St Hugh's College
About the college
St Hugh's is renowned for its friendly and informal atmosphere, and this may be linked to the fact that the student community is made up of equal numbers of graduates and undergraduates.
The college is committed to promoting a culture of research and intellectual engagement (academic lectures are held each term, and the MCR hosts ‘St Hugh’s Spotlight’ research evenings) and is able to consider applications for programmes in most fields. A College Advisor is assigned to each graduate student; these senior members of college can be consulted on academic or personal matters.
St Hugh’s has a beautiful 14-acre site, and is fortunate enough to boast some of the largest gardens in Oxford, a tranquil setting, earning it the name ‘the island site’.
Through membership of the Middle Common Room (MCR), graduate students are involved in all aspects of college life at St Hugh’s, with its students known to be some of the most friendly and approachable. The MCR hosts a range of social, academic, sporting, and welfare events throughout term, creating a space where community and individuals can thrive.
College tour
College facilities
Library and IT services
St Hugh's has one of the largest college libraries in Oxford, and is well-stocked, with 24-hour access and a good amount of study space. The Library has a wide range of assistive equipment available to use: noise cancelling headphones, book supports, magnifiers, back supports, a silent reading room. In addition to this, the college hosts a Bodleian reading room, open to all students.
All student rooms have network connections and the MCR has its own computer room; the college provides extensive on-site IT support services.
Sport, music and college facilities
The college's gardens and croquet lawn offer a great space for a range of activities (from essay writing to Frisbee). Other sports are catered for at the college's ground, only a few minutes away by bicycle. The college has a shared boathouse, squash court and its own on-site gym, and there are also several music rooms and a number of pianos.
Facilities for disabled students
St Hugh's welcomes applications from disabled students. Most areas of the main college site are accessible, and the college has a limited number of study bedrooms with disabled access, including an adapted studio room in the Dickson Poon Building, and the college is able to be flexible when making reasonable adjustments. Please contact the college about any accessibility requirements.
Welfare
St Hugh’s College is known for having a welcoming community, which can make it a lot easier to settle in and build friendships. However, life at university is not always easy and, at times, the pressures of work, together with personal or financial worries, can start to take their toll.
The health and welfare of all members of St Hugh's is taken very seriously. Whether they are facing difficulties large or small, there are several structures in place – both formal and informal – to help support students during their time at the college.
More information about the different types of support available, can be found on the college website.
MCR
St Hugh's Middle Common Room (MCR) plays an active role in college life, organising social activities throughout the year. The MCR participates in college sporting, musical and dramatic events, and sends representatives to relevant college committees.
Accommodation and meals
Accommodation
All graduate accommodation is on the main college site in the form of single study-bedrooms either in large Victorian houses or in the modern Dickson Poon Building. Accommodation is close to the dining hall, library and MCR social spaces; most rooms are available for single occupancy with studio flats occasionally available for couples. The college offers around 80 graduate rooms, 60 of which are en-suite; it is not possible to accommodate children.
Many of the college’s graduate rooms are reserved for new first year students. In later years students have the option of applying for accommodation; those who have not already lived in the college are usually given priority.
Further information about accommodation at St Hugh’s is available on the college website.
Meals
During term time, weekday breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served in the college's dining hall, with a café service in the afternoon; a popular long brunch (10.30am to 1pm) is served at weekends, and Formal Hall is held once a week. St Hugh's tries to accommodate specific dietary requirements, and will try to cater to individual needs.
The college's dining hall remains partly open during vacations, and all graduates living on site have access to shared kitchen facilities.
Courses
This college accepts graduate students for the following courses:
Please note that not all subjects areas or streams of a particular course may be offered by this college. Please see the college information on the relevant course page for further details. For a comprehensive list of all graduate courses available at the University of Oxford, please refer to our courses A-Z listing.
Location
St Hugh’s College is situated a short walk from the city centre, close to the Radcliffe Observatory Quarter and the University's Science Area. Its fourteen-acre site contains spacious and beautiful gardens, one of the hidden delights of Oxford.
Key facts
St Hugh's College,
Oxford OX2 6LE
www.st-hughs.ox.ac.uk
Founded
1886
| Students (total*) in 2024-25 | Full-time places in 2026-27 | Part-time places in 2026-27 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taught graduates | 210 | c. 120 | c. 35 |
| Research graduates | 170 | c. 65 | c. 0 |
| Undergrad. | 420 | N/A | N/A |
*Total across all year groups (see source data)