Somerville College
UCAS campus code: U
Somerville is a friendly, laid-back and inclusive college with a strong sense of community and a progressive ethos. Founded in 1879 to give women access to university education when many others wouldn’t, it is now open to all. Famous alumni include two former prime ministers, the only British woman to win a Nobel Prize for science and pioneers in literature and activism.
Contact details
Academic Office Administrator: Clare Simmonds
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +44 (0) 1865 270690 or +44 (0) 1865 270600
Website: www.some.ox.ac.uk (including a full list of academic staff)
Copyright © Principal and Fellows of Somerville College / Fisher Studios
About the college
Gathered around its beautiful gardens at the heart of the University’s Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, Somerville offers a diverse range of subjects and support to students from all over the world.
Somerville is one of the Oxford colleges able to house all its undergraduates in college accommodation on the main college site for every single year of their degrees.
Somerville is known for its good food, excellent 'formals '(more formal dinners held in the college dining hall) and beautiful central gardens, where students get together to study and socialise in the summer months. The college has one of the best undergraduate libraries in Oxford, containing more than 120,000 items, available to our students 24/7.
Somerville is also one of Oxford’s most financially supportive colleges, with 1 in 5 students receiving some form of financial support. Generous travel and special project grants are available to help students widen their experience during vacations and finance volunteering or community-building projects.
The college has an excellent choir, an active drama scene, an annual arts week and a huge choice of societies across everything from baking to board games. For sportspeople, the college also offers a wide range of team sports including rugby, football, netball, rowing, cricket and hockey.
Read more on the college website.
Year founded: 1879
Student numbers: Undergraduate 408; Postgraduate 207
Somerville is...
'…the right balance of academia, fun and friendliness.'
Nina
'…the smiles, waves, and impromptu conversations you have crossing the Quad on the way to a class.'
Alice
'…Going to hall for Saturday brunch to have four of those perfect hash browns.'
Mar
'…a feeling of home, regardless of who you are, where you're from, your gender, or race, or sexuality.'
Catrin
'…a place where you can be yourself and feel at home.'
Barnaby
'…the place I look forward to returning to after every vacation.'
Leanne
'…a community where freedom of expression is accepted and valued.'
Fin
'…less like a castle and more like a home.'
Corinne
College living
What you can study here
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Where you'll find us
Somerville has an enviable location within Oxford, being right next door to the Mathematics Institute and Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities, which houses the English, History, Linguistics, Modern Languages, Music and Philosophy departments. We’re also a 5-minute walk from the Engineering, Computer Science and other science faculties.
The College is situated a 10-minute walk from the city centre of Oxford, in Jericho, a lovely part of North Oxford with many pubs, cafes, restaurants, a cinema and the beautiful Port Meadows nearby. It is easy to walk or cycle to anywhere else in the University.
Virtual tour
Access Somerville
Our outreach events and programmes offer a chance for you to meet us and discover what studying here might be like. You will also learn about our admissions process and how to submit a strong application.
Visit Oxford
Our 2026 undergraduate Open Days will be held on 1 and 2 July and 18 September.
University-wide outreach
Visit the University's outreach event calendar to view upcoming outreach events. Please note that some events may require advance booking or have specific eligibility criteria.
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