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Code of Conduct

Effective date: 10 December 2025

Last reviewed/updated: 10 December 2025 (MET)

Next review date: 2028

Policy owner: Bursar

Approved by: Governing Body on 15 June 2022; updates approved by MET on 12 March 2025 and 10 December 2025

1. Purpose

This Code of Conduct is a shared statement of commitment to upholding the highest ethical, professional and legal standards as the basis for St Antony’s College’s daily and long-term decisions and actions. It incorporates the requirements of the Worker Protection Act (October 2024), which introduced a new proactive duty on employers to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment (defined as unwanted conduct of a sexual nature, including banter). This Code of Conduct serves to remind all those who may work for or with the College that such conduct is not tolerated.

All members of the St Antony’s College community – whether students, Governing Body Fellows, staff, workers, contractors, College Members or alumni – have a role to play in supporting these aims, and in sustaining the highest ethical standards in all their interactions. The Code applies equally to physical/in-person activity, and to virtual/online interactions, such as online events.  

We are individually accountable for our own actions. As members of the College community, we are individually and collectively accountable for upholding the highest standards of behaviour and compliance with all applicable laws and policies.

2. Policy statement

St Antony’s College is committed to fostering an inclusive culture which promotes our values of being outward-looking, respectful, diverse and curious. We value integrity, honesty and fairness, and strive to integrate this into our scholarship, research, and business and operational practices. We seek to create a working, learning and social environment in which the rights and dignity of all members of the College community are respected.

All College members as asked, when acting on behalf of the College and in their interactions with College colleagues and visitors, to be conscious of and ensure compliance with the relevant policies, standards, laws and regulations that guide our work.

The College is legally required to secure and promote freedom of speech within the law for its staff, students, members, and visiting speakers. The College fosters freedom of expression within a framework of robust civility. Accordingly, all members of the College community are reminded that upholding the College’s duty to secure freedom of speech means they may be confronted with views that some find unsettling, shocking, disturbing or offensive. The general requirement in this Code of Conduct to act with ‘respect, courtesy, and consideration’ must be interpreted in conjunction with the College’s freedom of speech duties. The lawful expression of controversial or unpopular opinions does not, in itself, constitute a breach of this Code of Conduct. The use of College premises or services shall not be denied to any individual on the basis of their ideas or opinions. However, when engaging in debate and discussion, members are expected to engage critically but courteously with each other, and any exchanges must happen peacefully.

3. Standards of integrity, honesty and fairness

St Antony’s recognises that it must earn and maintain a reputation for integrity that includes, but is not limited to, compliance with laws and regulations and its contractual obligations. Even the appearance of misconduct or impropriety can be very damaging to the College. St Antony’s must strive at all times to maintain the highest standards of integrity.

Frequently, St Antony’s business activities and other conduct of its community members are not governed by specific laws or regulations. In these instances, rules of fairness, honesty, and respect for the rights of others will govern our conduct at all times.

Therefore, each individual is required to conduct College business transactions with the utmost honesty, accuracy and fairness. Each situation needs to be examined in accordance with this standard.

4. Confidentiality and Privacy

College members receive and generate on behalf of the College various types of confidential, proprietary and private information. It is imperative that each individual complies with all laws, agreements with third parties, and College policies and procedures pertaining to the use, protection, and disclosure of such information. Such policies apply even after the community member’s relationship with St Antony’s ends. More information is available at How We Use Your Data | St Antony’s College (ox.ac.uk).

5. Complaints

Complaints will be dealt with under the relevant policies and procedures of the College. These may include the Policy & Procedure on Harassment or the Student Complaints Policy & Procedure, as well as other such policies or procedures as may be deemed to apply.

You can find our policies and procedures on our website at Our policies and procedures | St Antony’s College (ox.ac.uk). Policies of specific relevance to students can be found in the Student Handbook. Policies of specific relevance to employees can be found on SharePoint (Single Sign-On required).

Adherence to this code makes us each responsible for bringing suspected violations of applicable standards, policies, laws or regulations to the College’s attention. Raising such concerns is a service to the College and will not jeopardise your position or employment or other relationships with the College.

6. Review and Revision

7. Related Documents

Relevant College policies may include, but are not limited to the following:

Conflicts of Interest Policy

Code of Student Discipline

Equality Policy

Freedom of Speech Code of Practice

Policy & Procedure on Harassment

Safeguarding Policy.

College employees should also see the relevant policies on SharePoint.

Other policies can be found at College Policies – St Antony’s and, for students, at College Policies and Codes of Practice – St Antony’s.

The College aligns with University policy in all relevant areas, and expects that its alumni and associates will abide by the University of Oxford’s Alumni Code of Conduct.

8. Contact Information