Harris Manchester

Harris Manchester is the only Oxford college which is dedicated solely to mature students, and we take students from the age of 21 with no upper age limit. As the smallest college in the University, there is an intimate, friendly atmosphere, with a great deal of peer support. The diversity of our students in terms of age, culture and background makes the college a very interesting and vibrant society.

The college occupies a striking Victorian Gothic building with a library donated by Sir Henry Tate, and a chapel entirely lit by Edward Burne-Jones/William Morris stained glass.

The college has a number of scholarships for second undergraduate degrees, up to £18,000 in total, which are awarded on merit. All second BA applicants are automatically considered.

Harris Manchester is centrally situated but in a quiet location on Mansfield Road, just a few minutes away from the Bodleian Library, most faculty libraries, the Science area and other University facilities. The city centre is also close by.

College accommodation is located on the main College site and students are generally accommodated in College for at least the first and final years of their course. We are unable to provide accommodation for couples and families. Students needing family accommodation are encouraged to apply to the University for this. All rooms have telephone lines, and are also wired for the internet. There is a mix of 16th and 17th century houses (renovated to a very high standard), and some new accommodation. The charges include meals, which are of a consistently high quality, and care is taken to cater for specific dietary requirements. All meals are taken in the splendid baronial-style dining hall.

The library has some 70,000 volumes. The reading room, the Tate Library, is open to students from 8.30am to 11pm every day. It covers all undergraduate subjects that the college offers, and has a generous budget. The college gives a book grant to each first-year student. The new Library Gallery provides 30 extra study spaces. There is a student computing room and a high level of IT support.

Because of its small size, college life from year to year is very dependent on the interests of current students, and so there is a great opportunity for each individual to influence college life. The college has a flourishing law society and wine society. In some years there has been a drama society, in others we have fielded a very successful football team. There is also a college choir and music has become an important part of college life.