Tuesday 7th July 2026
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Oxford ranked world’s best university for third year running

Greg Ritchie
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Oxford ranked world’s best university for third year running

Oxford has been crowned the world’s best university for the third successive year, according to the latest Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

The University beat second-placed Cambridge to the title, ensuring that Oxford remains the only UK University ever to top the international rankings.

The new league table for 2019 was unveiled at the World Academic Summit in Singapore this afternoon, with Oxford first among the 1258 universities assessed worldwide.

Vice Chancellor of Oxford University, Louise Richardson, said: “We’re deeply gratified by this result but also delighted to see how strongly British and other European universities have performed.

“As we in the UK face the great unknown that is Brexit we look forward to ever deeper cooperation with colleagues abroad. It has never been more important that we engage internationally in furtherance of the themes of this year’s World Academic Summit in Singapore – advancing knowledge, driving the economy, and recognising the transformative power of academic research.”

Chief Knowledge Officer at Times Higher Education, Phil Baty, said: “Oxford has once again been confirmed as the world’s number one university – the third consecutive year in the top position.

“You cannot lead the World University Rankings without an outstanding performance right across our full range of performance indicators, covering teaching excellence, research power and impact, industry relations and international outlook.

“Oxford stands out across the board, but what sets it apart from the top-ranked schools below it, primarily from the US, is its exceptionally international focus. Oxford thrives, not just due to strong levels of research funding, and a remarkably intimate teaching environment, but primarily due to the talent on its campus – and there’s no doubt Oxford is a magnet for talent globally, attracting the brightest and the best students and faculty from all over the world.”

The full rankings can be found here.

Exclusive: Union open period events announced

Cherwell News
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Exclusive: Union open period events announced

Tony Abbott, Sir Paul Smith, and Jo Malone will join Jude Law and Jeremy Gilley at the Oxford Union during its annual Open Period, Cherwell can exclusively report.

Heads of state and diplomats feature heavily in the first few weeks, including the Iranian Ambassador to the UK and the former President of Botswana, Ian Khama. Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe, will explore the geopolitical future of the Indian Ocean.

Meanwhile, former Australian Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, will deliver a talk entitled “Brexit – be happy!”, while former President of Finland, Tara Halonen, will discuss sustainable development.

Two debates will take place, notably the perennial ‘No Confidence’ debate including Universities Minister Sam Gyimah MP, Conservative Chairman Brandon Lewis, and Shadow Defence Secretary, Nia Griffiths MP, for the Opposition. There will be ten individual speaker appearances.

Two special events will take place during the period. Firstly, on 10th October. RT (formerly Russia Today) UK editor Nikolay Bogachikhin will be giving a presentation followed by a Q&A accompanied by Deputy Editor in Chief, Anna Belkina.

In addition, a special ‘Head to Head’ event will take place on 17th October, which will see EU Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis, who is responsibile for the euro and fiscal union, arguing that ‘The Euro is Stronger than it has ever Been’, a day before a crucial meeting of the European Council.

With a new prominence of titled talks across Michaelmas, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev will also be lecturing on ‘The Security Challenges Facing Europe.”

Leaving current affairs behind for the metaphysical, the final debate of the Open Period, “This House Believes that Science Alone Cannot Answer our Deepest Questions” will bring together philosophers, such as Oxford’s own Prof Richard Swinburne, and scientists including American cosmologist Frank Tipler.

Any student with a Bod or Brookes card will be able to attend any of these events prior to the 18th October without Union membership. Those interested in becoming members will be able to at a reduced price during the Open Period.

OURFC’s Major Stanley’s match to undergo significant change

Joe Sibley
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OURFC’s Major Stanley’s match to undergo significant change

The annual Major Stanley’s match between Oxford’s Blues and an invitational XV is set to undergo significant changes as Oxford’s opponents will, for the first time, cease to be Major R.V. Stanley’s XV.

