The University of Oxford is a co-ed research university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. With evidence of instruction dating back to 1096, it is the second-oldest institution still in operation and the oldest university in the English-speaking world. It has rapidly grown in size since Henry II barred English students from studying there in 1167.
After difficulties between students and Oxford town citizens, a number of professors moved north-east to Cambridge in 1209, where they established what would become the University of Cambridge. The two storied English universities that make up the term “Oxbridge” have a lot in common.
The university consists of a number of academic departments split into four divisions, 39 component colleges that operate in a semi-autonomous manner, five permanent private halls, and more. Within the university, each college operates independently, managing its own student body and carrying out its own internal operations. Each student is a member of a college.
It lacks a main campus and has buildings and amenities scattered across the city centre. The majority of the undergraduate curriculum at Oxford is made up of lectures, small-group tutorials in homes and colleges, seminars, laboratory work, and occasionally supplementary tutorials offered by the core university faculties and departments. Most postgraduate education is distributed centrally.
Oxford is responsible for running the largest university press in the world, the oldest university museum in the world, and the nation’s largest network of academic libraries. For the fiscal year that concluded on July 31, 2019, the university generated $2.45 billion in total revenue, of which £624.8 million came from grants and contracts for research.
30 British prime ministers and other world leaders of state and government are among the many notable Oxford alumni. 73 Nobel Prize winners, four Fields Medalists, six Turing Award winners, and 160 Olympic medal winners are among the graduates of Oxford University as of October 2022. One of the many scholarships available at Oxford is the Rhodes Award, one of the first international graduate award programmes.
A-Z of courses
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Our next Open Days are on the 28 & 29 June and 15 September, 2023
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Oxford spends over £8.5 million a year supporting students
Did you know around 1 in 4 UK Oxford undergraduates currently receives a bursary?
Our 2024-entry digital prospectus will provide you with a quick and digestible overview of core information while more detailed admissions guidance can be found in our Guide for applicants. We recommend that you sign-up now for our Choosing Oxford newsletter for step-by-step support with your application as well as some fun insights into student life here. Details of other opportunities for you to explore student life at Oxford can be found in Increasing Access and in our outreach calendar.
2023 Open Days will be taking place on 28 and 29 June and 15 September in Oxford. Sample programme and planning detailscan be found online and we strongly recommend you register for Open Days to receive further information and our top tips on how to make the most of your time with us. We can’t wait to welcome you and for you to look round our beautiful university city, chat to staff and students and find out first-hand what it’s like to study here.
ADMISSIONS NEWS
10/01/23 – Decisions announced on offers for 2023-entry
29/09/23 – Registration deadline for admissions tests
16/10/23 – UCAS application deadline in 2023 (normally 15 October when not at a weekend)
18/10/23 – Test date for: BMAT and TSA delivered by CAAT
19/10/23 – Test date for: CAT, Oxford ELAT, GAT, MAT and AMELAT delivered by TCS
20/10/23 – Test date for: HAT, MLAT, PAT and Philosophy test delivered by TCS
