# List of University of Oxford people in British public life

This is a list of University of Oxford people in British public life. Many were students at one (or more) of the colleges of the University, and others held fellowships at a college.
This list forms part of a series of lists of people associated with the University of Oxford – for other lists, please see the main article List of University of Oxford people.

## Monarchs

| Name | College | Years | Reign | Ref |
| King Edward VII | Christ Church | 1859–1860 | King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland 1901–1910 | |
| King Edward VIII | Magdalen | 1912–1914 | King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 1936 | |

## Royal persons

| Name | College | Years at Oxford |
| Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany | Christ Church | 1872–1876 |
| George, Marquess of Cambridge (formerly Prince George of Teck) | Magdalen | |
| Prince Christian Victor of Schleswig-Holstein | Magdalen | |
| Edward Windsor, Lord Downpatrick | Keble | 2007– |
| Lord Frederick Windsor | Magdalen | 1998–2002 |
| Lord Nicholas Windsor | Manchester | |

## Prime ministers

| Name | College | Student at Oxford | Period as Prime Minister |
| Spencer Compton, 1st Earl of Wilmington | Trinity | 1690–? | 1742–1743 |
| Henry Pelham | Hart Hall | 1710–? | 1743–1746 |
| George Grenville | Christ Church | 1730–1733 | 1763–1765 |
| William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham | Trinity | 1727–1728 | 1766–1768 |
| Frederick North, Lord North (later 2nd Earl of Guilford) | Trinity | 1748–1750 | 1770–1782 |
| William Petty, 2nd Earl of Shelburne | Christ Church | 1755–1757 | 1782–1783 |
| William Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland | Christ Church | 1755–1757 | 1783, 1807–1809 |
| Henry Addington (later 1st Viscount Sidmouth) | Brasenose | 1774–1778 | 1801–1804 |
| William Wyndham Grenville, 1st Baron Grenville | Christ Church | 1776–1780 | 1806–1807 |
| Robert Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool | Christ Church | 1787–1790 | 1812–1827 |
| George Canning | Christ Church | 1787–1791 | 1827 |
| Sir Robert Peel, Bt | Christ Church | 1805–1808 | 1834–1835, 1841–1846 |
| Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby | Christ Church | 1817–1820 | 1852, 1858–1859, 1866–1868 |
| William Ewart Gladstone | Christ Church | 1828–1831 | 1868–1874, 1880–1885, 1886, 1892–1894 |
| Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury | Christ Church | 1847–1849 | 1885–1886, 1886–1892, 1895–1902 |
| Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery | Christ Church | 1866–1869 | 1894–1895 |
| H. H. Asquith (later 1st Earl of Oxford and Asquith) | Balliol | 1870–1874 | 1908–1916 |
| Clement Attlee (later 1st Earl Attlee) | University | 1901–1904 | 1945–1951 |
| Anthony Eden (later 1st Earl of Avon) | Christ Church | 1919–1922 | 1955–1957 |
| Harold Macmillan (later 1st Earl of Stockton) | Balliol | 1912–1914 | 1957–1963 |
| Sir Alexander Douglas-Home (formerly 14th Earl of Home, later Baron Home of the Hirsel) | Christ Church | 1922–1925 | 1963–1964 |
| Harold Wilson (later Baron Wilson of Rievaulx) | Jesus | 1934–1937 | 1964–1970, 1974–1976 |
| Edward Heath | Balliol | 1935–1939 | 1970–1974 |
| Margaret Thatcher (later Baroness Thatcher) | Somerville | 1943–1947 | 1979–1990 |
| Tony Blair | St John's | 1972–1975 | 1997–2007 |
| David Cameron (later Baron Cameron of Chipping Norton) | Brasenose | 1985–1988 | 2010–2016 |
| Theresa May | St Hugh's | 1974–1977 | 2016–2019 |
| Boris Johnson | Balliol | 1983–1987 | 2019–2022 |
| Liz Truss | Merton | 1993-1996 | 2022 |
| Rishi Sunak | Lincoln | 1998-2001 | 2022–2024 |
| Keir Starmer | St Edmund Hall | 1986 | 2024–present |

## Cabinet of the United Kingdom (at 12 December 2023)

| Name | College | Years at Oxford | Title |
| Rishi Sunak | Lincoln | 1998-2001 | Prime Minister First Lord of the Treasury Minister for the Union Minister for the Civil Service |
| Jeremy Hunt | Magdalen | | Chancellor of the Exchequer Second Lord of the Treasury |
| David Cameron | Brasenose | 1985–1988 | Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs |
| Alex Chalk | Magdalen | | Secretary of State for Justice Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain |
| Michael Gove | Lady Margaret Hall | 1985–1988 | Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Minister for Intergovernmental Relations |
| Thérèse Coffey | Somerville | 1989–1991 | Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs |
| Mel Stride | St Edmund Hall | | Secretary of State for Work and Pensions |
| Mark Harper | Brasenose | | Secretary of State for Transport |
| John Glen | Mansfield | | Chief Secretary to the Treasury |
| Jeremy Quin | Hertford | | Minister for the Cabinet Office Paymaster General |

## Shadow Cabinet of the United Kingdom (at 9 May 2023)

| Name | College | Years at Oxford | Title |
| Keir Starmer | St Edmund Hall | | Leader of the Opposition Leader of the Labour Party |
| Rachel Reeves | New | | Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer |
| Yvette Cooper | Balliol | | Shadow Secretary of State for the Home Department |
| Ed Miliband | Corpus Christi | | Shadow Secretary of State for Climate Change and Net Zero |
| Nick Thomas-Symonds | St Edmund Hall | 1998–2001 | Shadow Secretary of State for International Trade |
| Bridget Phillipson | Hertford | | Shadow Secretary of State for Education |
| Lucy Powell | Somerville | | Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport |
| Anneliese Dodds | St. Hilda's | | Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities Chair of the Labour Party |
| Shabana Mahmood | Lincoln | | Labour Party National Campaign Coordinator |
| Thangam Debbonaire | | | Shadow Leader of the House of Commons |

