As the UK’s oldest and most famous universities, Oxford and Cambridge share a historic rivalry which dates back more than 800 years. The two halves of “Oxbridge” may have many elements in common – residential colleges, tutorial-based teaching, centuries of tradition – but as any graduate from Oxford or Cambridge will tell you, that’s where the similarities end.
When it comes to choosing which universities to apply to, applicants through the UK’s Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) can only pick one of Oxford and Cambridge, so getting that decision right is crucial.
So, which one will you choose?
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University of Oxford |
University of Cambridge |
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Subject strengths, based on the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2019 |
Ranked among the world’s best for 38 subjects; in the top 10 for all but three of these. First in the world for anthropology, archaeology, English language and literature, geography and pharmacy.
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Ranked among the world’s best for 39 subjects; in the top 10 for all but one of these. First in the world for anatomy, and second for anthropology, archaeology, English, history and modern languages. |
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Location |
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Tuition fees |
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Financial support
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QS World University Rankings® 2020
The University of Oxford outranks Cambridge in the QS World University Rankings® 2020, but only marginally. It’s important to remember that, at this level, the differences between institutions are generally very minor – and as longstanding members of the global top 10, both Oxford and Cambridge are firmly established among the world’s higher education elite.
The Oxbridge brand is extremely strong, with both halves of Oxbridge getting high ratings in QS’s international surveys of academics and employers. In the latest results, Cambridge comes out second in the world for both academics and employers. Oxford, meanwhile, claims the world’s third-highest ratings from graduate employers and academics. In short: if you want to study at a university with a solid international reputation, a degree from either Oxford or Cambridge is hard to beat.
Oxford has a slightly stronger score for citations per faculty member – an indicator which aims to reflect the influence attained by research produced at each institution – though Cambridge is not too far behind. Oxford also takes the lead when it comes to faculty-student ratio (number of students per academic staff member), but both are within the global top 10 here and are renowned for their commitment to small group teaching and individual supervision.
In terms of international diversity, both Oxford and Cambridge again get high scores. Unsurprisingly, both are popular destinations for academics and students from around the world. Despite recent criticism regarding its perceived lack of diversity, Oxford takes the lead for its percentage of international students, although Cambridge earns a slightly stronger score for its percentage of international faculty members.
Subject strengths
A look at the QS World University Rankings by Subject confirms both Oxford and Cambridge are among the world’s leaders across a comprehensive range of fields. In the most recent edition, Oxford features in the subject rankings in a total of 38 out of a possible 48 subjects, while Cambridge makes 39 appearances. As you can see by the table below, both universities boast top 10 positions for the vast majority of the subjects they feature in.
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Oxford and Cambridge in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2019 |
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University of Oxford |
University of Cambridge |
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Accounting & finance |
4th |
8th |
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Anatomy & physiology |
2nd |
1st |
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Anthropology |
1st |
2nd |
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Archaeology |
1st |
2nd |
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Architecture |
-- |
7th |
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Art & design |
37th |
-- |
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Biological sciences |
4th |
3rd |
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Business & management |
10th |
7th |
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Chemistry |
6th |
=3rd |
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Classics & ancient history |
2nd |
3rd |
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Computer science & information systems |
6th |
5th |
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Development studies |
3rd |
5th |
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Earth & marine sciences |
5th |
4th |
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Economics |
9th |
10th |
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Education & training |
4th |
5th |
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Engineering (chemical) |
6th |
=3rd |
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Engineering (civil) |
16th |
5th |
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Engineering (electrical) |
11th |
5th |
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Engineering (mechanical) |
=8th |
3rd |
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English language & literature |
1st |
2nd |
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Environmental sciences |
6th |
8th |
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Geography |
1st |
3rd |
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History |
3rd |
2nd |
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Law |
2nd |
3rd |
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Linguistics |
9th |
6th |
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Mathematics |
6th |
5th |
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Materials science |
=7th |
4th |
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Medicine |
2nd |
3rd |
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Modern languages |
3rd |
2nd |
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Performing arts |
=9th |
11th |
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Pharmacy |
4th |
6th |
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Philosophy |
4th |
6th |
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Physics & astronomy |
6th |
4th |
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Politics |
2nd |
5th |
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Psychology |
3rd |
4th |
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Social policy & administration |
3rd |
4th |
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Sociology |
2nd |
=6th |
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Statistics |
7th |
5th |
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Theology, divinity & religious studies |
3rd |
4th |
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Veterinary science |
-- |
4th |
Location
Oxford is technically a city and Cambridge a town, but in fact both are relatively small and compact places to live, easily navigable on foot or (as is very popular) by cycling.
