Perfect places to study

Oxford's iconic Bodleian Libraries are the largest university library system in the UK, holding over 13 million printed items on 400 km of shelving. This means that it is possible to complete your studies here without having to buy a book. The Bodleian also house treasures such as a copy of Jane Austen's unfinished novel, the largest collection of Tolkien materials in the world and the largest collection of works in Sanskrit outside Asia. Our graduates often describe the libraries as one of the greatest privileges and pleasures of studying at Oxford. 

Oxford's famous museums can be enjoyed by everyone for free, but for many academics and students, they are also a valuable study resource. These world-class museums house treasures from the natural world, as well as amazing art and artefacts. The Ashmolean houses rare items such as a Stradivarius violin and the Arab dress of Lawrence of Arabia. The Museum of Natural History boasts gigantic dinosaur skeletons and a stuffed dodo. The Pitt Rivers Museum contains intriguing artefacts from all over the globe and the History of Science Museum shows some of the objects which have changed the world over the centuries. 

Over the past ten years, more than £400 million has been invested in our science facilities and infrastructure, creating inspiring spaces for discussion, collaboration and cutting-edge research.  These include one of the largest magnetic resonance facilities and one of the best-equipped mass spectrometry labs in the UK.

Oxford also has an arboretum and a botanic garden which together hold over 6,000 types of plant, some of which are grown nowhere else. Wytham Woods is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest. With over 500 species of plants, a wealth of woodland habitats and over 800 species of butterflies and moths, it is one of the most researched pieces of land in the world.