University Offices
Wellington Square
Oxford OX1 2JD
Tel 01865 288 000
undergraduate.admissions@admin.ox.ac.uk
www.ox.ac.uk
Open days: contact the colleges

PERFORMANCE

Sunday Times ranking 1 (2)

Student satisfaction 83.3% (2008)
Head teacher ranking 2 (1)
Peer ranking 2 (1)
Research quality 74%
A-level/Higher points 522
Unemployment 7.4%
Firsts and 2:1s 91.3%
Student/staff ratio 10.8:1
Dropout rate 2.6% (3.6%)
World ranking 4

Multimedia

• The Times University Guide table

1829: Oxford University, a petition

An anti-Catholic petition presented in the House of Commons on Monday last has given rise to an erroneous opinion respecting the sentiments of the junior members of the University

1907: The needs of Oxford University.

Letter from Lord Curzon

1832: Oxford education, letter from a radical

Do not the undergraduates of Christ Church at Oxford assume a superiority over those of the other colleges because it is the general receptacle of the young nobles?

VITAL STATISTICS

Undergraduates 11,451 (4,611)
Postgraduates 6,907 (1,016)
Teaching staff 1,572
Applications/places 14,262/3,255; 4.4:1 (+12.5%)
Clearing entry 0%
Live in 87% (100%) £125-£188
Bursaries 30%: £200-£3,225
Scholarships None SOCIAL MIX
EU/overseas 5.7%/8.5%
Mature 3.7%
State school 53.4%
Lowest social classes 10.5%
Low-participation areas 3.4%

After 11 years as runner-up to Cambridge, Oxford is this year top of the tree and wins our University of the Year award. Quality is assured almost regardless of department or college. Research underpins all teaching here; students have exposure through lectures and the tutorial system to the leading minds in their chosen subject.

About one third of the 2,246 full-time equivalent staff entered for the research assessment exercise (RAE) published last December were rated world-leading and Oxford came first when the research cash was handed out by the funding council, scooping £118.9m.

Music, where 50% of the research was considered world-leading, topped the bill in the RAE, with three medical subjects — cardiovascular medicine, immunology and primary care — next in line, with 45% of research submitted rated 4*.

The prospectus uses reverse psychology in giving students three reasons not to apply: “I’m afraid of hard work; I only want to be around ‘people like me’; and friends reckon I wouldn’t fit in.” The aim is to nail the myth that there is an “Oxford type”. There isn’t and the university is working hard to diversify its intake, which is still mainly middle-class (90%), with just over half educated in the state sector.

Oxford offers bursary support to students from homes with income as high as £50,000. Facilities for work and play are outstanding.

Don’t delay, applications must be in by October 15.

STUDENT VIEW

Stefan Baskerville, students’ union president:

First impressions: Grand old buildings and exciting people.
Worst feature: Being unable to take up every opportunity that’s available.
Facilities: All-encompassing, including outstanding libraries, sports grounds and concert venues.
Deal clincher: Tutorial teaching system and proximity to great minds.

Rated excellent (27)
Agriculture, forestry and agricultural sciences; anthropology; applied social work; archeology; art and design (fine art); chemistry; classics and ancient history; computer science; east and south Asian studies; economics; English; general engineering; geography; geology (earth sciences); history; law; materials technology; maths, statistics and operational research; Middle Eastern and African studies; molecular biosciences (biochemistry); organismal biosciences; philosophy; physics and astronomy; politics; psychology; teacher training; theology and religious studies.

Student satisfaction
Performing Arts 88.3; Medicine and Dentistry 87.9; Sociology, Social Policy and Anthropology 85.7; European Languages and Area studies 84.3; Computer Science 82.1; Physical Geography and Environmental Science 80.9; Human and Social Geography 80.9; Psychology 80.4; Physical Science 80; Biology and related Sciences 79.8; Medical Science and Pharmacy 75.2

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