2020 marks the 100 year anniversary of the first women being admitted to the University of Oxford. To celebrate, we’re taking a look at the role of women in Oxford history and how history has been shaped by the women who have studied and lived in Oxford’s prestigious colleges.

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Despite the university welcoming women as students in 1920, Oxford colleges Lady Margaret Hall and Somerville College were the first women’s colleges to open in Oxford, in 1879. It is impossible to mention women in Oxford history without mentioning the women of Lady Margaret Hall and Somerville College.

In June 1878, the Association for the Higher Education of Women was founded, with its goal being the creation of a college for women in Oxford. The group was undecided between whether or not the institution to be founded should be specifically Anglican. The group split, with Lady Margaret Hall being originally founded as an Anglican institution, and Somerville College being founded as a college “in which no distinction will be made between students on the ground of their belonging to different religious denominations.”

Women's History at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford

Lady Margaret Hall is the oldest women’s college at Oxford, founded in 1878 and opening to its first 9 female students the following year. It was founded by Edward Stuart Talbot, then the warden of Oxford's Keble College, and his wife, Lavinia Talbot. Lady Margaret Hall was named after Lady Margaret Beaufort, patron of scholarship and learning and mother of King Henry VII. The first principal of the original 9 students was Elizabeth Wordsworth, great-niece of the poet William Wordsworth. The college remained a women’s college for 100 years, first admitting men in 1979.

Notable alumnae of Lady Margaret Hall include;

• Benazir Bhutto
• Ann Widdecombe
• Nigella Lawson
• Eglantyne Jebb
• Priscilla Tolkein

...along with many others!

Actress and women’s rights activist Emma Watson is a visiting fellow of the college. Malala Yousafzai, the youngest Noble Prize recipient and activist for universal education for girls and women, is a current student at Lady Margaret Hall.

Women's History at Somerville College, Oxford

Somerville College was the second women’s college founded at Oxford. The college became co-ed in 1994, and today the college is 50% male. Somerville College was named after the Scottish mathematician and renowned scientific writer Mary Somerville, known also for her expressed views in support of women’s suffrage and equal access to education for women.

When opened, the college was originally known as Somerville Hall and had twelve students. It was the first women’s hall to introduce entrance exams in 1891. It was renamed Somerville College in 1894, becoming the first of the Oxford women’s college to adopt the title of a college. In 1920, Oxford University allowed women to matriculate, and in 1925, Somerville’s college charter was granted.

Dorothy Hodgkin is one of the most notable alumnae of Somerville, the only British woman so far to have been awarded a Nobel Prize in the three sciences. She was awarded a first-class honours degree from the university, and at the time was only 1 of 3 women in Oxford history to do so. She won the 1964 Nobel Prize for chemistry for her work in protein crystallography and her work in determining the structure of penicillin.

When were women allowed in Oxford?

The first women matriculated at the University of Oxford in 1920, at Somerville College.

When were UK women first awarded degrees?

Although many women passed university examinations earlier, the first degrees were not awarded to women in the UK until 1878, when women were admitted to University of London. Women were next awarded degrees at the University of Durham (1895), University of Oxford (1920), and University of Cambridge (1948).

FAQs about "A History of Women's Education in Oxford"

1. When were women first admitted to the University of Oxford?

Women were first admitted as students to the University of Oxford in 1920, marking a significant milestone in the history of women's education at the university.

2. What are the historical origins of Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford?

Lady Margaret Hall, founded in 1878, was the first women’s college at Oxford. It opened its doors to its first nine female students in 1879 and remained a women-only college for 100 years until it began admitting men in 1979.

3. Who was Somerville College named after, and why is it significant?

Somerville College was named after Mary Somerville, a Scottish mathematician and scientific writer who advocated for women’s suffrage and equal access to education. The college was the second women’s college at Oxford and became co-educational in 1994.

4. What role did Somerville College play in the history of women’s education at Oxford?

Somerville College was pivotal in advancing women's education at Oxford, being the first to introduce entrance exams for women in 1891 and the first to adopt the title of a college in 1894. It was also where the first women matriculated at Oxford in 1920.

5. Who are some notable alumnae of Lady Margaret Hall and Somerville College?

Notable alumnae of Lady Margaret Hall include Benazir Bhutto, Ann Widdecombe, and Malala Yousafzai. Somerville College counts Dorothy Hodgkin, the only British woman to have won a Nobel Prize in the sciences, among its alumnae.

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About the author

Rhys Mackenzie is the Website Marketing Manager at Oxford Summer Courses. With extensive experience in SEO and digital content management, they are passionate about showcasing the best that Oxford has to offer. Their previous role at Experience Oxfordshire gave them a deep appreciation for the city's unique cultural and academic offerings. Learn more about Rhys here.