Oxford Brookes University brand mark

Oxford Brookes University

Oxford, United Kingdom • Founded 1865 • QS 2027 #411 =

Updated Sep 2026

Overview

English Name: Oxford Brookes University
Acronyms: OBU
Founded: 1865
Institution Type: University
Control Type: Public
Entity Type: Non-profit
Rankings:
QS World University Rankings 2027 #411 = Times Higher Education 2026 #801-1000 SCImago 2026 #1371
Motto: Excellence in Diversity
Colours: Dark red and blue
Oxford Brookes University campus from the outside
1 / 4

Oxford Brookes University traces its roots to the Oxford School of Art, founded in 1865 in the centre of Oxford.

Vice-Principal John Henry Brookes led its growth from 1928 for three decades, and in 1949 it relocated to a 25-acre site in Headington. Several further mergers and renamings followed until it gained university status in 1992 as Oxford Brookes University, named after Brookes himself.

The university now runs three sites: the main Headington campus in Oxford, Harcourt Hill, and a campus in Swindon. Teaching is organised into twelve schools spanning business, law, nursing and midwifery, architecture, the arts, biological and medical sciences, education, engineering and computing, psychology and social work, social sciences, sport and allied health, and the built environment, alongside an active research programme assessed under the Research Excellence Framework.

Location & Contact

Address, contact details, and online presence for Oxford Brookes University are summarised below. Cross-check with the official website if you intend to send documents or financial information.

Address: Headington Campus
Postal Code: OX3 0BP
Phone: +44 (1865) 741 111
Fax: +44 (1865) 484 861
Social Media:

Academic Details

The basic academic profile of Oxford Brookes University, including enrolment and faculty composition. Total student count fluctuates intake-to-intake; treat the figure as approximate rather than precise.

Academic Year: September to July
Recognition: Privy Council
Admission Requirements: General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) or General Certificate of Education (GCE), with passes in 5 subjects, including 2 at Advanced (A) level or 4 subjects, including 3 at 'A' level
Total Students: 26,095
Female Students: 15,520
Academic Staff Range: 900-999
Campus Setting: Urban
Memberships & Networks
Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) Universities UK University Alliance

Academic Structures

Oxford Brookes University's internal academic organisation — faculties, schools, and constituent units — is broken down below. Each unit handles a specific subject cluster and houses its own programmes and faculty.

Unit 8 items
  • School of Arts and Humanities
  • School of Business School
  • School of Health and Social Care
  • School of Life Sciences
  • School of Social Sciences and Law
  • School of Technology
  • School of Westminster Institute of Education
  • School of the Built Environment

Degrees

Also Professional Doctorate and partnership/degrees with Abingdon and Witney College

Doctoral 26 programs

Doctoral programmes train independent researchers, leading to academic, scientific, and senior advisory careers.

  • Architecture
  • Biological and Life Sciences
  • Business Administration
  • Computer Science
  • Education
  • English
  • Film
  • Fine Arts
  • Health Sciences
  • History
  • Hotel Management
  • Law
  • Mathematics
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Medicine
  • Modern Languages
  • Music
  • Philosophy
  • Printing and Printmaking
  • Psychology
  • Public Health
  • Real Estate
  • Religion
  • Social Sciences
  • Social Work
  • Sports

Faculties & Divisions

All faculties operate under Privy Council.

Business (Faculty) 10 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Accountancy
  • Business and Commerce
  • Economics
  • Hotel Management
  • Human Resources
  • Leisure Studies
  • Management
  • Marketing
  • Retailing and Wholesaling
  • Tourism

Common Career Paths

  • Business Analyst
  • Operations Manager
  • Strategy Consultant

Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.

Humanities and Social Sciences (Faculty) 9 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Education
  • English
  • History
  • Law
  • Modern Languages
  • Philosophy
  • Public Health
  • Religion
  • Social Sciences

Common Career Paths

  • Researcher
  • Policy Analyst
  • Social Worker

Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.

