University of Oxford
Latin: Universitas Oxoniensis
Motto:	Dominus Illuminatio Mea "The Lord is my Light"
Established:	Unknown, teaching existed since 1096[1]
Type:	Public
Endowment:	£3. Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. A motto (from the Italian word motto, meaning witticism sentence is a phrase meant to formally describe the general motivation or intention of a social group The date of establishment or date of founding of an Institution is the date on which that institution chooses to claim as its starting point A public university is a University that is predominantly funded by public means through a national or subnational government as opposed to private universities. A financial endowment is a Transfer of Money or Property donated to an Institution, usually with the stipulation that it be invested 6 billion (inc. colleges)[2]
Chancellor:	The Rt Hon. A Chancellor is the head of a University. Other titles are sometimes used such as President or Rector. Baron Patten of Barnes
Vice-Chancellor:	Dr John Hood
Students:	19,486 [3]
Undergraduates:	12,106 [3]
Postgraduates:	7,380 [3]
Location:	Oxford, Oxfordshire, England
Colours:	Oxford (dark) blue[4]
Affiliations:	IARU Russell Group Coimbra Group Europaeum EUA LERU 'Golden Triangle'
Website:	ox.ac.uk

The University of Oxford (informally "Oxford University", or simply "Oxford"), located in the city of Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, is the oldest university in the English-speaking world. Christopher Francis Patten Baron Patten of Barnes, CH, PC (born 12 May 1944 in Cleveleys, Lancashire) is a prominent British Conservative A Vice-Chancellor (commonly called the VC) of a University in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, New Zealand, John Hood has been the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford since 5 October 2004. The word student is etymologically derived through Middle English from the Latin second-type conjugation Verb "studēre" In some Educational systems undergraduate education is Post-secondary education up to the level of a Bachelor's degree. See also Postgraduate Training in Education Postgraduate education (synonymous in North America with graduate education, and sometimes described Oxford is currently bidding for the 2010 Wikimania Conference Oxford () is a city, and the County town of Oxfordshire, History See also History of Oxfordshire The county of Oxfordshire was formed in the early years of the 10th century and is broadly situated in the England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland School colors are the Colors chosen by a School to represent it on uniforms and other items of identification The International Alliance of Research Universities ( IARU) was launched in January 2006 as a leading co-operative network of 10 leading international research-intensive universities The Russell Group is a collaboration of twenty UK universities that receive two-thirds of universities' research grant and contract funding in the United Kingdom Mission The Coimbra Group is.an association of long-established European multidisciplinary universities of high international standard committed to creating special academic The Europaeum is a loose organisation of ten leading European universities. See also EURODOC ESIB ENQA EAIE According to its Mission statement, the League of European Research Universities ( LERU) is "a group of European research-intensive universities Golden Triangle is a term used to describe a number of leading British research universities based in London, Oxford and Cambridge A website (alternatively web site or Web site, a back-construction from the Proper noun World Wide Web) is a collection of Web pages Oxford is currently bidding for the 2010 Wikimania Conference Oxford () is a city, and the County town of Oxfordshire, History See also History of Oxfordshire The county of Oxfordshire was formed in the early years of the 10th century and is broadly situated in the England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland This is a list of the oldest extant universities in the world. ^[5] It is also regarded as one of the world's leading academic institutions. The University of Oxford (informally "Oxford University" or simply "Oxford" located in the city of Oxford, Oxfordshire, England is the The name is sometimes abbreviated as Oxon. in post-nominals, from the Latin "Oxoniensis" although Oxf is sometimes used in official publications. Post-nominal letters, also called " post-nominal initials " or " post-nominal titles " are letters placed after the name of a person to indicate that The university has 35 independent Colleges and Halls.

The university traces its roots back to at least the end of the 11th century, although the exact date of foundation remains unclear. After a dispute between students and townsfolk broke out in 1209, some of the academics at Oxford fled north-east to the town of Cambridge, where the University of Cambridge was founded. The city of Cambridge (ˈkeɪmbrɪdʒ is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England The University of Cambridge (often Cambridge University) located in Cambridge, England, is the second-oldest university in the The two universities have since had a long history of competition with each other (see Oxbridge rivalry). Oxbridge was originally a fictional composite of the University of '''Ox'''ford and the University of Cam'''bridge''' in England, and the term is now

The University of Oxford is a member of the Russell Group of research-led British universities, the Coimbra Group (a network of leading European universities), the League of European Research Universities, and is also a core member of the Europaeum. The Russell Group is a collaboration of twenty UK universities that receive two-thirds of universities' research grant and contract funding in the United Kingdom Mission The Coimbra Group is.an association of long-established European multidisciplinary universities of high international standard committed to creating special academic According to its Mission statement, the League of European Research Universities ( LERU) is "a group of European research-intensive universities The Europaeum is a loose organisation of ten leading European universities. Academically, Oxford is consistently ranked in the world's top ten universities. The Academic Ranking of World Universities is compiled by Shanghai Jiao Tong University ’s Institute of Higher Education and includes major institutes of higher education ranked ^[6][7] For more than a century, it has served as the home of the Rhodes Scholarship, which brings highly accomplished students from a number of countries to study at Oxford as postgraduates. Rhodes Scholarship Rhodes scholar redirects here Rhodes Scholar redirects here Rhodes scholars

History

Coat of arms of the University of Oxford

The town of Oxford was already an important centre of learning by the end of the 12th century. The Arms of the University of Oxford show an open book with the inscription ' Dominus illuminatio mea ' surrounded by three golden crowns Teachers from mainland Europe and other scholars settled there, and lectures are known to have been delivered by as early as 1096. Continental Europe, also referred to as mainland Europe or simply the Continent, is the Continent of Europe, explicitly excluding European The expulsion of foreigners from the University of Paris in 1167 caused many English scholars to return from France and settle in Oxford. The historic University of Paris (Université de Paris first appeared in the second half of the 13th century The historian Gerald of Wales lectured to the scholars in 1188, and the first known foreign scholar, Emo of Friesland arrived in 1190. Gerald of Wales (c 1146 &ndash c 1223 also known as Gerallt Gymro in Welsh or Giraldus Cambrensis in Latin, Emo of Friesland was a Frisian scholar and the earliest foreign student studying at Oxford University whose name has survived The head of the University was named a chancellor from 1201, and the masters were recognised as a universitas or corporation in 1231. Chancellor or chancellour (archaic ( Latin: cancellarius) is an official Title used in countries whose civilization has arisen The students associated together, on the basis of geographical origins, into two “nations”, representing the North (including the Scots) and the South (including the Irish and the Welsh). A nation (Latin natio meaning being born) was a regional corporation of Students at a Medieval university. In later centuries, geographical origins continued to influence many students' affiliations when membership of a college or hall became customary in Oxford. The University of Oxford comprises 38 Colleges and 6 religious Permanent Private Halls (PPHs which are autonomous self-governing A Permanent Private Hall at the University of Oxford is an educational institution within the university &mdash not as a constituent college but able to present students for Members of many religious orders, including Dominicans, Franciscans, Carmelites, and Augustinians, settled in Oxford in the mid-13th century, gained influence, and maintained houses for students. A religious order is a lineage of communities and organizations of people who live in some way set apart from society in accordance with their specific religious devotion usually The Order of Preachers ( Latin: Ordo Praedicatorum) after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is The term Franciscan is commonly used to refer to members of Catholic The Order of the Brothers of Our Lady of Mount Carmel or Carmelites (sometimes simply Carmel by Synecdoche; Latin: Ordo fratrum Beatæ The Augustinians, named after Saint Augustine of Hippo (died AD 430) are several Catholic Monastic orders and congregations At about the same time, private benefactors established colleges to serve as self-contained scholarly communities. Among the earliest were John I de Balliol, father of the future King of Scots; Balliol College bears his name. John de Balliol (Baliol (died 25 October, 1268) was a leading figure of Scottish and English life of his time Balliol College (ˈbeɪlɪəl founded in 1263 is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Another founder, Walter de Merton, a chancellor of England and afterwards Bishop of Rochester, devised a series of regulations for college life; Merton College thereby became the model for such establishments at Oxford as well as at the University of Cambridge. Walter de Merton (c 1205 &ndash 27 October 1277) was Bishop of Rochester and founder of Merton College Oxford. The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor is a senior and important functionary in the Government of the United Kingdom. See also List of bishops of Rochester The Bishop of Rochester is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese See also Wardens of Merton College Oxford. Merton College is also the name of a college in the London Borough of Merton. The University of Cambridge (often Cambridge University) located in Cambridge, England, is the second-oldest university in the Thereafter, an increasing number of students forsook living in halls and religious houses in favour of living at colleges.

