There are often misunderstandings about student numbers in our area, so I am posting up the latest Oxford Brookes University submission to Oxford City Council for student numbers in 2009-10.  These are figures produced for HESA, and HESA’s definition of a full-time student is one who studies for a minimum of 24 weeks.

Total full-time numbers: 13,086 (including franchises taught elsewhere, Swindon Campus and students out on placement or sandwich years)

Total no. students studying on campuses in and around Oxford, including Wheatley and Harcourt Hill, Botley: 12,077

On 1 November 2009 there were 12,232 students studying full-time and this figure includes those on short courses at these main campuses. The figures provided to the Council re accommodation are for students living in the community including all students who are full-time at that point;  this is why Brookes numbers are higher than the HESA stats. A breakdown of this accommodation data  revealed:

Hall places provided by the University: 3390 (actual occupancy 3269)

Halls places provided in conjunction with A2 Dominion at Sinnet Court and Windmill Road:  249 (actual occupancy 247)

Analysis of postcodes showed that of the remaining full-time students, 3309 were living away from home in Oxford City. Of these 416 were in University-managed houses or headlease properties, which are maintained at a higher standard than many other private rented properties

Note Halls places can be allocated to short-term students, e.g. those on English language courses, provided they are full-time. However these places are then re-allocated to other short-term students to achieve optimum occupancy throughout the academic year. So it’s not true to assume that a short-term student pushes a full-year student into private rented accommodation

Any queries to Ruth and David please