International Students

Welcome to Oxford!

The University of Oxford is the oldest university in the English-speaking world. The Mathematical Institute at the University of Oxford is the top-ranked Mathematical Sciences department in the UK, as assessed in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF), with the largest number of staff submissions and with 78% of our research judged as 4* ("quality that is world-leading in terms of originality, significance and rigour"). To find out more about the University head over to our "Why Oxford?" page, or take a look at the University of Oxford's website

Graduate students at the University of Oxford are members of the University, the department, and one of 36 colleges. As a new international graduate student, you will be able to attend an orientation programme specifically designed to help you settle into life at Oxford - including information on opening a bank account, employment and visas, and cultural differences. There are also walking tours designed to make you feel at home in the city by pointing out useful shops, post offices, and banks

The Colleges

 

The University of Oxford is made up of departments and more than 30 colleges. The colleges can provide accomodation and the opportunity to meet other students and academics studying a wide range of subjects. Being in the small, friendly collegiate environment can help you settle in to life in Oxford easily, as well as providing a base for exploring Oxford. For more information about the colleges, see the University's A-Z of Colleges.

Accommodation

Depending on your college, you may be offered graduate accommodation either onsite or offsite for part of your studies. The University has five sites around the city offering accommodation for student parents and couples, and seven sites for single graduates. Many graduate students also spend some time living in privately rented accommodation, often shared with other students. The Graduate Accommodation Office provides information for prospective graduate applicants about accommodation options. Each college website will also provide information about graduate accommodation. 

Life in Oxford

Oxford is a city full of culture - theatres, concerts, museums and parks are all a short walk from your doorstep. Surrounded by the stunning Cotswolds countryside, it's easy to escape the city and take day trips to Blenheim PalaceStonehenge, and Highclere Castle (better known as Downton Abbey). If you tire of punting and have explored all of Oxford's nooks and crannies, you can catch the train and be in central London in an hour. 

Funding

Applying and obtaining funding is often a critical part of graduate study. The University of Oxford has a scholarship search, which allows you to search by course, nationality, and fee status to find appropriate sources of funding. The search also provides you with the likely living costs and tuition costs, and the application deadlines for all suitable scholarships. The University also provides ten top tips for applying for funding at Oxford.

You can also apply for funding and scholarships from organisations external to the University of Oxford - these are listed by region eligibility on the external scholarships page.

Social Life

 

Colleges and the department provide you with many opportunities to socialise with a wide range of people. If you're feeling homesick, there are over 150 University registered clubs and societies dedicated to a wide range of activities and cultures - for example the German Society, the Chinese Society, and the Italian Society all host a variety of events, including film viewings, talks, and food tastings. You can find a complete list of societies on the Regiser of student clubs.

The University of Oxford provides microsites for prospective international graduate applicants from certain countries - see their website for international students for more details.

Oxford is very well connected to nearby airports - there are frequent direct buses to and from Heathrow and Gatwick, and Birmingham Airport is easily reached by train. 

A list of our most commonly asked questions as well as some information regarding funding, applications, and graduate study at Oxford. Further enquiries can be directed to graduate.studies@maths.ox.ac.uk.

Visas

You can find full information regarding the type of visa you will need and how to apply for this, as well as any conditions regarding employment and staying in the UK after you finish your studies, on the University of Oxford's student visa pages.

Please contact us with feedback and comments about this page. Last updated on 10 Aug 2023 10:37.