The change will see the Men’s Blues take on Cardiff RFC instead, a team currently sitting in 11th place in the Welsh Rugby Union Principality Premiership.

With a history thought to date back to 1894, Stanley’s match, named after the Oxford local who first raised the side to take on Oxford University’s team, has seen an illustrious array of international players facing up against the Blues.

Oxford have recently dominated the matches however, scoring at least 39 points in each of the last three fixtures, raising questions as to the quality of the invitational side and the importance of the annual fixture.

Tim Stephens, OURFC’s general manager, explained the reasoning behind the change, telling Cherwell: “Since the game went professional in 1995, year on year it has proved increasingly difficult to pull together an invitational side worthy of representing the Major Stanley’s XV, with Directors of Rugby and Head Coaches reluctant to release their players for what they perceive to be a non-important fixture, a change was needed.”

“We hope that by making this tweak of creating a national themed event, this year obviously being Welsh, we can help to market the event more effectively and regenerate attendance.

“Fortunately, to help us with the Welsh theme this year, the Women’s Blues will play Cardiff Metropolitan University after the Major Stanley’s Match, also at Iffley Road, and the Oxfordshire Welsh Male Voice Choir will be in attendance too. Assuming that this year’s event proves a success, we will look at ‘theming’ next year’s and subsequent year’s events.”

Imperial grads earn a fifth more than those from Oxbridge

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Imperial grads earn a fifth more than those from Oxbridge

Graduates from both Imperial and King’s College London earn more on average a year after graduating than students from Oxford, a new study has shown.

According to the job website Adzuna, Imperial College graduates have the highest earning potential a year after completing their degree out of all UK universities, with an average salary of £37,931.

At £32,374, Oxford ranked third for earning potential, beating Cambridge, who ranked at fifth, by nearly £1,000.

UCL was ranked fourth, while Edinburgh, LSE, Exeter, York and Bristol all came in the top 10, based on an analysis of 155,000 graduate CVs.

A spokesperson for Oxford university told Cherwell: “Oxford does not believe in giving undue weight to any one measure or table of graduate employment outcomes, and is confident that an Oxford education is an excellent preparation for a wide range of careers.”

“Oxford graduates go on to have excellent career outcomes, which is reflected in feedback from employers about the quality of Oxford students and the rates at which they enter graduate-level jobs.”

A current Imperial college student told Cherwell: “Imperial College has created an environment that allows graduates to reach higher heights than those from Oxbridge and other London universities, especially when it comes to graduate salaries. 

“Hopefully aspiring students will no longer be drawn to Oxbridge for its waning historic greatness, rather opting for opportunity and diversity in the nation’s capital.”

From Young Versace to French Vogue: the meteoric rise of Kaia Gerber

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From Young Versace to French Vogue: the meteoric rise of Kaia Gerber

At just 17 years old, Kaia Gerber is one of the youngest models ever to grace the cover of Vogue Paris – and yet her October 2018 shoot is far from her debut for the illustrious institution. She first appeared alongside supermodel mother Cindy Crawford (one of the 1990s’ revered ‘Big Five’) for the April 2016 edition, at the delicate age of just 14 years old; so how did such a young starlet secure her place as fashion’s latest it-girl?

The second child of nightlife mogul Rande Gerber and model royalty Cindy Crawford, Kaia Gerber quickly joined the ranks of Georgia May Jagger, Iris Law, and Lily Rose Depp as the new generation of models inherently destined for glory. The brunette beauty landed her first job at the age of ten years old, posing in the first ad campaign for Young Versace, the kids line dreamed up by Italian designer Donatella Versace. Whilst paparazzi photos captured Gerber as the fresh-faced, playful child that she was in everyday life, the cameras of Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott transformed her into a self-assured, charming young muse.

