Monday 18th May 2026

News

Oxford and UNESCO launch a free global course on AI and Rule of Law

The University of Oxford has paired up with UNESCO to launch a free global course titled “AI, Justice, and Rule of Law”. The Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) will teach those in legal settings to navigate the ethical, legal, and human rights challenges of AI. 

£26 million in visiting student tuition fees: Inside the finances of Oxford’s visiting student programme

Across the twelve colleges that disclosed figures, the total income from visiting student tuition fees from 2021 to 2025 amounted to £26,474,583.

Tommy Robinson Union invite sparks controversy across University

The Oxford Union has invited Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, who identifies as Tommy Robinson, to speak at a Week 5 debate on the motion ‘This house believes the West is right to be suspicious of Islam’. The invitation has generated backlash from University societies, senior Union officials, and Stand Up to Racism UK. 

Think tank publishes report calling for centralised Oxbridge admissions

The Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) has published a new report advocating for centralised admissions procedures for applications to the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge, arguing that the current collegiate system increases the opacity and complexity for applicants and their teachers.

Keble socialist coup fails

Motion to rename college ‘The Socialist College of Keble’ falls flat at JCR meeting.

Average student rent up 1.5%

The average weekly student rent in the UK now stands at £61.48, a 1.5% increase from last year's figure according to statistics from accommodationforstudents.com.

In bed with McCluskey

One commenter has had cause to question Aldate's independence.  Be assured that this blogger maintains a professional distance from all Oxford media outlets... unlike some.   Word reaches Aldate that Martin McCluskey and his in-house newspaper are getting a little too close for comfort. It would seem that the OUSU President is a regular attendee at OxStu weekly meetings, 'just for fun,' and a recent sneaky peek at his mobile revealed his inbox to be full of texts from:   - Holehouse - Holehouse - Holehouse - Mum - Holehouse - Holehouse - Holehouse - Mum Let's hope the Stu's star reporter isn't being influenced by those in need of some positive PR.

In defence of the musical

Swing when you're winning, says Ash Barker.

Worcester ball hit by touts

Wadstock has also been marred by allegations of ticket touting.

Scouts “struggling” on wages

A student-run initiative is pushing for pay of at least £7 per hour for all College workers.

Anti-Tibetan violence at Anne’s

Dean appeals for help after a student was attacked over a Tibetan flag.

Oriel JCR President apologises

Tom Callard has said he will be issuing “a full apology” after JCR members proposed a motion of censure against him.

Speak attack egg-throwing student

The student was attacked by protesters before being fined £80 by police.

Proctors rake in record fines

Students coughed up more £10,000 for trashings last year.

Mixed signals over iPlayer

Double standards in network enforcement have left many students angry.

Tansey cancels Langham invite

Union President says that he doesn't want “needless controversy”.

Oxford tops league table again

Oxford University has come top of The Good University Guide's national league table for the sixth time in seven years.   Vice-Chancellor John Hood said: "Oxford’s top position is the result of the commitment and enthusiasm of our outstanding scholars and students, assisted by committed administrative and support staff."   The University also came first in the subject tables for Geology, Middle Eastern and African Studies, Music and Politics.   More from The Independent

Remote-controlled love song

An Oxford scientist, Professor Gero Miesenböck, has made female flies produce the male courtship song using remote brain control.   The brain control techniques, which Miesenböck pioneered 3 years ago, use a laser to trigger certain actions. The ‘song’, which flies make by vibrating a wing, is never produced by females, so the findings indicate an astonishing similarity in male and female fly brains.   “Anatomically, the differences are so subtle,” Miesenböck told the Telegraph, “How is it that the neural equipment is so similar, but the sexes behave so differently?”   Researchers suggest that fly brains may have a ‘master switch’ that determines male or female behaviour.

Magdalen reaffiliate to OUSU

Magdalen College voted by 98 votes to 28 on Tuesday to reaffiliate to the student union.   The college has been disaffiliated since Trinity Term 2007. 

PCSOs on the beat

Despite being dubbed the 'quad squad', they can only enter colleges if invited. 

Colleges hit out at council

All Souls and University Colleges, and Steve Howell, Head of Transport for Oxfordshire County Council, have publicly taken swipes at each other over the issue of signage and buses on Oxford's High Street. News that the Council wished to site more bus stops on the High Street, including one possibly in front of All Souls main gateway, has prompted a scathing attack on the Council's "vandalism" of the street, with All Souls bursar Thomas Seaman deriding the Council as being more concerned with bus passengers than they are with the environment or those organisations situated on the High Street. The Warden of All Souls, Dr. John Davis also expressed concern over the pollution control monitor at the front of the college, that he says the Council said was only temporary. Howell's reply cites the improvement in paving and road surfaces, and a claimed de-cluttering of signage as evidence of the Council's commitment to the welfare of the High Street, and cit

Union may cancel Langham talk

Tansey considering calling off event in light of Kidscape's comments.   UPDATE: Talk cancelled

Student hospitalised by ski accident

Isla Kennedy slipped on ice during OTC trip.

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