Inside Oxford

Step inside Oxford – the world’s most famous university – in this witty, insider’s guide that uncovers its history, quirks, and everyday life through personal stories, research, and voices from students past and present.

Oliver Carter has seen Oxford from all angles: once a nervous applicant, now a seasoned insider. Joining him is Dr X, an anonymised Oxford academic who has witnessed the inner workings of the university for nearly two decades. Between them, they chart the full arc of Oxford life. And while much of Oxford’s magic is technically public knowledge, the truth is that the university likes to keep a few secrets to itself. This book is here to share them – the fascinating, the funny, and the downright peculiar.

Born from the success of Oliver’s Oxford, followed by millions online, this is a celebration of the university’s brilliance and its oddities in equal measure. Some readers will recognise their own experiences, others will peek behind the curtain for the first time, and all will find something to love in this affectionate portrait of an extraordinary place.

From impossible deadlines to midnight balls, ancient traditions to legendary student tales – welcome to the real Oxford, unlike anywhere else on earth.