Oxford Brookes University

Oxford Brookes University (OBU), formerly known as Oxford Polytechnic, is a public university located in Oxford, England. It became a university in 1992 under the Further and Higher Education Act. The university is named after John Henry Brookes, its first principal, who helped develop the institution.

The university is mainly based on a large campus in Headington, Oxford, with another campus in Swindon. Previously, it had campuses in Wheatley and Harcourt Hill, but these closed in 2024 and 2025, and all activities moved to Headington.

As of November 2021, Oxford Brookes University had about 16,900 students and over 190,000 graduates in more than 177 countries. It is organized into two main groups of study: Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Health, Sciences and Technology. The university works with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) so that accounting students can earn a degree while studying. It also has special schools for architecture and law. Oxford Brookes University is part of the University Alliance.

History

Oxford Brookes University began in 1865 as the Oxford School of Art, in a small room at the Taylor Institution on St Giles', Oxford. Over the years, it grew by adding a School of Science and moving to new locations.

In 1934, the School of Art and the Technical School joined together, with John Henry Brookes as the first principal. By 1956, it became the Oxford College of Technology and moved to a new campus. In 1970, it was named Oxford Polytechnic, and in 1992, after new rules allowed it, it became Oxford Brookes University, named after its first principal. The university continued to grow, adding new schools and sites over the years. In 2003, it became the first university in the world to earn Fairtrade status.

Campuses

Oxford Brookes University’s main activities are at the Headington Campus, which has three sites: Gypsy Lane, Headington Hill, and Marston Road. There is also a campus in Swindon.

The Headington campus is in a residential area of Oxford. The Gypsy Lane site includes many departments, the university library, a main lecture theatre, the student union, and main administrative services. It was redeveloped with the John Henry Brookes Building, which opened in 2014.

The Headington Hill Hall site includes the School of Arts and School of Law, and new facilities for Engineering and Motorsports. The Marston Road site is for subjects such as nursing and occupational therapy.

The Swindon campus opened in 2016. It is located west of the town centre and offers courses in adult nursing and other subjects. It includes a lecture theatre, library, and learning spaces.

Former campuses

The Wheatley campus, near Wheatley, taught information technology, mathematics, and engineering. It closed in 2024, and all activities moved to Headington Hill.

The Harcourt Hill campus, on Oxford’s western edge, taught education, philosophy, religion, theology, and media. It plans to move all teaching to Headington Campus for the 2025/26 academic year.

Redevelopment

Recent years have seen major redevelopments, including the John Henry Brookes Building, which opened in 2014 and won several awards. The university plans more building work over the next 10 years, including new facilities at Headington and a new campus in Swindon. The Wheatley campus closed in 2024, and the New Headington Hill Building opened in January 2025.

Organisation and governance

Oxford Brookes University has two main groups called faculties. These faculties include 11 schools spread across three campuses.

The first faculty is called the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (AHSS). It includes schools such as the School of Arts, Oxford Brookes Business School, and the School of Education, Humanities and Languages. There is also the School of Law and Social Sciences.

The second faculty is the Faculty of Health, Science and Technology (HST). This faculty includes schools like the Oxford School of Architecture, School of Biological and Medical Sciences, and the School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics. It also has the Oxford School of Nursing and Midwifery, School of Psychology, Social Work and Public Health, and the School of Sport, Nutrition and Allied Health Professionals, which includes the Functional Food Centre.

The university has had several important leaders called Chancellors. These include Baroness Kennedy, Jon Snow, Shami Chakrabarti, Dame Katherine Grainger, and Paterson Joseph.

There have also been several Vice-chancellors, such as Clive Booth, Graham Upton, Janet Beer, Alistair Fitt, and Helen Laville.

Academic profile

Oxford Brookes University is known for its strong performance in many subjects. In 2017, it was ranked among the world's top universities in 16 different subjects and four subject areas. It also held a top ten world ranking for its online MBA program. The university has received many awards for teaching quality and was among the top 25 in the UK for teaching in 2016.

The university’s School of Architecture is one of the largest in Britain and is ranked very highly both in the UK and worldwide. Its School of Law is also well-regarded, ranking 16th in the UK. The university is also strong in areas like hospitality management and has been recognized for its research quality, with much of it being internationally recognized. It has special programs in areas such as primate conservation and nutrition, and its technology school is famous for its automotive and motorsport engineering courses, working closely with Formula 1 teams. The university also has partnerships with schools in other countries, allowing students to earn degrees through joint programs.

Student life

Student union

Main article: Oxford Brookes Students' Union

The Oxford Brookes Students' Union is the group that represents all students at the university. It is led by students and offers many services, including student clubs, a safety bus, advice help, and student representatives. In 2012, a survey showed that only 34% of students were happy with the union.

Accommodation

The university has 13 student housing areas. Five are on the Headington campus, two on the Harcourt Hill campus, one on the Wheatley campus, and three more around Headington. There are also five private housing areas managed with housing groups.

• Cheney Student Village
• Clive Booth Student Village
• New Clive Booth Student Village
• Crescent Hall
• Westminster Hall
• Lady Spencer Churchill Hall
• Paul Kent Hall
• Slade Park
• Dorset House
• Beech House
• Parade Green
• Sinnet Court

Transport

BrookesBus was a bus service that connected all the university campuses and student housing in Oxford. Students and staff could get a BrookesKey for cheaper travel on local buses, including a pass for free travel on BrookesBus services.

In 2025, the university decided not to continue the BrookesBus service. Instead, students and staff can now get a cheaper annual CityZone bus pass, with extra help for those living far from the Headington Campus. This change caused some disagreement, with many students and staff concerned about the cost and safety of traveling late at night.

Notable alumni

Main article: List of alumni of Oxford Brookes University

Oxford Brookes University has many well-known people who studied there. These alumni have gone on to achieve success in various fields, showing the impact of the university's education on their careers.