Dear Vice-Chancellor,

 

We write to you as concerned members of the Oxford community, urging action to address inter-college disparities. This long-standing issue leads to materially and meaningfully different experiences for students and staff, compromising the University’s commitment to equality.

 

The College Disparities Report underscores the severity of these inequalities: 

• Stark Inequality: The wealthiest college has 44 times more assets per student than the poorest.

• The Situation Is Worsening: Christ Church's endowment grew by £167 million in the last four years, more than the combined growth of the poorest ten colleges.

• Wealth Affects Outcomes: Wealthier colleges provide up to seven times more financial support per student and wealth correlates with academic performance.

• Student And Staff Disparities: Depending on the college, students pay up to £4400 more annually in rent, and staff receive £10,000 more in compensation benefits. 

• The College Lottery: 33% of students end up in colleges they did not choose, leaving the provision they receive up to chance. 

 

Both you and Chancellor Lord Patten have recognised this issue:

• Lord Patten (Chancellor of Oxford University): “Partly a result of history and luck, is the wide divergence in the funding of individual colleges from their own resources. These differences across the University can lead to what many believe is sometimes an unequal student experience across the same university.”

• Irene Tracey  (Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University): “We do have some unevenness between departments and colleges. The same might be said for the experience of our academics.”

 

Therefore, we ask the University and Oxford colleges to implement the following solutions:

1. Establish a College Disparities Committee: Form a committee with student representatives to examine, measure, and monitor college disparities.

2. Revise the Access and Participation Plan: Incorporate strategies to reduce college disparities in the 2026/27 APP.

3. Create an ‘Endowment Fund’: Establish an endowment fund that provides reliable funding to the poorest colleges to spend directly on student and staff provision.

 

We believe Oxford’s collegiate system enriches student life and academic engagement. We also appreciate the University’s efforts to improve access for underprivileged communities. However, persistent college disparities threaten to undermine both of these benefits. 

 

We urge the University to act swiftly and decisively to address these disparities. By implementing these solutions, we can ensure that all members of the Oxford community have the same opportunities to thrive, regardless of their college affiliation. 

 

Sincerely,