Oxford Brookes University

History

• Founded in 1865 as Oxford School of Art.
• 1970–1992 Oxford Polytechnic.
• Became Oxford Brookes University in 1992.
• 2003 – the world's first Fairtrade university.

Location and transport

• Three campuses: Headington (1 mile east of city centre), Wheatley (7 miles east) and Harcourt Hill (2 miles west).
• Brookes bus service links campuses, halls of residence and city centre.
• Buses to London from outside Headington campus every ten minutes at peak times; throughout the night at weekends.

Entry standards

• Offers vary from course to course. See individual course information online, where you will also get general information about entry standards at Oxford Brookes for school leavers and mature applicants.

Student mix

• Male 41%; female 59%.
• UK 83%; EU 6%; non-EU 11%.
• State school 74%.

Course flexibility

• The university pioneered the modular system and still offer one of the widest ranges of course combinations in the UK.

Teaching standards

• In the Student Satisfaction Survey (2010), 90% agreed that 'staff are good at explaining things’.
• Five National Teaching Fellowship awards in the last two years.

Research standards

• RAE (2008) – world leading research in 15 areas, including 25% of History research and 15% of Computer Science and Informatics, Art and Design, History of Art, Architecture and Design, and Music.

Academic strengths

• Architecture, Law, History, English, Education, Health and Social Work, Psychology, Automotive/Motorsport Engineering.
• Department of Architecture rated top department outside London (The Architects’ Journal).

Disability services

• Brookes provides support geared to students’ needs, including:

Support worker scheme.
Wheelchair accessible accommodation.
Guidance on applying for DSA funding.
Specialist software.
Mentoring service for mental health needs.
Special exam arrangements for students with dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties.

• Find out more about disability services at Oxford Brookes online.

Student facilities, including library and computing

• A library on each campus. Facilities include:

Half a million books, DVDs and CDs available to borrow.
Online databases, electronic journals and e-books.
Special collections include the Booker Prize Archive and the National Brewing Library.

• IT resources include:

Online personal learning with Brookes Virtual – includes wikis, podcasts and digital video.
All student accommodation rooms have internet access.
Free email and internet access also available 24/7 in shared facilities.
Graphics workshop.

Students' union

• Students–run annual Human Rights Film Festival.
• Seventy student societies.
• SU Advice Centre gives free advice and information on financial, accommodation, legal and academic concerns.
• The SU Safety Bus ensures you can get home safely after a night out in Oxford.

Sport

• Brookes has six sports of excellence: rowing, basketball, climbing, cricket, hockey and rugby.
• Read more about sport at Oxford Brookes online.

Recent/prospective new builds

• New engineering and technology building opened 2007.
• £110-million redevelopment of Headington and Wheatley campuses starting 2007.

Availability of part-time work

• Plenty of part-time work available. For information visit the Brookes Talent Bank online.

Notable alumni

• Steve Ridgway
• Justin Forsyth
• Lynn Featherstone MP
• Jonathan Djanogly MP 
• George Passmore