Support for Parents and Carers

Family-friendly benefits

The University offers a range of family-friendly benefits to help you balance work and family at all stages of your life.

• Generous family leave and pay, eligible from Day One
• 38 days holiday and the option to sign up for up to 10  ‘additional annual leave’ days
• Enhanced paternity/partner leave and pay
• Fertility treatment leave 
• Subsidised University owned nurseries and places at community nurseries, as well as discounted rates for holiday schemes 
• Carers’ leave and support including emergency paid leave for dependants and career break schemes

For the full range of benefits, visit Information for Parents and Carers.

Parent and carer networks

There are a number of networks and Teams channels which offer a peer-to-peer forum for questions and support:

• Working Parents at Oxford University 
• Solo Parents Network
• Parents of Children with Additional Needs
• Carers' Peer Support Group
• Motherhood at Work 

Returning Carers Fund

The University established the Returning Carers’ Fund in 2014 to support academics and researchers who have taken a break of at least 12 weeks for parenting/caring responsibilities to re-establish their research careers. These career breaks include maternity leave, paternity/partner leave and shared parental leave, as well as breaks to care for disabled or elderly family members.

The purpose of the Fund is to:

• Support those who have taken a break for parenting or caring responsibilities to re-establish their research careers
• Increase the visibility of the necessity to provide support for parents and carers, with a view to changing gendered perceptions of balancing a research or academic career with caring responsibilities

Learn more about the Fund and how to apply.

Family leave framework for researchers and academics

Where a researcher or academic is going to be away from the workplace for an extended period of time it is important to think through the practicalities of how the work they do will be covered in their absence or completed on their return.

The University’s Framework for the management of family leave for research and academic staff outlines the agreed process for reaching such decisions, which should be based on operational need rather than financial considerations. 

There is also Family leave guidance for PIs, a guide for managers and supervisors outlining practical information to support your staff. It also provides specific advice for those who manage or supervise research staff, for whom there may be additional considerations. 

Shifting the narrative on gender and caregiving: Parenting ‘out loud’

The University of Oxford is committed to fostering a workplace where new parents feel valued and supported in their family lives, and wants to encourage and promote fathers and partners as visible equal parents. 

Equal parenting is not just about fathers—it benefits parents, children, and organisations. When fathers actively participate in caregiving, mothers gain greater flexibility in their careers, reducing the burden of unequal responsibilities at home. This shift supports both parents in balancing work and family life.

Learn more about this initiative and how you can get involved