St John's College
St John’s College is proud of its reputation for academic excellence within a vibrant, supportive and socially diverse community.
St John's College, front quadrangle. Credit: Oxford University Images
About the college
It is an extremely popular college for graduates, who make up approximately 40% of the student community.
The college places a high value on the contributions made by graduate students. Interaction between graduates and full-time academics is warmly encouraged and the College Advisor system, independent of academic supervision, fosters close links with the Senior Common Room (SCR). The Fellow for Graduates hosts regular events throughout the year, including lecture suppers, subject dinners and drinks parties.
In addition to offering a generous number of scholarships in partnership with the University, St John’s provides financial support in the form of various grants and bursaries.
Please note that applications are not accepted for part-time study at St John's College.
Key facts
| Students (total*) in 2025-26 | Full-time places in 2027-28 | Part-time places in 2027-28 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taught graduates | 25 | c. 35 | c. 0 |
| Research graduates | 235 | c. 57 | c. 0 |
| Undergraduates | 440 | N/A | N/A |
*Total across all year groups (see source data)
1555
College tour
Facilities
In 2019 St John's opened a new library and study centre equipped with 90 study seats and multiple seminar rooms. There is also a specialised law library for law students.
Wireless networking is available across College and most of the external housing. Almost all student rooms also have high speed wired network connections.
There are resource rooms within the college, including one which is for use by graduate students only, located in the Middle Common Room (MCR), which can be used for study. Most student rooms have network connections. College provides free mono printing (for academic purposes) and paid colour printing is also available. There is a printer just for graduate use in the MCR building. Many teaching and some study spaces have interactive displays which can be used as whiteboards or for showing presentations.
Students at St John’s enjoy playing a diverse range of sports within College and for the University, and many of the College’s sports facilities are of a professional standard. The MCR run various teams and sports, specifically for graduates, in addition to those of the college. In College there are two fully equipped gyms, a table tennis room, two squash courts and a croquet lawn. A third specialised gym is used for training by rowers. The large College Sports Ground and Pavilion provides excellent playing, changing and socialising facilities, and on the River Thames the Boathouse is fully equipped for rowers.
St John’s students partake in a lively mix of music and drama events in college. The college hosts regular concerts, has a number of well-equipped music rooms, a joint orchestra with St Anne’s College and a chapel choir.
The Oxford Alternative Orchestra is also based at St John's.
The College is active in promoting the visual arts, through commissions, exhibitions and a programme of Artists-in-Residence.
St John’s College Chapel welcomes all members of college, and all are encouraged to enjoy the possibility that the Chapel and its services offer for reflection. Members of every Christian denomination, as well as those with no Christian faith, are valued participants in all aspects of Chapel life.
Our Bainton Road Nursery was established in November 2016. It is primarily for the fellows, students, lecturers and staff of St Johns College. Early enquiries are encouraged as there is usually a waiting list.
St John’s College is committed to being an open and inclusive community where everyone has access to the support they need to succeed. The college welcomes students with any kind of visible or invisible disabilities and works closely with them to ensure they can participate in college life as fully as possible. Many of the buildings are accessible to those with physical disabilities. There are several accessible bedrooms on the main College site, two of which have access to a kitchen which has been adapted to the needs of students with visual impairments.
Further information about building accessibility is available through the college website. Please contact the College Disability Co-ordinator about any specific accessibility requirements.
The college's Welfare and Wellbeing team support students with any aspect of their life at Oxford. The team is led by the Head of Student Wellbeing who will always meet with students for a “starting point” conversation aimed at supporting them to find solutions and support for any issue they may be facing. The college has a College Nurse and College Psychologist and a dedicated 24/7 online or phone helpline for support with “in the moment” issues which might be causing stress and anxiety. There is a welfare team who support the Main Porters’ Lodge to deal with any issues which arise out of hours and the college also runs a wellbeing activity programme in term time and in most vacations. The welfare and wellbeing team will support students to access college or University services that they need as well as offering tips, advice and support to help them enjoy life and thrive at St John’s.
The college has a very active Middle Common Room (MCR) committee who organise a wide range of social and intellectual activities for graduate students including guest night dinners, excursions, film nights and bops.
The MCR is located in a modern building which includes a resource room, television room, kitchen and a large function space where many events are held. The international nature of the graduate community and the organisational skills and enthusiasm of the MCR committee ensure that new members are made to feel immediately at home.
Accommodation and meals
Single room accommodation is offered to students for their first year of graduate study. Most single rooms are on campus or in central locations which are just a short walk from the college and the city centre.