## House of Lords and House of Commons

Peers and members of the House of Commons who are better known for their endeavours outside politics are listed in the appropriate category (e.g. the jurist William Blackstone, cricketer Colin Cowdrey, historian Edward Gibbon, scientists Susan Greenfield and Robert May, physician and journalist Thomas Stuttaford, and philosopher Mary Warnock).
Hereditary peers
In order of precedence. See also Lords of Appeal in Ordinary and other legal peers.
| Name | College | Years at Oxford | Notes |
| Edward Fitzalan-Howard, 18th Duke of Norfolk | Lincoln | | Earl Marshal of England |
| Edward Seymour, 12th Duke of Somerset | Christ Church | 1823 | Left without taking degree |
| Charles Gordon-Lennox, 6th Duke of Richmond | Christ Church | –1839 | |
| Henry Somerset, 6th Duke of Beaufort | Trinity | | |
| Francis Osborne, 5th Duke of Leeds | Christ Church | 1767–1773 | |
| William Russell, 1st Duke of Bedford | Magdalen | | |
| William Russell, 8th Duke of Bedford | Christ Church | | |
| George Russell, 10th Duke of Bedford | Balliol | | |
| Hastings Russell, 12th Duke of Bedford | Balliol | 1907–1911 | |
| Peregrine Cavendish, 12th Duke of Devonshire | Exeter | | |
| George Spencer-Churchill, 5th Duke of Marlborough | Christ Church | –1786 | DCL 1792 |
| George Spencer-Churchill, 6th Duke of Marlborough | Christ Church | | |
| John Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of Marlborough | Oriel | | MP 1844–1845 and 1847–1857, Ld Steward 1866–1867, Ld Press of the Council 1867–1868, Ld Lt of Ireland 1876–1880, of Oxfordshire 1857–1883 |
| James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Hamilton | Exeter | | |
| James Hamilton, 5th Duke of Hamilton | Christ Church | | |
| James Hamilton, 6th Duke of Hamilton | St Mary's Hall | | |
| William Hamilton, 11th Duke of Hamilton | Christ Church | | |
| William Douglas-Hamilton, 12th Duke of Hamilton | Christ Church | | |
| Douglas Douglas-Hamilton, 14th Duke of Hamilton | Balliol | | |
| Angus Douglas-Hamilton, 15th Duke of Hamilton | Balliol | | |
| William Montagu-Douglas-Scott, 6th Duke of Buccleuch | Christ Church | | |
| Walter Montagu-Douglas-Scott, 8th Duke of Buccleuch | Christ Church | | |
| John Scott, 9th Duke of Buccleuch | Christ Church | | |
| Richard Scott, 10th Duke of Buccleuch | Christ Church | 1976 BA | President of the National Trust for Scotland, appointed KBE for services to the Millennium Commission |
| George Murray, 10th Duke of Atholl | | | |
| Angus Graham, 7th Duke of Montrose | Christ Church | | |
| Peregrine Bertie, 2nd Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven | | | |
| Henry Percy, 11th Duke of Northumberland | Christ Church | | |
| George Montagu, 1st Duke of Montagu | The Queen's | | |
| James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Abercorn | Christ Church | | |
| James Hamilton, 2nd Duke of Abercorn | Christ Church | | |
| Valerian Wellesley, 8th Duke of Wellington | New College | | |
| Richard Temple-Grenville, 3rd Duke of Buckingham and Chandos | Christ Church | | |
| George Nugent-Temple-Grenville, 1st Marquess of Buckingham | Christ Church | | |
| James Gascoyne-Cecil, 4th Marquess of Salisbury | University | | |
| Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 7th Marquess of Salisbury | Christ Church | | |
| John Thynne, 4th Marquess of Bath | Christ Church | | |
| Thomas Thynne, 5th Marquess of Bath | Balliol | | |
| Henry Thynne, 6th Marquess of Bath | Christ Church | | |
| Alexander Thynn, 7th Marquess of Bath | Christ Church | | |
| Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquess Wellesley | Christ Church | | |
| Henry Paget, 1st Marquess of Anglesey | Christ Church | | |
| James Broun-Ramsay, 1st Marquess of Dalhousie | Christ Church | | |
| Basil Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 4th Marquess of Dufferin and Ava | Balliol | | |
| Sheridan Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 5th Marquess of Dufferin and Ava | Christ Church | | |
| David Gordon, 4th Marquess of Aberdeen and Temair | Balliol | | |
| Sidney Herbert, 14th Earl of Pembroke | Christ Church | | |
| William Courtenay, 11th Earl of Devon | Christ Church | | |
| Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury | Exeter | | |
| Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury | Christ Church | | |
| William Legge, 6th Earl of Dartmouth | Christ Church | | |
| John Carteret, 2nd Earl Granville | Christ Church | | |
| Heneage Finch, 1st Earl of Aylesford | Christ Church | | |
| Charles Bennet, 6th Earl of Tankerville | Christ Church | | |
| James Stanhope, 1st Earl Stanhope | Trinity | | |
| George Waldegrave, 7th Earl Waldegrave | Christ Church | | |
| Gerard Wallop, 9th Earl of Portsmouth | Balliol | | |
| Herbrand Sackville, 9th Earl De La Warr | Magdalen | | |
| James Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan | Christ Church | | |
| Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon | Hertford | | |
| Edward Hyde, 3rd Earl of Clarendon | | | |
| Henry Hyde, 4th Earl of Clarendon | | | |
| George Howard, 7th Earl of Carlisle | Christ Church | | |
| William Murray, 8th Earl of Mansfield and Mansfield | Christ Church | | |
| Henry Herbert, 4th Earl of Carnarvon | | | |
| James Harris, 1st Earl of Malmesbury | | | |
| James Howard Harris, 3rd Earl of Malmesbury | Oriel | 1825–1827 | |
| David Douglas-Home, 15th Earl of Home | Christ Church | | |
| James Bruce, 8th Earl of Elgin | Christ Church | | |
| Edward Pakenham, 6th Earl of Longford | Christ Church | | |
| Francis Pakenham, 7th Earl of Longford | New College and Christ Church | | |
| Thomas Pakenham, 8th Earl of Longford | Magdalen | | |
| William Howard, 8th Earl of Wicklow | Magdalen and St Stephen's House | | |
| John FitzGibbon, 2nd Earl of Clare | Christ Church | | |
| Nathaniel Clements, 2nd Earl of Leitrim | Oriel | | |
| Du Pré Alexander, 2nd Earl of Caledon | Christ Church | | |
| James Alexander, 3rd Earl of Caledon | Christ Church | | |
| James Alexander, 4th Earl of Caledon | Christ Church | | |
| William Hare, 5th Earl of Listowel | Balliol | | |
| Richard Onslow, 5th Earl of Onslow | New College | | |
| Michael Onslow, 7th Earl of Onslow | | | |
| Edmond Pery, 5th Earl of Limerick | New College | | |
| Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 1st Earl of Minto | Christ Church | | |
| Edward Eliot, 3rd Earl of St Germans | Christ Church | | |
| Frederick Lygon, 6th Earl Beauchamp | Christ Church | | |
| Frederick Curzon, 7th Earl Howe | Christ Church | | |
| William Amherst, 1st Earl Amherst | Christ Church | | |
| Frederick Campbell, 3rd Earl Cawdor | Christ Church | | |
| John Ward, 1st Earl of Dudley | | | |
| Granville Leveson-Gower, 2nd Earl Granville | Christ Church | | |
| George Eden, 1st Earl of Auckland | Christ Church | | |
| George Byng, 3rd Earl of Strafford | Christ Church | | |
| Charles Canning, 1st Earl Canning | Christ Church | | |
| John Wodehouse, 1st Earl of Kimberley | Christ Church | | |
| William Palmer, 2nd Earl of Selborne | University | | |
| Roundell Palmer, 3rd Earl of Selborne | University | | |
| Thomas George Baring, 1st Earl of Northbrook | Christ Church | | |
| Stafford Northcote, 1st Earl of Iddesleigh | Balliol | | |
| John Campbell, 3rd Earl of Breadalbane and Holland | Christ Church | | |
| Thomas Brassey, 1st Earl Brassey | University | | |
| Thomas Brassey, 2nd Earl Brassey | Balliol | | |
| Robert Reid, 1st Earl Loreburn | Balliol | | |
| Michael Hicks-Beach, 1st Earl St Aldwyn | Christ Church | | |
| Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig | Brasenose | 1880– | Qualified for, but did not take, a pass degree |
| George Haig, 2nd Earl Haig | | | |
| St John Brodrick, 1st Earl of Midleton | Balliol | | |
| F. E. Smith, 1st Earl of Birkenhead | Wadham | | |
| Edward Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax | Christ Church | | |
| Alexander Ruthven, 2nd Earl of Gowrie | Balliol | | |
| A. V. Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Hillsborough | Magdalen | | |
| William Fiennes, 1st Viscount Saye and Sele | New College | | |
| Hugh Gough, 3rd Viscount Gough | | | |
| Hugh Gough, 4th Viscount Gough | New College | | |
| Robert Lowe, 1st Viscount Sherbrooke | University and Magdalen | | |
| Richard Lyons, 1st Viscount Lyons | Christ Church | | |
| George Goschen, 1st Viscount Goschen | Oriel | | |
| Matthew White Ridley, 1st Viscount Ridley | Balliol | | |
| Aretas Akers-Douglas, 1st Viscount Chilston | University | | |
| George Cave, 1st Viscount Cave | St John's | | |
| Frederic Thesiger, 1st Viscount Chelmsford | Magdalen | | |
| Walter Hume Long, 1st Viscount Long | Christ Church | | |
| George Younger, 4th Viscount Younger of Leckie | New College | | |
| Robert Cecil, 1st Viscount Cecil of Chelwood | University | | |
| Douglas Hogg, 3rd Viscount Hailsham | Christ Church | | |
| Charles Bathurst, 1st Viscount Bledisloe | University | | |
| Christopher Bathurst, 3rd Viscount Bledisloe | Trinity | | |
| Herbert Samuel, 1st Viscount Samuel | | | |
| John Simon, 1st Viscount Simon | Wadham and All Souls | | |
| George Lambert, 2nd Viscount Lambert | New College | | |
| Charles Portal, 1st Viscount Portal of Hungerford | Christ Church | | |
| Robert Hudson, 1st Viscount Hudson | Magdalen | | |
| Duff Cooper, 1st Viscount Norwich | New College | | |
| Osbert Peake, 1st Viscount Ingleby | Christ Church | | |
| Walter Monckton, 1st Viscount Monckton of Brenchley | Balliol | | |
| Derick Heathcoat Amory, 1st Viscount Amory | Christ Church | | |
| Alan Lennox-Boyd, 1st Viscount Boyd of Merton | Christ Church | | |
| Simon Lennox-Boyd, 2nd Viscount Boyd of Merton | Christ Church | | |
| David Eccles, 1st Viscount Eccles | New College | | |
| Charles Stourton, 26th Baron Mowbray | Christ Church | | |
| Ralph Stonor, 7th Baron Camoys | Balliol | | |
| Nathaniel Fiennes, 21st Baron Saye and Sele | New College | | |
| John Bourchier, 2nd Baron Berners | | | |
| Richard Onslow, 1st Baron Onslow | St Edmund Hall | | |
| Arthur Stanley, 5th Baron Sheffield and 5th Baron Stanley of Alderley | Balliol | | |
| Charles Abbot, 1st Baron Colchester | Christ Church | | |
| Nicholas Vansittart, 1st Baron Bexley | Christ Church | | |
| Philip Sidney, 1st Baron De L'Isle and Dudley | Christ Church | | |
| Hussey Vivian, 1st Baron Vivian | Exeter | | |
| Francis Baring, 1st Baron Northbrook | Christ Church | | |
| Eric Lubbock, 4th Baron Avebury | Balliol | | |
| John Patrick Balfour, 3rd Baron Kinross | | | |
| George Kemp, 1st Baron Rochdale | Balliol | | |
| Charles Cripps, 1st Baron Parmoor | New College and St John's | | |
| Montague Woodhouse, 5th Baron Terrington | New College and Nuffield | | |
| Colin Moynihan, 4th Baron Moynihan | University | | Silver medal 1980 Olympics, MP 1983–1992, Minister for Sport 1987–1990, Chairman British Olympic Association 2005 |
| James Salter, 1st Baron Salter | Brasenose and All Souls | | |
| Patrick Spens, 1st Baron Spens | New College | | |
| Toby Low, 1st Baron Aldington | New College | | |
| Niall Macpherson, 1st Baron Drumalbyn | Trinity | | |
| Roger Makins, 1st Baron Sherfield | Christ Church | | |
| Christopher Makins, 2nd Baron Sherfield | New College | | |
| John Hope, 1st Baron Glendevon | Christ Church | | |
| Julian Hope, 2nd Baron Glendevon | Christ Church | | |
MPs and life peers
Excluding any MP who subsequently was created a hereditary peer or succeeded to a hereditary peerage, and also excluding any life peer who was or is simultaneously a hereditary peer, but including MPs who disclaimed a hereditary peerage in order to sit in the House of Commons (between 1963 and 1999) as well as hereditary peers sitting as MPs under the terms of the House of Lords Act 1999.
| Name | College | Party | Notes |
| Arthur Dyke Acland | Christ Church and Keble | | |
| Richard Acland | Balliol | | |
| Jonathan Aitken | Christ Church and Wycliffe Hall | Conservative | |
| Danny Alexander | St Anne's | Lib Dem | |
| Michael Alison | Wadham | | |
| Julian Amery, Baron Amery of Lustleigh | Balliol | Conservative | |
| Leopold Stennett Amery | Balliol and All Souls | | |
| Michael Ancram (Michael Kerr, 13th Marquess of Lothian) | Christ Church | Conservative | |
| William Anstruther-Gray, Baron Kilmany | Christ Church | | |
| Jeffrey Archer, Baron Archer of Weston-super-Mare | Brasenose | Conservative | |
| Kenneth Baker, Baron Baker of Dorking | Magdalen | Conservative | |
| Nicholas Baker | | Conservative | |
| Anthony Barber, Baron Barber | Oriel | Conservative | |
| Timothy Beaumont, Baron Beaumont of Whitley | Christ Church | | |