The new learning of the Renaissance greatly influenced Oxford from the late 15th century onward. The Renaissance (from French Renaissance, meaning "rebirth" Italian: Rinascimento, from re- "again" and nascere Among University scholars of the period were William Grocyn, who contributed to the revival of the Greek language, and John Colet, the noted biblical scholar. William Grocyn (1446? - 1519 was an English scholar a friend of Erasmus. Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly John Colet (January 1467 &ndash 10 September 1519) was an English churchman and Educational pioneer Biblical theology is a discipline within Christian theology which studies the Bible from the perspective of understanding the progressive history of God With the Reformation and the breaking of ties with the Roman Catholic Church, the method of teaching at the university was transformed from the medieval Scholastic method to Renaissance education, although institutions associated with the university suffered loss of land and revenues. The Protestant Reformation was a reform movement in Europe that began in 1517 though its roots lie further back in time Scholasticism was the dominant form of theology and philosophy in the Latin West in the Middle Ages, particularly in the 12th 13th and 14th centuries In 1636, Chancellor William Laud, archbishop of Canterbury, codified the university statutes; these to a large extent remained the university's governing regulations until the mid-19th century. A Chancellor is the head of a University. Other titles are sometimes used such as President or Rector. Archbishop William Laud (7 October 1573 - 10 January 1645 was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1633 to 1645 The Archbishop of Canterbury is the chief bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the Laud was also responsible for the granting of a charter securing privileges for the university press, and he made significant contributions to the Bodleian Library, the main library of the university. The Bodleian Library ( the main Research library of the University of Oxford, is one of the oldest libraries in Europe, and in England

A map of Oxford, 1605.

The university was a centre of the Royalist Party during the English Civil War (1642–1649), while the town favoured the opposing Parliamentarian cause. Cavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I during the English Civil War ( 1642 &ndash 1651 The English Civil War (1642-1651 was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists. " Roundheads " was the Nickname given to the Puritan supporters of Parliament during the English Civil War. Soldier-statesman Oliver Cromwell, chancellor of the university from 1650 to 1657, was responsible for preventing both Oxford and Cambridge from being closed down by the Puritans, who viewed university education as dangerous to religious beliefs. Oliver Cromwell (25 April 1599 Old Style &ndash 3 September 1658 Old Style) was an English military and political leader best known From the mid-18th century onward, however, the University of Oxford took little part in political conflicts.

Administrative reforms during the 19th century included the replacement of oral examinations with written entrance tests, greater tolerance for religious dissent, and the establishment of four colleges for women. English Dissenters were Christians who separated from the Church of England. Women have been eligible to be full members of the university and have been entitled to take degrees since 1920. Although Oxford's emphasis traditionally had been on classical knowledge, its curriculum expanded in the course of the 19th century and now attaches equal importance to scientific and medical studies. Science (from the Latin scientia, meaning " Knowledge " or "knowing" is the effort to discover, and increase human understanding Medicine is the art and science of healing It encompasses a range of Health care practices evolved to maintain and restore Human Health by the

The list of distinguished scholars at the University of Oxford is long and includes many who have made major contributions to British politics, the sciences, medicine, and literature. The politics of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland takes place in the framework of a Constitutional monarchy, in which the Monarch is Head More than forty Nobel laureates and more than fifty world leaders have been affiliated with the University of Oxford. Since its foundation in 1823, the Oxford Union, a private club devoted to formal debating and other social activities, has numbered among its members many of Britain's most noted political leaders. Status and membership The Oxford Union is an Unincorporated association, holding its property in trust in favour of its objectives and members and governed

Organisation

As a collegiate university, Oxford's structure can be confusing to those unfamiliar with it. A collegiate university is a University whose functions are divided between the central administration of the university and a number of constituent colleges The university is essentially a federation: it comprises over forty self-governing colleges and halls, along with a central administration headed by the Vice-Chancellor. A federation ( Latin: foedus, covenant is a union comprising a number of partially self-governing states or regions united by a central ("federal" The University of Oxford comprises 38 Colleges and 6 religious Permanent Private Halls (PPHs which are autonomous self-governing A Permanent Private Hall at the University of Oxford is an educational institution within the university &mdash not as a constituent college but able to present students for The following people have been Vice-Chancellors of the University of Oxford: 2009 &ndash Andrew D The academic departments are located centrally within this structure; they are not affiliated to any particular college. The departments perform research, provide facilities for teaching and research, organise lectures and seminars, and determine the syllabi and guidelines for the teaching of students. Colleges then organise the tutorial teaching for their undergraduates. The members of an academic department are spread around many colleges; though certain colleges do have subject strengths (e. g. Nuffield College as a centre for the social sciences), they are the exception, and most colleges will have a broad mix of academics and students from a diverse range of subjects. Nuffield College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Facilities such as libraries are provided on all these levels: by the central university (the Bodleian), by the departments (individual departmental libraries, such as the English Faculty Library), and by colleges (all of which maintain a multi-discipline library for the use of their members). The Bodleian Library ( the main Research library of the University of Oxford, is one of the oldest libraries in Europe, and in England

The Sheldonian Theatre, built by Sir Christopher Wren between 1664-1668, hosts the University's Congregation, as well as concerts and degree ceremonies

Central governance

The university's formal head is the Chancellor (currently Lord Patten), though as with most British universities, the Chancellor is a titular figure, rather than someone involved with the day-to-day running of the university. The Sheldonian Theatre, located in Oxford, England, was built from 1664 to 1668 after a design by Christopher Wren for the Sir Christopher Wren ( 20 October 1632 &ndash 25 February 1723) was a 17th century English Designer, Astronomer A congregation is a formal meeting of senior members of a University, especially in the United Kingdom. Chancellors of the University of Oxford include 1224 Robert Grosseteste (Master of the School of Oxford since 1208 1231 Ralph Christopher Francis Patten Baron Patten of Barnes, CH, PC (born 12 May 1944 in Cleveleys, Lancashire) is a prominent British Conservative Elected by the members of Convocation, a body comprising all graduates of the university, the Chancellor holds office until death. A Convocation ( Latin 'calling together' translating the Greek Ecclesia) is a group of people formally assembled for a special purpose

The Vice-Chancellor, currently Dr John Hood, is the de facto head of the University. The following people have been Vice-Chancellors of the University of Oxford: 2009 &ndash Andrew D John Hood has been the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford since 5 October 2004. Five Pro-Vice-Chancellors have specific responsibilities for Education; Research; Planning and Resources; Development and External Affairs; and Personnel and Equal Opportunities. The University Council is the executive policy-forming body, which consists of the Vice-Chancellor as well as heads of departments and other members elected by Congregation, in addition to observers from the Student Union. The Oxford University Student Union is the official Students' union of the University of Oxford, representing the interests of its members to the university and the Congregation, the ‘parliament of the dons’, comprises over 3,700 members of the University’s academic and administrative staff, and has ultimate responsibility for legislative matters: it discusses and pronounces on policies proposed by the University Council. A congregation is a formal meeting of senior members of a University, especially in the United Kingdom. Oxford and Cambridge (which is similarly structured) are unique for this democratic form of governance.

Two university proctors, who are elected annually on a rotating basis from two of the colleges, supervise undergraduate discipline. Proctor, an English variant of the word procurator, is a person who takes charge of or acts for another The collection of University Professors is called the Statutory Professors of the University of Oxford. They are particularly influential in the running of the graduate programmes within the University. Examples of Statutory Professors are the Chichele Professorships and the Drummond Professor of Political Economy. The Chichele Professorships are Statutory Professorships at the University of Oxford named in honour of Henry Chichele (also spelt Chicheley or The various academic faculties, departments, and institutes are organised into four divisions, each with their own Head and elected board. They are the Humanities Division; the Social Sciences Division; the Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences Division; and the Medical Sciences Division.

Magdalen College on May Morning, 2007. Magdalen College redirects here see also Magdalene College Cambridge Magdalen College (ˈmɔːdlɨn "maudlin" is one of the constituent May Morning is an annual event in Oxford, England, on May Day ( 1 May)

St Catherine's College, founded in 1962, is the youngest undergraduate college

Colleges

Main article: Colleges of the University of Oxford

There are 39 colleges of the University of Oxford and seven Permanent Private Halls, each with its own internal structure and activities. St Catherine's College, often called St Catz or simply Catz, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England The University of Oxford comprises 38 Colleges and 6 religious Permanent Private Halls (PPHs which are autonomous self-governing The University of Oxford comprises 38 Colleges and 6 religious Permanent Private Halls (PPHs which are autonomous self-governing A Permanent Private Hall at the University of Oxford is an educational institution within the university &mdash not as a constituent college but able to present students for All students, and most academic staff, are affiliated with a college. The heads of Oxford colleges are known by various titles, according to the college, including warden, provost, principal, president, rector, master or dean. The colleges join together as the Conference of Colleges to discuss policy and to deal with the central University administration. Teaching members of the colleges (fellows and tutors) are collectively and familiarly known as dons (though the term is rarely used by members of the university itself). In addition to residential and dining facilities, the colleges provide social, cultural, and recreational activities for their members. Colleges have responsibility for admitting undergraduates and organising their tuition; for graduates, this responsibility falls upon the departments.

Teaching and degrees

Main articles: Degrees of the University of Oxford and List of Professorships at the University of Oxford

Undergraduate teaching is centred upon the tutorial, where 1-4 students spend an hour with an academic discussing their week’s work, usually an essay (arts) or problem sheet (sciences). This article concerns the degrees of the University of Oxford. This is a list of professorships at the University of Oxford. Students usually have around two tutorials a week, and can be taught by academics at any other college - not just their own - as expertise and personnel requires. These tutorials are complemented by lectures, classes and seminars, which are organised on a departmental basis. Graduate students undertaking taught degrees are usually instructed through classes and seminars, though naturally there is more focus upon individual research.

The university itself is responsible for conducting examinations and conferring degrees. The passing of two sets of examinations is a prerequisite for a first degree. The first set of examinations, called either Honour Moderations (‘Mods’ and ‘Honour Mods’) or Preliminary Examinations (‘Prelims’), are usually held at the end of the first year (after two terms for those studying Law, Experimental Psychology or Psychology, Philosophy and Physiology or after five terms in the case of Classics). The second set of examinations, the Final Honour School (‘Finals’), is held at the end of the undergraduate course. Successful candidates receive first-, upper or lower second-, or third-class honours based on their performance in Finals. Research degrees at the master's and doctoral level are conferred in all subjects studied at graduate level at the university.

Tom Quad, Christ Church in the snow. The Great Quadrangle more popularly known as Tom Quad, is one of the quadrangles of Christ Church Oxford. Not to be confused with Christchurch, a city in New Zealand. Christ Church (Ædes Christi the temple or house of Christ and thus sometimes known as

Academic year

The academic year is divided into three terms, determined by Regulations. An academic term is a division of an academic year the time during which a School, College or University holds classes ^[8] Michaelmas Term lasts from October to December; Hilary Term from January to March; and Trinity Term from April to June. Michaelmas term is the first Academic term of the academic years of the following British and Irish Universities: University Hilary Term is the second academic term of Oxford University 's and Dublin University 's academic year Trinity term is the name of the third and final term of Oxford University 's and Dublin University 's Academic year.

Within these terms, Council determines for each year eight-week periods called Full Terms, during which undergraduate teaching takes place. Full Term in the universities of Oxford and Cambridge refers to the eight weeks within the longer Academic term during which lectures are given and These terms are shorter than those of many other British universities. ^[9] Undergraduates are also expected to prepare heavily in the three vacations (known as the Christmas, Easter and Long Vacations). Easter ( Greek: Πάσχα Pascha or Pasxa) is the most important religious feast in the Christian Liturgical year.

Internally at least, the dates in the term are often referred to by a number in reference to the start of each full term, thus the first week of any full term is called "1st week" and the last is "8th week". The numbering of the weeks continues up to the end of the term, and begins again with negative numbering from the beginning of the succeeding term, through "minus first week" and "noughth week", which precedes "1st week". Weeks begin on a Sunday.

Finances

In 2005/06 the University had income of £609m, and the colleges £237m (of which £41m is a flow-through from the University). For the University, key sources were HEFCE (£166m) and research grants (£213m). The Higher Education Funding Council for England ( HEFCE) is a Non-departmental public body of the Department for Innovation Universities and Skills (previously For the colleges, the largest single source was endowments and interest (£82m) and residential charges (£47m). While the University has the larger operating budget, the colleges have a far larger aggregate endowment, at around £2. 7bn compared to the University's £900m. ^[10]

Admission

Procedure

The admission process for undergraduates is undertaken by the individual colleges, working with each other to ensure that the best students gain a place at the University regardless of whether they are accepted by their preferred college. Selection is based on achieved and predicted exam results; candidate-submitted written work; interviews, which are held between applicants and college tutors; and, in some subjects, written admission tests prior to interview. Personal statements and school references are also considered. Prospective students apply through the UCAS application system, in common with all British universities, but (along with applicants for Cambridge) must observe an earlier deadline. UCAS ( Universities & Colleges Admissions Service, pronounced " ʏwk{{sc||A}}s " 'juːkæs is a Clearing house for applications to almost The University of Cambridge (often Cambridge University) located in Cambridge, England, is the second-oldest university in the They must also complete an additional, Oxford-specific form. Because of the high volume of applications and the direct involvement of the faculty in admissions, students are not permitted to apply to both Oxford and Cambridge in the same year, with the exception of applicants for Organ Scholarships and those applying to read for a second undergraduate degree. An organ scholar is a young musician employed as a part-time assistant Organist at an institution where regular choral services are held

The decentralised, college-based nature of the admissions procedure necessitates a number of mechanisms to ensure that the best students are offered admission to the University, regardless of whether the college they originally applied to can accommodate them. As such, colleges can 'pool' candidates to other colleges, whereby candidates can be interviewed at and/or offered admission to another college. Some applicants are also awarded an 'open offer', which does not carry an attachment to a particular college until A Level results day in August. The A-level, short for Advanced Level, is a General Certificate of Education qualification in England, Northern Ireland and Wales, The colleges have recently signed up to what they call a 'common framework' outlining the principles and procedures they observe.

