About the Academic Administration Division

The University is committed to innovation and excellence in teaching and assessment, and to providing all students with an equal opportunity to thrive academically. Our success depends on our ability to continually refresh and consider new forms of education that are relevant to Oxford’s unique learning environment.  

The Centre for Teaching and Learning sits within the Academic Administration Division as a professional service to help departments and faculties facilitate the achievement of their educational ambitions. In order to do this, it works in partnership with divisions, other professional services and students.   

The Centre works to: 

• Promote flexible and inclusive approaches to education that benefit our diverse student population.  
• Initiate, support and evaluate educational enhancement initiatives that address inequalities in academic participation and performance.  
• Realise the vision for a holistic and integrated digital learning environment available to all students that is used effectively by departments and faculties to help students navigate Oxford’s complex educational ecosystem.  
• Provide timely and relevant professional development pathways and networking opportunities for those who teach and support learning. 
• Showcase excellent and innovative teaching. 

If you would like to stay informed about their activities, subscribe to their mailing list and termly newsletter, and follow them on Twitter @CTLOxford. 
 

• Contact the Centre for Teaching and Learning

Specialised teams (Academic Records Office, Data Quality Team, Degree Conferrals Office, Student Assessments, Student Immigration and Student Data Management & Analysis teams) within Education Services ensure the accuracy and security of the student record; manage and analyse data; and provide examination and assessment administration.

The student record is at the heart of Education Services' work. Through the behind-the-scenes maintenance of the student record, Education Services' activities support a range of student services, including visa management, fees and funding, support and welfare, examinations and award verification, as well as to provide University decision-making bodies with the data required to make management decisions and submit statutory returns to HESA.

• Contact Education Services

The Student Systems section oversees the direction, development, and support of the IT systems used to support academic administration at Oxford. Our systems support processes from admissions, registration, teaching and assessment, through to graduation and certification. They provide helpdesk support for users via the Student Systems Support Centre.

• Contact Student Systems

The Graduate Admissions and Recruitment (GAR) supports and advises applicants, academic departments and colleges through all steps of the graduate admissions process. The Office is responsible for:

• student recruitment activities, including the management of the Graduate Admissions website, the running of social media channels, the attendance at targeted recruitment fairs
• processing a high volume of applications (+30,000 application/year) and enquiries (+25,000/year) within defined service levels
• reporting and analysing graduate admissions statistics, and developing standard and ad hoc reports
• developing efficient and robust graduate admissions policies to support 350+ courses, 70+ departments and 43 colleges
• providing guidance on international qualifications
• collaborating closely with Education IT to continue to improve admissions systems
• working with the Student Fees and Funding section to develop, where possible, integrated admissions and funding processes

The work of the GAR is under the direction of Education Committee, via the Graduate Admissions Committee and the newly informed Graduate Access Working Group, as well as working with Conference of College’s Graduate Committee. For more information about Graduate study at Oxford, visit the Graduate Admissions website. If you are a member of staff who would like to know more about admissions visit the Graduate Admissions and Funding handbook. For information on Graduate applications and student numbers, see the Admissions statistics page of the University website.

• Contact Graduate Admissions and Recruitment

Oxford University Sport delivers health and fitness activities to students, staff and the local community, supports recognised Oxford University Sports Clubs and leads the strategic direction of sport and physical activity within the Collegiate University. The sports department also manages the University sports facilities at Iffley Road Sports Centre and the sports pitches within University Parks and on Marston Road.

The health and fitness activities on offer at Iffley Road Sports Centre include running on the Sir Roger Bannister Running Track, swimming in the Rosenblatt Pool, access to multiple gyms, a wide variety for fitness classes delivered in the GLD Studio and casual bookings for racket sports including badminton, squash and outdoor tennis.

The Sports Federation, which sits within the department, is the governing body for sport at Oxford and supports Oxford University’s 80+ registered sports clubs to deliver the best possible experience to their club members. Although sports clubs are independent of the University and as such can have vastly differing programmes, in most cases a sports club will include some level of casual sport, one or more inter-college competitions and several inter-university competitions culminating in a Varsity match against Cambridge University. Each sports Varsity match is part the annual Varsity series against Cambridge.

A diverse and adaptable number of sports pitches are also available at Iffley Road Sports Centre, within University Parks and at Marston Road Sports Ground. These include football, hockey, cricket, rugby union, rugby league, lacrosse, American football, Aussie rules football and ultimate frisbee but can be adapted by our specialist grounds staff to suit the needs of University sports clubs, inter-college sports competitions and independent bookings.

To find out more visit the Oxford University Sport website.

• Contact Oxford University Sport

The Proctors' Office is the permanent staff of clerks who advise and support the Proctors and the Assessor in their work.

The Proctors' Office Clerks act as caseworkers on individual cases, provide secretariat services to the Proctors and the Assessor across the range of their functions, and serve as the main point of contact for students and other University members for all enquiries, requests for advice and submissions of complaints, academic appeals and other applications to the Proctors.

• Contact the Proctors' Office

The Student Fees and Funding team supports the collegiate University’s aim to attract and retain the most able students from all backgrounds through the administration of scholarships and financial support, the management of student fees data, and the provision of information and development of policy relating to all aspects of fees and funding.

• Contact Student Fees and Funding

Student Welfare and Support Services comprises the University Counselling Service and the Disability Advisory Service, along with the Sexual Harassment and Violence Support Service and Student Resolution (mediation). The services works collaboratively with colleges, departments, the Oxford University Student Union, and key statutory services to develop policy and provision on issues of student health and welfare.

• Contact Student Welfare and Support Services

Alongside outreach and admissions colleagues in departments and colleges, Undergraduate Admissions and Outreach (UAO) teams are often the first point of contact for prospective students with Oxford. Working with schools and students across the UK and worldwide, UAO focuses on widening access to the University and to Higher Education. In particular, UAO develops and runs programmes that directly contribute to the University’s strategic priorities on access and its commitment to the Office for Students under our Access and Participation Plan. UAO also plays an important role in coordinating undergraduate admissions across the University.

Main areas of work include:

Outreach Solutions, Development and Delivery teams – connecting with target audiences and influencers at all stages of the student journey through programmes such as UNIQ, Oxplore, Student Conferences and Teacher’s Summer Schools

Evaluation – monitoring, sharing and evaluation of outreach activity

Information, Marketing and Communications – communicating with prospective students and their supporters online, in printed materials and at Open Days with the aim of reaching under-represented groups with appropriate information as they make decisions about their future studies

Admissions Policy – development of robust policies to support a fair and transparent admissions process that identifies potential in students of all backgrounds; coordination of policy responses to the Office for Students including the Access and Participation Plan

Admissions Operations – development of robust systems to support a fair and transparent admissions including all liaison with UCAS and with colleges as the admitting bodies for undergraduates to Oxford.

For further information visit the Undergraduate Admissions website, the Undergraduate Admissions Handbook (single-sign on required) and the Undergraduate Admissions Statistics webpage.

• Contact Undergraduate Admissions and Outreach