The University of Oxford holds the title of the oldest university in the English-speaking world and is the second oldest surviving university globally. Though its exact founding date remains unclear, records show that teaching activities date as far back as 1096.
Nestled in and around Oxford’s medieval city center, the university consists of 44 colleges and halls, along with more than 100 libraries—forming the UK’s largest library network.
The student body totals around 22,000, with undergraduates making up just over half. More than 40% of students come from overseas, representing 140 different countries.
Victorian poet Matthew Arnold famously called Oxford the “city of dreaming spires.” It boasts the youngest population in England and Wales, with nearly a quarter of its residents being university students—giving the city a vibrant, energetic atmosphere.
Oxford’s alumni network spans over 250,000 individuals, including more than 120 Olympic medalists, 26 Nobel Prize winners, seven poets laureate, and over 30 modern world leaders (among them Bill Clinton, Aung San Suu Kyi, Indira Gandhi, and 26 British Prime Ministers).
The university has ties to 11 Nobel laureates in chemistry, five in physics, and 16 in medicine. Among its notable thinkers and scientists are Tim Berners-Lee, Stephen Hawking, and Richard Dawkins. Actors Hugh Grant and Rosamund Pike also studied here, as did writers like Oscar Wilde, Graham Greene, Vikram Seth, and Philip Pullman.
Oxford’s first international student, Emo of Friesland, enrolled in 1190. Today, the university takes pride in its global outlook, with ties to nearly every country and 40% of its faculty hailing from overseas.
As a modern, research-focused institution, Oxford excels in many fields—particularly the sciences. It recently ranked first in the world for medicine (its medical sciences division alone would be the UK’s fourth-largest university). It also sits within the global top ten for life sciences, physical sciences, social sciences, arts, and humanities.
Rankings
Explore Oxford’s rankings below:
- World University Rankings 2025 – 1st
- Arts and Humanities 2025 – 3rd
- Business and Economics 2025 – 2nd
- Medical and Health 2025 – 1st
- Computer Science 2025 – 1st
- Education Studies 2025 – 3rd
- Engineering 2025 – 4th
- Law 2025 – 7th
- Life Sciences 2025 – 4th
- Physical Sciences 2025 – 8th
- Social Sciences 2025 – 2nd
World University Rankings 2025 Breakdown:
- Overall: 98.5
- Teaching: 96.8
- Research Environment: 100
- Research Quality: 98.8
- Industry: 99.6
- International Outlook: 97.3
Similar Universities
Discover other leading institutions:
- University of Manchester (Founded 1824) – A global leader in pioneering research.
- Newcastle University (Founded 1963) – Based in Northeast England.
- Coventry University (Founded 1992) – Symbolized by the resilient phoenix.
- Queen’s University Belfast (Founded 1845) – Ninth oldest in the UK.
- University of Bristol (Founded 1909) – A vibrant redbrick research university.
Key Student Statistics
- Gender Ratio: 51% female, 49% male
- International Students: 43%
- Students per Staff: 10.8
- Total Students: 22,095
Jobs at Oxford & Related Opportunities
Explore relevant academic and research positions:
- Postdoctoral Fellow, LU Presidential Postdoctoral Scheme – Lingnan University, Hong Kong
- Professor in Humanities & Social Sciences – Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, China
- Executive Coordinator (STEM College Office) – RMIT University, Australia
- Programme Officer (Assessments) – King’s College London, UK
- Professor & Director (Economic Research) – Lingnan University, Hong Kong
Subjects Taught at Oxford
- 1st in Computer Science
- 1st in Medicine & Dentistry
- 2nd in Business & Economics
- 3rd in Arts & Humanities
- 4th in Life Sciences
- 8th in Physical Sciences
- 7th in Law
- 4th in Engineering
- 2nd in Social Sciences
- 3rd in Education