Encyclopedia
The
University of Oxford, located in the city of
Oxford,
England, is the oldest university in the
English-speaking world.
The university traces its roots back to at least the end of the 11th century, although the exact date of foundation remains unclear. This dating would make its duration now equal to
Plato's Academy . According to legend, after riots 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 two universities have since had a long history of competition with each other, and are the most selective universities in the
UK. .
Oxford is a member of the
Russell Group of research-led British universities, the
Coimbra Group , the
League of European Research Universities, and is also a core member of the
Europaeum. Oxford is ranked 4th in the latest edition of the Times Higher World University Rankings.
History
The town of Oxford was already an important center of learning by the end of the 12th century. Teachers from mainland Europe and other scholars settled there, and lectures are known to have been delivered by as early as 1117. Sometime in the late 12th century the expulsion of foreigners from the University of Paris caused many English scholars to return from France and settle in Oxford. The students associated together, on the basis of geographical origins, into two “nations,” representing the North and the South . In later centuries, geographical origins continued to influence many students' affiliations when membership of an Oxford college or hall became customary. 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. At about the same time, private benefactors established colleges to serve as self-contained scholarly communities. Among the earliest were the parents of John Balliol, King of Scotland; their establishment, Balliol College, bears their name. 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. Thereafter, an increasing number of students forsook living in halls and religious houses in favor of living at colleges.
The new learning of the Renaissance greatly influenced Oxford from the late 15th century onward. 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. With the Reformation and the breaking of ties with Catholicism, 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. 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. 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 university was a center of the Royalist Party during the English Civil War , while the town favored the opposing Parliamentarian cause. 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. 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. 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.
The roster of distinguished scholars at the University of Oxford is long and includes many who have made major contributions to British politics, the sciences, and literature. Since its founding in 1823, the Oxford Union, a university club devoted to formal debating and other social activities, has numbered among its members many of Britain's most noted political leaders.
Organization
There are 39
colleges of Oxford University, each with its own internal structure and activities. The university's formal head is the chancellor, usually a distinguished politician, elected for life by the members of Convocation, a body comprising all members of the university who hold an M.A. degree. The vice-chancellor, who holds office for four years, is the head of the university's executive. In addition to Convocation, the other bodies that conduct university business are the Ancient House of Congregation, which confers degrees; the Hebdomadal Council, which formulates university policy; and the Congregation of the University, which discusses and pronounces on policies proposed by the Hebdomadal Council.
The university itself conducts examinations and confers degrees. The passing of two examinations is a prerequisite for a first degree. The first, called honor moderations or a preliminary examination, is usually held after the first or second year. The second, the honor school, is held at the end of the undergraduate course. Successful candidates receive first-, second-, or third-class honors based on their performance in these examinations. Research degrees at the master's and doctoral level are conferred in all subjects studied at graduate level at the university.
The heads of Oxford colleges are known by various titles, according to the college, including warden, provost, principal, president, or master. Undergraduate discipline is supervised by two university proctors, elected annually on a rotating basis from two of the colleges. Teaching members of the colleges are collectively and familiarly known as dons. In addition to residential and dining facilities, the colleges provide social, cultural, and recreational activities for their members.
Formal instruction is available for undergraduates in the form of lectures organised on a departmental basis. In addition, each undergraduate works with a college tutor, who is responsible for overseeing the student's academic progress. Since 1902, students from the Commonwealth of Nations countries and from certain other overseas countries have been able to study at Oxford under Rhodes Scholarships, established by the British colonial statesman Cecil John Rhodes.
Governance and administration
The main legislative body of the University is Congregation, the assembly of all academics who teach in the University. Another body, Convocation, encompassing all the graduates of Oxford, was formerly the main legislative body of the University, and until 1949 elected the two Members of Parliament for the University. Convocation now has very limited functions: the main one is to elect the Chancellor of the University, most recently in 2003 with the election of
Christopher Patten. Convocation also elects the Professor of Poetry.
