Liaison group actions 18 February 2026

Actions Liaison Group Meeting 18 February 2026

PGR Housing Support

A first-year PhD student raised concerns about limited and late information regarding housing in Milton Keynes. They noted difficulties in understanding suitable areas to live in and how to present their status (student vs employed, due to stipend) when dealing with estate agents.

Graduate School Response:  The usual way to find accommodation is through word of mouth, there are also links in the prospectus and on the GSN: Moving to & studying in the UK and Milton Keynes | Graduate School Network

There is a Facebook group where PGRs post about available accommodation (20+) PGRs at the OU | Facebook

Action: Induction team - Graduate School to facilitate asking existing PGRS to run a talk in August and December and make a recording of it. 

Action: Emily – ask the Operations team to inform PGRS in their offer letters that they can be buddied up if they are looking for accommodation.

Common room equipment request

Foosball table

Action: Clare has looked at the table and the only thing broken is the goal.  She’s happy to replace.

This table was donated and there are no funds available for a new snooker or pool table.  However, PGRS are welcome to fundraise for a table, or ask on the intranet.  PGRS to please think about the whether the table will fit in the common room and whether it will actually be used.

Action: Esma – write to [email protected] to check whether there is already anything on campus. 

International PGRS attendance and engagement policy

Concern around the requirement to log absences in PGR Manager when leaving the UK, specifically the need to provide an address (which is then ‘approved’ by Graduate School) versus the right to privacy.  The process feels intrusive and that International students are being treated differently.  Are there any possible alternatives for demonstrating compliance while providing more flexibility?

Clare’s response was that we recognise that PGRS may find this challenging, but as part of our compliance with UKVI, we have to know which country the student is travelling to and how long for.  This is because international students on a study visa are restricted on the number of days they can be out of the country.

Graduate School is not authorising leave, but is simply acknowledging it.  Addresses are only required for study-related absences and this is only for insurance purposes.  We do not need the address for holidays (as The OU doesn’t insure these) although we would like a telephone number for emergencies. 

Action: Clare will send a detailed response (including links to the Regulations and Home Office requirements)  to the individual student and is happy to share with other students if they wish. 

Perry Building – plan

Clare confirmed the following:

• There is a wheelchair accessible lift which is also a fire-escape lift and there is also a route to the next building which has another lift.  There are plenty of accessible toilets.
• There is a quiet space – a small bookable space for those who want to work in silence or who might speak loudly.
• Office walls are being taken out to make the space more open and brighter.
• Each desk has double screens, a keyboard and a mouse as standard.
• There will be open shelving and lockers.  There should be plenty of storage.
• Some desks are bookable and some are not.

Action: Clare to check what the different chairs marked in blue are on the plan.

Action: Clare will ask for three OU lap-tops to be available for loaning out to part-time PGRS.

Clare is hoping for an October start date for the move, if not it will be in February 2027.

This space will be shared by WELS, FBL and FASS PGRS.  For STEM students, everyone except SPS and EEE will move to the Venables building – this won’t happen until at least mid-2027 or possibly going into 2028.  Clare will keep PGRS updated.

PGRS to note that any STEM student who wants to join the other PGRS in Perry are very welcome to do so, whatever their discipline.

Action: Emily will invite more recent starters to become part of peer support groups of around 4-5 people.  Emily will be sending an email to October 2025 and Feb 2026 starters to signal their interest.  Graduate School are trialling this.

PGRS to note: PGR Support is moving from Faculties to a central team.  From April onwards there will only be one email address instead of two separate ones for faculty and graduate school.  We are hoping that there will be as little disruption as possible. Graduate School will ensure that PGRS have the new contact details, but if you’re unsure about who to contact, please email: [email protected]

The new structure will be in place from 30 March.