The University of Oxford Revenue Statistics

The University of Oxford Revenue Statistics

This report examines The University of Oxford’s revenue, expenditure and gains/losses. Although revenues at Oxford have been rising, so too have the costs associated with its operations and staffing. 

  • As of the 2021/22 academic year, The University of Oxford generated £2.78 billion in revenue.
  • This made up 5.93% of university and higher education revenues in the UK as a whole.
  • Total revenue at The University of Oxford has increased by 13.30% since the £2.45 billion generated in 2020/21.
  • £0.74 billion was generated through publishing services (26.62% of the total revenue).
  • £0.71 billion was generated through research grants and contracts (25.54% of the total revenue).
  • In total, The University of Oxford had expenses of £2.90 billion.
  • This made up 5.70% of university and higher education expenses in the UK as a whole.
  • £1.54 billion was spent on total staff costs (53.10% of the overall spend).
  • £1.20 billion was spent on operating expenditure (41.38% of the overall spend).
  • From the given data, The University of Oxford suffered a net operating asset loss of £0.12 billion for the year.

Total University of Oxford revenue

The University of Oxford generates most of its revenue through its publishing services. However, tuition fees, grants, and contracts are also large contributors to overall revenue.

  • As of the 2021/22 academic year, The University of Oxford generated £2.78 billion in revenue.
  • Total revenue has increased by 13.30% since the £2.45 billion generated in 2020/21.
  • £0.74 billion was generated through publishing services.
  • Publishing services made up 26.62% of the total revenue.
  • £0.71 billion was generated through research grants and contracts.
  • Research grants and contracts made up 25.54% of the total revenue.
  • £0.47 billion was generated through tuition fees and education contracts.
  • Tuition fees and education contracts made up 16.91% of the total revenue.
Revenue type2017/182018/192019/202020/212021/22Change vs 2020/21
Publishing services£0.80 billion£0.81 billion£0.75 billion£0.69 billion£0.74 billion+7.03%
Research grants and contracts£0.58 billion£0.62 billion£0.63 billion£0.67 billion£0.71 billion+6.93%
Tuition fees and education contracts£0.33 billion£0.35 billion£0.39 billion£0.43 billion£0.47 billion+9.19%
Funding body grants£0.19 billion£0.19 billion£0.21 billion£0.21 billion£0.21 billion-1.20%
Investment income£0.02 billion£0.10 billion£0.11 billion£0.11 billion£0.13 billion+16.58%
Donations and endowments£0.09 billion£0.11 billion£0.16 billion£0.10 billion£0.11 billion+2.60%
Other income£0.23 billion£0.25 billion£0.27 billion£0.24 billion£0.41 billion+72.66%
Total£2.24 billion£2.45 billion£2.54 billion£2.45 billion£2.78 billion+13.30%

A graph is given below to show The University of Oxford’s revenue by year:

Total University of Oxford expenditure

As with UK universities and higher education as a whole, 2018/19 and 2021/22 saw great increases in the cost of staff for The University of Oxford, significantly impacting overall expenses.

  • As of the 2021/22 academic year, The University of Oxford had expenses of £2.90 billion.
  • Total expenses have increased by 24.22% since the £2.33 billion spent in 2020/21.
  • £1.54 billion was spent on total staff costs.
  • Total staff costs amounted to 53.10% of the overall spend.
  • £1.20 billion was spent on operating expenditure.
  • Operating expenditure amounted to 41.38% of the overall spend.
Expense type2017/182018/192019/202020/212021/22Change vs 2020/21
Total staff costs£0.98 billion£1.34 billion£0.89 billion£1.09 billion£1.54 billion+41.07%
Operating expenditure£1.02 billion£1.07 billion£1.10 billion£1.09 billion£1.20 billion+10.44%
Depreciation/amortisation£0.15 billion£0.15 billion£0.11 billion£0.12 billion£0.12 billion+3.31%
Interest and finance costs£0.03 billion£0.03 billion£0.04 billion£0.04 billion£0.04 billion+0.81%
Total£2.18 billion£2.58 billion£2.15 billion£2.33 billion£2.90 billion+24.22%

A graph is given below to show The University of Oxford’s expenditure by year:

Total University of Oxford net operating assets

  • As of the 2021/22 academic year, The University of Oxford suffered a net operating asset loss of £0.12 billion.
  • Increases in staff costs contributed greatly to annual losses during the academic years of 2018/19 and 2021/22.
  • Highest net operating asset increases were made during the 2019/20 academic year (£0.39 billion).
  • The University of Oxford averaged annual net operating asset increases of £0.06 billion during the period.
Academic yearTotal net operating assets
2017/18+ £0.06 billion
2018/19– £0.13 billion
2019/20+ £0.39 billion
2020/21+ £0.12 billion
2021/22– £0.12 billion
(from given revenue and expenditure only)

A graph is given below to show The University of Oxford’s net operating assets by year:

Oxford University revenue FAQ

Which Oxford college is the richest?

  • Recent data shows that Magdalen College has the highest-valued total assets of all Oxford colleges.
  • However, recent data shows that Christ Church has the highest valued financial endowment of Oxford colleges.

Who funds Oxford university?

  • Funds for The University of Oxford predominantly come from:
    • Publishing services.
    • Research grants and contracts.
    • Tuition fees and education contracts.

Is Oxford University government funded?

  • Oxford University receives an amount of public funding from the government, making it a public institution.
  • However, the university is entirely self-governing which is commonly associated with private institutions.
  • By rejecting public funding, Oxford University would be considered a private institution.