The executive body of the University is the University Council, which consists of the Vice-Chancellor,
Dr John Hood , heads of departments and other members elected by Congregation in addition to observers from the Student Union. Until 1969, the statutes also provided for an Ancient House of Congregation, which somehow survived the university reforms in the 19th century and was summoned for the sole purpose of granting degrees. Since then degrees have been granted by Congregation, but as late as 1994 these were still being announced in the Gazette as meetings of the Ancient House.
Academic year
The academic year is divided into three terms, known as Full Terms, each of eight weeks' duration. Michaelmas Term lasts from October to December; Hilary Term from January till March; and Trinity Term from April till June. These terms are amongst the shortest of any British university, and the workload during each term is therefore intense. Students are also expected to prepare heavily in the three vacations . Internally at least, the dates in the term are often referred to by a number in reference to the start of each term, thus the first week of any term is called '1st week' and the last is '8th week'. Many students return from holidays up to a week in advance and a few stay on after term has finished, meaning 0th and 9th week are also part of the Oxford Calendar.
Admission
Admission to the University of Oxford is principally based on academic merit and potential. The admission process for undergraduates is undertaken by 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. The colleges have recently signed up to a Common Framework which lays down the principles and procedures which they all observe. Selection is based on achieved and predicted exam results, written work, the 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. 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.
For graduate students, admission is firstly by the University department in which each will study, and then secondarily with the college with which they are associated.
Oxford, like Cambridge, has traditionally been perceived to be a preserve of the wealthy, although today this is not the case. The cost of taking a course, in the days before student grants were available, was prohibitive unless one was a scholar . Entrance examinations were abolished in 1996.
In recent years, Oxford has made great efforts to attract applicants from state schools, though admission to Oxford and Cambridge remains on academic merit and potential. Around half of the students in Oxford come from state school backgrounds ; for comparison, approximately 93% of students in the UK study at state schools. There is still much public debate in Britain about whether more could be done to attract those from poorer social backgrounds. Responding to these criticisms, Oxford has introduced a university-wide means-tested bursary scheme effective from 2006, the Oxford Opportunity Bursaries, to offer financial support to those in need. Individual colleges also offer some financial support.
Students successful in early examinations are rewarded 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: many larger funded bursaries are available on the basis of need for current and prospective students. "Closed" scholarships, which were accessible only to candidates from specific schools, exist now only in name. Scholars, and exhibitioners in some colleges, are entitled to wear a more voluminous undergraduate gown; "commoners" being restricted to a short sleeveless garment. The term "scholar" in relation to Oxbridge, therefore, has 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.
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. Knowledge of Ancient Greek was required until 1920, and
Latin until 1960. Women were admitted to degrees in 1920.
Degrees
The system of academic degrees in the University is very confusing to those not familiar with it. This is not merely due to the fact that many degree titles date from the
Middle Ages, but also because, in recent years, many changes have been haphazardly introduced. Notably, the initials for the Doctor of Philosophy degree are DPhil rather than PhD.
Reputation
For the fifth consecutive year Oxford has been placed first in the United Kingdom in the
Times Good University Guide .
In the subject tables, Oxford is ranked first for Anatomy and physiology, Art and design, Business studies, Materials technology, Middle Eastern and African studies, Music, Philosophy, and Politics, as well as equal-first with Cambridge for Education and Linguistics. Oxford comes second after Cambridge in a further seventeen subjects, and second after Durham in English. 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.
Oxford topped the
Guardian is a British [i] newspaper [i] owned by the Guardian Media Group [i]. ...
league table in 2005
and 2006.
In the subject tables for institutions in tariff-band 6 Oxford took first place for Anatomy and physiology, Anthropology, Biosciences, Business and management studies, Earth and marine sciences, Economics, Law, Materials and mineral engineering, Modern languages, Music, Politics, Psychology, and Sociology. Oxford took second place to Cambridge in Archaeology, Classics, English, History and history of art, Mathematics, Philosophy, and Theology and religious studies, and second to Aberdeen in General engineering, as well as third place in Art and design, General engineering, and Physics, fourth place in Chemistry and Medicine, and finally sixth place in Computer sciences and IT.
