Colleges of Oxford Spotlight: Nuffield College

Nuffield College is one of the youngest and most revolutionary Oxford University colleges, having only been founded in 1937. Despite being such a small college, it has had a big impact on the trends of the Oxbridge Universities. For instance, it was the first college only take on postgrad students only. Unfortunately, like All Souls College, there aren’t any undergrad students here.

It was also the first college to accept both male and female students since its establishment. Prior to this, Oxford University colleges were initially male- only when they were first established. It was also the first to have one specialised subject- the social sciences such as sociology, politics, and economics.

So, for a college with only 75 postgrads and 60 academic fellows, it has certainly left a lasting impact on the Oxbridge Universities. There is a reason Yoda says “size matters not” … Like the many other university colleges dotted around Oxford, this college is open to the public and you can tour the grounds for free.

The gothic buildings of Nuffield College

Nuffield College’s buildings have a more gothic design, similar to the Oxford University Museum. You could even say these buildings have the same shape as terraced housing. Instead of spires seen on the other university colleges, this college has opted for pointed roofing. Plus, the black windows also make it look more gothic.

The most controversial aspect of this college’s design is probably the fleche on top of the library. Unlike the “dreaming spires” seen on other colleges, this fleche is made of steel. This further contributes to the gothic look. On top of the fleche is a weather- vane, which is a bit of a disappointment. So, this college’s design has attracted a lot of criticism.

Touring the grounds during the winter months

During the winter months, the grey pathways and beige buildings can make the college look quite dull. So the freshly cut green lawns and plants certainly added some much-needed colour to the place. The fact that the lawn was still green shows how much effort this college puts into maintaining its grounds.

One of my favourite features here was this water feature with a sculpture in the middle of it. When I first saw it, it appeared as if the water was blue. But upon closer inspection, it turns out the inside walls were painted light blue, which I think is a great touch. This adds more colour to the courtyard, especially on cloudy days.  

Touring the grounds during the summer months

During the summer months, the courtyard was completely transformed by the vegetation here. There were a lot more flowers in the flower beds, which had been previously cut down. And the purple flowers added a lot of colour. It’s a great idea to take photos in the winter and summer so you can compare how the scenery changes throughout the year.

I particularly enjoyed walking by the large pond on the lawn. As there weren’t many people here, this was a great spot to clear your mind. Plus, you can take some great photos of it, especially as the buildings were reflecting on the water, and the lily pads were a great touch too.

Location of Nuffield College

Like other places of interest in Oxford, I’d recommend walking or cycling to this college. It is less than a 10- minute walk away from Oxford Station and Said Business School, and the Castle Mound and Westgate are literally on the doorstep. If I had to choose between going to the Castle Mound and the college, I would definitely choose the latter.

When coming here for the first time, it can be very easy to walk past it and miss it. There aren’t any signs, except the small plaque next to the door. In fact, I only came across this college when I was walking to Westgate for the first time and I spotted the plaque.

Verdict

Overall, though this college may not be the greatest, I’d still recommend visiting it. It’s a great place to visit all year round, especially to see how the vegetation has grown. Though the gothic architecture of this college has attracted a lot of criticism, I like how unique it is. Each university college in Oxford is different and has its own identity, and Nuffield College is no exception… As well as visiting this college, don’t forget to visit Westgate, the museums, and other university colleges in Oxford too.

Directions to Nuffield College: