University of Oxford
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| Latin: Universitas Oxoniensis | |
Other name | The Chancellor, Masters and Scholars of the University of Oxford[1] |
|---|---|
| Motto | Latin: Dominus illuminatio mea |
Motto in English | The Lord is my light |
| Type | Public research university |
| Established | c. 1096[2] |
| Endowment | £6.1 billion (including colleges) (as of 31 July 2019)[3] |
| Budget | £2.45 billion (excluding colleges) (2018–19)[3] |
| Chancellor | The Lord Patten of Barnes |
| Vice-Chancellor | Louise Richardson [4][5] |
Academic staff | 7000+ [6] |
| Students | 24,515 (2019) [7] |
| Undergraduates | 11,955 |
| Postgraduates | 12,010 |
Other students | 541 (2017)[8] |
| Location | , England, United Kingdom |
| Campus | University town |
| Colours | Oxford Blue [9] |
| Athletics | The Sporting Blue |
| Affiliations | IARU Russell Group Europaeum EUA Golden Triangle G5 LERU SES Universities UK |
| Website | ox |
The University of Oxford is a university in Oxford, England. It is the oldest university in the English-speaking world. The Times Higher Education World University Rankings stated that "it is the best university in the world" in the 2000s.
The university is 39 colleges and five private halls. All of these colleges have their own buildings and their own staff. Oxford is quite different from most modern universities where all the students live on a campus. Oxford does not have a campus, although it does have some central places where students from different colleges can come together (for example, libraries).
The Bodleian Library (founded in 1602) is the main library of the University of Oxford, and one of the oldest libraries in Europe. It is the second largest library in the United Kingdom after the British Library.
History
Oxford is the world's third-oldest university after the University of Bologna, and the world's second-oldest surviving university.[10]
There is no known date of foundation, but there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096.[2] It grew rapidly from 1167 when Henry II banned English students from attending the University of Paris.[2] English students were not allowed to continue studying in Paris after Thomas Becket was murdered.
There were fights between the students in Oxford and the people who lived there in the early 13th century. Some students and teachers left the university in 1209, and made a new university in Cambridge. These two universities are now great rivals, and together are sometimes known as "Oxbridge".
Until 1920, women were not allowed to take degrees at Oxford, although some women studied at Oxford before that time. Nowadays, all the colleges allow both men and women as students, and the number of male and female students is roughly equal.
One of the most famous teachers at the university was Lewis Carroll, author of Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass, stories for children.
Colleges and halls
There are 39 colleges at Oxford and five permanent private halls.
A college will normally offer the students accommodation (a room to sleep and study in) for the first and last years of their time at University. Many also offer accommodation for other years. A college will also have space for teaching and socializing. When most of the older colleges started they were only for people of one sex, but St Hilda's College, the last college to allow only women to study there, recently allowed men as well.
A permanent private hall is slightly different to a college. They were normally started by religious groups to educate their members in philosophy and theology, but some have since grown and offer a broader range of subjects. Some halls are run by monks.
Most colleges will teach at both undergraduate (the more basic first degree that a student takes) and postgraduate (a higher level of study) level. There are also some special colleges that are more restrictive. Five colleges only offer space to postgraduate students. Harris Manchester College is only for "mature students" (those who are over 21 when they start their degree). All Souls College does not take students – all of its members teach students or do research.
Getting into Oxford
Oxford, like Cambridge, is very popular, but there are only a limited number of spaces for students. It is therefore harder for students to get into these universities. The colleges look for the students with the best school results in the subjects for which they are applying, typically A marks on A-levels.
Related pages
References
- ↑ "The University as a charity". University of Oxford. Archived from the original on 12 January 2016.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Introduction and History". University of Oxford. Archived from the original on 20 October 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Finance and funding". ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 2020-04-03.
- ↑ "Declaration of approval of the appointment of a new Vice-Chancellor". Oxford University Gazette (University of Oxford): 659. 25 June 2015. http://www.ox.ac.uk/gazette/2014-2015/25june2015-no5102/congregation/#209928. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
- ↑ "New Vice-Chancellor pledges 'innovative, creative' future for Oxford". News and Events. University of Oxford. 4 January 2016. Archived from the original on 7 January 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
- ↑ "Facts and figures - full version | University of Oxford".
- ↑ "University of Oxford - Student Statistics".
- ↑ "Student Numbers". University of Oxford. University of Oxford. Archived from the original on 15 September 2017. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
- ↑ "The brand colour – Oxford blue". Ox.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 24 May 2013. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
- ↑ Sager, Peter (2005). Oxford and Cambridge: An Uncommon History p. 36
More information
- Jan Morris (ed.) The Oxford Book of Oxford. Oxford University Press