Welcome to our University of Oxford Guide. If you are looking to find out more about this top UK university and its many courses, then this can be the perfect place to learn more about what the University of Oxford can offer. But is this the right university for you?

Whether you coming to the end of your A-Levels or you are an adult who wants to further your education, you will no doubt have a list of potential universities to choose from. Before you decide whether Oxford is the University for you, make yourself comfortable and settle in for our insights into the University of Oxford and its many different features.

Overview of the University of Oxford

The University of Oxford is a world-leading university and the oldest University in the English-speaking world. Offering a wealth of courses and a community that can support its student body (with Oxford having the youngest population in the UK on average), it still lives up to its world-renowned status.

With many different academic departments and a constant flow of new graduate students going off into specialised jobs, the University of Oxford can be a very desirable choice for many students.

With a strong reputation and a long history as the oldest University in the UK, it is easy to overlook that Oxford is also a good centre of learning. Its facilities have made significant contributions to a lot of fields, especially in the various sciences.

History of Oxford Uni

While Oxford’s exact founding date is unknown, the University of Oxford has seen a long history throughout the life of the English-speaking world. It became one of the most praised learning institutions in the world, supported by popes and kings throughout the hundreds of years.

The university’s statutes were codified in 1636, marking the start of its growth. Over time, it began to expand its focus into multiple colleges, allowing the faculty to diversify what they were teaching.

Oxford’s position at the forefront of science allowed it to serve the country in a wide variety of ways. By 1920, it was one of the first universities to accept women as students and went into the 20th and 21st centuries with a major focus on sciences and research.

More recently, Oxford was a central university in the efforts to combat the COVID-19 crisis, identifying treatments and developing vaccines with the support of major sciences and medicine professionals.

Established in 1478, the Oxford’s press is one of the largest university publishers in the world. Combine this with the largest library system in the UK and a constant stream of Literature and English students, and it is easy to see why Oxford became one of the most important universities in the country and the world as a whole.

What is the address of the University of Oxford?

The official address of the University of Oxford is:

Wellington Square

Oxford 

OX1 2JD

Wellington Square is the location of the university offices. Remember that the different schools and colleges will all have their own addresses, so a physical visit to one of the schools or buildings may require some extra planning.

Map of the University of Oxford

Here is a map of Oxford university:

How to get to the University of Oxford

The university’s main campus is positioned conveniently for travel. However, depending on where you are travelling from, the route may seem more complicated than it really is.

  • By train – direct trains services run from London Marylebone and London Paddington, with other services from Birmingham New Street and Reading. The Oxford Railway Station is only a short walk from the museum itself.
  • By road – while many Oxford streets are limited in terms of traffic, there is a range of Park and Ride bus services to help you reach the university. This means that you are not missing out on easy transport options if you do not have a car.
  • By air – the university is located very close to London Heathrow and Gatwick airports, allowing direct flights from most other locations in and around the UK. It is also fairly close to London Stansted airport as an alternative option.
  • By bus – the Oxford Tube offers a direct coach line between Oxford and London. There are also other coach services for students living in the surrounding area.
  • On foot – the University is accessible on foot from the city centre, with multiple easy ways to walk there from almost any angle.

What are the top courses at Oxford University?

Oxford offers a range of undergraduate courses, and various other study types are available to domestic and international students alike. While most known for things like medicine and economics, the university campus can accommodate many different subjects to a high standard of teaching quality.

Sciences (including medical sciences) and all things mathematical are the main focus at the University of Oxford, although students still have the option of things like humanities and literature too. The faculty is diverse enough to offer undergraduates a wide range of courses.

The University of Oxford’s top courses include:

  • Social Sciences
  • Medicine
  • Politics and Economics
  • Philosophy
  • Computer Sciences
  • Literature
  • History
  • Physical and Life Sciences
  • Biology

Where is the Oxford Students Union?

The Oxford Student Union is located at 4 Worcester Street, Oxford, OX1 2BX. Students gain access to the union and its benefits the moment they are enrolled.

What are the best Oxford student nights?

For many people, the student life is the main highlight of their time at college or university. Oxford is no exception, offering all kinds of unique experiences to help students unwind or enjoy their free time.

Since Oxford has possibly the youngest population on average in the UK, it is easy to see why finding the right experiences can make such a difference. The surrounding community accommodates students well, and the campus itself serves as a great social centre to meet others. Other areas of interest to research in your downtime include:

  • Atik’s Park End Nights
  • Monday Night Bridge at The Bridge Club
  • Plush (Oxford’s most notable LGBTQ+ friendly bar)
  • Fishies at the O2 Academy
  • The Bullingdon

What at the best student pubs in Oxford?

The various pubs, bars and clubs in Oxford can be a hotspot for student activity. If you are tired of the university’s atmosphere and want to relax after your studies with some downtime, then pubs can be a calm place to spend the afternoon. Notable local pubs include:

  • The Cricketers Arms. 
  • The Bridge. 
  • Frevd. 
  • The Alchemist.
  • The Four Candles. 
  • Half Moon.
  • Turf Tavern. 
  • ATIK.

Where are the best places to eat for students in Oxford?

Oxford offers many major restaurants and dining experiences to students of any budget range. If you are running on limited funds, then there are some affordable places to eat that are relatively close to the university campus, catering to almost all preferences.

