Oriel College
Oriel was the first college to be founded by a king back in 1326. We are a high-achieving academic community with a 24/7 library and tutors who take a keen interest in the academic and personal formation of their students in tutorials, seminars and numerous informal contexts. We aim to prepare our students for their future lives.
Being a small college gives Oriel a noticeably friendly atmosphere. Our main site with its beautiful quads is close to the Bodleian Library, the town centre and Christ Church Meadow. We offer all our undergraduates accommodation throughout their studies, and highly-subsidised formal dinners are available most evenings. The college has a dedicated welfare team and offers help with bursaries, travel grants and scholarships for academic excellence, encouraging applications from all backgrounds.
Our vibrant college life ranges from a pancake race to a summer Shakespeare play. Oriel excels on the sports field and the river. We have a dedicated music room and superb chapel choir.
Read more on the college website.
Oriel is...
...a family with its own culture, where everyone is valued for who they are.
Seb
...able to accommodate you for three or four years, meaning the sense of College community becomes really strong as you go through your degree.
Maddy
…a college alive with conversations across different subjects.
Amanda
...a sociable environment where people are happy to talk to each other across the year groups and feel part of a college-wide community in quite a natural way.
Aidan
College facilities
To compare facilities across different colleges, please visit our College Facilities Table.
| College accommodation | |
| All first years on site |  |
| Usually offered for all years | |
| Usually offered for three years | N/A |
| Usually offered for first year and one other year | N/A |
| Some vacation storage for international students | |
| Catering | |
| Dining hall | |
| Bar | |
| Café |  |
| Facilities | |
| Gym on site | |
| Boathouse | |
| Library open 24/7 | |
| Computer rooms/stations | |
| Wi-Fi throughout college | |
| Music room | |
| Theatre/performance space | |
| Chapel | |
| Multi-faith prayer room | |
| Clubs & societies activities | |
| Music society | |
| Orchestra(s) | |
| Choir(s) | |
| Dramatic society | |
| College student magazine/paper | |
| Some subject societies | |
| Other societies | |
Courses Available
- Biochemistry (Molecular and Cellular)
- Biomedical Sciences
- Chemistry
- Classical Archaeology and Ancient History
- Classics
- Classics and English
- Classics and Modern Languages
- Classics and Oriental Studies
- Computer Science
- Computer Science and Philosophy
- Engineering Science
- English Language and Literature
- English and Modern Languages
- History
- History (Ancient and Modern)
- History and Economics
- History and Modern Languages
- History and Politics
- Law (Jurisprudence)
- Law with Law Studies in Europe
- Mathematics
- Mathematics and Computer Science
- Mathematics and Philosophy
- Mathematics and Statistics
- Medicine
- Modern Languages
- Modern Languages and Linguistics
- Music
- Philosophy and Modern Languages
- Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE)
- Philosophy and Theology
- Physics
- Physics and Philosophy
- Theology and Religion
In order to ensure that all areas of the UK are fully supported by the University of Oxford, our colleges are working together to establish Oxford for UK, a series of regional outreach programmes offering tailored and local support to students of mixed ages, their parents and teachers.
In addition, the colleges will continue to maintain their existing link regions.
Getting in touch with the college linked to your region has no influence on your chances of being accepted to this or any other particular college. You are also very welcome to get in touch with any other college for advice about applying or studying here.
Link Local Authorities
Dudley
Herefordshire
Kensington and Chelsea
Richmond upon Thames
Walsall
Wolverhampton
Worcestershire
Contact
Access and Outreach at Oriel
Outreach Officer: India Collins-Davies
Outreach 
: +44 (0) 1865 276518
outreach@oriel.ox.ac.uk
www.oriel.ox.ac.uk
Admissions Officer: Joseph Cole
Admissions : +44 (0) 1865 276522 admissions@oriel.ox.ac.uk
Postal address:
Oriel College
Oriel Street, Oxford OX1 4EW
Location
Oriel’s entrance is in Oriel Square between historic Merton Street and all the amenities of the town centre. Across the High Street is the Bodleian Library. The meadows and river are just around the corner.
UCAS campus code: H
Oriel College,
Oxford OX1 4EW +44 (0) 1865 276555 www.oriel.ox.ac.uk
Founded
1326
Student numbers
Undergraduates: 315
Graduates: 202
Admissions contacts
+44 (0) 1865 276522 admissions@oriel.ox.ac.uk
Admissions Officer: Joseph Cole
Outreach Officer: Emma Bausch
Academic staff
See the college website for the full list
See the latest Open Day information