Oxford ranked second in world league table, top in medicine

The rankings, produced in association with Thomson Reuters, are based on 13 performance indicators grouped into five areas: teaching (worth 30% of the overall ranking score); research (worth 30%); citations (worth 30%); industry income (worth 2.5%); and international outlook (worth 7.5%).

In the subject-specific rankings, Oxford came first for 'clinical, pre-clinical and health'. Oxford's Medical Sciences Division is one of the largest biomedical research centres in Europe, with over 2,500 people involved in research and more than 2,800 students, and is at the forefront of medical research. It has one of the largest clinical trial portfolios in the UK and great expertise in taking discoveries from the laboratory into the clinic. Partnerships with the local NHS Trusts enable patients to benefit from close links between medical research and healthcare delivery.

A great strength of Oxford medicine is its longstanding network of clinical research units in Asia and Africa, and its collaborations with partners in countries all over the world, enabling world-leading research on the most pressing global health challenges such as malaria, TB, HIV/AIDS and chronic conditions like cancer, heart disease and diabetes.

Oxford's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Andrew Hamilton, said of the rankings: 'We are delighted with this indicator of Oxford's continued commitment to excellence in all areas of activity. World-class excellence cannot survive without proper funding, so we will continue to look to friends and alumni for support, as well as to argue for strong public funding of research and higher education.

'It is particularly pleasing to have our world-leading medical science recognised. From fundamental science to treating patients, Oxford medicine is changing scientific understanding and changing human health – both locally, through our partnership with the Oxford University Hospitals Trust, and all over the world.'