Internationally, Oxford was rated fourth in the
Times Higher Education Supplement World University Rankings . In the
Academic Ranking of World Universities Oxford achieved ninth place in 2003, eighth in 2004, and tenth in 2005 and 2006.
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. It is the only UK university to belong to the
Europaeum group.
Notable alumni
There are many famous Oxonians, as alumni of the University are known.
Oxford has had a role in educating four
British, and at least eight foreign kings, 47
Nobel prize-winners, three Fields medallists, 25
British Prime Ministers, 28 foreign
presidents and
prime ministers, seven
saints, 86
archbishops, 18 cardinals, and one
pope. Seven of
the last eleven British Prime Ministers have been Oxford graduates. Amongst the University's old members are many widely influential scientists, artists and other prominent figures. Contemporary scientists include
Stephen Hawking,
Richard Dawkins and Nobel prize-winner
Anthony James Leggett, and
Tim Berners Lee, co-inventor of the
world wide web. Actors
Hugh Grant,
Kate Beckinsale,
Dudley Moore,
Michael Palin,
Terry Jones and
Richard Burton studied at the University, as did film-maker
Ken Loach. Amongst the long list of writers associated with Oxford are
Evelyn Waugh,
Lewis Carroll,
Aldous Huxley,
Oscar Wilde,
C.S. Lewis,
J.R.R. Tolkien, and
Vikram Seth, the poets
Percy Bysshe Shelley,
John Donne,
A. E. Housman,
W. H. Auden, and Philip Larkin, and Poets Laureate
Thomas Warton,
Henry James Pye,
Robert Southey,
Robert Bridges,
Cecil Day-Lewis,
Sir John Betjeman, and Andrew Motion.
Lawrence of Arabia was both a student and a don at Oxford, while other illustrious members have ranged from the explorer, courtier, and man of letters
Sir Walter Raleigh to the media magnate
Rupert Murdoch. More complete information on famous senior and junior members of the University can be found in the individual
college articles .
- See also: University of Oxford People.
Other students in Oxford
Many University of Oxford colleges host overseas students enrolled in study abroad programmes during the summer months.
Oxford's other principal higher education institutions are Ruskin College, Oxford, an adult education college, which, although not part of the University of Oxford, has close links with it, and Oxford's second university,
Oxford Brookes University, the former Oxford
Polytechnic.
There are other higher and further education institutions in Oxford, including various independent "colleges", not associated with either of the universities. These institutions vary considerably in the standard of teaching they provide.
Institutions
Events and organisations officially connected with the University include:
Also associated with the University:
...
...
Professional Cooperation
- The Saïd Business School, of the University of Oxford, has cooperated with UK's professional accountancy institutions including ACCA, ICAEW, CIMA and CIFPA, to offer the Diploma in Financial Strategy, a Masters-level course that provides the essential elements of an MBA for qualified accountants, and is designed to extend knowledge and develop senior management skills.
Oxford in literature and other media
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 is a collection of stories written by Geoffrey Chaucer [i] in the 14th century [i] ...
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'. As of 1989, more than 533 Oxford-based novels had been identified, and the number continues to rise. Literary works include:
...
.
...
- Jill, by Philip Larkin
- Doomsday Book, To Say Nothing of the Dog returns to the same ...
, and the short story Firewatch, by Connie Willis - Accident, by Nicholas Mosley; the novel served as the basis for the film of the same name, which is mentioned below
Fictional universities based on Oxford include
Terry Pratchett's Unseen University and "Christminster" in
Thomas Hardy's
Jude the Obscure is the last of Thomas Hardy [i]'s novel [i]s, begun as a magazine serial and first ...
.
For a list of fictional colleges of Oxford University, see fictional Oxford colleges.