Fast-forward a few years to 2015, and a 13 year-old Gerber gazes demurely out of a teen Vogue cover, framed by a flowing mane of soft brown hair. The likeness between her and her mother is unmistakable; Kaia’s enchanting stare and delicate features are unquestionably reminiscent of the endless magazine covers and ad campaigns that made Crawford a household name. You’d be forgiven for imagining Gerber as a conceited, narcissistic child; the accompanying interview, however, paints a picture of a warm, bubbly teenager, with interests ranging from creative writing to acting, literature to hip-hop dancing.

It was not until 2017, however, that Gerber truly started her journey towards catwalk domination, as she made her runway debut for Raf Simons’ inaugural Fall collection for Calvin Klein. The collection drew inspiration from classic office-wear pieces, and the refined, chic designs perfectly suited Gerber’s elegant frame. Having made her mark on the world stage, she was quickly snapped up by some of the most renowned global fashion houses, and booked labels from Chanel, to Prada, to Alexander Wang for Spring 2018 Fashion Week.

With three Vogue Paris covers under her belt, a campaign for Marc Jacobs’ quintessential Daisy fragrance, and an ever-expanding catalogue of runway triumphs, it’s hard to imagine how Gerber can continue to surpass her own accomplishments. Most recently, she has tried her hand on the other side of the design process, releasing a capsule collection with Chanel veteran Karl Lagerfeld, christened Karl Lagerfeld x Kaia. The line sees Gerber bring a fresh, sporty style to Lagerfeld’s more classic, Parisian aesthetic – following hot on the heels of Tommy Hilfiger’s innovative collaboration with fellow model Gigi Hadid.

A CV full of accolades of such magnitude at such a young age is certainly an impressive feat, however; Gerber’s success is also undeniably symptomatic of one of the main issues with today’s modeling industry; namely, the growing preference for ‘celebrity’ models whose names are as lucrative as their talents. Just a couple of months ago, reality star-turned-supermodel Kendall Jenner, who recently surpassed Gisele Bündchen as the world’s highest-paid model, was widely criticised for an interview where she appeared to mock the intense and difficult work load of being a full-time model, undertaken by her peers. Many saw the remark as indicative of Jenner’s celebrity privilege, being able to pick and choose the jobs that best boost her image, as opposed to having to truly work hard to be noticed within the industry.

In a similar way, Gerber undoubtedly benefits from the high profile of her parents – after all, how many 10-year olds can you name who made their modeling debut for one of the world’s most famous fashion houses? Yet with tabloid features portraying an overworked, tired-looking Kaia following her New York Fashion Week debut last September, she is certainly not one to rest on her laurels and sets herself apart from the Jenners of the industry by taking a serious, committed approach to her work. Whether or not you agree with the opportunities that Gerber has had access to, it is an aspect of the industry that is seemingly unavoidable in such a social media and fame-obsessed era. It is the responsibility of both agencies and labels to continue to work towards a more diverse and equitable casting process for models, and to take a severe approach to attitudes of complacency or egotism.

Meanwhile, if her mother’s enduring legacy is anything to go by, it seems the fashion world has barely scratched the surface of Gerber’s potential as a model – and having been branded ‘the new Kate Moss’ following her Calvin Klein Jeans ad, the young star looks set to command catwalks and campaigns alike for many years to come.

Oxford launches new social enterprise support scheme

Angus Brown
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Oxford launches new social enterprise support scheme

Oxford University has launched a new social enterprise support scheme in order to enable academics the opportunity to create new “spinout companies” based on their research.

Previously Oxford University Innovation (OUI) has primarily supported the development of start-up companies (founded by students but incubated in the university) and spinout companies (those seeking to generate profit from new technologies developed by faculty members).

This new project aims to allow staff in the humanities and social sciences, who the university have described as being “often underrepresented in university innovation”, the opportunity to translate their ideas into new companies focused on social impact.

To support this, OUI has launched a new fund, named SE2020, which has been given £550,000 to support the development of new social and environmental ideas seeking to have a positive real-world impact. It aims to add another 10 spinout companies a year to Oxford’s already substantial share of the academic spinout market.

