Address: Wellington Square, Oxford, OX1 2JD, England, United Kingdom
Humanities, Sciences, Medicine
The oldest university in the English-speaking world (teaching existed in some form in 1096), a collegiate public research university. Consistently ranked among the world’s top universities.
The University of Oxford is the oldest university in the English-speaking world. Teaching existed in the city by 1096, and it grew quickly after 1167, when English students were barred from the University of Paris. It has about 26,500 students and 13,500 staff, and around 40 percent of the students come from abroad. The university is a federation of 39 independent colleges and six permanent private halls, and the central administration is based in Wellington Square, in the centre of the city.
Colleges house the students, organise their social life and take part in teaching, while the university sets exams, awards degrees and runs the departments, laboratories and libraries. The tutorial system is the hallmark of undergraduate teaching. Students meet a tutor, alone or with one or two others, every week to discuss an essay or problem sheet, and this close exchange shapes the whole degree. The Bodleian Library, the Radcliffe Camera, the Sheldonian Theatre and the Ashmolean Museum are among the landmarks.
The list of alumni is long. More than two dozen British prime ministers studied at Oxford, J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis taught English there, and Stephen Hawking began his studies at University College. Around seventy Nobel laureates are linked to the university. The Rhodes Scholarships, created in 1902, bring graduate students from many countries. In recent years, the Jenner Institute and the Oxford Vaccine Group developed a Covid-19 vaccine with AstraZeneca, and the university’s medical sciences are among the strongest in Europe.
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS, with an early deadline in mid-October for Oxford. Most courses require admission tests and interviews. Tuition for home students is capped by the government at about nine and a half thousand pounds a year, while international students pay much higher fees, often between twenty-five and fifty thousand pounds depending on the course, plus college fees. Check the current tariff. Teaching is in English, and scholarships and bursaries exist.
Housing is guaranteed by many colleges for part of the degree, and the city is compact and easy to explore on foot or by bicycle.
Domains taught:
AI and Machine Learning, Chemistry, Engineering, Life Sciences, Mathematics, Physics, Software Engineering
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Master
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
Extensive global academic and research partnerships. Strong ties with industry through Oxford University Innovation. Member of Russell Group, LERU, IARU, Europaeum.
Research:
World-leading research across almost all academic disciplines. Unparalleled history of academic achievement and contribution. Numerous Nobel laureates. Key areas include AI ethics, vaccine development, quantum computing.
Famous Alumnis:
Countless world leaders (28 British PMs), over 70 Nobel laureates, Stephen Hawking, Oscar Wilde, J.R.R. Tolkien, Malala Yousafzai
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
13500
Current students***:
26500
Foreign students***:
40%
Cumulative former students***:
360000
Pros
World-renowned academic excellence, historic collegiate system offering unique student experience, exceptional resources and global influence, leading research across all fields.
Cons
Extremely competitive admissions, intense academic environment, traditions can feel exclusive, Oxford can be expensive.
Best For
Exceptionally gifted students seeking the pinnacle of academic pursuit at one of the world’s most prestigious and historic universities, with unparalleled research opportunities.
Another national school that puts chemistry, physics and mathematics at the centre is University of Cambridge, and it is also a public institution, and runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes.
For students who like the chemistry, physics and mathematics focus of this institution but want another option nearby, University of Glasgow fits well: it also offers mba programmes, and is slightly larger, at about 36,000 students against roughly 26,500 here.
Think of Imperial College London when physics, mathematics and life sciences is the priority: it is slightly smaller, at about 20,500 students against roughly 26,500 here, and is also a public institution.
Anyone who wants a second school in the same country with a similar spread of chemistry, physics and life sciences can consider University of Bristol, and it is also a public institution, and teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral.
Durham University takes a similar route through chemistry, physics and mathematics, and it covers astroscience as well, and is slightly smaller, at about 20,500 students against roughly 26,500 here.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
University of California, Berkeley in the United States pursues a similar profile in chemistry, physics and life sciences, and it covers data analytics as well, and is larger, enrolling about 45,300 students against roughly 26,500 here.
University of Oslo brings a Norway setting to the same core fields, chemistry, physics and mathematics, and it is also a public institution, and teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral.
Columbia University (the United States) works on the same fields as this institution, chiefly physics, life sciences and AI and machine learning; it also offers mba programmes and covers project management and data analytics as well.
Seen from abroad, Nanjing University (China) is a close relative on subject matter, since chemistry, physics and mathematics are central to both, and it covers astroscience and materials as well, and is slightly larger, at about 35,700 students against roughly 26,500 here.
Students considering a move abroad can look at Dresden University of Technology in Germany, where chemistry, physics and mathematics also form the core, and it covers civil engineering and electrical and electronics as well, and has almost the same size, at about 29,000 students.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
Where is the University of Oxford?
In Oxford, England. The central administration is at Wellington Square.
How old is it?
Teaching existed in 1096, which makes it the oldest university in the English-speaking world.
How large is it?
About 26,500 students and 13,500 staff, with around 40 percent of students from abroad.
How many colleges does it have?
39 independent colleges and six permanent private halls.
What is the tutorial system?
Students meet a tutor, alone or with one or two others, every week to discuss an essay or problem sheet.
Which famous people studied or taught there?
More than two dozen British prime ministers, J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis as teachers, and Stephen Hawking as a student.
What are the Rhodes Scholarships?
Graduate scholarships created in 1902 that bring students from many countries to Oxford.
How do you apply?
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS, with an early deadline in mid-October. Most courses require admission tests and interviews.
What does it cost?
Home tuition is capped at about nine and a half thousand pounds a year. International fees are much higher, often between twenty-five and fifty thousand pounds depending on the course. Check the current tariff.
Do colleges provide housing?
Many colleges guarantee housing for part of the degree.
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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