Lady Margaret Hall

Founded in 1879 to enable women to study at Oxford, LMH has a long tradition of widening access and rethinking what an Oxford education can be. The college admitted men in 1979 and, in 2016, became the first Oxbridge college to establish a Foundation Year for talented students from under-represented backgrounds.

Today, LMH is a diverse and close-knit academic community with about 400 undergraduate students. Academic excellence is underpinned by personalised, high-quality teaching, a strong research culture, and a commitment to supporting our students to develop confidence, independent thought and effective study habits.

Undergraduates are usually guaranteed a room on the college site for three years of their course. Students have 24/7 access to LMH’s well-stocked library, one of the larger college libraries in Oxford. The college also offers excellent facilities for socialising, sport and creativity, from a bar and theatre to music practice rooms, a fully equipped soundproof recording studio, a gym, tennis, netball and pickleball courts, playing fields, and access to punts and paddleboards on the river.

LMH has a lively and inclusive undergraduate culture, with a wide range of student-led clubs and societies spanning sports, music, drama and academic interests, from Astronomy and History to Law and Creative Writing. The atmosphere is friendly and unpretentious, with opportunities for all students to get involved.

Support for students is central to life at LMH. The college provides specialist academic guidance through dedicated Study Skills Lecturers, who help students to develop effective learning strategies and build academic confidence. Working alongside this, LMH’s Wellbeing team offers pastoral and welfare support focused on students’ personal, social and emotional wellbeing. Together, these teams take a holistic approach, ensuring students are supported both academically and personally throughout their time at the college.

LMH seeks to create a warm, supportive and intellectually vibrant community in which students from all backgrounds can flourish — academically, creatively and personally. A commitment to equality and access, embedded in the college’s foundations, continues to shape life at LMH today.  

Read more on our college website.

Year founded: 1878
Student numbers: Undergraduate 411; Postgraduate 243

LMH is...

'…being given the opportunity to fulfil my academic potential in a friendly and supportive environment.'
Phil

'…a very open-minded and vibrant college.'
Neil

'…my first home away from home; where I grew up, studied what I loved and made friends for life. Looking back, I can’t think of a better place to have spent my undergraduate years!'
Akila

'...stunning gardens, especially in the summer – a haven from the hustle and bustle of touristy Oxford.'
Toyin

'…the friendly, supportive atmosphere that the tutors and students create. The gardens are beautiful to spend time in throughout the year, and having such a big library on site is incredible.'
Laura