Oxford Brookes University

Address and Location

Oxford Brookes is spread over four campuses. The main site, Headington, is located a mile from Oxford city centre. Harcourt Hill is on the city outskirts and Wheatley considerably further away in the Oxfordshire countryside. All three campuses are linked by a free university bus service. Ferndale, the final campus, is located in Swindon and hosts adult-nursing and Continuing Professional Development courses.

 

Background and History

Oxford Brookes can trace its roots back much further than its namesake, John Brookes, to the Oxford School of Art established in 1865. Initially a very small institution, the college soon merged with the city School of Science to become Oxford City Technical School. Another merger followed in 1934 and John Brookes became the principal of the new Oxford College of Technology. After a brief spell as Oxford Polytechnic, the institution gained university status in 1992.

Location and Accessibility

By Rail: The Headington campus is two miles from Oxford Railway Station, and Ferndale a short walk from the station in Swindon.

By Road: Travelling into Oxford is easiest via the M40, exiting at Junction 8 and following the A40 directly to the main campus. For the Ferndale campus, exit the M4 at Junction 15 and follow Great Western Way towards the town centre.

Accessibility: Most university facilities are wheelchair-accessible and accommodation is provided for students with disabilities.

What's on Offer

BA, BSc, MA, MSc, MBA, Graduate (Conversion) Diploma, Graduate Diploma, Postgraduate Diploma, Postgraduate Certificate, MRes, MPhil, PhD

Entry Requirements

Entry standards vary between subjects. Specific course information can be found on the university website.

University Accommodation

University accommodation is divided between campuses, with students allocated halls near the facilities for their subject. The standard of accommodation is reasonably good, with a mixture of new and old buildings.

Private Accommodation

The university runs a number of schemes to help students find off-campus accommodation, including a shared housing list and a student rentals service. Cost varies between the different locations, with accommodation in central Oxford particularly expensive.

Academic Strengths and Research Profile

The university's main strengths lie in its architecture, automotive and hospitality courses. In these areas Brookes ranks very highly. The university has also won praise from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors for its programmes in land and property.

Tuition Fees

Undergraduate courses currently cost £9,000 per year. Fees for international students and postgraduates vary.  

Financial Support

A variety of scholarships and means-tested bursaries are available to undergraduates and postgraduates. Check the university website for more details.

Academic Facilities

The Headington and Wheatley campuses offer students excellent IT provision and a variety of study spaces. New engineering and technology facilities add value to the already well-regarded Automotive Engineering Department. Other facilities include the Booker Prize Archive and the National Brewing Library, for alcohol-based fun.  

Other on-site Amenities

At its Oxford sites the university provides excellent sports facilities, covering rowing, cricket, hockey and rugby. Facilities are spread across the campuses; Harcourt Hill, for one, houses a swimming pool, golf course and gym. The central Students' Union has its own bar and runs a night bus intoOxford city centre.

Medical and Social Care

At the Headington site the university provides a student medical centre and NHS dental clinic. Other campuses are served by local GPs. Campus nurseries are on-hand to cover staff and student childcare.

 

What's on in the Area

Oxford has a strong student nightlife, with a host of Brookes-only events run across the city. Near the Headington campus is a local theatre, and the picturesque centre of Oxford has a number of museums, galleries and interesting architecture galore. London is a short bus or train ride away, and for quieter moments Oxfordshire provides some of the best countryside walks in the UK.

Moving On

Graduate prospects are good at Oxford Brookes, perhaps because so many of the university's courses have been recognised as excellent by relevant professional bodies. The university careers service helps students find placements and internships to enhance their job prospects after graduation.

Notable Brookes alumni include Gilbert Proesch (one half of Gilbert and George) and Olympic gold medallist Steve Williams. The university was the first to be awarded Fairtrade status, and F1 world champion Fernando Alonso recently sponsored 12 students to study motorsport engineering at the university.

Is Oxford Brookes right for you?

Brookes consistently ranks as one of the best former-polytechnic universities in the country. For architecture and automotive engineering there are few more accessible places to study a high-ranking course in the UK. Reading University is good for comparison, it has a similar reputation to Oxford Brookes and also offers foundational courses.