St John’s

St John’s is academically one of the most successful colleges, with a lively and stimulating (but also supportive) atmosphere. The college occupies extensive grounds in the heart of the city, with award winning architecture and some of the most beautiful gardens in Oxford.

We attract many promising candidates from a wide range of backgrounds and all types of school. A significant proportion of good candidates applying to St John’s are placed elsewhere in Oxford if we are unable to make them an offer. We regard the link between teaching and research as extremely important; all our tutors are active in research, and we have many research students and Junior Research Fellows. The college awards book grants, travel grants, vacation grants and music bursaries.

St John’s is close to the city centre, on St Giles’, a short walk from departments (particularly Mathematics, Modern Languages and Human Sciences), libraries, the Science Area, the Ashmolean Museum and sports facilities.

All rooms are on the main site or nearby in Museum Road. We offer a room to all students for the duration of their course. All rooms in college have internet points and shared kitchens. We have excellent facilities for disabled students and special funds for visually impaired students.

Most meals in hall are pay-as-you-go and self-service, with a wide range of high quality options; or you can buy snacks in the bar or cook for yourself.

The college has an excellent library which is open from early morning until 11pm every day in term-time. Here students can work or borrow books. We are pleased to say that over 1,000 new books are added each year. There are four computer rooms for student use, with PCs and Macs, laser printers and internet access.

As well as the usual student bar, television rooms and laundries, we have an art gallery in the Barn, two squash courts and two gyms on site. The recent addition of Kendrew Quad now means that we are able to offer 70 new ensuite student rooms together with a wifi cafe and spaces for all manner of events. In Garden Quad we have a 200-seater auditorium for drama and concerts, and purpose-built music rooms. The sports ground, just a mile away from college caters for Football, Rugby, Cricket and Tennis. There is also a boathouse with 11 boats on the river.

We have a joint orchestra with St Anne’s College and a musician in residence. In addition to evening and lunchtime recitals, we invite professional musicians to give free concerts. Our choir also gives concerts, records CDs and tours internationally. We also invite eminent artists in different media to spend a period in college as ‘Artist in Residence’.

St John’s students stage the college pantomimes and reviews, and join in dramatic productions in the University and at the Oxford Playhouse. St John’s Mummers are regular performers at the Edinburgh Festival. Sport is played with much enthusiasm here at St John’s with everyone having a chance to participate.

We also have a student newspaper and our very own TV station SJCTV which reflect the wide range of views and interests of our undergraduate students.