For students over 16
If you are aged 16 or over, these resources will help you explore your current interests in greater depth, while also introducing new areas you may not have considered. Browse the broad subject areas to discover a range of academic resources, and see how your interests relate to undergraduate courses offered at Oxford.
Students in a UNIQ History lecture. Copyright © University of Oxford / UAO
This section is designed for students aged 16 and over who are ready to explore subjects in greater depth and begin thinking about possible areas of study beyond school. The resources here offer opportunities to engage more critically with ideas, helping you build your understanding through a range of thought-provoking materials. Whether you’re reading, listening, watching, or taking on a challenge, you can explore new concepts, think critically about what you discover, and begin to see how different subjects connect.
Engaging with these resources can also help you prepare for university study by developing your independent thinking and deepening your subject knowledge. You may find ideas to draw on in your UCAS personal statement, as well as opportunities to practise the kind of thinking and discussion that can be useful in interviews.
Resources
Explore resources organised by academic areas, through which you may discover subjects and interdisciplinary courses offered at Oxford.
- BBC Future - A series of articles exploring interesting questions, from 'What's the best age to learn a language?' to 'Can AI help cure loneliness?'
- TORCH (The Oxford Research Centre in the Humanities) - Articles, blog posts, and YouTube videos covering events and discussions into arts research at Oxford, with a focus on the interdisciplinary.
- Oxplore - As the 'Home of Big Questions', Oxplore engages you with debates and ideas that go beyond the classroom. Big questions tackle complex ideas across a range of subjects and draw on the latest research undertaken at Oxford.
- Oxford Impact case studies - A collection of articles exploring Oxford research and its impact upon the world.
- Oxford Impact videos - A collection of videos exploring Oxford research and its impact upon the world.
- Oxford University Medium - The University's blog offers expert comment, drawing on research at Oxford.
- Springboard videos - These videos bring you cutting-edge research from Oxford's graduate students on a wide range of topics - from climate change and colonialism, to microbiomes and mathematical logic. Each video offers an introduction to a new topic, plus lots of activities and further resources to explore.
- TED Talks - A series of short and fascinating talks discussing bold ideas.
- Zooniverse - A platform that lets you contribute to real-life research projects.
- Very Short Introductions - Concise introductions to a wide range of subjects. Podcast also available featuring insights from Oxford University Press authors, editors, and more.
- Hertford Supercurricular Challenge - A selection of supercurricular prompts and ideas to get you started.
- St John's College Inspire Digital - A collection of articles, TED talks, video lectures, and competitions that delve into topics that interest you. There are also resources to help you prepare for university admissions.
- Library Quad - A hub of learning resources personally recommended by students at Trinity College.
- Staircase 12 - An online hub of resources and information for students thinking about applying to top universities, created by University College.
- University College Reading Bank - An online reading bank, with book reviews by University College students and tutors.
- Digital Bodleian - The Bodleian Libraries’ digital collections are open to people from around the world for learning, teaching, personal enjoyment and research. There are more than 650,000 freely available digital objects on offer, from political cartoons and campaign posters to ancient manuscripts.
- Gresham College - Gresham College was founded to offer free lectures to the general public. You can access a huge range of their lectures online.
- In Our Time - BBC Radio programme exploring a wide range of historical topics with academics and experts from around the world.
- My HE Plus - Created by the University of Cambridge, this website helps you to explore subjects beyond the classroom.
- Uniscoops - Thought provoking and exploratory questions, linking to resources with an aim to make critical thinking and academia accessible to all.
Resources in this section invite you to consider how texts and languages are interpreted, analysed and studied at Oxford in relation to the courses below.
Courses offered at Oxford:
- English Language and Literature
- Classics, European and Middle Eastern Languages
- Modern Languages
- Asian and Middle Eastern Studies
- Psychology, Philosophy and Linguistics.
Visit our A-Z of courses for a full list of our undergraduate courses, including joint courses and combinations.
