Once called the "city of dreaming spires" for its grand architecture, Oxford has been known for hundreds of years as one of the world's most prestigious academic communities.

Located on the river Thames, Oxford was founded in the ninth century by Alfred the Great. In 1013, however, both Oxford and the English throne were overtaken by the Danish. The world-renowned Oxford University was founded in 1214, distinguishing it as the oldest university in Britain. Over the years, Oxford adapted to accommodate its growing student population, and in 1542, Oxford was officially named a city. Manufacturing resurged as a key industry (which continues today) in Oxford in 1913 when William Morris began making automobiles.

Located 50 miles northwest of London, Oxford is home to more than 115,000 people, nearly 15,000 of whom are Oxford University students. The school is comprised of more than 35 colleges, and most classes are kept small for more individualized, one-on-one interaction between student and professor. The various colleges offer a wide range of academic opportunities.

Students who study at one of Oxford's colleges follow in the footsteps of such leaders and scholars as Desiderius Erasmus, William Penn, Oscar Wilde, J.R.R. Tolkein, U.S. Senator J. William Fulbright, Margaret Thatcher, Tony Blair and Bill Clinton. The colleges that make up Oxford University have educated six kings, 46 Nobel Prize winners, and 25 UK prime ministers. Other noted alumni include three saints, 86 archbishops and 18 cardinals.

Affiliated with Oxford's Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art is the Ruskin Laboratory, an interdisciplinary and collaborative environment that funds exhibitions and public art projects for art students to enjoy. Other resources for students studying abroad in Oxford include the Museum of Modern Art and the Ashmolean Museum of Art & Archaeology, Britain's oldest public museum established in 1683 boasting exhibits from more than four millennia.

Those interested in studying science or technology will find the city of Oxford at the center of both industries. The Oxford Science Park, located at Magdalen College, houses more than 60 companies in fields such as computer hardware and software, and bioscience. The Park is more than 430,000 square feet and has plans to almost double in size.

Oxford, by virtue of its age, is well-known for its diverse architecture. Buildings and churches in classical, Victorian and modern styles can be found all over town. Architecture enthusiasts can study buildings in Oxford from the Saxon, Norman and Gothic periods. Students should not miss the Christ Church Cathedral, the Sloan Robinson Building and the Rothermere American Institute.

For anthropologists, the School of Anthropology & Museum Ethnography's Pitt Rivers Museum features archaeological and ethnographic objects from around the world. Oxford is also home to the Centre on Migration, Policy & Society (COMPAS), which conducts research to develop theory and evaluate policy. COMPAS also features teaching and training.

The Bodleian Library is Oxford University's main research library. It dates back to the 1320s. In 1550 it was demolished by Protestant reformers who were following orders from King Edward VI that all works with superstitious imagery be destroyed. Years later Sir Thomas Bodley, a successful diplomat, returned to England and undertook the reestablishment of the library at Oxford. It opened in 1602, with a collection of 2,000 books. Today the Bodleian (or "the "Bod" as it is called in Oxford) cares for more than 8 million items that consume more than 120 miles of shelving. Among its most treasured holdings are William Shakespeare's First folio, one of the 42 surviving copies of the Gutenberg Bible, the Vernon Manuscript (the largest and most significant surviving manuscript written in Middle English), the letters of the Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley and many of the manuscripts of J.R.R. Tolkien, who studied at Oxford and later taught there. The Bodleian's remarkable architecture has been featured in a number of films, and in the first two Harry Potter films, Hogwarts' infirmary and library scenes were filmed inside the Bodleian complex.

In addition to academics, Oxford has noteworthy shopping and dining, particularly when it comes to historic pubs like The Eagle and Child, which was frequented by iconic figures like J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. In addition, the city has many beautifully kept gardens and grass quadrangles, as well as riverside walking paths. Boaters and anglers can be spotted all over the Oxford Canal. Oxford is also rich in arts and entertainment. The Apollo Theatre features the finest offerings in ballet, opera, musicals and concerts, while the Oxford Playhouse is famous for its Shakespeare interpretations. Oxford offers the perfect balance between elite academics and cultural appeal.

So if you are considering studying abroad, there is perhaps no better city to choose than Oxford. With ancient and intriguing history, and the highest quality education, Oxford is the ideal destination for any serious student.

Resources -

Oxford City Council: http://www.oxford.gov.uk
University of Oxford: http://www.ox.ac.uk/
Tourist Net UK: http://www.touristnetuk.com/wm/oxford/
uk-universities.net: http://www.uk-universities.net/Campus/International-Students-England.html
World Guides Oxford: http://www.oxford.world-guides.com

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