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Oxford's Reputation
Oxford invariably contends with Cambridge for first place in the UK's university league tables, and consistently ranks in the world's top 10.
The Times Good University Guide 2008 ranked Oxford as the UK's top university (with Cambridge in second place).
The 2010 Academic Ranking of World Universities placed Oxford 10th in the world and second in Europe.
In the 2010 QS World University Rankings, Oxford came sixth in the world, after coming second in the world in terms of graduate employability in 2009.
The 2011 Times Higher Education World Reputation Rankings – the largest evaluation of academic reputation ever conducted – put Oxford among the elite group of six universities hailed as the 'globally recognised super brands' (the other five being Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Cambridge, Stanford University and the University of California, Berkeley).
For over a century Oxford has served as the home of the Rhodes Scholarship, which brings students from a number of countries to study at Oxford as postgraduates or for a second bachelor's degree.
Of all UK universities, Oxford is one of four in the Coimbra Group, one of four in the League of European Research Universities, one of three belonging to both groups, and the only member of the Europaeum group. It is also part of the Russell Group of research-led British universities, the G5, the International Alliance of Research Universities and the 'Golden Triangle' of British universities.
Gaining places at
Oxbridge is a priority for many private and selective state schools, with over half of applications coming from the state sector.
