English Universities

English Universities.

Oxford University

• The University of Oxford is a British university in Oxford, England. One of the oldest universities in the world, the first English-speaking university in the British Isles. Although the exact date of the foundation of the university is unknown, there is evidence that education there took place as early as 1096. It is included in the group of "ancient universities" of Great Britain and Ireland, as well as in the elite group "Russell" of the best 24 universities in the UK. Tuition is paid. Oxford University occupies a leading position in the prestigious rankings of universities in the world, in The World University Ranking 2016-2020, the university ranked 1st in the world.

From the history of Oxford

• Oxford University history.The exact date of the establishment of the oldest university in Great Britain is unknown, but it was mentioned for the first time about the existence of an educational institution until 1096 year. In 1167, King Henry II banned his students from studying at the University of Paris, which gave great impetus to the development of local education in Oxford, and the Royal Charter, which was followed in 1248 year, finally strengthened the status of the University. Here, theology, Medicine, Law and free Sciences were taught. The University of Oxford initially occupied a very small territory and trained mainly monks.

University structure

• The University consists of 38 colleges, as well as 6 dormitories — closed educational institutions belonging to religious orders without college status. Exams, most lectures and laboratory classes are organized centrally, and colleges conduct individual classes with students and seminars. Now there are more than 20,000 students studying at Oxford, about a quarter of them are foreign. Their number increases dramatically in the summer, when summer language schools open. The Rector of Oxford is Sir Chris Patten. Women began to be admitted to Oxford only in the 1920s, but already in the 1970s separate education was abolished. The staff of Oxford teachers is huge — almost 4,000 people, 70 of them are members of the Royal Society, more than 100 are members of the British Academy. Oxford uses a unique tutoring system in teaching — a personal guardianship is established over each student by a specialist in the chosen specialty. The main areas of students' training are humanities, mathematics, physics, social sciences, medicine, life sciences and the environment.

Oxford Colleges

• The very first college of Oxford University — University College — was founded in 1249. Two other Oxford colleges claiming historical primacy — Balliol (1260) and Merton College (1264) - are named after their creators: John de Balliol was the father of John I, the future king of Scotland, and the founder of the second was Lord Chancellor Walter de Merton. Subsequently, about forty colleges were founded.