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University of Oxford

UK UK

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THE World Ranking: 1

Overview

Overview

Oxford University is the number one ranked university in the world and is located in the beautiful city of Oxford. This internationally renowned university dates back to the end of the 11th century. Some of the world’s best academics teach and work on research projects here. In 2022, Oxford was named the top university in the world in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023 (THE). It has claimed this title seven years in a row.

 

Oxford is home to more than 25,000 students. Lots of people from all over the world want to study here, so students will need to get the highest grades possible to study here. Just 17.5 per cent of people who apply are accepted to study at Oxford.

 

The University of Oxford has over 150 nationalities of students studying here. Around 30 per cent of students at Oxford are international and there are over 200 scholarships available to international students they can apply for.

 

Undergraduate courses at Oxford sit in four academic groups: Humanities, Medical Sciences, Mathematical, Physical & Life Sciences and Social Sciences. The university has 30 ‘colleges’, which look after groups of students and offer a place to stay. Colleges can be found across the city and have everything, from a place to eat to a library to laundry on-site. Students can stay in their college every year of their studies, or just in the first and last years.

 

There are more than 100 libraries at Oxford and the university has the largest library system in the UK. The university has lots of places to socialise and sports available for all students and staff.

 

Oxford University has a large team of counsellors who see more than 3,000 students every year. Their job is to help all students through their studies and personal life. Students can ask for a counsellor of a certain gender or race, and all sessions are free and private.

 

A degree from Oxford will look amazing on a student’s CV. Oxford is one of the top 10 universities in the world for getting students a job after they graduate, making it an amazing place for any international student to study.

 

Teaching quality

Oxford is home to some of the best lecturers and university teachers in the world. The university has been named the best in the world for seven years in a row and the people who teach here are helping to change the world around us.

 

In 2022, Oxford’s Medical Science team won the Teaching Excellence Award for the quality of their lessons and support. Oxford was also named the best university in the world for arts and humanities in the 2022 QS World University Rankings by Subject.

 

Courses are based on ‘tutorials’ – small group lessons where students can ask their expert tutor lots of questions. There are also seminars and lectures (where larger groups of students are taught), lab work and language classes each week. All undergraduate courses are full-time, and most students spend about 40 hours every week studying. 

 

The university also offers lots of talks on plenty of subjects which any student can listen to.

 

Every year, the university does lots of work to find out how students feel. One is the National Student Survey (NSS), which is run by the Office for Students. There is also a survey that asks questions about digital tools to make sure the best technology is in place across the university. The survey feedback helps the university work out where it can get better to keep Oxford as the world’s number one university.

 

‘The Student Barometer’ asks all undergraduate, postgraduate taught and postgraduate research students how they feel about their studies. This survey helps Oxford work out how to improve how happy its students are.

 

Entry requirements

Many students who apply to Oxford have, or are working towards, a-levels. The university also accepts a range of equivalent UK and international qualifications. No matter what students have studied, they will need to have the highest grades to apply to Oxford University. For a-levels, this would mean A*s or As.

 

Lots of courses will only accept qualifications in certain subjects. It’s best for students to check what the course asks for before they apply. If they are interested in graduate courses, students will need to show that they’ve completed an undergraduate degree. Lots of courses ask for research information or work experience, so it’s best to check what each course asks for.  

 

English Scores Required

Undergraduate applicants who do not speak English as their first language must show they have a good level of understanding. Students will need to take one of these tests, and get a minimum score of:

 

  • IELTS – 6.5-7.5
  • TOEFL/TOEFL iBT 100-110
  • Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (CAE) – 176-191

 

Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) – 176-191

 

Students may not need to show their score as they apply. Often, the university will ask for proof when they offer a place to study.  Some students won’t need to show their English proficiency if they’re:

 

  • studying the International Baccalaureate programme, if it is taught in English
  • studying the Singapore Integrated Programme (SIPCAL)
  • taking all classes in English, and have been for at least two years

 

Admission

Almost 24,000 people wanted a place for undergraduate study in 2021 and over 40,000 people were interested in graduate study. Oxford usually has around 3,300 undergraduate places and about 5,500 graduate places each year, so only those with the highest grades will be accepted.

Applicants will need to show:

 

  • The relevant qualifications – or predicted grades, if they are still studying
  • A reference
  • A personal statement
  • Evidence of English language proficiency

 

Students choose the subject they will ‘read’ when they apply. At Oxford, ‘reading’ a subject means this is the subject a student is studying. They can also ask to live in a certain college during the application, or let the university choose where they will live.

 

International students will need to apply through the UK’s university application system, UCAS.  The process is a bit different for international medical students, but the university has lots of guidance available.

 

Students will have an interview before they are offered a place. Unlike other international universities, Oxford doesn’t look at activities outside school unless they’re related to the course. However, as lots of people apply for a place here, students should explain why they have a passion and real interest in their subject.

 

Scholarships & funding

There are over 200 scholarships available to international students in total. Around one in four students at Oxford get some sort of financial help from the university. Every year, the university gives out more than GBP 8.5 million to its UK students alone, and more to those from across the world.

 

International student scholarships can cover everything from course fees to living costs. There are financial help options for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as lots of research grants and funding. Some scholarships are offered by private companies, the government or by charities.

 

There are over 100 other scholarships offered to international students at the University of Oxford, including the Rotary Foundation Scholarship. International students can also get in-course scholarships, which are given out by their department of study.  

 

University structure

Undergraduates will be part of one of Oxford University’s 30 colleges. The colleges are where students live, eat, spend time with friends, study and have tutorials. The college staff will also look after students and make sure they are well.