Unlike regular start-up and spinout companies, these social enterprises would seek to create companies placing societal or environmental missions at the heart of the business rather than profit.

Dr Mark Mann, the Innovation Lead for Humanities and Social Sciences at Oxford University Innovation said “Colleagues at the University want to get as many of these great ideas deployed as widely as possible. To do that, you need a broad range of methods to maximise an idea’s impact.”

“With our new social enterprise service, we can now get far more of the great ideas generated in Oxford deployed across the world and improving people’s lives”.

Professor Chas Bountra, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Innovation at the university, added that “In 2016, this University created an unprecedented number of new spinouts, more than any other university in the UK” and said that he “anticpates the… number will double in the coming years”.

History theses will be examined by supervisors in new trial

Libby Cherry
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History theses will be examined by supervisors in new trial

Beginning this term, the Oxford History Faculty will be trialling a new method of marking of undergraduate theses which will see thesis supervisors being included as one of the two examiners in most cases.

Formerly, supervisors were able to estimate the mark of a student’s 12,000-word essay but would have no say in the final result.

Bridge essays and interdisciplinary theses within joint schools will be excluded from the preliminary trial to allow joint schools’ committees have an opportunity to appraise the proposal.

A spokesperson for the History Faculty told Cherwell the changes were to “ensure marking is conducted by academics most appropriately qualified in the specialist areas addressed by undergraduate theses.”

They added: “The change has been brought in after a positive consultation with students and Faculty academics. The system is common in other UK universities, none of whom reported any problems or concerns when contacted by the Faculty.”

The trial will initially run for two years to allow the Faculty to assess its impact.

In light of the changes, one History graduate told Cherwell: “This seems sensible and, I think, reflects well on the Faculty that they are acting on such concerns, but of course will happen too late for me and my cohort.”

The student had “finals’ consternation” as a result of his thesis paper, for which he had a supervisor from outside of college.

“I received a much lower mark than myself and my supervisor anticipated, leading me to miss my conditions for an MSt place. It was obviously a very frustrating time, and did seem quite unfair.”

He stressed that he did not feel his teaching had anything to do with his lower than expected mark.

He added: “Responsibility for disparity in thesis marks and expectations should probably be located in the relationship between supervisors and the faculty, particularly in the understanding of what makes a good thesis.”

President of the Oxford University History Society, Piers Armitage, told Cherwell: “It sounds like a sensible change.”

Theses will continue to be double-blind marked, and the Finals Board will use a number of strategies to ensure the views of one examiner do not overly influence the final mark.

Magdalen imposes new alcohol restrictions

Angus Brown
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Magdalen imposes new alcohol restrictions

Magdalen College have introduced new restrictions on alcohol purchases by the JCR, which will mean all alcohol purchases will require the pre-authorisation of the College.

In the new Magdalen JCR budget for 2018/19, the Entz budget has been reduced to £2000 in order to accommodate this new rules change. All alcohol purchases must now be made through the Treasurer with the permission of the College.

These rule changes will bring Magdalen into line with other colleges’ alcohol policies.

When contacted for comment, Toby Morrison, Magdalen JCR’s Treasurer, told Cherwell that the JCR has no official comment on the subject until a meeting of the JCR’s executive can be convened to discuss it.

However, the Magdalen JCR Entz team told Cherwell: “This decision was made without our knowledge or input, and was apparently taken for reasons to do with the use of college funds.”

Issues had been previously raised with alcohol at Magdalen bops after an incident last term.  Though the Entz team described this as “a bit of tomfoolery” in a “light-hearted” bop email, they did subsequently propose and implement a ban on guests from other colleges at Magdalen bops.

In addition to the cuts to the Entz’s teams expenditure, the new budget contains money allocated for a Trans Rep and an OKB Rep alongside substantial increases to the welfare and art budgets.

This article was updated to reflect the fact that the Magdalen JCR Entz team themselves implemented a ban on guests from other colleges at bops.

