Human Sciences brings together the skills and insights of the biological and social sciences to understand some of the key questions about humanity.

Human Sciences studies humans as a biological, social and cultural species and provides a challenging alternative to some of the more traditional courses offered at Oxford. The degree was conceived in the 1960s by a group of Oxford academics from the biological and social sciences who recognized the value of interdisciplinary studies to address issues such as genetic diversity, population growth, ethnicity, the spread of disease and the use and misuse of natural resources. It offers an integrated approach to understanding the problems we face today.

For further information about Human Sciences at Oxford, see the Institute of Human Sciences website and the Human Sciences page on the Oxford University website.

Yearly Intake

At Keble: 3
At Oxford: 30

Past Admissions Feedback

Every year tutors prepare detailed feedback about the admissions process.
Links to the text from the last three years can be found below.

Feedback 2023 (College) (pdf)
Feedback 2023 (University) (pdf)
Feedback 2022 (College) (pdf)
Feedback 2022 (University) (pdf)
Feedback 2021 (pdf)

The Course at Keble

Human Sciences is one of the smaller or more select degrees at the University – there are only around 90 students. Keble admits three a year, which is the standard for an Oxford college in this subject. But we organise teaching and social events in combination with students in two related degrees – Archaeology and Anthropology and Classical Archaeology and Ancient History. The teaching for these subjects often overlaps (and also with Geography in the first year) and we find that students can help one another. It means that you’ll be part of a year group of around eight or nine, who come from all sorts of backgrounds and countries.

With the many options that are available in the second and third years, Human Sciences is quite a wide-ranging degree and you’ll be taught by tutors from across the University. But your overall programme and teaching arrangements are overseen by the Director of Studies, Professor Morgan Clarke – who also tutors in anthropology. That means that, although you’re expected to show a fair amount of initiative and self-organisation in Human Sciences, there is someone there to check that you’re on the right track.

Keble is well-situated between the main centres where lectures are given (the Pauling Centre and Zoology). The Radcliffe Science Library, the Pitt Rivers Museum and the Museum of Natural History are directly opposite the College. It’s a short walk to Libraries at the Pauling Centre, Social Sciences and the Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology.