Oxford University Partners with OpenAI to Advance AI Research and Education

Oxford University has launched a five-year collaboration with OpenAI, providing access to cutting-edge AI tools and funding to enhance research and education, including a digitization project at the Bodleian Libraries.

Mar 5, 2025
Oxford University Partners with OpenAI to Advance AI Research and Education
University of Oxford's Bodleian Library

Oxford University has announced a significant partnership with OpenAI, the company behind the popular AI tool ChatGPT, in a move designed to accelerate research and education across various disciplines. This collaboration marks a major step forward in integrating AI into academic environments, offering students and faculty access to advanced AI technologies and funding opportunities.

Key Aspects of the Partnership

  • Access to Advanced AI Tools: Oxford researchers will gain access to OpenAI's latest models, including a tailored version of ChatGPT specifically designed for educational use. This will enhance teaching, learning, and research capabilities across the university.
  • Digitization of Academic Texts: As part of the partnership, OpenAI will assist in digitizing thousands of academic texts from Oxford's Bodleian Libraries, making previously inaccessible materials available to scholars worldwide. This includes a collection of 3,500 global dissertations.
  • Research Funding and Grants: The partnership includes research grant funding for collaborative projects between Oxford and OpenAI. This will support research in critical areas such as health and climate change.


This collaboration is part of OpenAI's broader initiative, NextGenAI, a $50 million partnership with 15 leading research institutions aimed at accelerating AI-driven research and education. The initiative seeks to catalyze progress in fields like healthcare, engineering, and digital humanities by providing research grants, compute funding, and API access.


The partnership will enhance the capabilities of Oxford's AI and Machine Learning Competency Centre, offering more robust services to staff and students. This includes access to OpenAI's API for developers and researchers interested in creating customized AI tools.


The collaboration reflects Oxford's commitment to leading in AI research and its application. By leveraging OpenAI's technologies, the university aims to produce groundbreaking studies that benefit both scholars and society, adapting to and effectively utilizing AI advancements.