| Alan Beith | Balliol and Nuffield | Lib Dem | |
| Ronald Bell | Magdalen | | |
| Tony Benn (formerly 2nd Viscount Stansgate) | New College | Labour | |
| Reginald Bennett | New College | | |
| Keith Best | Keble | | |
| John Biggs-Davison | Magdalen | | |
| Angela Billingham, Baroness Billingham | | | |
| Henry Bilson Legge | Christ Church | | |
| Geoffrey Bing | Lincoln | | |
| Mark Bonham Carter, Baron Bonham-Carter | Balliol | | |
| Maurice Bonham Carter | | | |
| Robert Boothby, Baron Boothby | Magdalen | Conservative | |
| Tim Boswell | New College | | |
| John Bowis | Brasenose | | |
| John Boyd-Carpenter, Baron Boyd-Carpenter | Balliol | | |
| Edward Boyle, Baron Boyle of Handsworth | Christ Church | Conservative | |
| Ashley Bramall | Magdalen | | |
| Gyles Brandreth | New College | Conservative | |
| Julian Brazier | Brasenose | Conservative | |
| Henry Brooke, Baron Brooke of Cumnor | Balliol | | |
| Peter Brooke, Baron Brooke of Sutton Mandeville | Balliol | Conservative | |
| Jock Bruce-Gardyne | Magdalen | | |
| Chris Bryant | Mansfield | Labour | |
| Simon Burns | Oxford | Conservative | |
| Alistair Burt | St John's | | |
| Kenneth Carlisle | Magdalen | | |
| Bill Cash | Lincoln | | |
| Barbara Castle, Baroness Castle of Blackburn | St Hugh's | Labour | |
| Paul Channon, Baron Kelvedon | Christ Church | Conservative | |
| Donald Chapman, Baron Northfield | Nuffield | | |
| Christopher Chataway | Magdalen | | |
| Hugh Childers | | | |
| Lord Randolph Churchill | Merton | | |
| Randolph Churchill | Christ Church | | |
| James Clappison | The Queen's | | |
| Alan Clark | Christ Church | Conservative | |
| George Clarke | Brasenose and All Souls | | |
| Robert Cooke | Christ Church | | |
| Jim Cousins | New College | | |
| Aidan Crawley | Trinity | | |
| Mary Creagh | Pembroke | | |
| Julian Critchley | Pembroke | | |
| Anthony Crosland | Trinity | Labour | |
| Richard Crossman | New College | Labour | |
| Petre Crowder | Christ Church | | |
| Edwina Currie | St Anne's | Conservative | |
| David Curry | Corpus Christi | | |
| Horace Plunkett | University | | |
| Henry d'Avigdor-Goldsmid | Balliol | | |
| Edward Davey | Jesus | Lib Dem | |
| Denzil Davies | Pembroke | | |
| Geraint Davies | Jesus | Labour | |
| Edmund Dell | The Queen's | Labour | |
| Douglas Dodds-Parker | Magdalen | | |
| Stephen Dorrell | Brasenose | Conservative | |
| James Douglas-Hamilton, Baron Selkirk of Douglas | Balliol | | |
| William Dowdeswell | Christ Church | | |
| Tom Driberg, Baron Bradwell | Christ Church | Labour | |
| John Dugdale | Christ Church | Labour | |
| Edward du Cann | St John's | Conservative | |
| Philip Dunne | Keble | | |
| John Eliot | Exeter | | |
| Peter Emery | Oriel | | |
| Evelyn Emmet, Baroness Emmet of Amberley | Lady Margaret Hall | | |
| Derek Enright | Wadham | | |
| Eric Errington | Trinity | | |
| Gwynfor Evans | St John's | | |
| David Faber | Balliol | | |
| Michael Fabricant | | | |
| Paul Farrelly | St Edmund Hall | | |
| Mark Field | St Edmund Hall | | |
| Nathaniel Fiennes | New College | | |
| Adrian John Flook | | | |
| Bernard Floud | Wadham | | |
| Dingle Foot | Balliol | Liberal, Labour | |
| Michael Foot | Wadham | Labour | |
| Gerald Fowler | Lincoln | | |
| Charles James Fox | Hertford | | |
| Hugh Fraser | Balliol | | |
| Peter Fry | Worcester | | |
| Hugh Gaitskell | New College | Labour | |
| Tam Galbraith | Christ Church | | |
| Roy Galley | Worcester | | |
| Timothy Garden, Baron Garden | St Catherine's | | |
| Edward Garnier | Jesus | Conservative | |
| David Gauke | St Edmund Hall | | |
| Robert Gavron, Baron Gavron | St Peter's | | |
| Andrew George | University | Lib Dem | |
| Neil Gerrard | Wadham | | |
| John Gilbert, Baron Gilbert | St John's | | |
| Ian Gilmour, Baron Gilmour of Craigmillar | Balliol | Conservative | |
| David Ginsburg | Balliol | | |
| Richard Glyn | Worcester | | |
| Patrick Gordon Walker, Baron Gordon-Walker | Christ Church | Labour | |
| Bryan Gould | Balliol | Labour | |
| James Gray | Christ Church | | |
| Damian Green | Balliol | Conservative | |
| Nia Griffith | Somerville | | |
| Joseph Grimond, Baron Grimond | Balliol | Liberal | |
| John Grogan | St John's | | |
| Michael Hamilton | University | | |
| Mark Harper | Brasenose | | |
| Harwood Harrison | Trinity | | |
| Alan Haselhurst | Oriel | | |
| Denis Healey, Baron Healey | Balliol | Labour | |
| David Heath | St John's | | |
| David Heathcoat-Amory | Christ Church | | |
| John Hemming | Magdalen | | |
| A. P. Herbert | New College | | |
| Michael Heseltine, Baron Heseltine | Pembroke | Conservative | |
| Patricia Hewitt | Nuffield | Labour | |
| John Heydon Stokes | The Queen's | | |
| John Hill | Merton | | |
| Keith Hill | Corpus Christi | | |
| Sarah Hogg, Viscountess Hailsham and Baroness Hogg | Lady Margaret Hall | | |
| Philip Hollobone | Lady Margaret Hall | | |
| Richard Holme, Baron Holme of Cheltenham | St John's | | |
| Peter Hordern | Christ Church | | |
| Martin Horwood | The Queen's | | |
| Les Huckfield | Keble | | |
| Ednyfed Hudson Davies | Balliol | | |
| Chris Huhne | Magdalen | Lib Dem | First cabinet minister in British history to be forced to resign due to criminal proceedings. |
| George Ward Hunt | Christ Church | | |
| Nick Hurd | | | |
| Marmaduke Hussey, Baron Hussey of North Bradley | Trinity | Conservative | |
| Harry Hylton-Foster | Magdalen | | |
| Thomas Iremonger | Oriel | | |
| Henry Ireton | Trinity | | |
| Arthur Irvine | Oriel | | |
| Godman Irvine | Magdalen | | |
| Robert Victor Jackson | St Edmund Hall and All Souls | | |
| Douglas Jay, Baron Jay | New College and All Souls | Labour | |
| Margaret Jay, Baroness Jay of Paddington | Somerville | Labour | |
| Roy Jenkins, Baron Jenkins of Hillhead | Balliol | Labour, Lib Dem | |
| Toby Jessel | Balliol | | |
| Keith Joseph, Baron Joseph | Magdalen and All Souls | Conservative | |
| Gerald Kaufman | The Queen's | Labour | |
| Elaine Kellett-Bowman | St Anne's | | |
| Anthony Kershaw | Balliol | | |
| Marcus Kimball, Baron Kimball | Trinity | | |
| Peter Michael Kirk | Trinity | | |
| Susan Kramer | St Hilda's | Lib Dem | |
| Ivan Lawrence | Christ Church | Conservative | |
| Nigel Lawson, Baron Lawson of Blaby | Christ Church | Conservative | |
| Hastings Lees-Smith | The Queen's | | |
