Oxford Becomes First UK University to Roll Out ChatGPT Edu

Oxford University has taken a historic step by becoming the first UK institution to grant full access to ChatGPT Edu, OpenAI’s education-focused version of its AI platform, to all students and staff.

The rollout comes after a year-long pilot involving around 750 participants across the university, and is part of a five-year partnership with OpenAI announced in March 2025.

University leaders described the move as a milestone in Oxford’s digital transformation, highlighting its potential to accelerate research, support curiosity-driven innovation, and provide new opportunities for students to personalize their learning.

ChatGPT Edu has been specifically developed for academic use, offering enhanced privacy and security by ensuring that data is retained within the institution. Alongside the software, Oxford will also provide training to its community, with an emphasis on critical thinking, ethical use, and responsible application of AI in education.

By embedding generative AI into everyday academic life, Oxford is setting a new standard for how higher education can adapt to technological change.