Suggested reading and resources - Asian and Middle Eastern Studies
Suggested reading can be found on the Asian and Middle Eastern Studies website as well as in the resources below.
| Subject area | Resource | Why useful |
|---|---|---|
| Arabic, Asian and Middle Eastern Studies | Middle East Studies Association | A website hosting publications and journals offering a comparative and interdisciplinary approach to the study of the Middle East. |
| Asian and Middle Eastern Studies | Association for Asian Studies | Open access publications and resources to further the field of Asian Studies, with professional as well as academic resources. |
Oxford research video
Suggested reading and resources - Classics
Classics students are encouraged to read as widely as possible about any Classics materials they find interesting (in literature, history, philosophy, archaeology, and/or philology), and to think critically about their reading. You may also wish to explore some websites which have excellent links to materials about the ancient world, such as the British Museum or the BBC Radio 4 archives, for example for the programme ‘In Our Time’, covering material from Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome.
There are also many social media sites which you can join such as Classics Confidential, Classics Outreach and Classics International.
| Subject area | Resource | Why useful |
|---|---|---|
| Classics, Literature | Archives of Greek and Roman Drama | A series of short articles written by academics on ancient (predominantly Greek) theatre. The brief introductions provide context and links to recommended further reading. |
| Classics | Classical Art Research Centre | Research on ancient Greek and Roman art. |
| Classics | Classics EPQ | Support in developing an EPQ in Classics, helping you to explore the relevance of ancient thought on current debates such as migration, conflict and gender. |
| Classics | Classics for All | Reading room featuring book reviews and an online classical journal. |
| Classics | Empires of Faith | Blog posts from the Empires of Faith research project, examining imagery from various current and lost religions. |
| Classics | The Roman Society | Journals, publications and classics-related site visits. |
| Classics, Arabic, Islamic Studies | Manar Al-Athar | Searchable images of archaeological sites, buildings and art, covering the areas of the former Roman Empire. |
| Classics, Philosophy | Omnibus Magazine | Magazine aimed at students in their final year of school or first year of university covering a range of academic topics. |
Suggested reading and resources - English Language and Literature
For English Literature, we recommend that you read as widely as possible, and think critically about all the texts – literary or not – that you read. Read more about this in our examples of interview questions. You can find literary resources on our Great Writers Inspire site. You may also like to look at literary websites and listen to radio programs such as BBC Radio 4's 'In Our Time'.
| Subject area | Resource | Why useful |
|---|---|---|
| English | Great Writers Inspire | A collection of literary resources aimed at students from sixth-form to university, containing lectures, eBooks and essays focusing on great writers from around the world. |
| English | Lest We Forget Project | A project aiming to collect and digitally archive First World War artefacts stored in bedrooms and attics across the UK. |
| English | Online Chaucer Resources | A list of online and accessible resources for students studying Chaucer. |
| English | The Poetry Foundation | An interactive website bringing poetry to life. |
| English | Postcolonial Writers Make Worlds | An expansion of Great Writers Inspire with a set of free resources focusing on contemporary Black and Asian British writing. |
| English | Shakespeare's Globe | A dedicated repository of resources specialising in Shakespeare. |
| English | Dead Language Society - How far back in time can you understand English? | This imagined travel blog written by a PhD linguist is an experiment in language change, with each entry written in English going back in time by a century. Readers are invited to see how far back they can go whilst still following the text - includes a useful commentary on how the language has changed and why. |
Oxford research video
Suggested reading and resources - Modern Languages and Linguistics
The Modern Languages Faculty suggests among other things reading books in the foreign language you are considering studying or in English translation, and seeing films or plays by foreign authors. You can also find reading lists on the individual pages for the following languages:
| Subject area | Resource | Why useful |
|---|---|---|
| Linguistics | Creative Multilingualism | Learning resources from a research programme investigating the interconnection between linguistic diversity and creativity. |
| Modern Languages | Adventures on the Bookshelf | A blog for students and teachers of Years 11 to 13, and anyone else with an interest in Modern Foreign Languages and Cultures. |
| Modern Languages | Les Liaisons Dangereuses | A podcast series exploring the book, its author, and contemporary reception. |
| Modern Languages | Oxford Spanish Literature Podcast | Listen in on our conversations with Spanish tutors to find out what's so fascinating about the literature they teach, why they love teaching it and why they think you might love it too. |
| Philosophy | Philosophical Society | Articles, excerpts and passages that provide introductions to a range of philosophical topics. |
| Philosophy | Stanford Encyclopaedia of Philosophy | Introductions to philosophical topics. |
| Psychology | Royal Psychology Society | Research articles, podcasts and blog posts from the Royal Psychology Society. |
Oxford research videos:
Resources in this section invite you to investigate the systems and processes that shape our planet. From ecosystems and biodiversity to climate and environmental change, this section explores how scientists study the natural world and the methods used to understand it.
