Study in Oxford, The United Kingdom

About Oxford

Oxford is a university city in the South East of England, about 90 minutes from London's West End. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), its population grew from just over 151,900 in 2011 to around 162,000 at the 2021 census, and Oxford had the lowest median age in the South East: a sign of how many students and young adults live there.

Students come for the universities, the libraries and museums, and a compact historic centre. The Bodleian Library first opened to scholars in 1602, and the Ashmolean Museum, opened in 1683, is described as the world's first public museum.

Studying in Oxford

SpainExchange lists five schools in Oxford: two universities, a business school that teaches on campus and online, and two summer schools for young people. Teaching is in English. Examples:

• The University of Oxford is a collegiate research university; its libraries and museums, such as the Bodleian and the Ashmolean, are part of the city's daily life.
• Oxford Brookes University began as the Oxford School of Art in 1865 and took its current name in 1992. It has campuses at Headington and Harcourt Hill in Oxford and in Swindon, and more than 3,400 students from 145 countries, according to the university. Exchange students can come for one or two semesters.
• Magna Carta College Oxford is an independent business school established in Oxford in 2008. It works with UK universities to offer degrees through distributed learning, mentoring and face-to-face tutorials.
• Academy Royale International, formerly Oxford Royale Academy, has run summer schools since 2004 for ages 10 to 18. It rents facilities in colleges of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge but is a separate company, not part of either university.

Oxford Scholastica Academy also runs academic summer courses for teenagers in the city. As with Academy Royale International, a summer school in Oxford is not a course of the University of Oxford: check who awards any certificate.

Cost of living for students

Oxford is an expensive place to rent. The ONS reports an average private rent of £1,963 a month in August 2026, and £1,351 for a one-bedroom home. Most first-year students therefore look at university halls or shared houses first; Oxford Brookes publishes hall prices for 2026-27 on its accommodation pages.

For a Student visa, students on courses outside London must show £1,171 per month (for up to 9 months) in addition to their course fees. This is the visa minimum, not a realistic budget for Oxford.

Visas for students

Courses of up to 6 months at an accredited institution, including English language courses, can usually be taken as a Standard Visitor. English courses of more than 6 and up to 11 months need a Short-term study visa, which costs £228. Degree courses need a Student visa, which costs £558 from outside the UK. After a degree, the Graduate visa allows 2 years in the UK if you apply on or before 31 December 2026, and 18 months if you apply from 1 January 2027. Check the current rules on GOV.UK before you apply.

Getting around and daily life

Oxford is small enough to cross by bike, and cycling is a popular way of getting around. From the Headington Campus of Oxford Brookes it is about a 30-minute walk into the city centre. Oxford Brookes students can buy a discounted annual bus pass.

Stagecoach Oxfordshire routes are part of the national bus fare cap in England: a single ticket costs no more than £3 until the end of 2026, and single tickets will be capped at £2 from 1 January 2027. According to Oxford Brookes, buses to Heathrow Airport take about 70 to 90 minutes, and London's West End can be reached in about 90 minutes.

Frequently asked questions

Which universities are in Oxford?

SpainExchange lists two: the University of Oxford and Oxford Brookes University. Oxford Brookes has more than 3,400 students from 145 countries, according to the university.

How much does it cost to rent in Oxford?

The ONS reports an average private rent of £1,963 a month in Oxford in August 2026, and £1,351 for a one-bedroom home. University halls and shared houses are the usual student options.

Is a summer school in Oxford part of the University of Oxford?

Not necessarily. Academy Royale International, for example, uses Oxford and Cambridge colleges for its courses but is a separate company.

How far is Oxford from London?

According to Oxford Brookes, London's West End can be reached in about 90 minutes, and buses to Heathrow Airport take about 70 to 90 minutes.