The college does offer couples and family accommodation; however, availability is limited, so early applications are recommended. Most of these flats are nearby to the college, around fifteen minutes' walk.
Rooms and Flats may also be available in subsequent years, via a ballot run by the MCR.
Students can eat breakfast, lunch and dinner in the beautiful Hall in College. The menu is varied and healthy.
During the day the spacious and modern Kendrew Café is open for hot, healthy meals and snacks and for socialising, while in the evening the lively College Bar is a popular venue.
Most students also have access to kitchen facilities if they wish to prepare their own food.
Courses
For entry in 2027-28
This college accepts graduate students for the following courses:
- MPhil + DPhil in Economics (full time)
- MSc in Advanced Computer Science (full time)
- DPhil in Ancient History (full time)
- MPhil in Ancient History (full time)
- MSt in Ancient History (full time)
- MSt in Ancient Philosophy (full time)
- DPhil in Anthropology (full time)
- MSc in Applied Linguistics and Second Language Acquisition (full time)
- MSc in Archaeology (full time)
- DPhil in Archaeology (School of Archaeology) (full time)
- DPhil in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (full time)
- MSt in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (full time)
- DPhil in Astrophysics (full time)
- DPhil in Atmospheric, Oceanic and Planetary Physics (full time)
- DPhil in Atomic and Laser Physics (full time)
- Autonomous Intelligent Machines and Systems (EPSRC CDT) (full time)
- Bachelor of Civil Law (full time)
- DPhil in Biochemistry (full time)
- MSc by Research in Biochemistry (full time)
- DPhil in Biology (full time)
- MSc by Research in Biology (full time)
- DPhil in Biomedical Sciences (NIH OxCam) (full time)
- BPhil in Philosophy (full time)
- DPhil in Cancer Science (Clinician) (full time)
- DPhil in Cancer Science (Intercalation) (full time)
- Cancer Science CDT (Biological background) (full time)
- Cancer Science CDT (Maths/Physics background) (full time)
- Chemical Synthesis for a Healthy Planet (EPSRC CDT) (full time)
- DPhil in Chemistry (full time)
- MSc by Research in Chemistry (full time)
- DPhil in Classical Archaeology (full time)
- MPhil in Classical Archaeology (full time)
- MSt in Classical Archaeology (full time)
- DPhil in Classical Languages and Literature (full time)
- DPhil in Clinical Medicine (full time)
- DPhil in Clinical Neurosciences (full time)
- MSc by Research in Clinical Neurosciences (full time)
- MSt in Comparative Literature and Critical Translation (full time)
- DPhil in Computer Science (full time)
- DPhil in Condensed Matter Physics (full time)
- DPhil in Earth Sciences (full time)
- MSc by Research in Earth Sciences (full time)
- DPhil in Economic and Social History (full time)
- MPhil in Economic and Social History (full time)
- MSc in Economic and Social History (full time)
- DPhil in Economics (full time)
- MPhil in Economics (full time)
- DPhil in Engineering Science (full time)
- DPhil in English (full time)
- MSt in English (650-1550) (full time)
- MSt in English (1550-1700) (full time)
- MSt in English (1700-1830) (full time)
- MSt in English (1830-1914) (full time)
- MSt in English (1900-present) (full time)
- MSt in English and American Studies (full time)
- MPhil in English Studies (Medieval Period) (full time)
- MSc in Environmental Change and Policy (full time)
- DPhil in Experimental Psychology (full time)
- MSc by Research in Experimental Psychology (full time)
- MSt in Film Aesthetics (full time)
- DPhil in Fine Art (Contemporary Art History and Theory) (full time)
- DPhil in Fine Art (Practice-led) (full time)
- DPhil in Geography and the Environment (full time)
- MSt in Global and Imperial History (full time)
- MPhil in Greek and/or Latin Languages and Literature (full time)
- MSt in Greek and/or Latin Languages and Literature (full time)
- DPhil in History (full time)
- MPhil in History (British and European History 1700-1850) (full time)
- MSt in History (British and European History 1700-1850) (full time)
- MPhil in History (Early Modern History 1500-1700) (full time)
- MSt in History (Early Modern History 1500-1700) (full time)
- MPhil in History (Medieval History) (full time)
- MSt in History (Medieval History) (full time)
- MPhil in History (Modern British History 1850-present) (full time)
- MSt in History (Modern British History 1850-present) (full time)
- MPhil in History (Modern European History 1850-present) (full time)