Many poets have also been inspired by the University:
- The Oxford Sausage was an anthology published in 1764 and edited by Thomas Warton. The Glamour of Oxford is a collection of verse and prose edited by William Knight, and another anthology — Seccombe and Scott's In Praise of Oxford — spans two volumes. More recent compilations include Oxford and Oxfordshire in Verse and Oxford in Verse .
- 'Duns Scotus' Oxford' is one of Gerard Manley Hopkins' better-known poems.
Films set in the University include:
- A Yank at Oxford , starring Robert Taylor and Vivien Leigh
- A Chump at Oxford, directed by Alfred Goulding [i] and released in 1940 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, was ...
starring Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy - Accident , film about an Oxford don, co-written by Harold Pinter
- May Morning , a critique of social mores in early 1970s Oxford
- Incense for the Damned , starring Peter Cushing, Patrick Macnee and Edward Woodward
- Brideshead Revisited , based on Waugh's novel; a mini-series enormously popular in Britain and America, the film has sometimes been seen as drawing unwanted attention to Oxford's stereotypical reputation as a playground of the upper classes. It stars Jeremy Irons, and most college shots are of Christ Church and Hertford.
- Oxford Blues , starring Rob Lowe, Ally Sheedy and Amanda Pays
- American Friends is a comic film, released in 1991, starring Michael Palin [i]. ...
, starring Michael Palin - Shadowlands , starring Anthony Hopkins and Debra Winger
...
, about the life of
C. S. Lewis ...
- Tom & Viv , a film which explores the troubled relationship between T. S. Eliot and his mentally ill wife Vivienne Haigh-Wood
- True Blue , about the mutiny at the time of the Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race of 1987
- Tomorrow Never Dies is the eighteenth James Bond [i] film [i] made by EON Productions [i], and the s ...
, a James Bond sequel starring Pierce Brosnan - The Saint , film starring Val Kilmer
...
as the sleuth
Simon TemplarThis list does not include movies wherein university buildings appeared as a backdrop but were not depicted as Oxford University, such as the
Harry Potter movies and the earlier Young Sherlock Holmes.
Further reading
- Annan, Noel, The Dons: Mentors, Eccentrics and Geniuses HarperCollins
- Batson, Judy G., Oxford in Fiction, Garland .
- Betjeman, John, An Oxford University Chest, Miles .
- Brooke, Christopher and Roger Highfield, Oxford and Cambridge, Cambridge University Press .
- Casson, Hugh, Hugh Casson's Oxford, Phaidon .
- Catto, J. , The History of the University of Oxford, Oxford University Press .
- De-la-Noy, Michael, Exploring Oxford, Headline .
- Dougill, John, Oxford in English Literature, University of Michigan Press .
- Feiler, Bruce, Looking for Class: Days and Nights at Oxford and Cambridge, Perennial .
- Fraser, Antonia , Oxford and Oxfordshire in Verse, Penguin .
- Knight, William , The Glamour of Oxford, Blackwell .
- Pursglove, Glyn and Alistair Ricketts , Oxford in Verse, Perpetua .
- Hibbert, Christopher, The Encyclopaedia of Oxford, Macmillan .
- Horan, David, Cities of the Imagination: Oxford, Signal .
- Miles, Jebb, The Colleges of Oxford, Constable .
- Morris, Jan, Oxford, Faber and Faber/OUP .
- Morris, Jan, The Oxford Book of Oxford, Oxford Univ. Press .
- Pursglove, G. and A. Ricketts , Oxford in Verse, Perpetua .
- Seccombe, Thomas and H. Scott , In Praise of Oxford , Constable .
- Snow, Peter, Oxford Observed, John Murray .
- Tames, Richard, A Traveller's History of Oxford, Interlink .
- Thomas, Edward, Oxford, Black .
- Tyack, Geoffrey, Blue Guide: Oxford and Cambridge, Black .
- Tyack, Geoffrey, Oxford: An Architectural Guide, Oxford Univ. Press .
See also
External links
- — Maps of the University and city, directions, events, etc.
- from NNDB
- , including the university
- . By the Oxford Alumni Association of New York.
References
