If you’re considering studying at Oxford, you might be wondering whether this option is more expensive than other universities. In this article, we will tell you everything you need to know about the Univesity of Oxford’s costs, bursaries, and any financial considerations to keep in mind when applying.
How Much Does it Cost to Study at Oxford?
There are a few different fees and costs you will need to consider if you’re thinking of applying to Oxford University. The main ones would be tuition fees, living costs, and the option to use grants, bursaries, and scholarships. So, let’s go through each of these in a little more detail so you can understand what it means to study here and how much money you would need in a year.
Oxford's Tuition Fees
The first thing to keep in mind is that the cost of attending the university of Oxford (the tuition fees) varies depending on where you’re from.
For UK students, undergraduate courses cost £9,250 per year (this amount might be reduced if you need to spend a year studying abroad). The good news is: This is, in fact, the same price you would pay to attend most universities in the UK. So, in those terms, Oxford is NOT more expensive than other options.
We’ll talk more about loans in the grants and bursaries section, but since Oxford is such a respected university, you shouldn’t have trouble getting a government loan to cover the total cost of your course tuition.
Oxford's Living Costs
The cost of your living expenses will depend largely on the type of lifestyle you want to have while living and studying in Oxford. The university provides some living cost approximations, but remember these are relatively flexible. The costs there are listed based on single, full-time undergraduates with no dependants.
Again, we got some good news here! All Oxford colleges offer at least one year of accommodation, with a lot of them covering two to three. This can help you significantly reduce costs, as you would only pay rent during the term. Several colleges also subsidise food, with three-course meals costing as little as £4. You also won’t need to buy any textbooks, as these are all provided or covered by the university’s libraries.
Grants, Bursaries, Scholarships, and Other Fonancial Help
There are several grants, bursaries, and scholarships offered by the University of Oxford and other interested institutions. Let’s look at some of them.
Grants
- Travel grants: Some colleges offer travel grants to students that want to expand their horizons and explore various academic interests.
- Book grants: The same but for books and equipment.
Bursaries
Bursaries are non-repayable sources of financial support, and the university offers many of them. For instance:
- For students with household incomes below £16,000 per year, you can be entitled to a bursary of £3,700 (also a year).
- If your household income is between £40,001–£42,875, you can still receive £200 a year.
Scholarships
There are dozens of scholarships you can apply for once you’ve gotten invited to study at Oxford. For example:
Moritz-Heyman Scholarships: These are scholarships for up to 160 students with household incomes below £16,000. You can receive an annual bursary, a tuition fee reduction of £3,000 per year, and additional access to internships.
- Hill Foundation Scholarship: A scholarship for nationals of and ordinarily residents in the Russian Federation that wishes to study for a second undergraduate degree.
- Organ and Choral scholarships: Some colleges offer awards to students who contribute to college chapels (as either organists or choral singers). Auditions that take place in September.
- Bright Oceans Corporation Scholarship: A program for Chinese students from Mainland China.
- Reach Oxford Scholarship: A scholarship for students from low-income countries.
Learn more about the bursaries and scholarships for 2023 entry here.
So... Is Oxford Expensive?
Here’s the short version of this entire article: Attending Oxford is no more expensive than attending other universities. Most colleges will cover affordable accommodation and there are plenty of programs to get financial assistance should you need it.
How Hard Is It to Get Into Oxford?
If you want to study at Oxford, you will need to have the right grades (for example, A-Levels ranging between A*A*A and AAA or the equivalent) and be genuinely interested in a subject. The process of applying can be time-consuming, so keep in mind you’ll typically be required to prepare some written work, attend an interview, and sometimes sit an admissions test.
