The University of Oxford

The measure of Oxford’s fame can also be measured from the long list of luminaries who are its proud alumni. It can also be judged from the number of applications that pour in every year from hopeful eager candidates.

Ranking

Oxford has been holding the rank of the best in the UK since 2003 in the Times Good University Guide (interestingly, the Sunday Times has placed Cambridge first from 1997 – 2005). The Guardian league tables also awarded the top position to Oxford in 2005 and 2006. By international standards, Oxford was rated third (after Harvard and Cambridge) by the Times Higher Education Supplement in their World University Rankings for 2006. In the Academic Ranking of World Universities listings, Oxford achieved ninth place in 2003, eighth in 2004, and tenth in 2005 and 2006. Oxford is one of the four UK universities that belong to the prestigious Coimbra Group (a network of the best European universities). It is also one of the four UK universities that belong to the League of European Research Universities. It is the only university from the UK to belong to the core group of the Europaeum association. Though there is some controversy regarding these rankings, there is no doubt that Oxford deserves to be among the best institutions all over the world.

Heritage

The University of Oxford is the oldest in the UK. Though the exact date of establishment cannot be specified, the town of Oxford was obviously a center for learning in the early 12th century A.D. It is now some 900 years old. The infamous brawls of Oxford also have an equally ancient tradition. In 1209, after a particularly violent fight with the townspeople, some of the scholars escaped to the town of Cambridge to the north-east of Oxford, and set up another University there. This marked the beginning of the intense rivalry and love-hate relation between the two top contenders of the nation. European lecturers have come to the town of Oxford since 1096 to teach. The expulsion of several British scholars from France in 1167 brought another learned exodus to enrich the academy. In 1190, Emo of Friesland, the first foreign lecturer arrived officially to deliver the lessons. The Chancellor rank was created in 1201 for the Head of the University.

With the Reformation, the ties with the Roman Catholic Church were severed, and the mode of instruction shifted from the Medieval Scholastic to the Renaissance pattern. This may seem like trivia today – but it was as tremendous as a sudden and total change in course curriculum, degree programs and admission procedures. The Oxford University Press is the largest university press in the world till date. Written tests came to dominate the entrance procedures instead of the viva-voce in the 19th Century. It must be noted here that women were not allowed to obtain a degree from Oxford till as late as 1920. At present, there are some 39 colleges under Oxford.

Workings

The degrees conferred by Oxford are still very confusing, since most of them are governed by medieval coinages. The administrative structure is equally convoluted, and the degree awarding ceremonies are great and colorful occasions, drawing tourists every year. The academic year is divided into three terms of eight weeks each. It should be mentioned here that MA degrees were awarded to those who do not belong to the Church of England only from 1871.

The Best?

Is Oxford the best University in the world? This question will be greeted with a roar of disapproval from both Cambridge and Harvard – just to name two. Then there is the entire American Ivy League, and the venerable institutions of Europe. But there is no doubt that Oxford is among the toppers, and is every student’s dream.