Thursday 1st January 2026

News

£17,000 on grass, redacted files, and 250,000 parcels: Cherwell’s 2025 FOI review

As the Cherwell Investigations team, we take our job very seriously. A big part of what we do is Freedom of Information (FOI) requests – which allow us to...

Vice-Chancellor’s pay package rises to £666,000, among highest paid in Russell Group

The University of Oxford’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Irene Tracey, received a total pay package of...

Oxford Town Hall flies Palestine flag for Ramallah Mayor visit

Oxford City Council flew the flag of Palestine from the Town Hall last week...

Worcester College Provost made Labour peer in the House of Lords

Worcester College Provost David Isaac has been appointed to the House of Lords as...

Oxfordshire County’s funding gap grows from £9.1 million to £11.2 million

Following the central government’s annual allocation of funding to local councils, Oxfordshire’s projected £9.1 million budget shortfall has grown to £11.2 million for the 2024/25 financial year after the county did not receive as much grant support funding as expected.

Oxford researchers unearth evolutionary origins of multiple sclerosis in ancient DNA

An Oxford team led the research, published in Nature on January 10, that uncovered the origins of multiple sclerosis (MS).

Oxford University receives millions of pounds from arms companies

An openDemocracy investigation has found that over the past five years, UK universities received over £100 million in donations, funding, and sponsorships from arms companies. According to the investigation, Oxford University has taken approximately £17 million, with the lion’s share of this money from Rolls Royce. 

Green Templeton College demolition plans draw criticism

At a meeting of Oxford City Council’s Planning Committee on Tuesday 23 January, Green Templeton College was granted approval to demolish its Richard Doll building in order to build new and environmentally friendly student accommodation for 51 graduate students. This approval was granted despite objections from the Oxford Architectural and History Society and the Thames Valley Police.

Oxford Union believes money can buy you happiness

At Saturday night’s intervarsity debate against the Cambridge Union, members voted in favour of the motion “This House believes money can buy you happiness.”

Oxford cocaine research reveals neuron activity behind heightened memories

A combined research effort from Oxford University’s Medical Research Council Brain Network Dynamics Unit and the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences has used cocaine to uncover a specific pattern of nerve cell activity that leads to the production of insistent memories.

University severs ties with TCS following admissions test debacle

Due to issues in test administration during last year’s admission cycle, Oxford University has decided to sever ties with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)

74% of students think Oxford University is not inclusive: EDI at Oxford

A survey conducted by Cherwell has revealed that 74% of students think Oxford University is not inclusive

Oxford researchers unveil Neptune’s true colour

A team led by Professor Patrick Irwin of Oxford University’s Department of Physics found that Neptune and Uranus are both pale blue-green, not deep navy blue as is commonly believed. The main purpose of their study, published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, was to explain why Uranus’s colour changes throughout its year.

Oxford hospitals declare increased pressure amidst strikes

Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital has announced increased levels of pressure in the midst of junior doctor strikes lasting six days. An Operational Pressure Escalation Level (OPEL) 4 has been declared, the highest level on the framework, signalling an increased risk of compromised patient care and safety. 

Short-term contracts put Oxford University staff at risk of poverty

An employment tribunal will be convened in Reading this January to look into problems associated with short-term and casual employment contracts at Oxford University, identified by the UCU (University and College Union) as significant causes of poverty.

Students in four-star hotels following accommodation construction delays

More than 120 students from two Oxford colleges are being housed in four-star hotels following delays in student accommodation construction.  For over two months, around...

Protesters block Barclays entrance in pro-Palestine demonstration

Around a hundred protestors blocked the entrance to Barclays on Cornmarket Street in a demonstration organised by Oxford Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) in support of the boycott, divest, sanctions (BDS) movement currently targeting the bank.

Oxford Union believes the UK is failing immigrants

On Thursday night, the Oxford Union voted in favour of the motion “This House Believes the UK is Failing Immigrants.” The final count had 224 members voting for the motion and 46 members voting against. 

Oxford launches new Vice-Chancellor’s Colloquium programme

Oxford’s Department for Continuing Education launched a new interdisciplinary extra-curricular programme, “The Vice-Chancellor’s Colloquium,” this term. The programme was first announced at Vice-Chancellor Irene Tracey’s 2023 Oration speech last October, and aims to bridge the gaps between humanities and STEM subjects through “an experiment in helping students learn from each other across the divide.”

Oxford releases new guidance on AI use for students

The University of Oxford has released new guidance on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools for students. The guidance, published 8 January 2024, comes following significant interest in the promises and dangers of AI, including the 2021 launch of the Oxford Institute for Ethics in AI and the continued advertisement of the Saïd Business School’s Oxford Artificial Intelligence Programme.

The winter of of our discontent: Heating in Oxford’s student accommodation

Winter in Oxford is decidedly cold. Starting in October, temperatures drop from over 20 degrees Celsius to freezing, sometimes overnight. While many student rooms...

South Park to be restored following Bonfire Night damage

The Oxford City Council has pledged to restore the city’s South Park “as soon as the growing season permits.” The beloved park sustained significant damage to its grounds during its Bonfire Night fireworks display on November 5 last year.

Oxford Vice-Chancellors’ compensation passed £1 million last year

Oxford University and College Union (UCU) Committee told Cherwell: “Whilst Oxford University’s Vice Chancellors continue to receive six-figure salaries, the pay and conditions of many staff who work to make this University a world-leading educational institution continue to deteriorate.”

Exclusive: Dominic Cummings, Lil Pump, and Gabbie Hanna to speak at Oxford Union

Cherwell has gained exclusive access to the Oxford Union’s Hilary term card. The line-up of speakers set to address the Union includes British political...

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