Highly picturesque, they’re both characterized by attractive historic architecture and rivers running through the city centers, where you’ll find students in training for inter-college rowing contests or the annual Oxford-Cambridge boat race. The latter is perhaps the one day each year when Oxbridge rivalry becomes the most heated.
Oxford and Cambridge are also both close to the UK capital. London is about an hour on the train from Oxford, and slightly under an hour from Cambridge. In terms of differences between the two locations, there’s a general consensus that Cambridge is a little prettier, while Oxford has a bit more going on – but of course this may depend on who you ask.
Fees & living costs
Both Oxford and Cambridge charge different tuition fees depending on whether students are from within the European Union or not. The result of the UK’s EU referendum has meant EU students may be concerned about whether their tuition fees will increase during their course. However, the UK government has confirmed that current students and students admitted in the 2019 academic year will continue to pay the current home/EU rate for the duration of their program.
The following table gives a rough overview of how much you can expect to pay for full time courses per year, depending on your study level and nationality. Check the university websites for exact rates, and bear in mind there is significant variation in the amount charged for postgraduate courses, and for non-EU students on undergraduate courses, depending on the subject.
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Annual tuition fees at Oxford and Cambridge (2019/20, full-time) |
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Oxford
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Cambridge
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Undergraduate (UK/EU students) |
£9,250 (~€10,760)
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£9,250
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Undergraduate (non-EU students) |
£24,750-£34,678 per year (~US$32,800-45,900) for most courses. |
£19,197-£30,678 (~US$25,420- 40,620) for most courses; £52,638 (~US$69,700) for veterinary medicine and medicine |
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Graduate (UK/EU students) |
£7,730-17,745 (~€9,000-20,640) for most master’s and doctoral programs; varies depending on the subject; there are a few exceptions with higher fees. |
£8,337-16,320 (~€9,700-19,000) for most master’s and doctoral programs; varies depending on the subject. |
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Graduate (non-EU students) |
£22,600-26,960 (~US$29,930 -35,700) for most master’s and doctoral programs; varies depending on the subject; there are a few exceptions with higher fees. |
£20,424-29,343 (~US$27,050-38,860) for most master’s and doctoral programs; varies depending on the subject; there are a few exceptions with higher fees. |
Overseas students will also be charged an additional “college fee”, which also applies to UK/EU students who are not enrolling on their first publicly funded degree. This is currently between £7,116 and £9,500 (depending on the college) per year for overseas undergraduates at Cambridge, and £7,570 per year for overseas undergraduates at Oxford.
In addition to course fees, Oxford advises students to allow between £12,168 and £18,655 (~US$16,120-24,700) per year for living costs, including accommodation, food, study resources, socializing and other items. Cambridge recommends a minimum of £10,950 (~US$14,500) per year for living expenses. You can find out more about the costs of studying in the UK here.
Financial support
Overall then, the cost of studying at Oxford or Cambridge adds up, although it’s still less than the up-front price of a degree at most top universities in the US. For many students, some kind of financial support is needed.
Undergraduate students from within the UK and from other EU countries can apply for financial support from the UK government, in the form of student loans. These cover tuition fees, are interest-free, and are paid back gradually once the student begins work and starts earning a certain amount (the repayment threshold is currently £25,000 for Plan 2 graduates). Full-time undergraduate-level UK students can also apply for additional loans and grants to help cover living expenses.
Both Oxford and Cambridge also offer a range of scholarships and financial support schemes. At Cambridge, UK and EU undergraduates can apply for bursaries of up to £3,500 per year, in addition to a range of funding opportunities which are open to students of various backgrounds. Oxford’s website allows students to search for any scholarships they may be eligible for, based on their course and nationality.
The individual colleges of which the two universities are comprised also offer scholarships and bursaries. Of course, scholarships to study at Oxford or Cambridge are among the most competitive in the world – as is gaining admission to begin with. But if you are successful in your application, you’re likely to be rewarded with an experience which is both academically challenging and aesthetically inspiring.
This article was originally published in October 2013. It was last updated in June 2019.
Additional reporting by Sabrina Collier.
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