Sample department timetables

Dates for our 2024 undergraduate Open Days will be announced early next year.

Oxford students are not only members of a college, but also members of a department with access to libraries and facilities. Depending on the course you choose, you would usually have your lectures and do any laboratory work in your department with students from other colleges.

Open Days offer a rare opportunity to visit departments and meet tutors and current students as well as attend events. On this page are some sample department programmes for the September 2023 Open Days. If events become full, priority is given to prospective students.

View the 2023 Open Day map.

Asian and Middle Eastern Studies

Where: Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, Pusey Lane, OX1 2LE
Map reference: B5
When: 10:00–12:00
10:00–10:30: 'Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at Oxford' talk, with Q&A (Please book via department website)
10:30–11:30: Meet the tutors: may include subject introduction, taster lecture and language demonstration*. (Please note that some subject groups may not participate in all open days and may offer a hybrid session. Please check the updated programmes on the faculty website closer to the time)
11:30–12:00: Meet the students*
www.ames.ox.ac.uk
*Drop-in sessions, though booking is preferred due to room capacity.

Archaeology and Anthropology

Where: Institute of Archaeology, 1 South Parks Road, OX1 3TG
Map reference: C4
When: 09:30–15:00
Tours throughout
09:30–15:00: Meet the tutors and students
11:00–11:30: Taster lecture
14:00–15:00: Archaeology and Anthropology at Oxford talk
15:00–15:30: Student-led tours of the Pitt Rivers Museum
www.arch.ox.ac.uk
www.arch.ox.ac.uk/open-days

Biochemistry

Where: Department of Biochemistry, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, South Parks Rd, OX1 3QU (entrance from Sherrington Road)
Map reference: C4
When: 10:00–15:00 (Department), 14:00-16:00 (Teaching labs)
10:15–11:00, 10:30–11:15, 11:15–12:00 and 11:30–12:15: Biochemistry at Oxford talk
10:30–12:00: Meet the tutors & students (drop-in)
11:45 and 12:00: College tours from the department (sign up on the day)
14:00–14:45: Meet the tutors Q&A panel

Where: Biochemistry Teaching Labs, 11a Mansfield Road, OX1 3SZ
Map reference: D4
14:00–16:00: Biochemistry lab demonstrations

Where: ONLINE
10:15–11:00: Biochemistry at Oxford talk
14:00–14:45: Meet the tutors panel talk
www.bioch.ox.ac.uk
www.bioch.ox.ac.uk/undergraduate-open-days

Biology

Where: Oxford University Museum of Natural History, Parks Road, OX1 3PW
Map reference: D4
When: 09:00–12:30
09:00–11:00: Meet the students
10:00–10:30: Biology at Oxford talk
10:30–11:00: Admissions and careers talk, with Q&A
11:00–12:30: Meet the academics and students
11:30–12:00: Demonstration interview

Where: Biology Teaching Labs, 11a Mansfield Road, OX1 3SZ
Map reference: C4
When: 14:30–15:30
14:30–15:30: Meet the academics and students
14:30–15:30: Intro to Biology practicals and Open Lab tour
www.biology.ox.ac.uk
www.biology.ox.ac.uk/undergraduate-study

Biomedical Sciences

Where: Sherrington Building, Parks Road, OX1 3PT
Map reference: C4
When: 10:00–14:00
10:30–11:00: Biomedical Sciences at Oxford talk
11:00-11.30: Admissions essentials
www.medsci.ox.ac.uk/study/bms
www.medsci.ox.ac.uk/study/bms/applying/open-days

Chemistry

Where: Chemistry Research Laboratory, 12 Mansfield Road, OX1 3TA
Map reference: D4
When: 10:00–16:00
Tours throughout

Where: Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory, South Parks Road, OX1 3QR
Map reference: C4
11:00 – 11:45 and 15:00 – 15:45: Q&A with tutors and students. Key topics: Admissions, the course and student life.
www.chem.ox.ac.uk

Classics

Including Classical Archaeology and Ancient History, Ancient and Modern History, Classics and English, Classics and Modern Languages, Classics and Asian and Middle Eastern Studies
Where: Ioannou Centre for Classical and Byzantine Studies, 66 St Giles’, OX1 3LU
Map reference: B5
When: 10:00–15:30
Tours throughout
10:00–11:00: Classics Admissions Talk (please note - this will be the same as the Classics Open Day talk in March and is therefore not recommended for those who attended that event).
11:00–11:30: Taster lecture 1*
11:30-12:00: Taster lecture 2*
12:00–14:30: Information desk
14:30–15:30: Meet the tutors and students
*For taster lecture titles, visit the Faculty of Classics website.
www.classics.ox.ac.uk
clasoutreach.web.ox.ac.uk/oxford-university-open-days

Computer Science

Where: Department of Computer Science, Wolfson Building, OX1 3QD (entrance at 7 Keble Road)
Map reference: B4
When: 09:15–17:15
09:00-09:45, 11:15-12:00 and 15:15–16:00: Computer Science at Oxford talk
09:15-09:45 and 14:00-14:30: Day in the life of a student
10:00–10:30 and 16:15–16:45: Applying to Computer Science at Oxford
10:30–11:00 and 16:45–17:15: Mock interview
14:30-15:00: Sample lecture
14:30–15:00: Introducing the Computer Science and Philosophy degree
www.cs.ox.ac.uk