| George Cornewall Lewis | Christ Church | | |
| Martin Linton | Pembroke | Labour | |
| Marcus Lipton | Merton | | |
| Evan Luard | St Antony's | | |
| Ian Lucas | New College | | |
| Hugh Lucas-Tooth | Balliol | | |
| Ian MacArthur | The Queen's | | |
| Andrew McIntosh, Baron McIntosh of Haringey | Jesus | | |
| John Mackintosh | Balliol | | |
| Francis McLaren | Balliol | | |
| Martin McLaren | | | |
| Robert Maclennan, Baron Maclennan of Rogart | Balliol | | |
| Denis MacShane | Merton | Labour | |
| Bryan Magee | Keble | | |
| Humfrey Malins | Brasenose | | |
| Joseph Mallalieu | Trinity | | |
| Peter Mandelson | St Catherine's | Labour | |
| David Marquand | Magdalen, St Antony's, and Mansfield | Labour | |
| Gordon Marsden | New College and St Antony's | | |
| Edmund Marshall | Magdalen | | |
| Angus Maude, Baron Maude of Stratford-upon-Avon | Oriel | | |
| Reginald Maudling | Merton | Conservative | |
| Robin Maxwell-Hyslop | Christ Church | | |
| Christopher Paget Mayhew, Baron Mayhew | Christ Church | | |
| Michael Meacher | New College | Labour | |
| Patrick Mercer | Exeter | | |
| Anthony Meyer | New College | Conservative | |
| Stephen Milligan | Magdalen | | |
| Norman Miscampbell | Trinity | | |
| Austin Mitchell | Nuffield | Labour | |
| Rhodri Morgan | St John's | Labour | |
| Alfred Morris, Baron Morris of Manchester | Ruskin and St Catherine's | Labour | |
| Frederick William Mulley, Baron Mulley | Christ Church | | |
| Airey Neave | Merton | Conservative | |
| Tony Newton, Baron Newton of Braintree | Trinity | Conservative | |
| Godfrey Nicholson | Christ Church | | |
| Nigel Nicolson | Balliol | | |
| Michael Noble, Baron Glenkinglas | Magdalen | | |
| Steven Norris | Worcester | | |
| Edward O'Hara | Magdalen | | |
| Matthew Oakeshott, Baron Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay | Nuffield | | |
| Arthur Onslow | Wadham | | |
| Cranley Onslow, Baron Onslow of Woking | Oriel | | |
| Ian Orr-Ewing, Baron Orr-Ewing | Trinity | | |
| Graham Page | Magdalen | | |
| Peter Palumbo, Baron Palumbo | Worcester | | |
| John Parker | St John's | | |
| Ben Parkin | Lincoln | | |
| Christopher Patten, Baron Patten of Barnes | Balliol | Conservative | Governor of Hong Kong 1992–1997 |
| Andrew Pelling | New College | | |
| John Peyton, Baron Peyton of Yeovil | Trinity | | |
| James Pitman | Christ Church | | |
| Alexander Pollock | Brasenose | | |
| Barry Porter | | | |
| Christopher Price | The Queen's | | |
| John Profumo | Brasenose | Liberal | |
| John Pym | Broadgates Hall | | |
| Giles Radice, Baron Radice | | Labour | |
| Eleanor Rathbone | Somerville | | |
| Hugh Reynolds Rathbone | Trinity | | |
| Tim Rathbone | Christ Church | | |
| John Redwood | Magdalen and All Souls | Conservative | |
| Laurance Reed | University | | |
| Philip Hammond | University | | |
| Peter Rees, Baron Rees | Christ Church | | |
| David Rendel | Magdalen and St Cross | | |
| Tim Renton, Baron Renton of Mount Harry | Magdalen | | |
| Robert Rhodes James | Worcester | | |
| Nicholas Ridley, Baron Ridley of Liddesdale | Balliol | Conservative | |
| Geoffrey Rippon, Baron Rippon of Hexham | Brasenose | | |
| Andrew Robathan | Oriel | | |
| Barbara Roche | Lady Margaret Hall | | |
| John Rodgers | | | |
| John Roper, Baron Roper | Magdalen | | |
| Christopher Rowland | Corpus Christi | | |
| Norman St John-Stevas, Baron St John of Fawsley | Christ Church | Conservative | |
| Duncan Sandys, Baron Duncan-Sandys | Magdalen | Conservative | |
| James Scott-Hopkins | | | |
| Brian Sedgemore | Corpus Christi | | |
| Gillian Shephard, Baroness Shephard of Northwold | St Hilda's | Conservative | |
| Siôn Simon | Magdalen | Labour | |
| George Evelyn Sinclair | Pembroke | | |
| John Sinclair | Trinity | | |
| John Smith | St John's | | |
| John Lindsay Eric Smith | New College | Conservative | |
| Peter Smithers | Magdalen | | |
| Harold Soref | The Queen's | | |
| Frank Soskice, Baron Stow Hill | Balliol | Labour | |
| Alexander Spearman | Hertford | | |
| Ivor Stanbrook | Pembroke | | |
| John Stanley | Lincoln | | |
| Phyllis Starkey | Lady Margaret Hall | | |
| Arthur Steel-Maitland | Balliol | | |
| Martin Stevens | Trinity | | |
| Michael Stewart, Baron Stewart of Fulham | St John's | Labour | |
| John Strachey | Magdalen | Labour | |
| William Strode | Exeter | | |
| Shirley Summerskill | Somerville | | |
| John Sutcliffe | New College | | |
| Peter Tapsell | Merton | | |
| Matthew Taylor | Lady Margaret Hall | Lib Dem | |
| William Teeling | Magdalen | | |
| Peter Thomas, Baron Thomas of Gwydir | Jesus | | |
| Jeremy Thorpe | Trinity | Liberal | |
| John Tilney | Magdalen | | |
| James Tinn | Jesus | | |
| Gordon Touche | University | | |
| Andrew Turner | Keble | | |
| Stephen Twigg | Balliol | Labour | |
| Andrew Tyrie | Trinity | | |
| Edward Vaizey | Merton | Conservative | |
| William Robert Seymour Vesey-FitzGerald | Christ Church and Oriel | | |
| David Waddington, Baron Waddington | Hertford | | |
| William Waldegrave, Baron Waldegrave of North Hill | Corpus Christi and All Souls | Conservative | |
| Brian Walden | The Queen's and Nuffield | Labour | |
| David Walder | Christ Church | | |
| Derek Walker-Smith | Christ Church | | |
| William Wallace, Baron Wallace of Saltaire | St Antony's | | |
| William Waller | Magdalen Hall | | |
| Steve Webb | Hertford | | |
| John Wells | Corpus Christi | | |
| William Thomas Wells | Balliol | | |
| Eirene Lloyd White, Baroness White | Somerville | | |
| Phillip Whitehead | Exeter | | |
| Ann Widdecombe | Lady Margaret Hall | Conservative | |
| Shirley Williams, Baroness Williams of Crosby | Somerville | Labour, Lib Dem | |
| Thomas Williams | St Catherine's and Manchester | | |
| W. Llewelyn Williams | Brasenose | | |
| Charles Williams-Wynn | Christ Church | | |
| Watkin Williams-Wynn | Jesus | | |
| Francis Windebank | St John's | | |
| Patrick Wolrige-Gordon | New College | | |
| Richard Wood, Baron Holderness | New College | | |
| Sir Marcus Worsley, 5th Baronet | New College | | |
| Tony Wright | Balliol | | |
| Derek Wyatt | St Catherine's | | |
| Woodrow Wyatt, Baron Wyatt of Weeford | Worcester | Labour, Conservative | |
| William Wyndham | Christ Church | | |
| John Wynn | | | |
| William Yates | Hertford | | |
| Kenneth Younger | New College | | |

