Oxford Brookes University

Oxford Brookes is a university in Oxfordshire, England. Despite the similarity of names, it is an entirely separate insitution from the better known University of Oxford, with which it shares no relationship.

It has a student body of around 19,000, and, like most of the former polytechnics, it was redesignated as a university in 1992. However it traces its roots much further back, to a 19th century art school. It is named after John Henry Brookes, its head from 1928 to 1956, who was personally responsible for much of its development, and arguably for its very continued existence through the era of his tenure.

Brooke's decision to retain the name "Oxford" while gaining the title of "university" was controversial, as many observers felt that this was a calculated attempt to sow confusion, and allow Oxford Brookes University to be mistaken for Oxford University. Brookes set its university colours as blue, white, and red, closely matching Oxford University's blue and white; Brookes is physically located not in the city of Oxford but in Headington; many Brookes graduates now describe themselves as having "attended university at Oxford" or having studied at "Brookes, Oxford".

Nevertheless, although Brookes's admissions process is significantly less demanding than that of its more famous neighbour, the university is still well-regarded, and has been one of the most successful of all the former polytechnics. It prides itself especially on the quality of its history, modern languages, and economics departments. It has pioneered the use of modular degree courses, allowing exotic combinations such as "Business Statistics and Clinical Aromatherapy" or "Ecology and Telecommunications" to be studied.

It has been named "Best New University" by "The Times Good University Guide" for eight years in a row.

External links

• Oxford Brookes University website
• The Students' Union Website