Courses offered at Oxford:
- Archaeology and Anthropology
- Biology
- Earth Sciences (Geology)
- Geography
- Human Sciences.
Visit our A-Z of courses for a full list of our undergraduate courses and combinations.
Suggested reading and resources - Archaeology and Anthropology
Suggested reading for Archaeology and Anthropology. You may also like to take a look at the website Discover Anthropology.
| Subject area | Resource | Why useful |
|---|---|---|
| Archaeology | The Journal of Hellenic Studies (JHS) | Journals, publications, events and lectures on Hellenic Studies. |
| Archaeology | Omnibus Magazine | Magazine aimed at students in their final year of school or first year of university covering a range of academic topics. |
Oxford research video
Suggested reading and resources - Biology, Earth Sciences and Human Sciences
Biology students are encouraged to read New Scientist, National Geographic or any other Biology materials which you find interesting.
| Subject area | Resource | Why useful |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | Conservation Optimism | Conservation resources produced in collaboration with young people, to inform and empower. |
| Earth Sciences (Geology), Geography, Human Sciences | American National Museum of Natural History | A virtual tour of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. |
| Earth Sciences (Geology), Geography, Human Sciences | Project Drawdown | Latest science and insights from global thought leaders on climate solutions. |
| Geography, Human Sciences | Our World in Data | Research and data to make progress against the world's largest problems. |
Oxford research videos - Biology
- The surprising uses of silk
- Bringing back the large blue butterfly - Jeremy Thomas
- Preserving Endangered Trees: A Chilean case study
- Jatropha Curcas in the Global Race for Biofuels
- Peru's Data Collectors
- Researching the Reef: fish and coral of the Caribbean
Oxford research videos - Earth Sciences
Oxford research videos - Geography
Resources in this section explore artistic expression across fine art, history of art and music, and introduces ways of thinking critically about creativity and cultural heritage.
Courses offered at Oxford:
- Archaeology and Anthropology
- Classical Archaeology and Ancient History
- Fine Art
- History of Art
- Music.
Visit our A-Z of courses for a full list of our undergraduate courses and combinations.
Suggested reading and resources - History of Art
A reading list for prospective applicants to History of Art can be found on the History of Art departmental website. You may also find it interesting to explore BBC Radio 4 'In Our Time' - Culture archive and BBC Arts coverage.
| Subject area | Resource | Why useful |
|---|---|---|
| History of Art | Art History Archive | A glossary of terms used within Art and Art History. |
| History of Art | Ashmolean Museum resources | Downloadable learning resources and short videos on a range of topics including History of Art and Literature. |
| History of Art, Fine Art | The Louvre | A virtual tour of the Louvre Art Gallery in Paris. |
| History of Art, Fine Art | The National Gallery | An online version of the National Gallery's collections, where you can explore works of art. |
| History of Art, Fine Art | Oxford Art Online | Articles covering ancient to contemporary art. |
| History of Art, Fine Art | Royal Academy of Arts | Current exhibitions, news and blogs on art. |
Suggested reading and resources - Fine Art
Below are some suggested titles for fine art students you may wish to explore, along with some online journals and curated websites. The list is by no means exhaustive, and nor does it mean you must read them all.
