Oxford Brookes University

Oxford Brookes University is a public university with more than 150 years of history. It began in 1865 as the Oxford School of Art, occupying a single room in the city, later became Oxford Polytechnic and gained university status in 1992, taking its name from its former principal John Henry Brookes. The main Headington Campus lies about a mile east of Oxford city centre, with a further site at Harcourt Hill in Oxford and a campus in Swindon focused on adult nursing.

The university has around 18,000 students and is organised into two faculties: Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Health, Science and Technology. Recognised specialisms include architecture and the built environment, motorsport engineering, hospitality, tourism and events management, nursing and health sciences, computing and business. Oxford Brookes is a member of University Alliance, holds a Silver rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework 2023 and is regarded as one of the leading modern universities in the UK, with a reputation for teaching quality and close links with business and industry.

Information for International Students

Oxford Brookes has students from around 145 countries. The International Student Advice Team offers confidential guidance on visas and immigration status, together with help on financial questions, settling-in socials, a buddy scheme and free English language support throughout the course.

Most undergraduate and postgraduate courses typically require IELTS 6.0 overall with no component below 5.5, although some programmes set higher levels. The university delivers its own preparation courses on campus, including Pre-sessional English in blocks of 6 or 12 weeks, an International Foundation Diploma with subject routes such as business and technology or arts, humanities and law, and Pre-Master's courses lasting one or two semesters. Foundation students are treated as Oxford Brookes students from their first day. Since 2025 QA Higher Education has supported international recruitment to the foundation courses, while academic delivery remains with the university.

All full-time first-year students starting in September who choose Oxford Brookes as their firm or insurance choice, apply by the deadline and meet their offer conditions are guaranteed accommodation. Airport coach services connect Oxford with London Heathrow and Gatwick day and night, and eligible graduates may apply for the Graduate Route.