Technology, Design and Environment (Faculty) 16 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Architecture
  • Automotive Engineering
  • Computer Networks
  • Computer Science
  • Construction Engineering
  • Electronic Engineering
  • Film
  • Fine Arts
  • Mathematics
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Media Studies
  • Music
  • Real Estate
  • Regional Planning
  • Statistics
  • Town Planning

Common Career Paths

  • Designer
  • Creative Director
  • UX Researcher

Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.

Health and Life Sciences (School) 12 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
  • Health Sciences
  • Midwifery
  • Nursing
  • Occupational Health
  • Osteopathy
  • Paramedical Sciences
  • Physical Therapy
  • Public Health
  • Social and Preventive Medicine
  • Social Work
  • Sports

Common Career Paths

  • Research Scientist
  • Lab Technician
  • Analyst

Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.

Programs Offered

Below: Oxford Brookes University's programme list by level. Programme intakes vary — some offer multiple entry points per year (Sep, Jan, May), others a single annual intake.

251 programmes on record. Each level below shows a sample. Compare these on the programs page All programs in United Kingdom

Honours Degree 129 programmes

Showing 10 of 129.

Master of Business Administration 1 programme

Master of Philosophy 1 programme

Master's Degree 57 programmes

Showing 10 of 57.

Doctorate 53 programmes

Showing 10 of 53.

Professional Doctorate 6 programmes

Foundation 1 programme

Postgraduate Certificate 2 programmes

Postgraduate Diploma 1 programme

Scholarships in United Kingdom

These scholarships are open to students studying in the United Kingdom and may apply to programmes at Oxford Brookes University. Confirm fit and eligibility with the awarding body before relying on any single funding source.

20% Alumni Discount Scheme
University funded · International students · Renewable · Partial Tuition
A 20% tuition fee discount for Oxford Brookes undergraduate alumni who stay on or return to study a taught master's, MPhil or PhD.
Brookes Sport Scholarship Programme
University funded · International students · Renewable · 1,000 GBP per year
A tiered sports scholarship for student-athletes representing Oxford Brookes at BUCS or equivalent level: Gold scholars receive a £1,000 bursary, Silver scholars £500, and Bronze scholars a non-financial support package. All tiers get kit, gym membership, physiotherapy, strength and conditioning, sport psychology and academic flexibility.
Cambridge Trust International Scholarship
Cambridge Trust · Foundation funded · International students · Renewable · Combined · Covers Living
Covers tuition fees at the international rate, an annual maintenance stipend, and support towards the student visa and Immigration Health Surcharge, for postgraduate (and some undergraduate) study at Cambridge; there is no separate application form.
Cowrie Scholarship
University funded · Renewable · 8,000 GBP per year · Combined · Covers Living
Covers home UK tuition fees plus a maintenance stipend of up to £8,000 a year for up to three years, funded by the Cowrie Scholarship Foundation for disadvantaged Black British students.
Estranged Students Bursary
University funded · Renewable · 2,000 GBP per year · Living Stipend · Covers Living
A £2,000 annual bursary for full-time undergraduate or foundation degree students who are formally estranged from their parents.
Gates Cambridge Scholarship
Gates Cambridge Trust · Foundation funded · International students · Renewable · Combined
Funds full-time or part-time PhD study, the one-year MLitt, or (with some exceptions) other one-year postgraduate courses at the University of Cambridge; fee and stipend amounts are set through the University's own student-funding process rather than published on the eligibility page.
International Student Scholarship (September Entry)
University funded · International students · 2,000 GBP per total · Partial Tuition
A £2,000 discount applied to second-semester tuition fees for new international students who pay their deposit by the deadline linked to their offer date.
Oxford Brookes Bursary for Continuing Students
University funded · Renewable · 750 GBP per year · Living Stipend · Covers Living
An automatic living-cost bursary for UK undergraduates who enrolled in 2024/25 or earlier, ranging from £500 to £3,000 a year depending on income, age and postcode.
Oxford Brookes Bursary for New Students
University funded · Renewable · 1,250 GBP per year · Living Stipend · Covers Living
An automatic living-cost bursary for UK undergraduates starting in 2025/26 or later, worth £1,250 a year for household income under £35,000 or £1,000 a year for household income of £35,000-£45,000.
Oxford Brookes Business School International Student Scholarship
University funded · International students · Renewable · 2,000 GBP per year · Partial Tuition
A £2,000 per year discount on second-semester tuition fees for new international students on selected Oxford Brookes Business School undergraduate degrees.
Rhodes Scholarship
Rhodes Trust · Foundation funded · International students · Renewable · 20,400 GBP per year · Combined · Covers Living, Travel
Covers University of Oxford course and college fees, an annual stipend of £20,400 (£1,700 a month, 2025-26 rate), the Oxford application fee, student visa and Immigration Health Surcharge costs, two economy flights to and from the UK, and a settling-in allowance.
Sanctuary Scholarship
University funded · International students · Renewable · 14,000 GBP per year · Combined · Covers Living
A full tuition fee waiver plus a £4,000 cash bursary and £10,000 accommodation support (with guaranteed 52-week housing) for one student seeking sanctuary, renewable each year of study.
Transition from Care Bursary
University funded · Renewable · 2,000 GBP per year · Living Stipend · Covers Living
A £2,000 annual bursary for care-experienced students under 25 who are receiving Student Loans Company or NHS Business Services Authority funding support.
Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships and Leadership Programme
Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Trust · Foundation funded · International students · Renewable · 18,622 GBP per year · Combined · Covers Living
Covers 100% of course fees and a living-cost grant (at least £18,622 a year through the St Antony's College partnership) for the full period of fee liability, plus participation in a tailored leadership programme.
Young Carer Bursary
University funded · Renewable · 500 GBP per year · Living Stipend · Covers Living
A £500 annual bursary for students with recognised caring responsibilities.