- MSt in History (Modern European History 1850-Present) (full time)
- MPhil in History (US History) (full time)
- MSt in History (US History) (full time)
- MPhil in History (Women's, Gender and Queer History) (full time)
- MSt in History (Women's, Gender and Queer History) (full time and part time)
- DPhil in History of Art (full time)
- MSt in History of Art and Visual Culture (full time)
- Inorganic Materials for Advanced Manufacturing (EPSRC CDT) (full time)
- Intelligent Earth (UKRI CDT in AI for the Environment) (full time)
- DPhil in Interdisciplinary Life and Environmental Science (full time)
- MSc in International Health and Tropical Medicine (full time)
- DPhil in International Relations (full time)
- MPhil in International Relations (full time)
- MPhil in Judaism and Christianity in the Graeco-Roman World (full time)
- MPhil in Late Antique and Byzantine Studies (full time)
- MSt in Late Antique and Byzantine Studies (full time)
- DPhil in Law (full time)
- MPhil in Law (full time)
- Magister Juris (full time)
- Master of Business Administration (MBA) (full time)
- Master of Fine Art (MFA) (full time)
- Master of Public Policy (MPP) (full time)
- MSc in Mathematical and Computational Finance (full time)
- MSc in Mathematical and Theoretical Physics (full time)
- MSc in Mathematical Modelling and Scientific Computing (full time)
- MSc in Mathematical Sciences (full time)
- DPhil in Mathematics (full time)
- MSc in Mathematics and Foundations of Computer Science (full time)
- DPhil in Medical Sciences (full time)
- DPhil in Medieval and Modern Languages (full time)
- MSt in Medieval Studies (full time)
- DPhil in Migration Studies (full time)
- MPhil in Modern Languages (full time)
- MSt in Modern Languages (full time)
- MSc by Research in Molecular and Cellular Medicine (full time)
- DPhil in Molecular Cell Biology in Health and Disease (full time)
- MTh in Applied Theology (full time)
- DPhil in Musculoskeletal Sciences (full time)
- MSc by Research in Musculoskeletal Sciences (full time)
- MSt in Music (Composition) (full time)
- MPhil in Music (Composition) (full time)
- DPhil in Music (Composition) (full time)
- MSt in Music (Musicology) (full time)
- MPhil in Music (Musicology) (full time)
- DPhil in Music (Musicology) (full time)
- MSt in Music (Performance) (full time)
- MPhil in Music (Performance) (full time)
- MSc in Nature, Society and Environmental Governance (full time)
- MSc in Neuroscience (full time)
- DPhil in Neuroscience (1+3) (full time)
- DPhil in Oncology (full time)
- MSc by Research in Oncology (full time)
- Oxford 1+1 MBA Programme (full time)
- DPhil in Paediatrics (full time)
- DPhil in Particle Physics (full time)
- MSc by Research in Pharmacology (full time)
- DPhil in Pharmacology (full time)
- MPhil in Philosophical Theology (full time)
- MSt in Philosophical Theology (full time)
- DPhil in Philosophy (full time)
- MSc by Research in Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics (full time)
- DPhil in Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics (full time)
- DPhil in Politics (full time)
- MPhil in Politics (Comparative Government) (full time)
- MPhil in Politics (European Politics and Society) (full time)
- MPhil in Politics (Political Theory) (full time)
- DPhil in Population Health (full time)
- DPhil in Psychiatry (full time)
- MSc by Research in Psychiatry (full time)
- DPhil in Public Policy (full time)
- Quantum Informatics (EPSRC CDT)
- MPhil in Social Anthropology (full time)
- MSc in Social Anthropology (full time)
- DPhil in Statistics (full time)
- Statistics and Machine Learning (EPSRC CDT) (full time)
- MSt in Study of Religions (full time)
- DPhil in Surgical Sciences (full time)
- MSc by Research in Surgical Sciences (full time)
- MPhil in Theology (full time)
- MSt in Theology (full time)
- DPhil in Theology and Religion (full time)
- MSc in Theoretical and Computational Chemistry (full time)
- DPhil in Theoretical Physics (full time)
- MPhil in Traditional East Asia (full time)
- MSt in Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (full time)
- DPhil in Women's and Reproductive Health (full time)
- MSc by Research in Women's and Reproductive Health (full time)
- MSt in World Literatures in English (full time)
Location
Main site: The college is centrally located and very close to the Bodleian and Taylor Institution libraries and to the Science Area.
Contact details
For application process enquiries, please refer to our frequently asked questions.