. The various academic faculties, departments, and institutes are organised into four divisions, each with its own Head and elected board. They are the Humanities Division; the Social Sciences Division;

on; Research; Planning and Resources; Development and External Affairs; and Personnel and Equal Opportunities. The University Council is the executive policy-forming body, which consists of the Vice-Chancellor as well as heads of departments and other members elected by Congregation, in addition to observers from the Student Union. Congregation, the "parliament of the dons", comprises over 3,700 members of the University’s academic and administrative staff, and has ultimate responsibility for legislative matters: it discusses and pronounces on policies proposed by the University Council. Only Oxford and Cambridge (which is similarly structured) have this democratic form of governance.
Two university proctors, who are elected annually on a rotating basis from two of the colleges, are the internal ombudsmen who make sure that the university and its members adhere to its statutes. This role incorporates student welfare and discipline, as well as oversight of the university's proceedings. The University Professors are collectively referred to as the Statutory Professors of the University of Oxford. They are particularly influential in the running of the university's graduate programmes. Examples of Statutory Professors are the Chichele Professorships and the Drummond Professor of Political Economy. The various academic faculties, departments, and institutes are organised into four divisions, each with its own Head and elected board. They are the Humanities Division; the Social Sciences Division; the Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences Division; and the Medical Sciences Division.
The University of Oxford is a "public university" in the sense that it receives some public money from the government, but it is a "private university" in the sense that it is entirely self-governing and, in theory, could choose to become entirely private by rejecting public funds.[52]
Colleges[edit]
Main article: Colleges of the University of Oxford


Chapel of Keble College, one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford
To be a member of the university, all students, and most academic staff, must also be a member of a college or hall. There are 38 colleges of the University of Oxford and six Permanent Private Halls, each controlling its membership and with its own internal structure and activities.[53] Not all colleges offer all courses, but they generally cover a broad range of subjects.
The colleges are:
All-Souls College Oxford Coat Of Arms.svg All Souls
Balliol College Oxford Coat Of Arms.svg Balliol
Brasenose College Oxford Coat Of Arms.svg Brasenose
Christ Church Oxford Coat Of Arms.svg Christ Church
Corpus-Christi College Oxford Coat Of Arms.svg Corpus Christi
Exeter College Oxford Coat Of Arms.svg Exeter
Green-Templeton College Oxford Coat Of Arms.svg Green Templeton
Harris-Manchester College Oxford Coat Of Arms.svg Harris Manchester
Hertford College Oxford Coat Of Arms.svg Hertford