It may be steeped in nine centuries of educational history, but Oxford also looks to the future. The institution is rarely far from the headlines — hosting controversial debaters at Oxford Union; advancing health programmes in the fight against infectious diseases such as malaria; developing vaccines such as the AstraZeneca vaccine. For undergraduates, the opportunity to soak up a rich intellectual experience first-hand from academics at the cutting edge of their field is worth the effort of the competitive admissions process.

Oxford’s dreaming spires and historic buildings are as much a part of its world renown as its academic prowess. Instead of a campus, the university is made up of colleges spread throughout the city. Its gardens, libraries and museums hold 21 million objects, specimens and printed items. However, there are many modern developments and in 2025 the university will open a new landmark: the £185 million Schwarzman Centre for teaching, research and community outreach in humanities subjects. Paid for by the biggest donation in Oxford’s history, the facility will incorporate a 500-seat concert hall, experimental performance space and the Centre for Ethics in AI.

What is the University of Oxford’s reputation?

Oxford has produced 56 Nobel prizewinners and is the alma mater of 31 British prime ministers — including Sir Keir Starmer. And although slipping to third place in our academic league table may rankle, the dark blues are ahead of the light blues for the fourth year running — Cambridge ranks fourth. Oxford remains unsurpassed for its ratio of students to staff (10.3:1), and its tutorial system (weekly groups of two or three students discussing ideas in depth with their tutor) is a core feature. This level of personalised learning with individual attention from academic experts is one that only Cambridge can match.

Oxford is fourth in our research quality index with another stellar set of results in the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021), which rated 91 per cent of its submission world-leading or internationally excellent. In global rankings, which take account of the research profile but not student reviews, Oxford has been ranked first in the world by Times Higher Education (THE) every year from 2017 to 2024, and it is third in the QS World University Rankings 2025. In THE’s subject rankings, Oxford has reigned unbeaten for computer science for six years and has held the crown for clinical, pre-clinical and health subjects for 13 years.

The university achieved triple gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF 2023) with top ratings for the student experience, student outcomes and overall. Learning resources were assessed as outstanding, as well as “approaches to supporting student progression for the mix of students (including students from underrepresented groups) and courses”.

Oxford’s undergraduates concur: the university has lifted its boycott of the National Student Survey (NSS), which began in 2016. Our new NSS analysis puts Oxford in 19th place for student satisfaction with teaching quality — and first among its Russell Group peers. For satisfaction with the wider undergraduate experience, however, the results are less encouraging (124th), the worst result among Russell Group members. 

What degree courses have been discontinued and what new courses are available?

None.

What are the entry requirements – and my chances of getting in?

Offers range from AAA to A*A*A but entrants often overachieve - in 2023 almost half (47 per cent) of those admitted had A*A*A* or better.Oxford does not make contextual offers, but, like Cambridge, its admissions process takes an applicant’s background and circumstances into account. Oxford invites only the strongest contenders to interview — typically about 10,000 out of 24,000 applicants. Oxford does not enter clearing. For 2023 entry, Oxford received more than 24,230 applications, marginally lower than the two previous admissions years but about 35 per cent higher than a decade earlier in 2014. The number of places available is fairly constant and hovers around 3,300 most years (3,219 undergraduates were accepted in 2023).Typically, Oxford receives seven applications per place, but this varies between courses. Computer science is the most oversubscribed, according to the latest figures from 2021-23, attracting 20 applications per place, closely followed by economics and management (19.7). Theology and classics are among the least popular.

Entry to the university’s Astrophoria foundation year, introduced in 2023, demands lower minimum grades than a degree course — BBB or AAB at A-level. Although Oxford will consider alternative qualifications it does not use Ucas tariff points in the admissions process, however. The fully funded course is aimed at talented UK state school students who have experienced severe disadvantage or disrupted education. Astrophoria graduates who achieve the required level during the year are granted automatic entry to their choice of degree course.  

What are the graduate prospects?

The university ties with Cambridge in fourth place in our analysis of the latest Graduate Outcomes survey: 90.4 per cent of graduates are in highly skilled work or postgraduate study 15 months after finishing their course. Oxford has an active careers service that works with more than 500 industry partners, generating more than 1,900 exclusive work experience opportunities each year. The university’s internship programme offers global opportunities between terms, and the longer postings are often funded. 

What is the University of Oxford campus like?

Gothic spires, baroque porticos and Georgian courtyards imprint the university’s personality on the city centre. The Radcliffe Camera (or Rad Cam) — the quintessential postcard image —  is part of a network of libraries that include the renowned Bodleian. 

The £200 million Life and Mind Building for the departments of experimental psychology and biology is expected to open in 2025. It is part of a joint venture with Legal & General, which will provide up to £4 billion of funding over ten years to create world-class science and innovation districts at Begbroke and Osney Mead, as well as at least 1,000 subsidised homes for staff and 1,000 units for graduates.

The Science Area’s biochemistry building, opened in 2021, added laboratory space and facilities for interdisciplinary collaboration. In 2022 the Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine opened at the Old Road campus to house 240 scientists. The Old Power Station in Osney will reopen in 2025 as the Global Leadership Centre, providing a teaching and residential base for the Saïd Business School.

