From its creative beginnings as the Oxford School of Art in 1865 the university has developed into a large teaching-led institution offering a broad subject range and is known for its focus on preparing students for the workplace. Oxford Brookes helps with securing placements, internship and employment opportunities — all of which pay off for graduates, whose solid early career destinations keep the university comfortably in the upper half of our graduate prospects index over successive years.
Its engineering students continue to take pole position at Formula Student UK, in which teams from around the world design, build, test and race a small-scale racing car. They won three competitions at the annual competition at Silverstone in July 2024, including for acceleration and business plan presentation.
As with the “other” university in the city, rowing is one of the university’s standout strengths. The Oxford Brookes University Boat Club is renowned for its triumphs at Henley regatta and a Brookes quartet secured bronze in the men’s coxless four at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
What is Oxford Brookes University’s reputation?
Named in honour of the artist, craftsman and educator John Brookes, Oxford Brookes gained university status in 1992. It has made an impressive 11-place leap to 50th place in this year’s main academic table due to a 13:1 student-to-staff ratio, outdone by only ten other UK universities, and rising rates of student satisfaction. Our latest National Student Survey (NSS) analysis shows that Oxford Brookes ranks 67= for undergraduates’ evaluations of teaching quality (up from 102nd) and 58th for their feelings on their broad experience (a 30-place improvement).
It was awarded a silver rating in the government’s Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF 2023), underpinned by silver for student outcomes but only bronze for the student experience, reflective of the previously faltering NSS outcomes. The assessors commended “very high quality features” including “a wide range of approaches to effectively support students to succeed in and progress beyond their studies”.
More than 400 researchers in 15 subject areas were entered for the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021) — a 40 per cent increase on the previous national assessment in 2014 — and the proportion of work judged to be world-leading or internationally excellent grew from 60 per cent to 70 per cent. However, Oxford Brookes dropped 19 places in our research quality index, to 76=.
An international focus has led to teaching partnerships with universities overseas, including with Metropolitan College Greece. Another with Chengdu University of Technology, in central China, has dual-award degrees. A global partnership with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants ensures that Oxford Brookes has more than 200,000 students taking its qualifications in other countries.
What degree courses have been discontinued and what new courses are available?
At the time of writing no courses were scheduled to close in 2024 or 2025. However, music and mathematics courses have stopped recruiting and will shut in 2026.
Degrees in fine art and history of art; and in business English with translation (top-up) welcomed their first students in September 2024. New for 2025 entry is biodiversity and wildlife conservation — offered as either a four-year integrated master's or three-year undergraduate programme.
What are Oxford Brookes University’s entry requirements — and my chances of getting in?
Courses require from 104 to 136 Ucas tariff points. A contextual admissions policy allows for offers up to three grades lower than the standard entry requirements to recognise educational disadvantage. January starts, as well as the usual autumn term kick-off, are offered in courses across areas such as business, marketing, built environment and public health.
New student enrolments are between 4,000 and 5,000 students a year. In 2023, though, Ucas registered a surge in new students, with more than 9,000 enrolling, reportedly thanks in part to a new partnership with Global Banking School.
What are the graduate prospects?
Oxford Brookes’ graduate employment rates remain consistent. In our analysis of the latest Graduate Outcomes survey, nearly four in five (77.8 per cent) graduates were employed in high-skilled jobs or engaged in further study 15 months after their degrees, ranking the university 52= for graduate prospects for the second consecutive year.
What is Oxford Brookes University campus like?
A decade-long £220 million investment programme at Oxford Brookes is approaching its final stages. Two new buildings housing Stem subjects and the creative industries are due to open during the 2024-25 academic year at the main Headington campus. The Wheatley campus — which is seven miles from the city — is being redeveloped for housing. Its courses are transferring to the main campus in Headington, to be joined by education; English; communication; philosophy; and sport for the start of the 2025-26 academic year.
Nursing is based in a business park in Swindon. The university also shares education, clinical practice and research in nursing, midwifery and allied health professions with two NHS trusts: Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust.
Everything you need to know about Oxford Brookes University’s student life and wellbeing support
There are more than 100 societies and about 40 sports clubs, providing plenty of opportunities for students to find their crowd and socialise. Nightlife happens in halls, at the students’ union and in student-friendly Oxford itself — and is lively enough to suit most, if a little on the pricey side.
Sports facilities include a 25m swimming pool, multiple gyms, and Brookes Climb — Oxfordshire’s leading climbing wall. The OBUBC has a boathouse complex on the River Thames in Wallingford, classed as one of the best non-tidal stretches of water in the country. Brookes cricketers join those from the University of Oxford in a Centre of Cricketing Excellence, which takes on county teams.
A mental health and wellbeing support service provides advice, support and solution-focused interventions for students with mental health issues. Up to six free sessions of counselling are available per academic year, and wellbeing initiatives such as a “walk and talk” group and “breathing space” during fresher week help students settle in. “Crafternoon tea” is a weekly drop-in for craft and conversation at the multifaith chaplaincy. There are quiet rooms on every campus for prayer or reflection.
What do the students say?
"Oxford is an amazing city to study in because there is so much to explore and discover. The university is constantly developing and adapting. There are so many opportunities for you to find your people, from academic specialisms to the Taylor Swift society."
Phoebe Parr, students’ union vice president (activities and employability), and a graduate of international hospitality and tourism management
What about student accommodation at Oxford Brookes University?
All students who make Oxford Brookes their firm choice or have it as their insurance choice are guaranteed accommodation. Over the past five years all students who entered through clearing have been given a place, but it is not guaranteed.
How diverse and inclusive is Oxford Brookes University?
The university attracts more students from independent or grammar schools than most post-1992 institutions (about 30 per cent) but overall Oxford Brookes has risen four places in our social inclusion index this year, at 85th. Its success rate at helping students from deprived areas stay the course ranks Brookes 14th in England and Wales.
Everything you need to know about scholarships and bursaries at Oxford Brookes University
About a quarter of undergraduates received financial support from the university in 2022-23. Students from low-income homes are eligible for bursaries of £500 to £3,000 and there is extra support for students who have left care, are estranged from families or who are young carers.