How to apply to Oxford Brookes University

What applying to Oxford Brookes University typically involves — research, eligibility check, document prep, submission, and follow-up.

  1. 1
    Identify the right programme

    Use the programme finder to browse Oxford Brookes University's 251 active programmes. Filter by keyword or scan by degree level. Read curriculum details on each programme's dedicated page if available.

  2. 2
    Check entry requirements

    Programme-level requirements at Oxford Brookes University typically include academic transcripts, language proficiency proof, identity documents, and a personal statement or interview. Confirm specific requirements with the admissions office.

  3. 3
    Prepare your application documents

    Prepare academic transcripts, ID/passport copies, language proficiency proof, a personal statement, and reference letters. International candidates may need apostilled or notarised translations — start early to avoid deadline pressure.

  4. 4
    Submit via UCAS or the institution

    Oxford Brookes University takes undergraduate applications through the UCAS system (ucas.com). Postgraduate applicants apply directly through Oxford Brookes University's own admissions portal at www.brookes.ac.uk instead.

  5. 5
    Get in touch with admissions

    Confirm receipt of your application with the admissions office and keep an eye on your portal for status changes. Reach the institution by phone at +44 (1865) 741 111. Quick responses to any follow-up requests keep your application moving smoothly through the review process.

Frequently Asked Questions about Oxford Brookes University

Short Q&A on the institutional facts that matter most when shortlisting Oxford Brookes University as a study destination.

When did Oxford Brookes University open?

Oxford Brookes University traces its founding to 1865 (approximately 161 years ago).

What city is Oxford Brookes University in?

Oxford Brookes University operates from Oxford, United Kingdom.

What is Oxford Brookes University's control type?

Oxford Brookes University is a public institution.

How big is Oxford Brookes University's student body?

Oxford Brookes University serves approximately 26,095 students.

What is Oxford Brookes University's ranking?

Oxford Brookes University holds rank QS 2027 #411 =.

What degrees does Oxford Brookes University offer?

Programmes at Oxford Brookes University cover bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes.

What is Oxford Brookes University's academic structure?

The institution comprises 8 academic units.

Is Oxford Brookes University accredited?

The institution holds recognition from Privy Council.

Where can I learn more about Oxford Brookes University?

You can find Oxford Brookes University online at www.brookes.ac.uk.

Top-Ranked Universities in the United Kingdom

Top universities in the United Kingdom typically offer the most generous institutional scholarships. Oxford Brookes University's scholarship range relative to these benchmarks reflects funding capacity.

Members of Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU)

Members of Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), alongside Oxford Brookes University.

Faculties at nearby universities

The institutions below are geographically close to Oxford Brookes University.

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