How does the college system work?

Oxford is part of the Ucas system but there are significant peculiarities to the process of applying:

• The deadline for applications is much earlier than most other universities (unless you’re applying for medicine, veterinary medicine, or dentistry): October 15 at 6pm for entry in 2025 or (rare) deferred entry in 2026. 
• You can apply to either Oxford or Cambridge in any one year, but not both.
• Selection is in the hands of individual colleges rather than the university. Most candidates apply to a specific college, although open applications can be made if you are happy to go to any college. Candidates are often pooled to other colleges.

Your first campus is your college — and they vary considerably in atmosphere and student mix. Brasenose (seen on screen as Jacob Elordi’s college in the film Saltburn) had a state school intake of 81 per cent in 2021-23 (including grammar schools); at Pembroke the proportion was 56.6 per cent. At Christ Church, 35.8 per cent of its intake came from black or ethnic minority backgrounds in the same three-year period compared with 21.9 per cent at Lincoln. 

Applicants should weigh up the colleges’ respective academic strengths, reputations, campuses, and social blend to give themselves the best chance of winning a place and finding an environment where they thrive. While prospective students are able to apply without expressing a college choice, few do so. Picking one is especially important for students hoping to study the arts and social sciences because tuition for these subjects is based within the college. Science and technology subjects, on the other hand, are mainly taught in central facilities.

Applicants for certain subjects must take written admissions tests and may be asked to submit work samples. All shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview.

Everything you need to know about the University of Oxford’s student life and wellbeing support

Oxford’s terms are intensive at only eight weeks long. Students rise to the challenge and pack in plenty of work and social activities, supported by the close-knit college communities and relationships with academic staff fostered by Oxford’s individual teaching approach. Under a peer support scheme, students are trained to listen to others and signpost services — including Peers of Colour and Rainbow Peers. The counselling service includes one-to-one sessions, therapeutic groups and workshops.

Sports facilities at collegiate and university level include the Iffley Road sports complex — where the Sir Roger Bannister running track is freshly resurfaced. The centre has a pool, three gyms, two sports halls and racket-sport courts. With nearly 80 sports clubs to choose from, students can take a break from the books by trying their hand at anything from archery to ultimate frisbee. Most colleges have rowing, netball, hockey, football and rugby teams. Oxford performs well against other universities, reaching 15th place in the latest British Universities and Colleges Sport (Bucs) overall points table.

Four hundred societies and clubs offer a panoply of interests. Cultural life at college level is co-ordinated by arts reps, with an emphasis on inclusivity. Student media is well resourced and there are opportunities to contribute to the weekly student newspaper, Cherwell, the Oxford Student and Oxide Radio.The JCR (junior common room), bops (parties in college bars), balls, and formals (in-college dinners) provide the backbone to social life, while the city’s nightclubs are popular too.  

What do the students say?

Oxford is a small city, but the perfect size for students, and you can get everywhere by bike or on foot. The work is challenging but rewarding, and everything happens against the incredible backdrop of the historic city, from the Radcliffe Camera to the ancient colleges. There’s lots of green spaces, which is great in the summer, and you’ll never run out of things to do, events to go to, or societies to try. Plus, you get some unique experiences like the summer balls, regular black tie dinners, formal halls, and other unusual traditions."
Lottie Tellyn, PPE graduate

What about student accommodation at the University of Oxford?

Students live in college accommodation. Most can be housed for at least two years, if not the full duration of their degree. Rents vary by college and meals are taken in the dining hall — although most colleges allow students to opt out and many have basic self-catering facilities. 

How diverse and inclusive is the University of Oxford?

The number of applicants accepted from state and independent schools remains a hot topic, with the Oxbridge success rates of many private schools plummeting as the universities make good on their pledges to widen participation. In 2023, 68 per cent of Oxford’s UK undergraduates came from state schools, including selective grammars — a leap from 58 per cent in 2017. Our social inclusion figures consider only the proportion from non-selective schools (53.5 per cent, 110th).

Oxford is 11th out of 115 universities in England and Wales for social inclusion overall. It does better with its proportion of students from ethnic minorities (24.6 per cent, 64th) and its black awarding gap (-14.9 per cent, 28th). 

Each year UNIQ, Oxford’s online outreach programme, accepts 1,300 year 12 state-school pupils around the UK, aiming to demystify what it is like to study at Oxford and advising them on how to make a strong application. Participants often attend a residential at the university and those who go on to apply have been more successful at receiving offers than other students. There are also about 200 places available each year on the Opportunity Oxford bridging programme, an academic residential course running the summer before the student starts, designed to help prepare UK students from underrepresented groups with an offer from Oxford to hit the ground running.

Everything you need to know about scholarships and bursaries at the University of Oxford

Oxford spends more than £9.5 million a year on providing financial support to students from lower-income households and about one in four students receive funding. UK students from households with an income of up to £32,500 qualify as Crankstart Scholars and are eligible for accommodation bursaries of more than £5,000 a year, funded internships and volunteering opportunities. Students from households with an income of £50,000 or less qualify for an Oxford Bursary of £1,020 to £4,080 a year.

Colleges often also have their own funds, such as travel grants, academic prizes and book grants.