Undergraduate and graduate students may name preferred colleges in their applications. For undergraduate students, an increasing number of departments practice college reallocation to ensure that the ratio between potential students and subject places available at all colleges are as uniform as possible. Students who named colleges which are over-subscribed are reallocated to under-subscribed colleges for their subjects. For the Department of Physics, college reallocation is done on a random basis after a shortlist of candidates is drawn up and before candidates are invited for interviews at the university^[11]. As a result of this, the college eventually offering a candidate a place to read a subject may not be the one he/she originally applied to.

For graduate students, many colleges express a preference for candidates who will be undertaking research in an area of interest of one of its fellows. St Hugh's College, for example, states that it accepts graduate students in most subjects, principally those in the fields of interest of the Fellows of the college. ^[12] Perhaps as a consequence of this, it is not uncommon for a graduate student to be a member of his/her supervisor's college, although this is not an official university requirement. For graduate students, admission is first handled by the relevant department, and then by a college.

Oxford University Museum of Natural History

Access

Despite the University's claims that its admissions policies avoid bias to candidates of certain socioeconomic or educational backgrounds,^[13] the fairness of Oxford admissions have continued to attract considerable public controversy through episodes such as the Laura Spence Affair in 2000. The Oxford University Museum of Natural History, sometimes known simply as the Oxford University Museum, is a Museum displaying many of the University of Oxford's The Laura Spence Affair was a British political controversy in 2000, ignited after the failure of high-flying State school pupil Laura Spence to secure ^[14] Oxbridge entrance remains a central focus for many private and selective-state schools, and the lack of a more representative social mix remains a point of national controversy. ^[15] In 2007, the University refined its admissions procedure to take into account the academic performance of applicants' schools. ^[16]

Students who apply from state schools and colleges have a comparable acceptance rate to those from independent schools (25% and 32% of applicants accepted respectively, 2006). State school is an expression used in Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom to distinguish schools provided by the government from privately An independent school is a school which is not dependent upon national or local Government for financing its operation and is instead operated by tuition charges gifts and However, most pupils who are accepted from state schools come from "elite" grammar and selective schools, rather than comprehensives. A comprehensive school is a Secondary school and State school for children from the age of 11 to at least 16 that does not select children on the basis of academic ^[17] Only about half of applications come from the state sector,^[18] and the University of Oxford funds many initiatives to attract applicants from this sector, including the Oxford Access Scheme, Target Schools, and the FE Access Initiative. ^[19] Most colleges also run their own access schemes and initiatives.

The Ashmolean is the oldest museum in Britain

The University is also open to overseas students (primarily from American universities) who may enrol in study abroad programmes during the summer months. The Ashmolean Museum (in full the Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology) on Beaumont Street, Oxford, England, is the world's first The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Studying abroad is the act of a Student pursuing Educational opportunities in a foreign country Mature and part-time students are supported by the Oxford University Department for Continuing Education. Oxford University Department for Continuing Education ( OUDCE) is a department within the University of Oxford that caters mainly for part-time and Mature students

Scholarships and financial support

There are many opportunities for students at Oxford to receive financial help during their studies. The Oxford Opportunity Bursaries, introduced in 2006, are university-wide means-based bursaries available to any British undergraduate. With a total possible grant of £10,235 over a 3-year degree, it is the most generous bursary scheme offered by any British university. ^[20] In addition, individual colleges also offer bursaries and funds to help their students. For graduate study, there are many scholarships attached to the University, available to students from all sorts of backgrounds, from the famous Rhodes Scholarships to the new Weidenfeld Scholarships. Rhodes Scholarship Rhodes scholar redirects here Rhodes Scholar redirects here Rhodes scholars ^[21] In October 2007, it was announced that Oxford would be launching a fund-raising campaign with a goal in excess of £1 billion. Of the money raised, approximately one quarter is expected to go towards student financial support. ^[22]

Students successful in early examinations are rewarded by their colleges with scholarships and exhibitions, normally the result of a long-standing endowment, although when tuition fees were first abolished, the amounts of money available became purely nominal. A scholarship is an award of access to an institution or a financial aid award for an individual student scholar for the purpose of furthering their Education At the universities of Dublin, Oxford and Cambridge and at Westminster School and Winchester College, an exhibition is a financial Scholars, and exhibitioners in some colleges, are entitled to wear a more voluminous undergraduate gown; "commoners" (originally those who had to pay for their "commons", or food and lodging) being restricted to a short, sleeveless garment. The term "scholar" in relation to Oxbridge, therefore, had a specific meaning as well as the more general meaning of someone of outstanding academic ability. In previous times, there were "noblemen commoners" and "gentlemen commoners", but these ranks were abolished in the 19th century. "Closed" scholarships, which were accessible only to candidates who fitted specific conditions such as coming from specific schools, exist now only in name.

Until 1866 one had to belong to the Church of England to receive the BA degree from Oxford, and "dissenters" were only permitted to receive the MA in 1871. The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England, the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Knowledge of Ancient Greek was required until 1920, and Latin until 1960. The Ancient Greek language is the historical stage in the development of the Hellenic language family spanning the Archaic (c Women were admitted to degrees in 1920.

Collections

The Radcliffe Camera, built 1737-1749, holds books from the Bodleian Library's English, History, and Theology collections

Libraries

Oxford’s central research library is the Bodleian, founded by Sir Thomas Bodley in 1598 and opened in 1602^[23]. References in popular culture J R R Tolkien, author of The Lord of the Rings, remarked that the building resembled Sauron The Bodleian Library ( the main Research library of the University of Oxford, is one of the oldest libraries in Europe, and in England The Bodleian Library ( the main Research library of the University of Oxford, is one of the oldest libraries in Europe, and in England Sir Thomas Bodley ( March 2, 1545 &ndash January 28, 1613) was an English Diplomat and scholar founder of the With over 8 million volumes housed on 117 miles (188 km) of shelving, it is the second-largest library in the UK, after the British Library. The British Library ( BL) is the National library of the United Kingdom. It is a legal deposit library, which means that it is entitled to request a free copy of every book published in the UK. Legal deposit is a legal requirement that a person or group submit copies of their Publications to a repository usually a library. As such, its collection is growing at a rate of over three miles (five kilometres) of shelving every year. ^[24] Its main central site consists of the Radcliffe Camera, the Old Schools Quadrangle, the Clarendon Building, and the New Bodleian Building. References in popular culture J R R Tolkien, author of The Lord of the Rings, remarked that the building resembled Sauron The Clarendon Building is a landmark Grade I listed building in Oxford, England and was built between 1711 and 1713 to house the A tunnel underneath Broad Street connects the buildings. Broad Street is a wide street in Oxford, England. It is famous for its bookshops including the original Blackwell's bookshop at number 50 There are plans to build a new book depository in Osney Mead,^[25] and to remodel the New Bodleian building^[26] to better showcase the library’s various treasures (which include a Shakespeare First Folio and a Gutenberg Bible) as well as temporary exhibitions. Mr William Shakespeares Comedies Histories & Tragedies is the first published collection of William Shakespeare 's plays Gutenberg Bible (also known as the 42-line Bible or the Mazarin Bible) is a printed version of the Latin Vulgate translation of the Bible that Several other libraries, such as the Radcliffe Science Library and the Oriental Institute Library, also fall within the Bodleian Group’s remit. The Radcliffe Science Library ( RSL) is the main teaching and research Science Library at the University of Oxford, England The Oriental Institute (commonly referred to as the OI) of the University of Oxford, England, is home to the University's Faculty of Oriental Studies

