Exploring Oxford University's Student Population

The University of Oxford is one of the oldest universities in the world and is located in the medieval city of Oxford, UK. The university is made up of 43 colleges and halls and is home to more than 25,000 students, including over 12,000 undergraduates and nearly 14,000 postgraduates. The student body is diverse, with international students accounting for 46% of the total student population. The university has a strong academic reputation and is ranked highly across various subjects, particularly in the sciences and medicine. With a rich history, influential alumni network, and vibrant student life, Oxford continues to be a top choice for students from around the world.

Undergraduate vs postgraduate numbers

The University of Oxford is a collegiate research university in Oxford, England. It is the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the second-oldest university in the world that is still in operation. The university is made up of 43 colleges and halls, and it does not have a main campus. Instead, its buildings and facilities are scattered throughout the city centre.

As of 2023, there are more than 26,000 students at the University of Oxford, comprising 12,470 undergraduates and 13,920 postgraduates. This means that undergraduates make up about 46% of the student body, while postgraduates make up about 52%. The remaining 2% are visiting, recognised, and other students.

Entry to undergraduate courses at Oxford is highly competitive, with only around 3,300 places available. In 2023, there were over 23,000 applicants for undergraduate courses, meaning that Oxford receives around seven applications for each available place. The majority of UK undergraduates at Oxford come from state schools, with 67% of UK students admitted in 2023 being from the state sector.

For postgraduate courses, the application process is also highly competitive. In the 2022/23 academic year, there were over 37,500 applications received for 6,056 postgraduate places. About 54% of postgraduate students at Oxford are reading for degrees by research, while 46% are international students.

The University of Oxford has one of the lowest dropout rates in the UK, with only 0.9% of students dropping out in the 2019/20 academic year, compared to a UK average of 5.3%. The university also has a high employment rate for its graduates, with 93% of undergraduates and 95% of postgraduates finding high-skilled employment or pursuing further study within 15 months of leaving Oxford.

International student numbers

The University of Oxford is a collegiate research university in Oxford, England, and is the oldest university in the English-speaking world. It has no central campus, with buildings and facilities scattered throughout the city centre. The university is made up of 43 colleges and halls, with each college being a self-governing institution within the university.

There are more than 26,000 students at Oxford, including 12,470 undergraduates and 13,920 postgraduates. International students make up 46% of the total student body, which is more than 12,000 students. The number of international students includes 23% of undergraduates and 65% of graduate students. Students come to Oxford from over 160 countries and territories, with the largest groups of international students coming from the USA, China, Germany, Canada, India, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Italy, France, and the Netherlands.

The University of Oxford has one of the lowest drop-out rates in the UK, with only 0.9% of students dropping out in the 2019/20 academic year, compared to a UK average of 5.3%. The university also has a high rate of employment or further study for leavers, with 93% of undergraduates and 95% of postgraduates in high-skilled employment or further study 15 months after leaving.

The university's international community is reflected in its research activity, which involves over 7,000 graduate research students. Oxford's total research income is the highest of any UK university, earning £711.4 million in external research funding in 2021/22. The university also generates income from tourism and is one of the largest providers of continuing education in the UK, with more than 15,000 students enrolling on courses at the Department for Continuing Education each year.

State school student numbers

The University of Oxford is the oldest university in the English-speaking world, with evidence of teaching as early as 1096. The university is made up of 43 colleges and halls, with over 100 libraries, making it the largest library system in the UK.

Oxford has a total student population of around 22,000, with just over half of its students being undergraduates. The majority of UK undergraduates at Oxford come from state schools, with over 67% of UK students admitted in 2023 coming from the state sector. In 2016, 59% of UK students at Oxford came from state schools, and this number has been increasing. From 2015 to 2019, the state proportion of total UK students admitted each year was: 55.6%, 58.0%, 58.2%, 60.5%, and 62.3%.

Oxford spends over £6 million per year on outreach programs to encourage applicants from underrepresented demographics. In 2020, the university increased its proportion of Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) students to record levels. The number of BAME undergraduates accepted to the university in 2020 rose to 684 students, or 23.6% of the UK intake, up from 558 or 22% in 2019.

Drop-out rates

The University of Oxford is one of the oldest universities in the world and is considered one of the most prestigious institutions of higher learning in the United Kingdom. With a rich history dating back to the 11th century, Oxford has educated a significant number of notable alumni, including world leaders, Nobel laureates, and prominent figures in various fields.

Oxford University has one of the lowest drop-out rates in the United Kingdom. For the 2019/2020 academic year, only 0.9% of Oxford students dropped out, compared to a UK average of 5.3%. This low drop-out rate is even more remarkable considering that around 50% of students contemplate taking a leave of absence, known as "rustication," with only 4% actually doing so due to fears of social isolation and stigmatisation.

The decision to leave Oxford is often influenced by various factors, including mental health issues and dissatisfaction with the student experience. Some students find the university rigid, with limited flexibility to change majors or explore a range of subjects. The early specialisation required by the British educational system differs significantly from the flexibility offered by the American four-year college system.

Despite its prestigious reputation, some students are unhappy with the lack of diversity at Oxford, which affects the variety of perspectives shared in classroom discussions and the overall social atmosphere. Additionally, the university's financial aid system has been criticised, as it relies heavily on external scholarships or independent funding, making it challenging for students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds to afford their studies.

However, the low drop-out rate at Oxford can also be attributed to various factors, such as peer and parental pressure, the academic climate, and the societal emphasis on obtaining a degree. For some students, staying in university is viewed as a "safer bet," and there is a strong social norm to pursue and complete a degree.

Factors Influencing Drop-out Rates

The decision to stay or leave Oxford is a complex one, and it is influenced by a combination of personal, academic, and institutional factors. While Oxford's low drop-out rate reflects its prestige and selectivity, it is essential to consider the broader context of student experiences and satisfaction.

Employment rates post-graduation

The University of Oxford is associated with a high employment rate among its graduates. According to the Graduate Outcomes Survey (GOS) with data collected from 2017-18, almost 80% of recent graduates were in paid work for an employer, with less than 3% unemployed and looking for work. The majority of these graduates were in graduate-level jobs, particularly in education, research and development, or health industries. The average annual salary was £41,600, with a median of £35,700.

The University of Oxford also has one of the lowest drop-out rates in the UK. Figures published for the 2019/20 academic year show that only 0.9% of Oxford students dropped out, compared to a UK average of 5.3%.

Furthermore, 93% of Oxford undergraduates and 95% of Oxford postgraduate leavers in 2020-2021 were in high-skilled employment or further study 15 months after leaving. The median salaries for these graduates were £32,000 and £35,000 respectively.

The University's Careers Service provides comprehensive support to students, offering 1:1 meetings with careers advisers, 12 careers fairs each year, over 200 events run by employers and careers advisers, and exclusive internship programmes.

Oxford is ranked among the top 10 universities in the world for graduate employability, and its graduate degrees are highly regarded by employers. The university's reputation for world-leading research, teaching, and resources also contributes to the strong employment prospects of its graduates.

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