Our students

Student experience

At Oxford Brookes University we are committed to providing an outstanding student experience for all our students. We do this by delivering a globally relevant educational experience which challenges and inspires each student within a collaborative and inclusive community.

Alongside this, our students are offered a wide range of opportunities to develop both professionally and personally, enabling them to flourish and build skills that will help them to adapt as they move forward in a complex, changing world.

Employability

Our students and graduates are known for their employability. Employers today want graduates with proven work-based skills, so we go further than a degree. We provide:

work placements
industry experts
opportunities to study and work abroad
volunteering
integrated career guidance.

Students benefit from the strong links we have with businesses and employers both locally and internationally, from local schools and hospitals to those such as Oxfam, BMW Mini, KPMG, Ferrari and Microsoft.

Our programmes are accredited by 36 professional bodies across 17 subject areas and recognised by leading employers.

“90% of Brookes Graduates are in employment or further study 15 months after graduating.”

HESA Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019/20 (published July 2022)

Widening participation

Our ambition is for Oxford Brookes to be a fully inclusive institution, providing a breadth of opportunities and an excellent experience for each student, irrespective of their background.

We use a range of activities to engage potential students who are under-represented in higher education. These are designed both to increase participation and to ensure students succeed once they start their studies.

Discover Brookes is an 18-month outreach programme launched in 2021. It is designed for students interested in exploring their subject area with the University.
We offer generous financial support, with the Brookes Bursary worth up to £3,000 a year.
As well as studying for a degree on campus, students can also study for an Oxford Brookes qualification at one of 7 partner colleges, or as part of an apprenticeship.

Making a positive difference

We encourage our students to become active citizens. As well as making a difference in the world, this helps them to build valuable skills and life experience.

Students volunteer locally and globally. They get involved in the work of a huge range of charities and schemes, from sports coaching in local schools and conservation projects to supporting older people with IT needs, and much more.

Our Volunteer Centre connects students with opportunities and we work closely with Oxford Hub, a student-led group which organises volunteering. As part of the Covid-19 recovery, the Hub set up the Oxford Together programme supported by a university-funded staff member.

Students also raise money each year for the British Heart Foundation’s Pack for Good campaign. In 2020, despite the pandemic, their donations of unwanted items generated £22,000.

Our award-winning Enterprise Support awards offer guidance and funding to help students grow their ideas for bringing about positive social change.