With its medieval colleges, stunning nature reserves and unbeatable cultural activities, living in Oxford will be one of the highlights of your year on the Master of Public Policy (MPP). This short guide will give you an idea of the things you can look forward to when you spend a year studying in Oxford.

Although the MPP is an intense course, you won’t miss out on all the exciting activities Oxford has to offer. 

Oxford is a vibrant city filled with knowledge and opportunities to explore new hobbies and interests. Through the Oxford University Students Union you will have access to over 400 clubs and societies. Whether you’re interested in taking up a new sport, joining an activist group or learning how to bake, there is something there for everyone.

If it’s art and culture you’re interested in, Oxford’s museums, galleries and theatres are unbeatable. Discover earth, science and nature at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History and explore the archaeological treasures of the Pitt Rivers Museum. The Ashmolean Museum’s collections range from ancient Egyptian mummies to exhibitions of contemporary art. Don’t miss visiting Modern Art Oxford, which holds a range of temporary exhibitions every year along with interactive creative workshops.

Many of our students choose to join the Oxford Union, the University’s historic debating society. If you want to finesse your reasoning and debating skills, you can join their main debates every Thursday evening during term time. The Oxford Union is also famous for hosting closed-door speeches and debates by some of the world’s most prolific figures – from political leaders, to celebrated musicians, literary greats and spiritual leaders. 

Oxford is also home to many beautiful parks and nature reserves. Port Meadow is a short walk from the Blavatnik School of Government and is one of the largest open spaces in the city. Closer to the centre you can stroll through University Parks, or further east you can visit South Park or wander through the woods in The Kidneys. Find out more about the city’s open spaces on the Oxford City Council website.
 

There’s so much to see and do across the city and the UK. Luckily Oxford is compact and you can easily cover the city centre on foot or by bicycle. It also has great transport links for reaching the rest of the country. For various maps of the city, visit the University’s website.

Cycling

Cycling is a popular way of getting around. If you want to buy or hire a bike, there are plenty of shops selling or renting new and second-hand bikes. 

Buses 

Buses are another good way of getting about and information about local bus
companies and timetables can be found on the Oxford Bus website. You can buy tickets on
board but if you plan to use buses frequently you will save money by buying a smartcard called ‘the key’.

Train

Oxford’s train station is located on Park End Street to the west of the city. You can buy tickets at the station or online in advance on trainline.com. Rail travel can be expensive but it can be much cheaper if you book at least three weeks in advance. A Young Person’s Railcard will also give you a third off your fare. This card is available to anyone who is under 30 or who is a full-time student and gives you 1/3 off most railway journeys throughout the UK.

Coach

Coach travel is another good way to travel the UK and is often cheaper than rail travel. Direct coach services between Oxford and London include the Oxford Tube. National Express coaches travel to locations throughout the UK.

Exploring further afield

Eurostar is a high-speed train between London, Brussels, Amsterdam and Paris. For inexpensive flying options in and out of the UK see Ryanair or EasyJet. Remember that you will need a passport and your UK visa to travel. You may also need to apply for additional visas to travel to other countries.