Students are also encouraged to attend exhibitions and look at art works as much as possible.
Public art galleries like Tate Modern, the Whitechapel, and the Serpentine in London, the Ikon in Birmingham, Tate Liverpool, the Whitworth in Manchester, the Baltic in Gateshead, the Arnolfini in Bristol, and Tramway in Glasgow are all excellent places to see contemporary art and to find out more about it.
| Subject area | Resource | Why useful |
|---|---|---|
| Fine art | Barthes, Roland, Camera Lucida: Reflections on Photography (Vintage) | Barthes' investigation into the meaning of photographs is a seminal work of twentieth-century critical theory. |
| Fine art | Crow, Thomas, The Rise of the Sixties: American and European Art in the Era of Dissent (Everyman) | An overview of the major themes and figures in the 1960s art world, against the background of world culture. |
| Fine art | Stallabrass, Julian, Contemporary Art: A Very Short Introductions (Oxford University Press) | Introduces the world of contemporary art, and explores how it is changing dramatically. |
| Fine art | Smith, Terry, Contemporary Art: World Currents (Laurence King Publishing) | Comprehensive worldwide survey of contemporary art from the 1980s to the present day. |
| Fine art | New Exhibitions | UK-wide exhibition listings website. |
| Fine art | Artforum | The online edition of the US journal. |
| Fine art | UBU Web | The excellent repository of moving image and sound art. |
| Fine art | E-flux | Online journal spanning critical discourse in art, architecture, film, and theory. Connects many of the most significant art institutions with audiences around the world. |
| Fine art | Frieze | Global contemporary art organization, recognised for its art fairs, publications and digital presence. |
| Fine art | Art Rabbit | A platform for international contemporary art exhibitions and events. |
Suggested reading and resources - Music
Music students at Oxford explore case studies from history and musical practices from around the world, as well as using different methodologies to engage with music as a phenomenon, such as psychology, ethnography, and sociology.
| Subject area | Resource | Why useful |
|---|---|---|
| Music | Nicholas Cook, Music: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press, 1998) J. P. E. Harper-Scott and Jim Samson, An Introduction to Music Studies (Cambridge University Press, 2009) Tia DeNora, Music in Everyday Life (Cambridge University Press, 2000) | To get you thinking about studying music at university, you might like to read the following inexpensive paperbacks (which may be available in your local library). |
| Music | Classical Music | The official website of the BBC Music Magazine, featuring podcasts, reviews and artist interviews. |
| Music | MusicMap | An interactive hub of music genres, showing how they are connected. The result of more than seven years of research with over 200 listed sources and cross-examination of many other visual genealogies. |
Oxford research video
Prospective students for Medicine may like to start by looking at the Introductory Reading for Medicine. You may also be interested in the Oxford Medical School Gazette, for more information about the Gazette and subscription offers for Sixth Form students please visit the Medicine website and the resources shared below. Other departments such as Biochemistry also offer suggested reading lists for their courses.
Courses offered at Oxford:
- Biochemistry
- Biomedical Sciences
- Medicine
- Human Sciences
- Psychology (Experimental).
Visit our A-Z of courses for a full list of our undergraduate courses and combinations.
Suggested reading and resources - Medical sciences
| Subject area | Resource | Why useful? |
|---|---|---|
| Human Sciences | Our World in Data | Research and data to make progress against the world's largest problems. |
| Medicine | Health Careers | If you’re interested in finding out more about working as a doctor in the UK, this NHS website offers information about medical degrees and career options. |
| Medicine | The Physiological Society | Journals, videos and a magazine that feature the latest developments in physiology, research, education and policy. |
| Medicine | Wellcome | Discover research into mental health, infectious disease and climate and health. |
| Psychology | Royal Psychology Society | Research articles, podcasts and blog posts from the Royal Psychology Society. |
| Science | Interactive Periodic Table | An interactive periodic table offering information on each of the elements, as well as historic and alchemic alternatives. |
Oxford research videos
There are many introductions to philosophy: Myles Burnyeat and Ted Honderich’s, Philosophy is a very useful collection. Martin Hollis', An Invitation to Philosophy and Simon Blackburn’s, Think are also recommended, but feel free to pick up any introductory or beginners’ text.
