we have the Common Rooms. [The SU president does] relatively little. You attend meetings on behalf of the SU. You go to some events. That money could go to something different.

On experience:

I’ve got experience in not doing things. 

What happens if you win?

Well, I need to convince people I’m not running as a facade. I’d be the mechanism through which I bring the views of the students to the university that the SU might not be something that A) the students want and B) is needed. I’ll see whether the rules and regulations with the SU could be re-written, and put that to a referendum to see what the student population think at a wider scale. 

In a sentence:

The SU will run perfectly fun with no SU president for the year 2024-25. 

Isaac Chase-Rahman

Who are you?

Isaac Chase-Rahman. 4th year, Physics, Corpus Christi College.

On motivations for running:

The SU is broken. It functions similarly to SUs in other universities but Oxford is not other universities, and so the things that would normally be done by an SU are done by other groups. 

On experience:

[Within the SU] I’ve been the Chair of Student Council for two terms; previously I was on the Steering Committee and Elections Committee. I was JCR president of Corpus Christi college before that, as well as Returning Officer, undergraduate MCR representative, and secretary of drama society at Corpus. I’m also a peer supporter with University Welfare Services and sat on the tutors committee as a university representative.

What’s one thing you would have handled differently?

When the University decided to not put more money into diagnoses of specific learning disabilities, the SU should have pushed them to make sure that students who need diagnoses quickly are able to get them. There’s a problem of college disparity, but the University chose to shirk responsibility, and the SU didn’t put their foot down. 

Describe your platform in a sentence.

Reform, engage, transform.

Despite being on the initial announcement, candidates Lucy Wang and George Zhao are no longer in the race.

Voting will be open between Monday and Thursday of 4th Week. Full election manifestos are published on the Student Union’s website.