 

Students can choose a college when they apply, but they won’t always get into the one they chose. There are also two permanent private halls, which are like colleges but are run by Christian groups.

 

Oxford University has four academic groups, or ‘divisions’. The Humanities Division covers nine subjects and the Ruskin School of Art. The Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences Division covers courses like mathematics, computer science, physics, engineering, and life science.

 

The Medical Sciences Division is the largest group. It’s one of the best places in the world for biomedical and clinical research and teaching. In the Times Higher Education Subject Rankings for 2022, Oxford was first in the world for Clinical, Pre-Clinical and Health subjects.

 

The Social Sciences Division teaches subjects like resource management, migration, global governance, justice, poverty and development. It’s also the best place to study social sciences in the world.

 

Oxford University Press is one of the world’s biggest and best university publishers. There is also a Department for Continuing Education, which supports older and part-time students.

 

There are lots of useful places and equipment available across the university, like libraries, laboratories, museums and spaces with computers.

 

Facilities

Oxford has over 100 libraries, including the famous Bodleian Library. This library is a legal deposit library, which means students can ask for a copy of any item published in the UK or Ireland. Oxford also has places to pray, faith leaders and societies for a wide range of faith groups.

 

Oxford University Sport has a gym, swimming pool, athletics track and tennis courts, where students can exercise and play team games. There are over 400 clubs and societies at Oxford University, covering everything from music to science to sport, with something for every kind of student.

 

Any student at Oxford University will become a member of the Student Union. There are regular parties and events at the Student Union and it is a great place to meet new people.

 

Accommodation

Students will definitely get a place to stay in their college for the first year of their studies. They can also stay there for one other year, and lots of students choose their last year so they are close to places like the library. Many colleges can also give graduate students a room while they study.

 

Oxford has lots of private houses and apartments to rent as well. Even if they don’t live in a college building, students can still visit to eat and use things like the washing machines. The Oxford University Students Union has lots of useful information on living out and can help students with their questions.

 

The university has lots of places to live for graduate students, even if they have a family or partner.

 

Student support

There is lots of support offered to international students at Oxford University. The Student Welfare and Support Services teams look after the mental and physical health of students. There are lots of other resources, including:

 

  • Counselling services
  • Oxford Nightline – a free listening service run by students
  • Doctors within each college

 

The Disability Advisory Service (DAS) offer information and advice on disability issues. They help students get the extra tools they need to help with things like:

 

  • A sensory or mobility impairment
  • A long-term illness or physical health condition
  • A specific learning difficulty (SpLD) such as dyslexia, dyspraxia or ADHD
  • A social or communication difficulty such as an autism spectrum condition

 

Counselling and Mental Health

Oxford University has a large and diverse team of counsellors who will do their utmost to support international students through their studies and personal life. Students can request a counsellor of a certain gender or race and the counselling team sees over 3,000 students a year. All counselling is free and confidential.

 

The Sexual Harassment and Violence Support Service provides a safe space for students to be heard, with advisors offering free support to any student who has been impacted by sexual harassment or violence. All specialist caseworkers in the service are trained to support students in confidence. 

 

Graduate outcomes

Oxford is one of the top 10 universities in the world for giving its students great job opportunities. A degree from Oxford is impressive and gives any student an advantage over other graduates.

 

Once they have finished their studies, students will get career support and advice for the rest of their lives. They will also be part of the international alumni group, which shares resources and job or research opportunities.

 

The Graduate Outcomes Survey (GOS) from 2020-21 shows that:

 

  • Almost 80 per cent of recent graduates were in paid work for an employer.
  • Almost all employed graduates were in graduate-level jobs in education, research and development, or health industries. 
  • The average graduate had a salary of GBP 41,600.

 

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Key facts and figures at University of Oxford

Rankings

Hotcourses Diversity Index (What is this?)

DIVERSITY INDEX
Source: HESA

140 International student nationalities at this university

FEEL AT HOME INDEX
Source: HESA

12.68% International students from USA

Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024
Source: THE

1

OVERALL SCORE

98.5%

TEACHING

96.6%

INTERNATIONAL OUTLOOK

97.5%

INDUSTRY INCOME

98.7%

RESEARCH

100%

CITATIONS

99%
QS World University Rankings 2024
Source: QS

3

Academic Ranking of World Universities 2023
Source: ARWU

7

Student life in numbers

COSTS PER YEAR
LIVING COSTS

£3,015

CAMPUS ACCOMMODATION

£6,435

AVERAGE TUITION FEE PER YEAR

UNDERGRADUATE

£38,550

POSTGRADUATE

£33,030

Student reviews

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image Anonymous, Pakistan

Top Experience

Its been a good experience so far. The primary focus is just work and there's lots of it. Terms are very short and extremely intense. There are lots of opportunities to do other things besides work but the challenge is to make time for this during the week. Overall, it really is a unique experience and  read full review

Its been a good experience so far. The primary focus is just work and there's lots of it. Terms are very short and extremely intense. There are lots of opportunities to do other things besides work but the challenge is to make time for this during the week. Overall, it really is a unique experience and the city of Oxford is like no other. show less

image Anonymous, Germany

Simply great

I really like studying at the University of Oxford. There is a great diversity of things that I can do here and the tuition is fantastic. There is a variety of societies covering nearly all interests and many clubs, but generally there is not much time for that since there always is a lot of work to do. read full review

I really like studying at the University of Oxford. There is a great diversity of things that I can do here and the tuition is fantastic. There is a variety of societies covering nearly all interests and many clubs, but generally there is not much time for that since there always is a lot of work to do. If you like a challenging environment and love your subject, then the Oxford is the right choice. show less

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