Courses offered at Oxford:
- Philosophy (can only be studied as a joint course)
- Classics
- Law
- Theology and Religion.
Visit our A-Z of courses for a full list of our undergraduate courses and combinations.
Suggested reading and resources - Classics, Philosophy, Theology
As above under our 'Language and literature' section, Classics students are encouraged to read as widely as possible, offers the opportunity to study both ancient and modern philosophy. Philosophy and Theology brings together some of the most important approaches to understanding and assessing the intellectual claims of religion. You can find some suggested resources on the Faculty of Theology and Religion website.
| Subject area | Resource | Why useful? |
|---|---|---|
| Classics | Archives of Greek and Roman Drama | A centre for research into performances of Greek and Roman drama, with learning resources and event performances. |
| Classics | Classical Art Research Centre | Research on ancient Greek and Roman art. |
| Classics | Classics EPQ | Support in developing an EPQ in Classics, helping you to explore the relevance of ancient thought on current debates such as migration, conflict and gender. |
| Classics | Classics for All | Reading room featuring book reviews and an online classical journal. |
| Classics | The Hellenic Journal | Journals, publications, events and lectures on Hellenic Studies. |
| Classics | Manar Al-Athar | Searchable images of archaeological sites, buildings and art, covering the areas of the former Roman Empire. |
| Classics | The Roman Society | Journals, publications and classics-related site visits. |
| Classics, Philosophy | Omnibus Magazine | Magazine aimed at students in their final year of school or first year of university covering a range of academic topics. |
| Classics, Theology | Empires of Faith | Blog posts from the Empires of Faith research project, examining imagery from various current and lost religions. |
| Philosophy | Philosophical Society | Articles, excerpts and passages that provide introductions to a range of philosophical topics. |
| Philosophy | Stanford Encyclopaedia of Philosophy | Introductions to philosophical topics. |
Oxford research video
Suggested reading and resources - Law
Law students are encouraged to read the court reports in broad sheet newspapers. It can be useful to look at the list of law academics on the departmental website and follow the links to their latest publications. All lecturers have their own lists, which change from year to year and include books and journal articles.
| Subject area | Resource | Why useful? |
|---|---|---|
| Law | A Bradney and others, How to Study Law (5th edition, Sweet and Maxwell, 2005) T Murphy and S Roberts, Understanding Property Law Maxwell, 2004) C Ganz, Understanding Public Law (3rd edition, Sweet and Maxwell,2001) J Adams and R Brownsword, Understanding Law (4th edition, Sweet and Maxwell,2006) J Adams and R Brownsword, Understanding Contract Law (4th edition, Sweet and Maxwell, 2004) C Clarkson, Understanding Criminal Law (4th edition, Sweet and Maxwell, 2005) AW Simpson, Invitation to Law (Blackwells, 1993) Smith and Bailey, Modern English Legal System (Sweet & Maxwell, 4th edition, 2001) Part I | You may find one or more of the books from the Introductory reading for Law list useful when preparing your application, along with the resources below. The Oxford Law Faculty does not expect candidates to have any specific legal knowledge. However, looking at one or more of the books in this list will give you an insight into Law as an area of study at university. |
| Law | BBC Law in Action | Download podcasts from this radio show that analyses the law stories featuring in the news. |
| Law | The Lawyer Portal | Advice about applying for Law at university and legal careers, as well as some opportunities and events with law firms. |
| Law | Public Law for Everyone | Covers topical legal questions and issues. |
| Law | Counsel magazine | Monthly Magazine of the Bar of England and Wales, published by LexisNexis on behalf of the Bar Council. |
| Law | Guardian's law pages | News, comment, analysis, blogs and multimedia that cover legal affairs and developments from around the world. |
| Law | BAILII (British and Irish Legal Information Institute) | A great place to read some case law and new judgements, all for free. BAILII can be used to explore British and Irish case law & legislation, European Union case law, Law Commission reports, and other law-related British and Irish material. |
Research videos
Students may wish to read the New Scientist magazine or other scientific periodicals, which may be available in your school or local library. Running an internet search on Nanoscience or Nanotechnology will give useful background information in the sciences.
