Oxford
The
University of Oxford dates from the twelfth century. Its record of
academic excellence stretches back to its earliest days, when it was the
only university which could claim to rank alongside that of Paris.
Today, studies routinely place Oxford - with Cambridge, alone amongst the
universities of Europe - amongst the top five in the world. The study of
theology has been central to the life of the university since its
foundation.
The university is composed of thirty-nine colleges, seven permanent private halls (of which St Stephen’s House is one) and faculties in the full-range of academic disciplines. The colleges’ commitment to tutorial teaching, and the high ratio of academics to students, allows for programmes of teaching and research supervision which are unsurpassed.
Today there are 18,000 students and an almost bewildering array of student
societies. Many of the wide range of student sporting societies are based
at
the sports centre and swimming pool, five minutes walk from St Stephen’s
House.
Oxford is a lively city, well-provided with shops, restaurants and leisure facilities. Beautiful Oxfordshire countryside lies close at hand. Within the city itself are Christchuch Meadow, the Magdalen Deer Park, the Botanical Gardens and the University Parks. London can be reached by train in less than an hour, and coaches run between the cities throughout the day and night.
The history and structure of the university is discussed in further detail on the university’s own website: www.ox.ac.uk/aboutoxford.
