University of Oxford

Overview

The University of Oxford is the oldest university in the English-speaking world, with origins dating back to at least the 12th century. It is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading academic institutions, renowned for its teaching, research, and tradition. The University consists of 38 independent colleges and six Permanent Private Halls, each with its unique history and academic focus.

Oxford is a member of several prestigious university groups, including the Russell Group of research-intensive UK universities, the Coimbra Group (a network of leading European universities), and the League of European Research Universities (LERU). It is also a core member of Europaeum, a network of leading universities in Europe. In the 2025 Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, Oxford maintained its position as one of the top universities in the UK.

In addition to academic prestige, the University of Oxford has been awarded a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), which assesses the quality of teaching in higher education. Its graduates are highly sought after, with excellent career prospects. Five years after graduation, the average salary for Oxford alumni stands at nearly £43,000, placing them among the highest earners in the UK. Moreover, Oxford boasts the highest proportion of students achieving 2:1 degrees and first-class honours, demonstrating the exceptional academic outcomes of its undergraduates.

A distinctive feature of the Oxford educational experience is the weekly one-to-one tutorial, where undergraduates engage in in-depth discussions with an expert in their field, often a world-leading scholar. This personalised teaching method is a hallmark of Oxford’s approach to education.

The University is home to the Bodleian Library, one of the oldest libraries in Europe and the second-largest in the UK, second only to the British Library. The Bodleian contains over 13 million printed items and attracts scholars from around the globe. Each of Oxford’s colleges has its own character and traditions. Magdalen College (pronounced “maudlin”), founded in 1458, was established to be one of the grandest colleges in Oxford. Balliol College, with a history dating back to 1263, has produced five Nobel laureates. Each college operates independently, offering accommodation, tutorials, and a sense of community to its students while contributing to the overall University’s strength.

Oxford’s student body is notably diverse, with international students from over 140 countries comprising around one-third of the total enrolment. These students pursue a wide range of subjects, contributing to a vibrant academic community.

Services for International Students

The International Office at Oxford provides a wide range of services to applicants and students, including advice on general enquiries about studying at the University of Oxford, visas and immigration, and living in the U.K. It is also responsible for conducting international interviews and the international orientation programme at the beginning of the year. The Oxford Language Centre provides specific language support for international students. Personal support can also be found in the college administration.

The Oxford Library is vast, providing over 100 different libraries across its colleges, making it the largest library system in the UK.

Ranking

• 3rd in the Times University Guide 2025
• 1st in the Guardian University Guide 2025
• 3rd in the QS World University Rankings 2025
• 1st in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025
• 7th in the Academic Ranking of World Universities 2023

The University of Oxford made the largest submission of any Higher Education Institution (HEI) in the UK, submitting over 3,600 researchers (3,405 full-time equivalents) into 29 subject areas, over 8,500 research outputs in a range of formats from journal articles to compositions, and 220 case studies about the impact of Oxford research beyond academia.

University of Oxford law degrees are considered some of the best in the UK and the world, whilst biochemistry, physics, and earth sciences also have a global reputation for excellence.

Accommodation

The 38 colleges that make up the University of Oxford accommodate all first-year undergraduate students. These colleges are not only houses of residence but also have substantial responsibility for teaching undergraduates.

A typical college consists of a hall for dining, a chapel, a library, a college bar, senior, middle (postgraduate) and junior common rooms, rooms for 200-400 undergraduates, and lodgings for the head of the college and other dons. College buildings range from medieval to modern, but most are made up of interlinked courtyards.

Location

Oxford is located in South England, around 90 minutes from London, and has a population of 150,000. Buildings in Oxford reflect every English architectural period since the arrival of the Saxons, including the mid-18th century Radcliffe Camera.

Oxford is known as the "city of dreaming spires", a term coined by poet Matthew Arnold about the harmonious architecture of the University of Oxford buildings. It is very much a student city, and much is owned by the University, leading to discounts for students in almost all areas.

Alumni

University of Oxford alumni include:

• 26 British Prime Ministers, most recently David Cameron
• President Bill Clinton
• Tim Berners-Lee (Inventor of the World Wide Web)
• At least 12 saints and 20 Archbishops of Canterbury
• 50 Olympic Medal winners
• 27 Nobel Laureates across all six categories