The Dean's List

At Oxford Brookes Business School our focus is to inspire all of our learners and partners through our education and research, bringing insight and raising ambition. Our colleagues are themselves inspiring minds, with the ambition to advance insight through teaching and research.

Inclusivity: We take positive steps to create an environment in which we celebrate, value, and provide equal opportunity to all.

• Enterprising Creativity: We’re adaptable and flexible, and consider a fresh approach in everything we do - because we know our sustainability depends on a pioneering spirit.
• Generosity of spirit: Our students and staff manifest a generosity of spirit as they progress in the world by being open and willing to share their abilities, knowledge and experience, sometimes making difficult decisions, but always in the interest of the wider community.
• Connectedness: Our academic excellence is underpinned by a history of learning by doing. Our connections and our Oxford roots are fundamental to our students’ and staff members’ experiences and our successful future.
• Confidence: We have confidence in our staff and students, and we know that we prepare our graduates well for a fulfilling and valuable life. Through their success, we continue to earn our outstanding reputation.

In order to be eligible for the Dean’s list, students must fulfil one or more of the criteria listed below.

1. Academic Excellence

In this category, students must demonstrate both strong and sustained all-round academic performance and specific excellence in an area of their programme.

• Undergraduate students are expected to be predicted to achieve at least a 2:1 in their final degree classification
• Postgraduate students are expected to be predicted to achieve a Merit in their final degree classification
• PhD students are expected to successfully obtain their Doctorate

Students must also demonstrate that they have excelled in a particular area(s) of their studies and exceeded the requirements of their programme. Examples of such excellence might include particular commendation from a placement employer, the notable impact of a consultancy project undertaken as part of a module, or special recognition arising from the presentation of research findings at an academic conference.

2. Social Responsibility and Environmental Sustainability

In line with priorities of the School, students evidence active and impactful participation in activities that promote environmental sustainability and social responsibility to bring about positive change. This might include significant contribution to charitable organisations, active participation in volunteering activities, work that benefits the local area, and participation with environmental initiatives.

3. Contribution to Oxford Brookes Business School

Students should demonstrate how they have exemplified the University’s Guiding Principles during their time at Oxford Brookes Business School and how their activity has positively impacted the School. The Guiding Principles and Associated Exemplar Behaviours can be found in the University 2035 Strategy. Examples of such activity might include the leadership of societies or clubs (‘connectedness’), activity to positively support fellow students (‘generosity of spirit’), proactively working to promote ‘inclusivity’, or entrepreneurial activity to support positive social change (‘enterprising creativity’).

Students are encouraged to speak to their Academic Advisors and Subject Co-ordinators who will be able to offer advice relating to the type of experience which should be included in an application and the supporting evidence to be submitted. It is important that students do not simply list types of experience, activities, and membership of societies, etc. Students should explain how these examples demonstrate impact on Oxford Brookes Business School and how they demonstrate that the student has fulfilled the relevant criteria for the Dean's List Award. An example of a winning application can also be viewed online.

First Year Undergraduate and Postgraduate students can start to develop their skills and understanding of the values of the Dean’s List by taking part in the First Year Challenge.

The Challenge is an opportunity for students to demonstrate what they have achieved during their first year and how they are going to achieve the standard to become a future Dean’s List winner. The task is to submit a short self-made video to showcase the student’s future self in three years’ time. The content should be framed around what the student has achieved during their first year, and what achievements are hoped to be gained during their university studies, which contribute to the School’s Mission and Vision.