## British Members of the European Parliament

Members of the European Parliament who have also been members of the parliament at Westminster appear in the list of MPs and life peers.
| Name | College | Party |
| Philip Bushill-Matthews | University | Conservative |
| Richard Corbett | Trinity | Labour |
| Daniel Hannan | Oriel | Conservative |
| Caroline Jackson | St Hugh's and Nuffield | Conservative |
| Christopher Jackson | Magdalen | Conservative |
| Stanley Johnson | Exeter | Conservative |
| Shaun Spiers | St John's | Labour |
| Charles Tannock | Balliol | Conservative |
| Arthur Wellesley, Marquess of Douro | Christ Church and Keble | Conservative |

## Sub-national politicians

Many MPs and MEPs have also been involved in local politics. They appear in their respective sections, above.
| Name | College | Years at Oxford | Party | Notes |
| Nicholas Boles | Magdalen | | | member of Westminster City Council 1998–2002 |
| Ian Frank Bowater | Magdalen | | | Lord Mayor of London 1969–1970 |
| Nicholas Bye | | | | Mayor of Torbay 2003–2004, directly elected mayor of Torbay 2005–; |
| Alexander Curtis | St Catherine's | 2015–2018 | Conservative | Ware Town Councillor 2015–, Mayor of Ware 2017– |
| George Gordon, 2nd Marquess of Aberdeen and Temair | Balliol | | | London County Council 1910–1925 & 1931–1934 |
| Cyril Jackson | New College | 1885 BA Literae Humaniores | | Agent-General for Western Australia 1910–11, Leader of London County Council 1911–15 |
| Boris Johnson | Balliol | | Conservative | Editor of The Spectator 1999–2005, MP for Henley 2001–2008, Mayor of London 2008–2016 |
| Christopher Newbury | Keble | | | member of Wiltshire County Council 1997–, of the Congress of the Council of Europe 1998– |
| Kathleen Ollerenshaw | Somerville | | | Lord Mayor of Manchester 1975–1976 |
| Lena Townsend | Somerville | | | Leader of the Inner London Education Authority 1969–1970 |
| Mike Woodin | Wolfson and Balliol | | | Green Party member of Oxford City Council 1994–2004 |