  • Najar’s Place – Lebanese and Mediterranean food.
  • Polish Kitchen – Polish and Eastern European food.
  • Lula’s Ethiopian and Eritrean Cuisine – Ethiopian and African food.
  • Pieminister – British classic food.
  • The Royal Standard – British fish and chips.
  • Comie’s Caribbean Grill – Caribbean and Jamaican food.
  • IScream Oxford – Desserts and sweets.

What are the Halls of Residence for the University of Oxford?

There are plenty of halls of residence within Oxford, meaning that students have some choice over where they stay. Like most self-governing institutions, Oxford boasts a good range of accommodations, although students are also free to use outside accommodations if they prefer.

The permanent private halls of residence are generally located in convenient locations, meaning that students will not spend the entire first year trying to figure out where they need to be going.

Specific halls and colleges, such as the Lady Margaret Hall, are easy enough to find. Each college has its own dining hall, common room and library, meaning that the University of Oxford has the largest library system in the UK as a whole.

What famous people went to Oxford University?

Historically, the University of Oxford has been home to such scholars as Sir Thomas More, John Colet, and William Grocyn. However, these are far from the only famous people to have attended the University of Oxford.

Some other notable Oxford thinkers in its alumni network include:

  • Kate Beckinsale, actress.
  • Dr Seuss, author.
  • Rupert Murdoch, media magnate.
  • Emma Watson, activist, actress and model.
  • Oscar Wilde, poet and playwright.
  • David Cameron, former British PM.
  • Margaret Thatcher, former British PM.
  • Indira Gandhi, former PM of India.
  • Benazir Bhutto, former PM of Pakistan.
  • Hugh Grant, actor and filmmaker.
  • Stephen Hawking, scientist.
  • Richard Dawkins, scientist.
  • Tim Berners Lee, scientist.
  • Aung San Suu Kyi, Burmese minister of foreign affairs and peace prize laureate.
  • Bill Clinton, former US president.

The notable alumni network of the University of Oxford includes 120 Olympic medallists, 26 Nobel Prize winners, 30 world leaders, and seven poets laureate. 

This includes famous names like Stephen Hawking, Tim Berners Lee, Richard Dawkins, Aung San Suu Kyi, Bill Clinton and countless other scientists and notable Oxford thinkers throughout the decades.

Regardless of country, students from all over the world have wanted to attend Oxford to secure a great future. 

From the names above, it is clear that a scholarship can lead to great science and research potential, country-changing political skills, or countess other benefits that have made some famous figures who they are today.

Hotels near The University of Oxford

If you are visiting the university or need some short-term emergency accommodation, then a hotel could be useful. Like most good universities, the campus is located near a lot of hotels and temporary private accommodation options.



Booking.com

Top Oxford Students Discounts

Oxford offers students a range of discount options, allowing them to manage their finances a little better in the city. Whether you are looking for nice food or something comfortable to wear, countless brands and discount services offer benefits to students, including:

  • Railcard discounts
  • Amazon discounts
  • Dominos’ deals
  • UNIDAYS promotions
  • TOTUM card discounts

For more discount codes for students, check out these top retailers:

Popular Questions about the University of Oxford

Is it hard to get into University of Oxford?

Oxford’s acceptance rate was 13.5% in 2021, with just over 3,300 students being accepted out of almost 25,000. This makes it more exclusive than most universities and colleges, which makes sense given that it has hosted poets laureate and notable scientists so often.

What is Oxford ranked in the world?

Oxford is regularly ranked within the top 5 universities according to QS World University Rankings. Oxford’s position usually lingers between 3rd and 4th in the world, taking into account all academic divisions for a high overall score.

This overall score comes from real education data and means that it is one of the world’s best universities in general. Certain features and departments, such as the Medical Sciences division, also rank very high in more specific world rankings.

Should I take life Sciences at Oxford?

The overall score of Oxford is high for a reason – the data from different courses shows that all of them are excellent. If you want to get into a social science research role – or want to elevate your existing social science knowledge – then it is a worthwhile course to consider.

Is the Oxford University Press important?

The Oxford press is one of the largest university publishing groups in the world, making it the cornerstone of many factors of how Oxford functions in the public eye.

What subjects is Oxford famous for? 

The University of Oxford attracts international students for things like social sciences, life sciences, arts, humanities, law, engineering, philosophy and medicine.

However, these are not the only subjects here. Undergraduates with no interest in science and medicine can get an undergraduate degree in things like literature, as proven by the university’s connection to seven poets laureate and countless Olympic medallists.

Both British students and foreign students doing international studies can enjoy all of these courses, with individual colleges providing proper research and study facilities as needed.

How is Oxford Student Satisfaction for local and international students?

In 2022, seventy-one per cent of student respondents were happy with their course and progress.

Summary of the University of Oxford

The exceptionally high overall score of the university – even in regard to specific courses like social sciences, humanities and pre-clinical medicine – has made Oxford one of the best universities in both the country and the entire world.

The city of Oxford is a great city to spend your university life in, and even if you only see half of the physical city during your time there, it will only elevate your experience. Both the city and the university are great places to learn, and they complement each other well.

Whether you want to enter a science role or would rather research your course options for something more socially-focused, Oxford has a great range of courses to choose from. The option you choose depends entirely on what you’re looking for.

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