As well as the Bodleian, there are a number of other specialised libraries in Oxford, such as the Sackler Library which holds classical collections. The Sackler Library holds a large portion of the classical, Art history, and archaeological works belonging to the University of Oxford In addition, most academic departments maintain their own library, as do all colleges. The University’s entire collection is catalogued by the Oxford Libraries Information System, though with such a huge collection, this is an ongoing task. OLIS, the Oxford Libraries Information System, is an online Union catalog of books held by the libraries of the University of Oxford, England ^[27] Oxford University Library Services, the head of which is Bodley’s Librarian, is the governing administrative body responsible for libraries in Oxford. The Bodleian is currently engaged in a mass-digitisation project with Google. Google Inc is an American public corporation, earning revenue from advertising related to its Internet search, e-mail, online ^[28][29]

See also: Category:Libraries in Oxford

Pitt Rivers Museum interior

Museums

Oxford maintains a number of museums and galleries in addition to its libraries. The Pitt Rivers Museum is a Museum displaying the archaeological and anthropological collections of the University of Oxford. The Ashmolean Museum, founded in 1683, is the oldest museum in the UK, and the oldest university museum in the world. The Ashmolean Museum (in full the Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology) on Beaumont Street, Oxford, England, is the world's first ^[30] It holds significant collections of art and archaeology, including works by Michelangelo, Leonardo, Turner, and Picasso, as well as treasures such as the Parian Marble and the Alfred Jewel. Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni Two biographies were published of him during his lifetime One of them by Giorgio Vasari, proposed that he was the pinnacle of all Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci ( April 15 1452 – May 2 1519 was an Italian Polymath, having been a scientist Mathematician, Engineer Joseph Mallord William Turner (23 April 1775 &ndash 19 December 1851 was an English Romantic landscape painter, Watercolourist and Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Martyr Patricio Clito Ruíz y Picasso (October 25 1881 &ndash April 8 1973 The Parian Marble (or Parian Chronicle or Marmor Parium) is a Greek chronological table, covering the years from 1581 BC to 264 The Alfred Jewel is an Anglo-Saxon ornament dating from the late 9th century, first discovered in 1693. The Ashmolean is currently undertaking a £49m redevelopment^[31] which will double the display space as well as provide new facilities.

The Museum of Natural History holds the University’s anatomical and natural history specimens. The Oxford University Museum of Natural History, sometimes known simply as the Oxford University Museum, is a Museum displaying many of the University of Oxford's It is housed in a large neo-Gothic building on Parks Road, in the University’s Science Area. Parks Road is a road in Oxford, England. It runs north-south between the Banbury Road and Norham Gardens at the northern end and the junction The Science Area in Oxford, England is where most of the science departments at Oxford University are located ^[32][33] Among its collection are the skeletons of a Tyrannosaurus rex and triceratops, and the most complete remains of a dodo found anywhere in the world. Tyrannosaurus ( or, meaning 'tyrant lizard' is a Genus of Theropod Dinosaur. Triceratops (traɪˈsɛrətɒps is an extinct Genus of herbivorous ceratopsid Dinosaur which lived during the late Maastrichtian The dodo ( Raphus cucullatus) was a Flightless bird endemic to the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius. It also hosts the Simonyi Professorship of the Public Understanding of Science, currently held by Richard Dawkins. Charles Simonyi (Simonyi Károly born September 10 1948 is a Hungarian Computer software executive who as head of Microsoft 's application software Clinton Richard Dawkins, FRS, FRSL (born 26 March 1941 is a British ethologist, evolutionary biologist, and Popular science

Autumn in the Walled Garden of the Botanic Garden

Adjoining the Museum of Natural History is the Pitt Rivers Museum, founded in 1884, which displays the University’s archaeological and anthropological collections, currently holding over 500,000 items. University of Oxford Botanic Garden, the oldest Botanic garden in Great Britain, and the third oldest scientific garden in the world was founded in 1621 as a The Pitt Rivers Museum is a Museum displaying the archaeological and anthropological collections of the University of Oxford. It recently built a new research annexe; its staff have been involved with the teaching of anthropology at Oxford since its foundation, when as part of his donation General Augustus Pitt Rivers stipulated that the University establish a lectureship in anthropology. Lieutenant-General Augustus Henry Lane Fox Pitt Rivers ( 14 April, 1827 – 4 May, 1900) was an English army

The Museum of the History of Science is housed on Broad St in the world’s oldest-surviving purpose-built museum building. The Museum of the History of Science, located in Broad Street, Oxford, is home to an unrivalled collection of scientific instruments from medieval times to the ^[34] It contains 15,000 artifacts, from antiquity to the 20th century, representing almost all aspects of the history of science. Science is a body of empirical, theoretical, and practical knowledge about the natural world, produced by a global community of researchers In the Faculty of Music on St Aldate's is the Bate Collection of Musical Instruments, a collection mostly comprising of instruments from Western classical music, from the medieval period onwards. St Aldate's is a street in central Oxford, England. It runs south from the generally acknowledged centre of Oxford at Carfax. The Bate Collection of Musical Instruments is a collection of historic musical instruments mainly for Western classical music from the medieval period onwards The Botanic Garden is the oldest botanic garden in the UK, and the third-oldest scientific garden in the world. University of Oxford Botanic Garden, the oldest Botanic garden in Great Britain, and the third oldest scientific garden in the world was founded in 1621 as a It contains representatives from over 90% of the world’s higher plant families. Christ Church Picture Gallery holds a collection of over 200 old master paintings. Christ Church Picture Gallery is a picture gallery at Christ Church, Oxford, England. " Old Master " (or " old master " is a term for a European painter of skill who worked before about 1800, or a painting by such

See also: Category:Museums in Oxford

Reputation

In the subject tables of the Times Good University Guide 2008, Oxford is ranked as the top university in the UK with Cambridge as the second ^[35]. The Department of Politics has scored top marks in the Guardian's University Guide 2009 receiving top marks of 100. This puts the Department way ahead of rival departments at LSE (80), St Andrew's (79. 3) and Cambridge (77. The city of Cambridge (ˈkeɪmbrɪdʒ is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England 6). Oxford's Physiological Sciences course is ranked first of 48 'Anatomy and Physiology' courses. Oxford regularly tops the league in English, Fine Art, Business Studies, Materials technology, Middle Eastern and African Studies, Music, Philosophy, and Politics, are also first and Education and Linguistics share first with Cambridge. A business (also called firm or an enterprise) is a legally recognized organizational entity designed to provide goods and/or services to The Middle East is a Subcontinent with no clear boundaries often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East. African studies is the study of Africa, and can encompass such fields as social and Economic development, Politics, History, Oxford comes second after Cambridge in a further seventeen subjects. The University then takes three third-places and an equal-third, as well as a fourth, fifth, and equal-sixth place in one subject each. ^[36]

In the Guardian's subject tables for institutions in tariff-band 6 (universities whose prospective students are expected to score 400 or more tariff points) Oxford took first place for Anatomy and Physiology, Anthropology, Biosciences, Business and Management Studies, Earth and Marine Sciences, Economics, English, Law, Materials and Mineral Engineering, Modern Languages, Music, Politics, Psychology, and Sociology. Management (covering theory practice and scope of management and Manager' (covering the people who manage might help clarify and systematise Oceanography (from the greek words Ωκεανός meaning Ocean and γράφω meaning to write also called oceanology or A modern language is any Human Language that is currently in use Oxford came second to Cambridge in Geography, Archaeology, Classics, History, History of Art, Mathematics, Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies. The history of art usually refers to the History of the Visual arts, such as Painting, Sculpture and Architecture. Religious studies, or Religious education, is the academic field of multi-disciplinary Secular study of religious beliefs behaviors and institutions Oxford came second to Aberdeen in General Engineering, and third in Fine Art, General Engineering and Physics; fourth place in Chemistry and Medicine; sixth place in Computer Science and IT. ^[37]

According to the THES - QS World University Rankings Oxford is jointly rated the second best university alongside the University of Cambridge and Yale University. The THES - QS World University Rankings is an annual publication of university rankings around the world published by The Times Higher Education Supplement (THES According to the same rankings this makes Oxford the joint best university in Europe, alongside Cambridge.