## Civil servants

| Name | College | Notes |
| Robert Armstrong, Baron Armstrong of Ilminster | Christ Church | Cabinet Secretary 1979–87 |
| Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges | Magdalen | Cabinet Secretary 1938–46, Permanent Secretary to the Treasury 1946–56 |
| Norman Brook, 1st Baron Normanbrook | Wadham | Secretary of the Cabinet 1947–62, Chairman of the BBC 1964–67 |
| Robin Butler, Baron Butler of Brockwell | University | Cabinet Secretary 1988–98, Master of University College, Oxford 1997– |
| Suma Chakrabarti | New College | Permanent Secretary to the Department for International Development |
| John Elvidge | | Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Executive 2003– |
| Thomas Farrer, 1st Baron Farrer | Balliol | permanent secretary to the Board of Trade 1867–86 |
| David Faulkner | St John's | Dep Secy, Home Office 1982–90; Chairman, Howard League for Penal Reform 1998–2002 |
| Warren Fisher | Hertford | Permanent Secretary of the Treasury and Head of the Civil Service 1919–39 |
| John Gieve | New College | permanent secretary, Home Office 2001–05; deputy governor, Bank of England 2006– |
| Robin Harris | | Director Conservative Research Department 1985–88, member Prime Minister's Policy Unit 1989–90 |
| David Kelly | Linacre | sometime UN weapons inspector and Head of Defence Microbiology Division Porton Down |
| Tim Lankester | Corpus Christi | Permanent Secretary Overseas Development Administration 1989–94 |
| Robin Leigh-Pemberton, Baron Kingsdown | Trinity | Governor of the Bank of England 1983–93 |
| Ralph Lingen, 1st Baron Lingen | Trinity and Balliol | Sec to the Education Office 1849–69, Permanent Secy to the Treasury 1869–85 |
| Nicholas Macpherson | Balliol | Permanent Secretary to the Treasury 2005– |
| Geoff Mulgan | Balliol | Dir Young Foundn 2005–, formerly Dir PM's Strategy Unit, Dir Demos 1993–98 |
| David Normington | Corpus Christi | Permanent Secretary to the Department for Education and Skills 2001–05, to the Home Office 2005– |
| Ronald Oxburgh, Baron Oxburgh | University | President Qu Coll Cam 82–88, Chief Scientific Adv MoD 88–93, Rector Imp Coll Lon 93–00 |
| John Rickard | St John's | Chief Economic Adviser, UK Government; Fiscal Advisor, Ministry of Finance, Republic of Moldova |
| Ivan Rogers | | Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister 2003– |
| Michael Scholar | St John's | Permanent Secy Welsh Office 1993–96, Department of Trade & Industry 1996–2001 |
| Martin Sixsmith | | Director of Communications, Department for Transport, Local Government, and the Regions 2001–02 |
| Nicholas Stern | | Prof of Economics LSE 1994–99; Chief Economist & Sen V-P World Bank 2000–03, Hd of Govt Economic Service 2003– |
| Will Straw | New College | |
| Henry Summers | Trinity | Under-Secretary to Ministry of Housing and Local Government 1955–71 |

## Diplomats

| Name | College | Notes |
| Antony Acland | Christ Church | head of Diplomatic Service 1982–86, ambassador to Washington 1986–91, provost of Eton 1991–2000 |
| Hugh James Arbuthnott | New College | Ambassador to Romania 1986–89, Portugal 1989–93, Denmark 1993–96 |
| Julian Asquith, 2nd Earl of Oxford and Asquith | Balliol | Governor of the Seychelles 1962–67 |
| Malcolm Barclay-Harvey | Christ Church | MP 1923–29 & 1931–39, Governor South Australia 1939–44 |
| Lord William Bentinck | Christ Church | Governor General of India 1828–35 |
| James Bryce, 1st Viscount Bryce | Trinity and Oriel | MP 1880–1907, Ambassador to the United States 1907–13 |
| George Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston | Balliol and All Souls | Viceroy of India 1899–1905, Foreign Secretary 1919–24 |
| John Hamilton-Gordon, 1st Marquess of Aberdeen and Temair | | Governor General of Canada 1893–98 |
| Frederick Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 1st Marquess of Dufferin and Ava | Christ Church | Gov Gen Canada 1872–78, Viceroy India 1884-8 |
| David Hannay, Baron Hannay of Chiswick | New College | Ambassador to EEC 1985–90, to UN 1990–96, UN Special Rep Cyprus 1996–2003 |
| Sir James Harford | Balliol | Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Saint Helena 1954–58 |
| Nicholas Henderson | Hertford | Ambassador to France 1975–79, to the US 1979–82, Lord Warden of the Stannaries 1985–90 |
| Michael Jay, Baron Jay of Ewelme | Magdalen | Ambassador to France 1996–2001; Permanent Under-Secretary, FCO 2002–06 |
| Gladwyn Jebb, 1st Baron Gladwyn | Magdalen | Acting Sec-Gen UN 1945–46, Ambassador to UN 1950–54, to France 1954–60, MEP 1973–76 |
| John Kerr, Baron Kerr of Kinlochard | Pembroke | Permanent Under-Sec, FCO 1997–2002; Sec Gen, European Convention 2000–03 |
| Murray MacLehose, Baron MacLehose of Beoch | Balliol | Governor of Hong Kong 1971–82 |
| John Maffey, 1st Baron Rugby | Christ Church | Gov-Gen Sudan 1926–33, Perm Under-Sec for Colonies 33–37, Rep to Ireland 39–48 |
| Frederick Millar, 1st Baron Inchyra | New College | Ambassador, W. Germany 1955–56, Permanent Under-Secy for Foreign Affairs 1957–62 |
| Edward Mortimer | All Souls | Hd of Speechwriting Executive Office of the Sec Gen of the UN 1998–, Dir of Communications 2001– |
| Arthur Nicolson, 1st Baron Carnock | | Ambassador to Spain 1904–5, to Russia 1905–10, Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs 1910–16 |
| David Ormsby-Gore, 5th Baron Harlech | | Ambassador to the United States 1961–65 |
| Ivor Roberts | Keble, St Antony's and Trinity | Ambassador to Yugoslavia 1992–98, Ireland 1999–2003, Italy 2003–06 |
| Frederic Rogers, 1st Baron Blachford | Oriel | Permanent Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies 1860–71 |
| Frederic Rogers, 1st Baron Blachford | Balliol | Permanent Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies 1860–71 |
| Nigel Sheinwald | Balliol | British Ambassador to the United States 2007-2012 |
| John Weston | Worcester | Dep Cabinet Secretary 1988–92, Permanent Rep NATO 1992–95, Permanent Rep UN 1995–98 |
| David Williamson, Baron Williamson of Horton | Exeter | Head of Eur Secretariat Cabinet Office 1983–87, Sec-Gen Eur Commn 1987–97 |