Courses offered at Oxford:
- Chemistry
- Earth Sciences (Geology)
- Engineering Science
- Geography
- Materials Science
- Physics.
Visit our A-Z of courses for a full list of our undergraduate courses and combinations.
Suggested reading and resources - Physical sciences
Introductory reading can also be viewed by prospective applicants in the department lists below:
| Subject area | Resource | Why useful? |
|---|---|---|
| Chemistry | Chemistry Olympiad | Take part in the leading chemistry competition for secondary students across the British Isles. |
| Chemistry | Isaac Chemistry | Online platform aimed at engaging GCSE and A-level students with Chemistry. |
| Chemistry | Royal Society of Chemistry | Resources on the subject of Chemistry, from podcasts to online games. |
| Chemistry | Chemistry World magazine | Website publishing scientists’ discoveries and insights at the heart of the chemical sciences. |
| Earth Sciences (Geology), Geography | Project Drawdown | Latest science and insights from global thought leaders on climate solutions. |
| Engineering Science | Isaac Physics | Website with lots of maths and physics problem-solving questions. |
| Engineering Science | British Physics Olympiad | Past papers and solutions of problem-solving type questions hosted on this website. |
| Engineering Science | Next time, education centre | Website with fun questions designed to make you think about physical concepts. |
| Engineering Science | I want to study Engineering | Useful website for all applicants, not just those applying to engineering. |
| Engineering | Greenpower | Design, build and race an electric car with Greenpower Education Trust. |
| Engineering | I Want to Study Engineering | Aimed at students interested in Engineering, with online problems, video content and puzzles. |
| Engineering | Royal Academy of Engineering | Engineering-specific news, features, blog posts and events. |
| Engineering | Brilliant.org | With a focus on mathematical and quantitative problem-solving and computer science, this website has some resources to test your mathematical and physics knowledge. |
| Geography | Royal Geographical Society 'Geographical Magazine' | Monthly magazine spanning geography, culture, wildlife and exploration, illustrated with insightful photography. |
| Geography | Our World in Data | Research and data to make progress against the world's largest problems. |
| Materials Science, Physics | British Physics Olympiad | Annual physics competition, including past papers and other resources. |
| Materials Science, Physics | Isaac Physics | Online platform aimed at engaging GCSE and A-level students with Physics. |
| Materials Science, Physics | Telescope Guide | An astronomy calendar to help you plan for all of the best stargazing and astronomical events. |
| Science | Interactive Periodic Table | An interactive periodic table offering information on each of the elements, as well as historic and alchemic alternatives. |
| Science | Museum of Natural History virtual tour | A virtual tour of the University's Museum of Natural History. |
| Science | Oxford Sparks | An online portal for engaging with the scientific developments happening in the University. |
| STEM | New Scientist | Articles, podcasts, videos, courses and events. |
| STEM | Women in STEM | Blog posts, features, articles and insights aimed specifically at women in STEM. |
Oxford research videos - Chemistry
Oxford research videos - Earth Sciences
- Reducing toxic mercury emissions video
- Tracking Life 40 Degrees South video
- Volcano hunting, Italy to Peru video
Oxford research videos - Engineering
Oxford research videos - Geography
Discover how historians and archaeologists investigate earlier societies and events. Resources in this section explore how evidence is analysed, interpreted and debated in order to understand the past.
Courses offered at Oxford:
- Archaeology and Anthropology
- Classical Archaeology and Ancient History
- Asian and Middle Eastern Studies
- Classics
- History of Art
- History
- Human Sciences.
Visit our A-Z of courses for a full list of our undergraduate courses and combinations.