Oxford is one of four UK universities that belong to the Coimbra Group, one of four UK universities that belong to the League of European Research Universities, and one of three UK universities that belong to both. Mission The Coimbra Group is.an association of long-established European multidisciplinary universities of high international standard committed to creating special academic According to its Mission statement, the League of European Research Universities ( LERU) is "a group of European research-intensive universities It is the only UK university to belong to the Europaeum group. The Europaeum is a loose organisation of ten leading European universities.

League table rankings

Notable alumni and academics

Main article: List of University of Oxford people

There are many famous Oxonians, as alumni of the University are known:

25 British Prime Ministers have attended Oxford (including William Gladstone, Herbert Asquith, Clement Attlee, Harold Macmillan, Harold Wilson, Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair). The THES - QS World University Rankings is an annual publication of university rankings around the world published by The Times Higher Education Supplement (THES The Academic Ranking of World Universities is compiled by Shanghai Jiao Tong University ’s Institute of Higher Education and includes major institutes of higher education ranked This page serves as a central navigational point for lists of more than 2350 members of the University of Oxford, divided into relevant groupings for ease of use The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the political leader of the United Kingdom Herbert Henry Asquith 1st Earl of Oxford and Asquith, KG, PC ( 12 September 1852 &ndash 15 February 1928) served Clement Richard Attlee 1st Earl Attlee, KG, OM, CH, PC ( 3 January 1883 &ndash 8 October 1967 (Maurice Harold Macmillan 1st Earl of Stockton, OM, PC (10 February 1894 &ndash 29 December 1986 was a British Conservative Politician James Harold Wilson Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, KG, OBE, FRS, PC (11 March 1916 &ndash 24 May 1995 was one of the most prominent British politicians Margaret Hilda Thatcher Baroness Thatcher LG, OM, PC, FRS (born 13 October 1925 Anthony Charles Lynton "Tony" Blair (born 6 May 1953 is a British Politician who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to ^[55] At least 25 other international leaders have been educated at Oxford. ^[56] This number includes King Harald V of Norway,^[57] King Abdullah II of Jordan,^[56] three Prime Ministers of Australia (John Gorton, Malcolm Fraser and Bob Hawke)^[58][59][60] two Prime Ministers of India (Manmohan Singh and Indira Gandhi)^[56][61] Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan,^[56] Norman Washington Manley (Chief Minister of Jamaica)^[62], and Bill Clinton, the first American President to attend Oxford. Childhood and education When Prince Harald was born in Skaugum he was the first heir to the throne of Norway to be born in Norway for several hundred years Abdullah II bin al-Hussein King of Jordan ( الملك عبد الله الثاني بن الحسين al-Malik ʿAbdullāh aṯ-ṯānī bin al-Ḥusayn born 30 Sir John Grey Gorton, GCMG, AC, CH (9 September 191119 May 2002 Australian politician was the 19th Prime Minister of Australia. John Malcolm Fraser, AC, CH (born 21 May 1930 is an Australian Liberal politician who was the 22nd Prime Minister of Australia. Robert James Lee (Bob Hawke, AC (born 9 December 1929 was the 23rd Prime Minister of Australia and longest serving Australian Labor Party Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (ਮਨਮੋਹਨ ਸਿੰਘ (born 26 September 1932 is the 17th Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi ( Indirā Priyadarśinī Gāndhī) ( Née: Nehru (19 November 1917 - 31 October 1984 was the Prime Minister of the Zulfikar Ali Bhutto ( Urdu: ur '''ذوالفقار علی بھٹو''' Sindhi: ذوالفقار علي ڀُٽو, zʊlfɪqɑːɾ ɑli bɦʊʈːoː Benazir Bhutto ( Sindhi: بينظير ڀٽو Urdu: بینظیر بھٹو beːnəziːɾ bɦʊʈːoː (21 June 1953 &ndash 27 December 2007 was a Norman Washington Manley MM QC National Hero of Jamaica ( July 4 1893 &ndash September 2 1969) was a William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton (born William Jefferson Blythe III, August 19 1946 served as the forty-second President of the United States ^[56][63] The Burmese democracy activist and Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi was a student of St Hugh's College. This is a list of Nobel Prize Laureates awarded for their outstanding contributions to Humanitarian causes for Peace, work in Literature Aung San Suu Kyi ( àunsʰánsṵtʃì born 19 June 1945 in Rangoon, is a pro- Democracy activist and leader of the National League for ^[64] Including Aung San Suu Kyi, 47 Nobel prize winners have studied or taught at Oxford. The Nobel Prize (Nobelpriset (Nobelprisen is a Swedish prize established in the 1895 will of Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel; it was first awarded in Peace, Literature ^[56]

Oxford has also produced at least 12 saints, and 20 Archbishops of Canterbury, including the current incumbent Rowan Williams (who studied at Wadham College and was later a Canon Professor at Christ Church. A saint (from the Latin sanctus) is a human being to whom has been attributed (and who has generally demonstrated a high level of Holiness and Sanctity The Archbishop of Canterbury is the chief bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the Rowan Douglas Williams, PC, DD, DCL, FBA, (born 14 June 1950 in Swansea, Wales) is an Anglican Wadham College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, located at the southern end of Parks Road Not to be confused with Christchurch, a city in New Zealand. Christ Church (Ædes Christi the temple or house of Christ and thus sometimes known as ^[56] At least nine Olympic medal winners have academic connections with the university, including Sir Matthew Pinsent, quadruple gold medallist rower. Sir Matthew Clive Pinsent CBE (born 10 October, 1970) is an English rowing champion four-time Olympic gold medallist ^[56][65] T. E. Lawrence was a student at Jesus College,^[66] while other illustrious members have ranged from the explorer, courtier, and man of letters Sir Walter Raleigh (who attended Oriel College, though left without taking a degree)^[67] to the media magnate Rupert Murdoch. Jesus College (in full Jesus College in the University of Oxford of Queen Elizabeth's Foundation) is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Sir Walter Raleigh or Ralegh (c 1552 – 29 October 1618 was a famed English writer Poet, Soldier, Courtier and Explorer Oriel College, located in Oriel Square, Oxford, is the fifth oldest of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England is gay Bold text' Keith Rupert Murdoch', AC, KCSG (born Melbourne, March 11 1931 usually known as Rupert Murdoch, is an Australian-American ^[68] The founder of Methodism, John Wesley, studied at Christ Church and was elected a fellow of Lincoln College. Methodism is a movement within Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations John Wesley (ˈwɛslɪ ( – March 2, 1791) was an Anglican cleric and Christian theologian who was the founder of the (Evangelical Lincoln College (in full The College of the Blessed Mary and All Saints Lincoln) is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford ^[69]

