The University of Oxford has ranked seventh in a Financial Times (FT) and Statista survey of the UK’s top employers, placing above companies like Google and Adidas, as well as the University of Glasgow and Loughborough University.
The ranking, based on responses from 20,000 employees collected via anonymous online surveys, evaluated employers on working conditions, salaries, development potential, and company image. The University of Oxford received a score of 93.72 out of 100 and was the only institution or company headquartered in Oxford to feature in the top 500 UK employers. In the education sector, the University of Oxford placed second only to the University of Cambridge, which topped the rankings with a score of 100.
A University spokesperson told Cherwell: “Oxford’s staff are what make us the best university in the world, as reflected in our consistent top ranking across international league tables. The University has a dedicated People Strategy, which reflects our collective ambition to create an outstanding work environment for all staff… We are proud to see that culture and attention to our staff reflected in our appearance in the FT rankings.”
The University spokesperson added that “it is a continuing priority for [the University] to work on improving pay and conditions”, citing the Additional Paternity/Partner Leave scheme and the Pay and Conditions Review. The University also organises its own “Staff Experience Survey”, which found that staff engagement – defined as a sense of connection to the workplace – was 6% above the sector average in 2025.
The FT ranking follows other successes for the University this year, such as claiming the top spot in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings for the tenth consecutive time.
 and Statista survey of the UK’s top employers.){kind=link}