University of Oxford
Verified overview
The University of Oxford is the oldest university in the English-speaking world, and is actually so ancient that its founding date is unknown – though it is thought that teaching took place there as early as the 11th century. It’s located in and around the medieval city center of Oxford, dubbed “the dreaming city of spires” by the 19th century poet Matthew Arnold, and comprises 44 colleges and halls as well as the largest library system in the UK. There are 22,000 students at Oxford in total, around half of whom are undergraduates, while 40 per cent are international students. A quarter of the city of Oxford’s residents are students, giving the city the youngest population in the UK. The University of Oxford does not have a main campus, its buildings and facilities instead being scattered around the medieval city center. Its colleges each have a distinctive character and traditions often dating back centuries. Colleges are self-governing institutions to which students usually apply directly. There are four academic divisions within Oxford University: Humanities, Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences; Medical Sciences; and Social Sciences. The university’s particular strength is the sciences, and it is ranked number one in the world for medicine.Oxford is a youthful and cosmopolitan city with plenty to see and do. There are dozens of historic and iconic buildings, including the Bodleian Libraries, Ashmolean Museum, Sheldonian Theatre, the cathedral, and the colleges themselves. Students can choose to spend their time studying or avail themselves of the many extracurricular activities available. There’s a strong musical life at Oxford, with clubs and societies spanning all genres, from jazz, through to classical and folk. Oxford is also ranked highly for sport, with its top rowers taking part every year in the world-famous boat race with the University of Cambridge on the River Thames. Drama lovers are also well catered for, with one of the largest and most vibrant university drama scenes in the country.Oxford has an alumni network of over 250,000 individuals, including more than 120 Olympic medalists, 26 Nobel Prize winners, seven poets laureate, and over 30 modern world leaders (including Bill Clinton, Aung San Suu Kyi, Indira Ghandi and 26 UK Prime Ministers). It has a friendly rivalry with Cambridge for the title of best university in the UK and is regularly ranked as being one of the top three universities in the world. Notable Oxford thinkers and scientists include Tim Berners-Lee, Stephen Hawking and Richard Dawkins.
Admissions and application
College virtual tours Fees and funding 2026 Oxford bursaries and scholarships Crankstart Scholarship 2026 Living costs 2026 Course fees 2026 Government support Repayments Fees, funding and scholarship search Applying to Oxford Step-by-step support Admissions timeline Guide for applicants International qualifications For international students For disabled students For mature students For teachers For families For care experienced students Increasing access Foundation Year Outreach event calendar Regional Outreach Digital resource hub Open Days and Visits Planning your day Department timetables College timetables Travel advice Open Day accommodation Open Day Information Centre Museums, libraries and other venues Independent visits Home Admissions Undergraduate Applying to Oxford For teachers Guidance for teachers Choosing where to go to university can be a life-changing decision and whilst this is exciting it can also be daunting. We welcome the chance to talk with teachers and advisers about supporting your students through all aspects of considering, and applying to, Oxford. Advice for teachers Stay up to speed on any changes to our admissions process and find out more about how to support your students applying to Oxford. Resources for teachers Resources and information to help teachers support students applying to Oxford.
- Is there a minimum GCSE requirement?
- There is no minimum GCSE requirement for any of our courses.
- Not necessarily; three A-levels is absolutely sufficient to make a competitive application and will allow applicants to meet the entrance requirements for their chosen course.
Tuition and cost
Fees, funding and scholarship search Calculate how much it will cost you to study and live in Oxford. Course fees Information on fees whatever your student status or level of study. Financial assistance and support Details on the funding and other support available to students towards meeting their costs Living costs Discover how undergraduate and postgraduate students manage their finances.
Scholarships and funding
The Ertegun Graduate Scholarship Programme in the Humanities
- The Ertegun Graduate Scholarship Programme in the Humanities
Housing and accommodation
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Programs and academic structure
Which Oxford colleges offer my course? Share This Tweet Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn Share on Reddit Home Admissions Undergraduate Courses A-Z of courses A-Z of courses Are you still deciding what to study? A Archaeology and Anthropology Asian and Middle Eastern Studies B Biochemistry (Molecular and Cellular) Biology Biomedical Sciences C Chemistry Classical Archaeology and Ancient History Classics Classics and Asian and Middle Eastern Studies Classics and English Classics and Modern Languages Computer Science Computer Science and Philosophy E Earth Sciences (Geology) Economics and Management Engineering Science English Language and Literature English and Modern Languages European and Middle Eastern Languages F Fine Art Foundation Year (Chemistry, Engineering and Materials Science) Foundation Year (Humanities) Foundation Year (Law) Foundation Year (PPE) G Geography H History History (Ancient and Modern) History and Economics History and English History and Modern Languages History and Politics History of Art Human Sciences L Law (Jurisprudence) M Materials Science Mathematics / Mathematics and Statistics Mathematics and Computer Science Mathematics and Philosophy Medicine Medicine (graduate entry) Modern Languages Modern Languages and Linguistics Music P Philosophy and Modern Languages Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) Philosophy and Theology Physics Physics and Philosophy Psychology (Experimental) Psychology, Philosophy and Linguistics R Religion and Asian and Middle Eastern Studies T Theology and Religion Choosing your course Top tips that will inspire you and help set you up for future success See also Selection criteria Which Oxford colleges offer my course? Suggested Subject Resources Changes to courses Related websites Graduate courses Online and distance learning Follow us on social media Follow us on social media to get the most up-to-date application information throughout the year, and to hear from our students.
- An exceptional education
- A welcoming and supportive community
- Do what you love
- Building your future
- Oxford is for you
- A-Z of courses
Accreditation and recognition
Candidate accreditation
Research profile
576,903 indexed works, 59,988,469 citations, h-index 2036
- Particle physics theoretical and experimental studies
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Malaria Research and Control
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena
- Quantum Chromodynamics and Particle Interactions
Student life
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