Amongst the long list of writers associated with Oxford are Evelyn Waugh,^[70] Lewis Carroll,^[71] Aldous Huxley,^[72] Oscar Wilde,^[73] C. S. Lewis,^[74] J. R. R. Tolkien,^[75] Graham Greene,^[76] Phillip Pullman,^[56] Vikram Seth^[56] and Plum Sykes,^[77] the poets Percy Bysshe Shelley,^[78] John Donne,^[79] A. E. Housman,^[80] W. H. Auden,^[81] and Philip Larkin,^[82] and Poets Laureate Thomas Warton,^[83] Henry James Pye,^[84] Robert Southey,^[85] Robert Bridges,^[86] Cecil Day-Lewis,^[87] Sir John Betjeman,^[88] and Andrew Motion. Arthur Evelyn St John Waugh (ˈiːvlɪn ˈwɔː (28 October 1903 &ndash 10 April 1966 was an English Writer, best known for such darkly humorous and Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (ˈdɒdsən (27 January 1832 &ndash 14 January 1898 better known by the Pen name Lewis Carroll (/ˈkærəl/ was an English Aldous Leonard Huxley (26 July 1894 &ndash 22 November 1963 was an English writer and one of the most prominent members of the famous Huxley family. Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde (16 October 1854 – 30 November 1900 was an Irish Playwright, Novelist, poet and Author of Clive Staples Lewis (29 November 1898 – 22 November 1963 Henry Graham Greene OM, CH (2 October 1904 &ndash 3 April 1991 was an English writer best known as a novelist but who also produced Short stories Philip Pullman CBE (born October 19, 1946) is an English writer. Vikram Seth (विक्रम सेठ pronounced /vɪkrəm seːʈʰ/ born June 20, 1952 is an Indian Poet, Novelist, travel Victoria "Plum" Sykes (born 4 December 1969) is a British -born fashion-writer novelist and New York Socialite. Percy Bysshe Shelley (August 4 1792 – July 8 1822 ˈpɝːsɪ ˈbɪʃ ˈʃɛlɪ was one of the major English Romantic poets and is widely considered to be among John Donne (pronounced like done, dʌn 1572 – 31 March 1631 was a Jacobean poet preacher and a major representative of the Metaphysical poets Alfred Edward Housman (ˈhaʊsmən 26 March 1859 – 30 April 1936 usually known as A Wystan Hugh Auden (21 February 1907 – 29 September 1973 ˈwɪstən ˈhjuː ˈɔːdən who signed his works W Philip Arthur Larkin, CH, CBE, FRSL (9 August 1922 – 2 December 1985 was an English Poet, Novelist and Jazz A Poet Laureate is a Poet officially appointed by a government and is often expected to compose poems for State occasions and other government events Thomas Warton ( January 9, 1728 &ndash May 21, 1790) was an English literary historian and critic as well as a Poet Henry James Pye ( February 20, 1745 &ndash August 11, 1813) was an English Poet. Robert Southey ( August 12, 1774 &ndash March 21, 1843) was an English Poet of the Romantic school one Robert Seymour Bridges, OM, ( 23 October 1844 &ndash 21 April 1930) was an Cecil Day-Lewis (or Day Lewis) CBE ( 27 April 1904 &ndash 22 May 1972) was an Irish -born Poet Sir John Betjeman, CBE ( 28 August 1906 &ndash 19 May 1984 was an English poet writer and broadcaster who described himself in Who's Who Andrew Motion, FRSL, (born 26 October 1952) is an English Poet, Novelist and Biographer, who is the ^[89]

Some contemporary scientists include Stephen Hawking,^[56] Richard Dawkins^[90] and Nobel prize-winner Anthony James Leggett,^[91] and Tim Berners-Lee,^[56] co-inventor of the World Wide Web. Stephen William Hawking CH, CBE, FRS, FRSA (born 8 January 1942 is a British theoretical physicist. Clinton Richard Dawkins, FRS, FRSL (born 26 March 1941 is a British ethologist, evolutionary biologist, and Popular science Sir Anthony James Leggett, KBE, FRS, (born March 26, 1938, Camberwell, London) is John D Sir Timothy John Berners-Lee OM KBE FRS FREng FRSA (born 8 June 1955 is an English computer scientist who is credited The World Wide Web (commonly shortened to the Web) is a system of interlinked Hypertext documents accessed via the Internet.

Actors Hugh Grant,^[92] Kate Beckinsale,^[92] Dudley Moore,^[93] Michael Palin,^[56] and Terry Jones^[94] were undergraduates at the University, as were Oscar winner Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck^[56] and film-maker Ken Loach. Hugh John Mungo Grant (born 9 September 1960 is a British Actor and Film producer. Kathryn Bailey "Kate" Beckinsale (born 26 July 1973 is an English actress, known for her roles in the films Pearl Harbor (2001 Dudley Stuart John Moore, CBE (19 April 1935 &ndash 27 March 2002 was an English Actor, Comedian and Musician. Michael Edward Palin, CBE (born 5 May 1943 is an English Comedian, actor writer and Television presenter best known for being one of the members For other uses see Terry Jones (disambiguation. Terence Graham Parry Jones (born 1 February 1942) is a Welsh "The Oscar" redirects here for the film see The Oscar (film. Florian Maria Georg Christian Graf Henckel von Donnersmarck (b Kenneth Loach (born 17 June 1936) known as Ken Loach, is an English television and Film director. ^[95].

More complete information on famous senior and junior members of the University can be found in the individual college articles (an individual may be associated with two or more colleges, as an undergraduate, postgraduate, and/or member of staff). The University of Oxford comprises 38 Colleges and 6 religious Permanent Private Halls (PPHs which are autonomous self-governing

Affiliates and other institutions

Well-known organisations and institutions officially connected with the University include:

University Church of St Mary the Virgin

Worcester College, backs of medieval cottages

Pembroke College, Chapel Quad

Departments

See: Category:Departments of the University of Oxford

Clubs and societies

• Oxford University Student Union
• Oxford Union Society (debating society)
• Oxford University Dramatic Society
• Oxford University Boat Club (rowing club participating in the Boat Race)
• Oxford University RFC (rugby club participating in the Varsity Match)
• Oxford University A.F.C. (association football club)
• Oxford University Ski and Snowboard Club (Governing club of The Varsity Trip)

See also:

• Category:Oxford student societies
• Category:Oxford student sports clubs

Media

• Oxford University Press (world's largest university press)
• Oxide Radio (Student radio station)
• Isis (Student publication)
• Cherwell (Student publication)
• The Oxford Student (Student publication)
• The Triple Helix Oxford (Student publication)
• The Oxonian Review of Books (Graduate student publication)

Buildings and parks

• Sheldonian Theatre
• Tom Tower
• Radcliffe Camera
• University Church of St Mary the Virgin
• Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford
• Oxford University Parks
• Oxford Botanic Garden and Harcourt Arboretum
• Rhodes Trust, the centre of the Rhodes Scholarship

See also:

• Category:Buildings and structures in Oxford
• Category:Churches in Oxford
• Category:Parks and open spaces in Oxford