Earth Sciences

Where: Earth Sciences Building, South Parks Road, OX1 3AN
Map reference: C4
When: 10:00–16:00
Tours throughout
10:00-12:00 and 14:00–16:00: Displays, demonstrations and drop-in tours
10:00–10:30: An introduction to Earth Sciences
10:30-11:00: Q&A for students (Seminar Rooms), and Q&A for parents (Teaching rooms)
11:00–11:30: Taster lecture
11:30-12:00: Taster lecture
14:30-15:30: An introduction to Earth Sciences (repeat from 10:00) plus Q&A
www.earth.ox.ac.uk
www.earth.ox.ac.uk/teaching/open-days/

Economics and Management

Where: Main Building, Saïd Business School, Park End Street, OX1 1HP
Map reference: A5
When: 09:00–12:00
Tours and information desk throughout
09:30 and 11:00: Economics and Management at Oxford talk
www.economics.ox.ac.uk / www.sbs.ox.ac.uk

Engineering Science

Where: Thom Building, Department of Engineering Science, Parks Road, OX1 3PJ
Map reference: B4
When: 09:30–12:30 and 13:30–16:30.
Drop-in tours from 09:30 - 12:15 and 13:30 - 16:30
10-12:15 and 13:45-16:15: Open House demonstrations
10:00–12:15 and 13:45–16:15: Engineering at Oxford - Student Q&A
10:00–11:00 and 15:00–15:45: Engineering at Oxford - Parent Q&A
10:30 - 11:00: Electrical engineering taster lecture
11:00 - 11:30: Civil engineering taster lecture
11:30 - 12:00: Biomedical engineering taster lecture
12:00 - 12:30: Biomaterials engineering taster lecture
13:45 - 14:15: Mechanical engineering taster lecture
14:15 - 14:45: Robotics taster lecture
www.eng.ox.ac.uk

English Language and Literature

Including all English joint courses
Where: English Faculty, St Cross Building, OX1 3UL
Map reference: D4
When: 09:30–16:00
10:00–10:30, 10:40–11:10 and 15:20– 15:50: Mini taster lectures
11:20–12:00 and 14:30-15:10: English at Oxford talk
15:20–15:50: Joint courses Q&A
www.english.ox.ac.uk
english.web.ox.ac.uk/open-days

Fine Art

Where: Ruskin School of Art, 74 High Street, OX1 4BG
When: 10:00–13:00
Self-guided tours of studios, teaching space and library. Tutors, current students and BFA admin and admissions staff will be available.

Where: Ruskin School of Art, 128 Bullingdon Road, OX4 1QP
When: 14:00–17:00
15:00–16:30: Fine Art at Oxford talk (book via department website)
Building will be open to ticket-holders for tours of studios, print workshop, sculpture workshop and media lab.

Where: Online
11:00 - 12:30: Online talk and Q&A session (book via department website)
www.rsa.ox.ac.uk
www.rsa.ox.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/open-days

Geography

Where: Dyson Perrins Building, Oxford University Centre for the Environment, South Parks Road, OX1 3QY
Map reference: C4
When: 10:00–15:00
10:00–15:00: Information and drop-in Q&A with staff and current students
10:30–12:00: Geography at Oxford talk
www.geog.ox.ac.uk
www.geog.ox.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/open-days.html

History

Including all joint courses with History
Where: Open Day Information Centre, Examination Schools, 75–81 High Street, OX1 4BG
Map reference: D6
When: 09:00–13:00
09:00–09:30: Informal Q&A with staff and students
09:30–11:00: An introduction to History at Oxford - includes a taster lecture and Q&A (prospective students only)
11:00-13:00: Informal Q&A with staff and students
www.history.ox.ac.uk

Human Sciences

Where: Institute of Human Sciences, The Pauling Centre, 58a Banbury Road, OX2 6QS
Map reference: B2
When: 10:00–17:00
Tours throughout
10:00–11:00: Human Sciences at Oxford: What it is and how to apply
11:00–12:00: Taster lecture: 'Pandemics: An Interdisciplinary Perspective'
www.ihs.ox.ac.uk
www.ihs.ox.ac.uk/human-sciences-open-day-0

Law

Where: Law Faculty, St Cross Building (corner of Manor and St Cross Roads), St Cross Road, OX1 3UL
Map reference: D4
When: 10:00–12:00 and 14:30–16:30
10:00–10:40 and 14:30–15:10: Law at Oxford talk*
10:40-11:15 and 15:10-15:45: Meet the tutors
11:15–12:00 and 15:45–16:30: Taster lecture*
*Students will be given priority seating - maximum capacity 150

Ambassadors will be available between 10:00-16:30 for informal chats. The Law Library will not be open to visitors.
www.law.ox.ac.uk

