Contacting Home

As an international student, home may seem a long way away, but keeping in touch with your friends and family is easy.

By telephone

Calling to the UK

Anyone calling you from abroad needs to first dial an international access code, and then the country code of the UK (44), followed by your telephone number here without the first 0. The international access code varies from country to country. For example, in India it is 00, while in Hong Kong it is 001. The network or phone provider in your home country should be able to advise you.

For example, if your mobile phone number in Britain is 01234 987654, then anyone calling you from India will have to dial 0044 1234 987654.

If you want to receive an international call in a public phone booth, check to make sure that the one you are using allows you to do so. Some do, others don't.

Calling home

Come on. Ring your parents. I won't hurt.If you want to call your family and friends back home from Britain, you will need to first dial 00, followed by the country code (for example, 1 for the United States, 91 for India, etc.) and then the local area code and number. You can look up country codes on a number of websites, such as the Phone Book from BT.

Getting a telephone line

Facilities vary considerably from college to college. If you want to have a landline (i.e., an ordinary, fixed line phone) installed in your college room, you need to first check with your college whether this is possible, and if so, how you can get one. Similarly, if you live in private accommodation, you need to ask your landlord, or the letting agent managing the property, about how to get one. If the property you are in does have the necessary wiring the process of having a line activated is fairly straightforward. Be aware that sometimes there is an installation or connection fee that can be quite expensive.

Mobile phones

Most students at Oxford use mobile phones rather than landlines to keep in touch with one another. Some also use them to keep in touch with friends and family at home. There are a number of mobile phone service providers in Britain. Most of them have branches in Oxford and you can find them on or around Cornmarket Street.

Most service providers offer both ‘pay monthly’ and ‘pay as you go’ plans. Before you can sign a pay monthly plan, most companies will first want to run a credit check on you, in which case you will need to have already opened a bank account. Pay as you go plans, on the other hand, don't typically require a credit check. We strongly advise you to read the Shopping and Finance and Funding sections of this Handbook before choosing a service provider and plan, or buying a mobile phone. You may also want to ask other international students —especially those from your home country— about which service provider or call plan they are using. This is sometimes the easiest and most reliable way to find out about the best deal available.

Regardless of the network or plan you choose, you should use your mobile phone with caution, especially when calling abroad. It is only too easy to lose track of telephone minutes when talking to family and friends, and find yourself handed a huge bill before you've realized it!

Pre-paid international calling cards

You may be able to reduce the cost of calling home by using an international telephone (or calling) card. A variety of cards are available from newsagents around Oxford, including on the Cowley Road. Make sure that the card can in fact be used to call your desired destination before buying it! It is also important to compare prices and read the fine print on different cards, in case there are any hidden charges. You usually need to first dial the access number on the card to make a call, then a series of prompts (often available in many languages) will tell you when and how to proceed.

Internet-based phone services

Screenshot of Skype.Using Internet-based phone services is becoming increasingly popular among international students for making long distance calls, as many of them are cheaper to use than landline or mobile phones. One of the more popular Internet-based phone options is Skype. Skype is a software programme that allows you to make phone calls and send messages via the Internet. All you need to do is have a broadband connection and download the software online. You can make Skype-to-Skype calls for free, but have to pay for calls to ordinary landlines and mobile phones. Other examples of Internet-based phone services include Google Talk, MSN/Live Messenger and Yahoo!. Rates and services vary.

These web-based services offer a cheap way to stay in touch with your family and friends back home. However, some colleges do not allow students to use these programmes on their networks. Therefore, it is imperative that you first read the University's and your college's rules about the use of Internet-based phone services before using them on the University network. You can find out more about these on the relevant part of the website of the Oxford University Computer Services and should also check with your college or JCR or MCR IT officer about any college-specific rules.

By Email and Internet

All students in Oxford are provided with a college email address by the Oxford University Computer Services (OUCS). If you are a graduate student, you will also have a department email address. You should receive information about it (including a unique username and password), and how to access computer services in Oxford, from your college either over the summer or in your pigeon post as soon as you arrive.

The Internet can be easily accessed at a variety of locations in Oxford, including all University and college libraries. Nearly all the colleges also have dedicated computer rooms, where students can check their email, use the Internet and do their coursework. Access is free, and in most cases, involves no more than showing or swiping your Bod card at the entrance.

By post

They cannot be cuter.The central post office in Oxford is located near Christ Church College on St Aldates. Other smaller post offices can be found all over the city, including one on Woodstock Road and another on Cowley Road, so you never have to walk too far to find one! You can find the closest post office to you and its opening hours online by typing in your postcode in this web-based utility.

The mail service in Britain is divided into first class and second class post. First class mail is usually delivered on the next working day, while second class is delivered on the third working day. Posting a letter by first class mail costs 36p, while second class is a bit cheaper at 27p.

Sending mail abroad is more expensive. Exact prices for international postage vary according to country and to the size and weight of envelope you are sending. The post office also provides an international parcel service, if you want to send larger packages home urgently. The best thing to do is to take your letter or package to the post office and ask them for advice on the fastest and cheapest way to send it.