Why choose Jesus College? Where do we begin? You’ll be joining a vibrant, inclusive and intellectual community that offers excellence in teaching and research.  

Our undergraduate students come from a wide range of backgrounds, countries and cultures. We aim to attract the brightest minds, and are committed to raising aspiration and improving social mobility through a programme of access bursaries, worth up to £850 per year. We also offer a range of generous grants, prizes and awards to support our students during their time at Oxford.

 

The College is located in the historic heart of the city, just a few minutes’ walk from the University’s libraries, science campus and humanities buildings, with shops, markets and restaurants on your doorstep. Founded in 1571, the College retains many of its original features – including our beautiful Elizabethan dining hall (below), Chapel, and Principal’s Lodgings.

 

Jesus College was one of the first men’s colleges to admit women, in 1974, but nowadays, our student intake is evenly balanced between men and women. Amongst our well-known former students are BBC journalist and presenter Francine Stock (Modern Languages), novelist and screenwriter William Boyd (English), and Gwyneth Glyn (Philosophy and Theology), the youngest writer to be appointed Children’s Poet Laureate for Wales. In the world of politics, Harold Wilson, twice British Prime Minister, and Norman Manley, elected Chief Minister of Jamaica in 1955, both studied here. T.E. Lawrence (‘Lawrence of Arabia’) read History at Jesus, and his 1910 thesis on Crusader Castles is still in the College’s possession.

 

Amongst our Fellows, lecturers and tutors are many world-class academics, working at the boundaries of interdisciplinary research in the information age: from climate change, astrophysics and medical research, to medieval history, classics and law.

 

Our firm commitment to academic excellence is reflected in the high quality of our tutorial teaching, the consistently strong performance of our undergraduates in their University exams, and the first-class academic facilities we provide. Our ninety-plus academic staff are experts recruited both from the UK and internationally, and teach a wide range of the courses offered at Oxford in the humanities, sciences and social sciences.

 

 

 

Our inclusive and friendly student community enjoys a range of opportunities to get together and socialise, whether that’s through sports, the arts, subject societies or faith groups. All undergraduates belong to the Junior Common Room (JCR) which is our version of a students’ union, representing their members and providing a place to relax. The lively JCR is housed in spacious modern accommodation, including a conservatory and snack bar. Here, students can meet friends, read newspapers and magazines, play a game of pool or watch TV.

 

We offer excellent sports facilities, and all are welcome to use these, whether as a serious athlete or just for fun. They include a sports pavilion, squash courts, extensive playing fields with hockey, cricket, football and rugby pitches, hard grass tennis courts and netball courts. There’s also our boathouse on the River Thames, with boats used all year round by our rowing crews, from novices to experienced rowers, and access to the University’s swimming pool, athletics stadium and gym, free of charge.

There are many opportunities to try out new sports and join one of the College teams to compete against other colleges. You can also join other University sports clubs, or start one of your own.

 

 

 

In 2022 we opened our new Cheng Yu Tung Building on the College’s historic site. Combining new graduate accommodation, indoor and outdoor communal spaces, state-of-the-art teaching facilities and the College cafe, the building provides a range of fantastic resources for students.

 

 

It’s an exciting time to join Jesus College, and we invite all prospective students to come and visit us. If you have any questions in the meantime, our friendly and helpful Access Team are always on hand and you can contact them here.