Materials Science

Where: Hume–Rothery Building, Department of Materials, Parks Road, OX1 3PH
Map reference: B3
When: 09:00–15:00
09:10–09:55: Taster lecture
10:00–11:00 and 11:30–12:00: Department tours (booked on the day on a first come, first served basis – prospective students only)
11:00–11:30: Materials Science at Oxford talk
11:30–12:00: Meet the tutors and students, with refreshments
www.materials.ox.ac.uk
www.materials.ox.ac.uk/admissions/schools/schools-outreach-events/oxford-open-days.html

Mathematics

Where: Andrew Wiles Building, Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, Woodstock Road, OX2 6GG
Map reference: B3
When: 10:00–16:00
10:00–10:30 and 15:00-15:30: Mathematics at Oxford talk
10:30–11:00: Maths and Statistics at Oxford talk
15:30–16:00: Maths and Philosophy at Oxford talk
www.maths.ox.ac.uk
www.maths.ox.ac.uk/study-here/undergraduate-study

Medicine

Where: Medical Sciences Teaching Centre, South Parks Road, OX1 3PL
Map reference: D4
When: 09:30–12:30 and 14:30–16:30
Tours throughout
10:00–10:15 and 15:00–15:15: Welcome talk
10:15–10:55 and 15:15–15:45: Medicine at Oxford and How to Apply
11:00–11:25 and 15:45–16:10: Demonstration interview
11:30–12:00 and 16:10-16:30: Meet the students
www.medsci.ox.ac.uk/study/medicine

Modern Languages

Where: Taylor Institution, St Giles’, OX1 3NA
Map reference: B5
When: 10:15–15:30
09:30, 09:55, 13:30 and 13:55: Library tours (20 minutes; maximum 15 people per tour, allocated on first come, first served basis. Tours start from St Giles' entrance hall)
10:15–11:15 and 14:30–15:30: Modern Languages at Oxford talk, followed by Q&A
11:30 - 12:30: Meet the tutors (French and Spanish only - tutors for other courses will be available at 47 Wellington Square)

Where: 47 Wellington Square, OX1 2ER
11:30–12:30: Meet the tutors (excluding French and Spanish tutors - please see above)
www.mod-langs.ox.ac.uk
www.mod-langs.ox.ac.uk/schools/meet-us

Music

Where: Faculty of Music Building, St Aldate’s, OX1 1DB
Map reference: C7
When: 09:30–17:00
Tours: 09:30–10:00, 11:30–12:00 and 15:45–17:00
10:00–10:45 and 15:45–16:30: Studying Music at Oxford
10:45–11:30: Meet the students
11:30–12:00: Taster lecture
14:30–15:30: Meet the tutors
www.music.ox.ac.uk

Philosophy

You can study Philosophy at Oxford only in conjunction with another subject or other subjects: Classics, Computer Science, Linguistics (as part of PPL – see Psychology), Mathematics, Modern Languages, Politics and Economics (PPE), Physics, Psychology (as part of PPL), or Theology and Religion. Please visit the Open Day events for these other subjects to find out about joint honours courses involving Philosophy.
www.philosophy.ox.ac.uk

Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE)

Where: Manor Road Building, Manor Road, OX1 3UQ
Map reference: E4
When: 10:00–16:00
Information desk staffed by tutors and students throughout
10:00-10:45, 11:00-11:45, 14:45-15:30 and 15:45-16:30: PPE at Oxford talk (booking required - more information at PPE Open Days and Visiting)
www.ppe.ox.ac.uk
www.ppe.ox.ac.uk/open-days-and-visiting

Physics

Where: Martin Wood Complex, Parks Road, OX1 3PU
Map reference: C4
When: 10:00–16:00
10:00 - 16:00: Information desk
11:30: Preparing for the Physics Admissions Test (PAT)
12:30: Physics and Philosophy taster lecture
10:30 and 15:00: Admissions for Physics talk

www.physics.ox.ac.uk
www.physics.ox.ac.uk/study/undergraduates/how-apply/open-days

Psychology (Experimental)

including Psychology, Philosophy and Linguistics (PPL)
Where: Open Day Information Centre, Examination Schools, 75–81 High Street, OX1 4BG
Map reference: D6
When: 10:00–16:00
10:00–10:30 and 14:30–15:00: Talk: Course overview and the admissions process
10:30–11:15: Meet the tutors and students
11:15–11:45: The PPL course at Oxford
11:45–14:30: Drop-in with admissions tutor and students
15:00–16:00: Presentation and Q&A from students
www.psy.ox.ac.uk

Theology and Religion

Where: Gibson Building, Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, Woodstock Road, OX2 6GG
Map reference: C4
When: 10:00–16:00
Tours throughout
10:00–11:00: Theology and Religion at Oxford talk (includes Philosophy and Theology, and Religion and Asian and Middle Eastern Studies)
11:00–12.00: Taster lecture
12:00–14:30: Meet the tutors and students
14:30–15:30: Latin taster session
14:30–15:30: Families, friends and supporters Q&A
www.theology.ox.ac.uk
www.theology.ox.ac.uk/information-and-opportunities-individuals