Graduations delayed as women told to cover up

Eve Webster
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Graduations delayed as women told to cover up

Students have been warned that a failure to follow official sub fusc regulation could lead to “serious inconveniences” and delays.

The reminder comes after some attempted to graduate with what University Proctors considered excessive “flesh” on show, among other infringements on the University’s graduation dress-code.

The email sent to students cited a number of infractions including bare legs or no socks or tights, non-dark footwear, and coloured clothing. 

At this year’s ceremony, some women wearing high-heeled shoes without socks were barred entry to the ceremony until they covered up.

French graduate Eleanor Broome’s ceremony was delayed by fifteen minutes as she “had to run, in full sub fusc and gown, through the crowded streets round the Sheldonian in a desperate search for black socks.”

After eventually finding a pair of tights to wear under her trousers, she was allowed entry to her graduation. 

She told the Telegraph that she thought the regulations to be “so outdated” for not considering women wearing trousers and heels.

She said: “It was a boiling hot July, I didn’t want to wear covered lace up shoes and black socks.

“I did really love my degree and I loved my time at Oxford, but what should have been the happiest day of my life turned into the angriest day of my life.”

On her Facebook page she shared what she called a “provocative photo of my exposed ankles.”

She told Cherwell: “It’s mad [the university] takes it so seriously and won’t allow people to do exams or graduate.”

She added that she has never seen a male student be “told off”.

She also referred to an incident in her Finals during which a female student was threatened with being barred from re-entering the exam room after leaving to go to the toilets without her gown.

Broome told Cherwell: “When we were doing finals, one girl came in, sat down, took off her gown, got up to go to the loo and then when she came back, the exam invigilator said, ‘By rights I don’t have to allow you back in because you are not wearing your gown.'”

In response to her own situation, Broome thanked her friend for who “literally risked not graduating because she wanted to make sure I found some socks” and her mother for “putting up with me in spite of my ankle exposing tendencies.”

Rebecca Morton also had difficulty attending her graduation ceremony as she too was “showing flesh”, according to University officials.

She told the Telegraph that she also saw sexism in the University’s dress code regulations saying they are “designed for a default male student.”

“It is one of the many ways in which the University continues to adhere to a set of archaic regulations that are coded for men.”

In response to these complaints, a spokesperson for the University said: “The note went out to College Deans of Degrees at the start of summer as a reminder of the dress code for degree ceremonies.

“The note was intended to avoid delays to ceremonies, as a courtesy to everyone attending. 

“We are not aware of any significant delays as a result this year.”

Keble students stranded after accommodation cock-up

Fred Dimbleby
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Keble students stranded after accommodation cock-up

Keble College have told second and third year students to “postpone their arrival in Oxford” after a newly built graduate centre was not able to open to students.

The college planned to house 120 graduate students in the newly built multi-million pound H B Allen centre, but have been forced to place them in temporary accommodation because necessary fire safety checks on the building could not be carried out in time.

In an email, seen by Cherwell, the college Warden Jonathan Phillips said that some of the graduates would need to be housed in undergraduate college accommodation, pushing second and third years out of their assigned rooms.

Phillips added: “We have managed to book some hotel accommodation, but this is the busiest week of the year and there are hardly any rooms available.”

The Warden apologised for the failure, which will force second and third year students having to change their travel plans.

He said that students with “a compelling reason” would be able to move in on the previously planned date, but added that “we cannot accept as a compelling reason the fact that the only time you can be brought to College is at the weekend.”

A third year historian at Keble who will be affected by the changes told Cherwell: “Following on from the mind-numbingly stupid decision to renovate Hall during term-time and not the vac, Keble’s latest construction-related announcement adds further to student’s woes.

“Weeks of carefully planned collections revision is now in flux and most importantly, Fresher’s Week, the pinnacle of any second year’s university career, has been totally and spectacularly ruined.”

Students who have been forced to change their move-in date, from the 30th September to the 4th October, will have the four days rent deducted from their termly bill.

Keble College were contacted for comment.

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