Special Sub-Topic: The University of Oxford Authored by: mgeigert Sub-topic of: UK Universities

The Arms of the University of Oxford feature which motto?

Dominus Illuminatio Mea. Dominus Illuminatio Mea or 'The Lord is my light' are the opening words of Psalm 27.

What is the name of the first known overseas student at Oxford?

Emo of Friesland. The arrival of Emo of Friesland in 1190 started the University's tradition of international scholarship. Nowadays approximately one quarter of all students at Oxford are from overseas and they come from about 130 countries.

Green College is famous for its Radcliffe Observatory. What two sculptured figures support the globe on the roof of the Observatory?

Atlas and Hercules. Apart from the figures of Atlas and Hercules the Observatory also features the Signs of the Zodiac, the three Morning, Noon and Evening panels with Helios, Nyx and Artemis on them, and the Eight Winds.

Oxford is the oldest University in the English speaking world. True or false?

t. There is no clear date of foundation but teaching existed at Oxford as early as 1096 and developed from 1167 when King Henry II banned English students from studying at the University of Paris.

Up to and including the year 2003, how many British Prime Ministers were educated at Oxford?

25. More than a half of them (13) came from Christ Church college, other colleges that produced PMs are Trinity, Balliol, Brasenose, Hertford, Jesus, St John's, Somerville, and University College.

Speaking of Prime Ministers, Margaret Thatcher studied what subject in her days at Oxford?

Chemistry. Margaret Thatcher is a Somerville college alumni, she studied there 1943-1947. She was the Prime Minister of Britain for 11 years.

The author of 'Bridget Jones's Diary' studied at Oxford. What is her name?

Helen Fielding. Helen Fielding's 'Bridget Jones's Diary' was made into a movie. Bad and charming Daniel Cleaver was played in the movie by Hugh Grant, also an Oxford graduate.

This famous British TV Chef and 'domestic goddess' studied at Oxford in 1979. What is her name?

Nigella Lawson. Nigella Lawson is a popular UK TV Chef and the author of Nigella Bites, Forever Summer and How to be a Domestic Goddess.

What is the full name of All Souls College?

The College of All Souls of the Faithfully Departed. The College of All Souls of the Faithfully Departed is for Fellows only, it does not admit undergraduate members and only a dozen or so of post-graduates.

Among the 39 official Colleges of the University and the six Permanent Private Halls how many admit graduate students only?

7. Green, Linacre, Nuffield, St Antony's, St Cross, and Templeton are graduate colleges. Kellogg College admits only part-time graduate students.

Which was the first women's college founded at Oxford?

Lady Margaret Hall. Lady Margaret Hall and St Anne's were founded in 1878, Somerville in 1879, St Hugh's in 1886, and St Hilda's in 1893. In 1920 women received full membership at the University. Nowadays the only women's only college is St Hilda's.

If you wanted to prepare for Christian ministry, which Oxford college may be a place for you?

Wycliffe Hall. Wycliffe Hall was founded in 1877 for training Christian leaders for the church. It became officially a part of the University in 1996 when it received a status of a permanent private hall.

Which college is owned and run by the Society of Jesus?

Campion Hall. About two thirds of Campion Hall members are Jesuits although members of other religious congregations are also accepted. Majority of the students are seminarians, priests and members of religious orders. Laymen are rarely accepted.

Which former US president opened Rothermere American Institute on 25 May 2001?

Bill Clinton. Rothermere American Institute is an international centre for the study of the United States. This newly built institute hosts the best library of Americana to be found outside the USA.

In 1865, the fourth Earl of Ilchester died, leaving Oxford University a sum for the study of the Polish and other Slavonic languages, literatures and history. How much money did he leave?

1000 pounds. The Ilchester course of lectures on the ethnology was one of the first steps towards the foundation of the Russian and East European Centre at Oxford.

Which of the following centres does the Department of Politics and International Relations not include?

Centre for the Politics of Development. The Department of Politics and International Relations was established in 2000, and is one of the largest teaching and research departments in its field in the UK.

What is the main research library of the University of Oxford?

Bodleian. The Bodleian Library in the University of Oxford is one of the oldest libraries in Europe, and in England is second in size only to the British Library. It was established in 1602 but even then it was founded on the site of an earlier library.

Which of these glasshouses is not part of the University Botanic Gardens?

The Gardenia House. The largest of all glasshouses is the Palm House. One of the 'inhabitants' here is the rosy periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus) that produces two chemicals that help save the lives of children born with leukaemia.

What was the name of John Balliol's wife and the co-founder of Balliol College?

Dervorguilla. Dervorguilla of Galloway was a Scottish princess and the mother of John Balliol, King of Scots (1292-96). She is honoured as a co-founder of Balliol College.

Which Oxford college changed places four times, moving from Manchester to York, from York back to Manchester, from Manchester to London and finally to Oxford?

Harris Manchester College. Harris Manchester College was founded in Manchester as Manchester Academy in 1786 by English Presbyterians to provide higher education for Nonconformists. The college came to Oxford in 1889. Today it is a college for mature undergraduate and postgraduate students.