Other institutions

There are other higher and further education institutions in Oxford, including various independent "colleges", not associated with the University. Pembroke College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England, located in Pembroke Square. The Oxford University Student Union is the official Students' union of the University of Oxford, representing the interests of its members to the university and the Status and membership The Oxford Union is an Unincorporated association, holding its property in trust in favour of its objectives and members and governed The Oxford University Dramatic Society ( OUDS) is the principal Funding body and provider of theatrical services to the many independent student productions put on The Oxford University Boat Club ( OUBC) is the rowing club of the University of Oxford, England, located on the River Thames at The Boat Race, also known as the University Boat Race and The Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race, is a rowing race in England between the Oxford University The Oxford University Rugby Football Club (Oxford University RFC or OURFC is the Rugby union club of the University of Oxford. The Varsity Match is an annual Rugby union fixture played between the universities of Oxford and Cambridge in England. Oxford University Association Football Club is an English football club representing the University of Oxford. The Varsity Trip is the official annual Oxford and Cambridge Ski and Snowboard trip Oxide Radio is a student radio station run by members of Oxford University and Oxford Brookes. Campus radio (also known as college radio, university radio or student radio) is a type of Radio station that is run by the students of a college Isis is the longest-running independent student Magazine in England, established in 1892 at the University of Oxford. Cherwell newspaper is a Student newspaper published by and for students of Oxford University. The Oxford Student is a Newspaper produced by and for members of the University of Oxford; it is sometimes abbreviated to The OxStu. The Triple Helix, Inc is a completely student-run 501(c(3 Non-profit organization with over 1000 student staff The Oxonian Review of Books was founded in 2001 at Balliol College and features essays and reviews of recently published work in literature politics history science and the arts The Sheldonian Theatre, located in Oxford, England, was built from 1664 to 1668 after a design by Christopher Wren for the Tom Tower is a Bell tower in Oxford, England, named for its bell Great Tom References in popular culture J R R Tolkien, author of The Lord of the Rings, remarked that the building resembled Sauron The University Church of St Mary the Virgin ( St Mary's or SMV for short is the largest of Oxford's parish churches and the centre from which the Christ Church Cathedral is the Cathedral of the Diocese of Oxford, which includes the City of Oxford England, and the surrounding countryside as far The Oxford University Parks, more normally the University Parks, or just Uni Parks to members of the local community is one large parkland area slightly northeast University of Oxford Botanic Garden, the oldest Botanic garden in Great Britain, and the third oldest scientific garden in the world was founded in 1621 as a Rhodes House is part of the University of Oxford in England. It is located on the south of South Parks Road in central Oxford, and was built Rhodes Scholarship Rhodes scholar redirects here Rhodes Scholar redirects here Rhodes scholars Further education (often abbreviated "FE" is Post-secondary Education (in addition to that received at Secondary school) that is distinct from These include Oxford Brookes University; Ruskin College, Oxford - an adult education college - which, although not part of the University of Oxford, has close links with it; and the former Lady Spencer Churchill teaching college (now the Wheatley campus of Oxford Brookes). Oxford Brookes University is a public University in Oxford, England. Ruskin College is an independent educational institution in Oxford, England. Adult education is the practice of teaching and educating adults Oxford Brookes University is a public University in Oxford, England.

The University of Oxford is an Educational Alliance Partner of the Meade 4M Community which supports the University's 'Project Jetwatch' program. Meade 4M Community is the world's first factory-sponsored Astronomical society supported by an alliance of Astronomy and Space exploration organizations

Oxford in literature and other media

Main article: University of Oxford in popular culture

Oxford University is the setting for numerous works of fiction. Oxford University is the setting for numerous works of fiction Quickly becoming part of the cultural imagination, Oxford was mentioned in fiction as early as 1400 when Chaucer in his Canterbury Tales referred to a "Clerk [student] of Oxenford": "For him was levere have at his beddes heed/ Twenty bookes, clad in blak or reed,/ of Aristotle and his philosophie/ Than robes riche, or fithele, or gay sautrie". Geoffrey Chaucer (c 1343 – 25 October 1400? was an English author poet Philosopher, bureaucrat, courtier and Diplomat. The Canterbury Tales is a collection of stories written by Geoffrey Chaucer in the 14th century (two of them in Prose, the rest in verse) As of 1989, more than 533 Oxford-based novels had been identified, and the number continues to rise. Famous literary works range from Brideshead Revisited, by Evelyn Waugh, to the trilogy His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman, which features an alternate-reality version of the University. Brideshead Revisited The Sacred & Profane Memories of Captain Charles Ryder is a Novel by the English writer Evelyn Waugh, first published in 1945 Arthur Evelyn St John Waugh (ˈiːvlɪn ˈwɔː (28 October 1903 &ndash 10 April 1966 was an English Writer, best known for such darkly humorous and His Dark Materials is a Trilogy of Fantasy Novels by Philip Pullman comprising Northern Lights (1995 Philip Pullman CBE (born October 19, 1946) is an English writer. Sir Humphrey Appleby, GCB, KBE, MVO, MA (Oxon) attended the fictional Baillie College in Yes Minister, and the Complete Yes Minister book's introduction, dated Sept. 2019 was written from the equally fictitious Hacker College, presumably named for Sir James (or Lady Annie) Hacker, Minister for Administrative Affairs in Yes Minister and Prime Minister in Yes, Prime Minister, MP for Birmingham South-East.

References

Further reading

• Annan, Noel, The Dons: Mentors, Eccentrics and Geniuses HarperCollins (London, 1999)
• Batson, Judy G. HarperCollins is a Publishing company owned by News Corporation. , Oxford in Fiction, Garland (New York, 1989).
• Betjeman, John, An Oxford University Chest, Miles (London, 1938).
• Brooke, Christopher and Roger Highfield, Oxford and Cambridge, Cambridge University Press (Cambridge, 1988). Cambridge University Press (known colloquially as CUP is a Publisher given a Royal Charter by Henry VIII in 1534
• Casson, Hugh, Hugh Casson's Oxford, Phaidon (London, 1988).
• Catto, Jeremy (ed. ), The History of the University of Oxford, Oxford University Press (Oxford, 1994).
• De-la-Noy, Michael, Exploring Oxford, Headline (London, 1991).
• Dougill, John, Oxford in English Literature, University of Michigan Press (Ann Arbor, 1998). The University of Michigan Ann Arbor ( U of M, U-M, UM or simply Michigan) is a top-ranked Coeducational public research
• Feiler, Bruce, Looking for Class: Days and Nights at Oxford and Cambridge, Perennial (New York, 2004).
• Fraser, Antonia (ed. ), Oxford and Oxfordshire in Verse, Penguin (London, 1983).
• Kenny, Anthony & Kenny, Robert, Can Oxford be Improved?, Imprint Academic (Exeter, 2007)
• Knight, William (ed. ), The Glamour of Oxford, Blackwell (New York, 1911).
• Pursglove, Glyn and Alistair Ricketts (eds. ), Oxford in Verse, Perpetua (Oxford, 1999).
• Hibbert, Christopher, The Encyclopaedia of Oxford, Macmillan (Basingstoke, 1988).
• Horan, David, Cities of the Imagination: Oxford, Signal (Oxford, 2002).
• Miles, Jebb, The Colleges of Oxford, Constable (London, 1992).
• Morris, Jan, Oxford, Faber and Faber/OUP (London, 1965/2001).
• Morris, Jan, The Oxford Book of Oxford, Oxford Univ. Press (Oxford, 2002).
• Pursglove, G. and A. Ricketts (eds. ), Oxford in Verse, Perpetua (Oxford, 1999).
• Seccombe, Thomas and H. Scott (eds. ), In Praise of Oxford (2 vols. ), Constable (London, 1912).
• Snow, Peter, Oxford Observed, John Murray (London, 1991). John Murray (1745–1793 was the founder of a British publishing house renowned for the roster of authors it has published in its history including Jane Austen
• Tames, Richard, A Traveller's History of Oxford, Interlink (New York, 2002).
• Thomas, Edward, Oxford, Black (London, 1902).
• Tyack, Geoffrey, Blue Guide: Oxford and Cambridge, Black (New York, 2004).
• Tyack, Geoffrey, Oxford: An Architectural Guide, Oxford Univ. Press (Oxford, 1998).

See also

Also associated with the University:

• Academic dress of the University of Oxford
• Oxbridge Scarf Colours
• Gaudy Celebrations
• Oxford University (UK Parliament constituency)
• Commemoration Balls
• Encaenia
• May Morning Celebration
• Boat races: Eights Week and Torpids, and the annual Boat Race against Cambridge University
• Formal Hall
• Punting
• Town and gown
• Oxbridge rivalry
• Serial comma - also known as the Oxford Comma
• Oxford '-er'
• Oxford bags
• Oxford University Police
• Bullingdon Club
• Isis (magazine)
• The Language Report

External links

• University of Oxford website
• Overview of Master's programmes at the University of Oxford