Suggested reading and resources - Researching the past
| Subject area | Resource | Why useful? |
|---|---|---|
| Arabic, Islamic Studies (see ''Languages and Literature' section for more subject resources) | Middle East Studies Association | Publications and journals |
| Archaeology, (see 'The natural world' section for more subject resources) Classics | The Journal of Hellenic Studies (JHS) | Journals, publications, events and lectures on Hellenic Studies. |
| Classics (see 'Languages and Literature' and 'Philosophical questions' sections for more subject resources) | Archives of Greek and Roman Drama | A centre for research into performances of Greek and Roman drama, with learning resources and event performances. |
| History | BBC History | Official website for the BBC History magazine, featuring articles, interviews and podcasts. |
| History | Black Cultural Archives | Telling the story of the Black British experience. |
| History | English Heritage: Story of England | Website covering thousands of years of English history. |
| History | Historical Association | History journals and podcasts. |
| History, English | Lest We Forget Project | A project aiming to collect and digitally archive First World War artefacts stored in bedrooms and attics across the UK. |
| History, English | Postcolonial Writers Make Worlds | An expansion of Great Writers Inspire with a set of free resources focusing on contemporary Black and Asian British writing. |
| History of Art | Art History Archive | A glossary of terms used within Art and Art History. |
| History of Art | Ashmolean Museum resources | Downloadable learning resources and short videos on a range of topics including History of Art and Literature. |
| History of Art, Fine Art | The Louvre | A virtual tour of the Louvre Art Gallery in Paris. |
| History of Art, Fine Art | The National Gallery | An online version of the National Gallery's collections, where you can explore works of art. |
| History of Art, Fine Art | Oxford Art Online | Articles covering ancient to contemporary art. |
| History of Art, Fine Art | Royal Academy of Arts | Current exhibitions, news and blogs on art. |
| Human Sciences | Our World in Data | Research and data to make progress against the world's largest problems. |
Oxford research videos - researching the past
Reading lists for prospective Mathematics applicants can be found on page 12 of the departmental prospectus, available to download from the Maths Department website.
Introductory reading for prospective applicants to Computer Science can be found on the departmental website. You may also like to look at our GeomLab website which will introduce you to some of the most important ideas in computer programming in an interactive, visual way through a guided activity.
For economic analysis, Paul Krugman’s writings are highly recommended. Begg, Fischer and Dornbusch’s ‘Economics’ is one of the introductory textbooks widely used at Oxford. For PPEists, reading newspapers, watching TV and listening to radio news and current affairs programmes are crucial to success at the subject.
Courses offered at Oxford:
- Computer Science
- Earth Sciences (Geology)
- Economics (can only be studied as a joint course)
- Engineering Science
- Materials Science
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Statistics (can only be studied as a joint course).
Visit our A-Z of courses for a full list of our undergraduate courses and combinations.
Suggested reading and resources - Using mathematics
| Subject area | Resource | Why useful? |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | Christ Church Python Challenges | Can computers be used to create art? How fast can a computer read all of Wikipedia? Work out the answers to these questions using these exercises designed to teach Python programming language. |
| Computer Science | Isaac Computer Science | Online platform for exploring computer science. |
| Computer Science | National Museum of Computing | A virtual tour of the National Museum of Computing in Bletchley Park. |
| Earth Sciences (Geology) | Project Drawdown | Latest science and insights from global thought leaders on climate solutions. |
| Economics | Chatham House | Expert comment on current affairs, produced by a world-leading policy institute. |
| Economics | The Economist and economics pages of newspapers. | Expert commentary on current affairs and the economy. An indispensable introduction to economic analysis, both for those who have not studied it at school and for those who have. |
| Economics | Freakonomics | Podcast episodes based on books about economics. |
| Engineering | Greenpower | Design, build and race an electric car with Greenpower Education Trust. |
| Economics | Institute of Economics Affairs blog | Publications, news and blogs on economics and politics. |
| Economics | International Monetary Fund | Videos, articles, factsheets and an IMF DataMapper analysing the latest public financial developments. |
| Engineering | I Want to Study Engineering | Aimed at students interested in Engineering, with online problems, video content and puzzles. |
| Engineering | Royal Academy of Engineering | Engineering-specific news, features, blog posts and events. |
| Mathematics | Oxford Mathematics Alphabet | The Mathematics Alphabet presents engaging mathematical ideas and the latest research. |
| Mathematics | Oxford Mathematics Public Lectures Online | Oxford Mathematics Public Lectures enable anyone with an interest in the subject to see the best mathematicians in action. |
| Mathematics | Oxford Online Maths Club | Online maths club with problem-solving and puzzles, as well as interesting mini-lectures on a variety of mathematical topics. |
| Mathematics | Tom Rocks Maths | A series of videos and articles created by Oxford Mathematics tutor Dr Tom Crawford. |
| Physics | British Physics Olympiad | Annual physics competition, including past papers and other resources. |
| Physics | Isaac Physics | Online platform aimed at engaging GCSE and A-level students with Physics. |
| Physics | Telescope Guide | An astronomy calendar to help you plan for all of the best stargazing and astronomical events. |
| STEM | New Scientist | Articles, podcasts, videos, courses and events. |
| STEM | Women in STEM | Blog posts, features, articles and insights aimed specifically at women in STEM. |
Oxford research videos - Mathematics
Oxford research videos - Computer Science
Politics is a very wide-ranging subject. For prospective students of Politics, in addition to newspapers and weeklies, Jonathan Wolff’s An Introduction to Political Philosophy, is recommended. For interesting and up-to-date insights into recent political developments in a number of countries, the series of Developments in British (French, German, East European etc.) Politics texts, produced by Macmillan publishers at regular intervals, is also recommended
Courses offered at Oxford:
- Archaeology and Anthropology
- Economics (can only be studied as a joint course)
- Geography
- Human Sciences
- Law
- Politics (can only be studied as a joint course).
Visit our A-Z of courses for a full list of our undergraduate courses and combinations.
Suggested reading and resources - People and society
| Subject area | Resources | Why useful? |
|---|---|---|
| Archaeology | The Journal of Hellenic Studies (JHS) | Journals, publications, events and lectures on Hellenic Studies. |
| Archaeology | Omnibus Magazine | Magazine aimed at students in their final year of school or first year of university covering a range of academic topics. |
| Archaeology and Anthropology | British Museum | A virtual tour of the British Museum in London. |
| Economics | Freakonomics | Podcast episodes based on books about economics. |
| Economics | International Monetary Fund | Videos, articles, factsheets and an IMF DataMapper analysing the latest public financial developments. |
| Geography, Human Sciences | Project Drawdown | Latest science and insights from global thought leaders on climate solutions. |
| Geography, Human Sciences | Our World in Data | Research and data to make progress against the world's largest problems. |
| Law | BBC Law in Action | A radio show that analyses the law stories featuring in the news. |
| Law | The Lawyer Portal | Advice about applying for Law at university and legal careers, as well as some opportunities and events with law firms. |
| Law | Public Law for Everyone | Covers topical legal questions and issues. |
| Politics | British Politics: A Very Short Introduction | Provides a theoretical basis for understanding and studying politics. |
| Politics | Talking Politics | Politics podcast that every week features the ideas and events that shape our world. |
| Politics | United Nations | Articles about international affairs and sustainable development from a variety of agencies, funds and programmes. |
| Politics, Economics | Chatham House | Expert comment on current affairs, produced by a world-leading policy institute. |
| Politics, Economics | The Economist | Expert commentary on current affairs and the economy. |
| Politics, Economics | Institute of Economics Affairs blog | Publications, news and blogs on economics and politics. |
| Politics, Law | Amnesty International | Global charity researching human rights abuses and campaigning for change. |
| Science | Museum of Natural History virtual tour | A virtual tour of the University's Museum of Natural History. |
| Science | Oxford Sparks | An online portal for engaging with the scientific developments happening at Oxford. |
Oxford research videos - Economics
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