## Members of the Royal Household

| Name | College | Notes |
| Henry Agar-Ellis, 3rd Viscount Clifden | Christ Church | Gentleman of the Bedchamber to the Prince Consort 1846–52 |
| Sedley Andrus | | Lancaster Herald 1972–82, Beaumont Herald Extraordinary 1982– |
| George Bellew | Christ Church | Garter Principal King of Arms 1950–61, Secretary of the Order of the Garter 1961–74 |
| John Brooke-Little | New College | Clarenceux King of Arms 1995–97 |
| Clive Cheesman | | Rouge Dragon Pursuivant of Arms 1998–2010, Richmond Herald 2010– |
| Hubert Chesshyre | Christ Church | Clarenceux King of Arms 1997–2010 |
| Colin Cole | Brasenose | Garter Principal King of Arms 1978–92 |
| Robin de la Lanne-Mirrlees | Merton | Richmond Herald 1962–67 |
| Patric Dickinson | | Clarenceux King of Arms 2010–, Secretary of the Order of the Garter 2004– |
| Montague Eliot, 8th Earl of St Germans | Exeter | Groom of the Robes to HM King George V 1920–36 |
| Edward Ford | New College | Asst Private Secretary to HM King George VI 1946–52, to HM The Queen 1952–67, Extra Equerry 1955–2006 |
| Michael Maclagan | Trinity | Richmond Herald 1980–89 |
| Theobald Mathew | Balliol | Windsor Herald and Deputy Treasurer of the College of Arms 1978–97 |
| Iain Moncreiffe of that Ilk | Christ Church | Falkland Pursuivant 1952–53, Kintyre Pursuivant 1953–61, Albany Herald 1961–85 |
| Robert Noel | Exeter | Lancaster Herald 1999– |
| Michael Peat | Trinity | Principal Private Secretary to the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall 2005– |
| Matthew White Ridley, 4th Viscount Ridley | Balliol | Lord Steward of the Household 1989–2001 |
| Stuart Shilson | Balliol | Assistant Private Secretary to HM The Queen 2001–2004 |
| Anthony Wagner | Balliol | Garter Principal King of Arms 1961–78 |

## Military, security, and police personnel

Victoria Cross or George Cross recipients listed first.
| Name | College | Years at Oxford | Notes |
| Lieutenant General Sir Adrian Carton de Wiart, VC, KBE, CB, CMG, DSO | Balliol | | |
| Captain Dr Noel Godfrey Chavasse VC, Medal bar, Military Cross | Trinity College, Oxford | 1904–1907 | The only person to be awarded the Victoria Cross twice in World War I; the only man to be awarded both the VC and a bar in WWI - one of three men to have ever achieved it; also an Olympian and Medical Doctor. Graduated with First-class honours. With 16 War memorials, he is believed to be the most commemorated in the United Kingdom. Died in battle. |
| Group Captain Leonard Cheshire, Baron Cheshire, VC, OM, DSO and two bars, DFC, RAF | Merton | | |
| Captain John Liddell, VC, MC, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, RFC | Balliol | 1908–? | |
| Captain Robert Nairac, GC, Grenadier Guards | Lincoln | | |
| Colonel Sir Geoffrey Vickers, VC | Merton | | |
| Captain Garth Neville Walford, VC, Royal Regiment of Artillery | Balliol | 1900–? | |
| Trevor Bigham | Magdalen | | Deputy Commissioner of The Metropolitan Police 1931–1935 |
| Ian Blair | Christ Church | | Commissioner of The Metropolitan Police 2005 onwards |
| Paul Condon, Baron Condon | St Peter's | | Commissioner of The Metropolitan Police 1993–2000 |
| David Craig, Baron Craig of Radley | Lincoln | | Chief of the Defence Staff 1988–1991, Convenor of Crossbenchers 1999–2004 |
| Cressida Dick | Balliol | | Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Metropolitan Police 2006 onwards |
| Drury Curzon Drury-Lowe | Corpus Christi | | Lt-Gen British Army 1890–1908, Colonel of the 17th Lancers 1892–1895 |
| Colin McColl | The Queen's | | Director of the Secret Intelligence Service 1989–1994 |
| Eliza Manningham-Buller | Lady Margaret Hall | | Director-General of the Security Service 2002–2007 |
| Brian Paddick | The Queen's | | deputy assistant commissioner, Metropolitan Police 2003 onwards |
| John Rennie | Balliol | | Director of the Secret Intelligence Service 1968–1973 |
| John Scarlett | Magdalen | | Director of the Secret Intelligence Service 2004 onwards |
| David Spedding | Hertford | | Director of the Secret Intelligence Service 1994–1999 |
| David Westwood | Lady Margaret Hall | | Chief Constable of Humberside Police 1999–2005 |

## Other notable British people

| Name | College | Years at Oxford | Notes |
| Peter Benenson | Balliol | 1939–1940 | Left Oxford because of WWII. Founder, Amnesty International (1961); General Secretary (1961–64), President (1961–66) |
| Siân Berry | Trinity | 1997 (graduated) | Principal Speaker of the Green Party of England and Wales 2006–07, Mayor of London candidate 2008 |
| Nicky Blair | Lady Margaret Hall | 2004–2007 | Son of Tony Blair, Bachelor of Arts Modern History, Co-Chair Oxford University Labour Club Trinity Term 2006, schoolmaster |
| Beau Brummell | Oriel | 1794–? | Arbiter of fashion and friend of The Prince Regent |
| Emily Davison | St Hugh's | 1895 | First-class honours in English in the Oxford University examination for women, but women were unable to graduate at that time. Suffragette. |
| Vivien Duffield | Lady Margaret Hall | 1963–? | Philanthropist |
| Arnold Goodman, Baron Goodman | University | 1976–1986 (Master of University College) | Chairman of the Arts Council of Great Britain 1965–72 |
| Aletha Hayter | Lady Margaret Hall | 1930–1933 | British Council Representative to Belgium |
| Eglantyne Jebb | Lady Margaret Hall | 1895–1898 | founder of Save the Children Fund (1919) |
| Sir Nicholas Kenyon | Balliol | | Controller of BBC Radio 3 1992–1998 and Managing Director, Barbican Centre 2007– |
| Alexandra Knatchbull | Regent's Park College | 2002–2005 | BA Philosophy and Theology. Great-great-great-great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria, third cousin twice removed of The Queen, and god-daughter of Diana, Princess of Wales |
| Elizabeth Pakenham, Countess of Longford | Lady Margaret Hall | | |
| Rachel McLean | St Hilda's | 1989–1991 | English student and murder victim |
| Max Nicholson | Hertford | 1926–1929 | founder of British Trust for Ornithology (1932) and WWF (1961), president of RSPB 1980–85 |
| Beau Nash | Jesus | | Master of Ceremonies, Bath, Somerset |
| Tom Parker Bowles | Worcester | | Son of The Duchess of Cornwall and stepson and godson of The Prince of Wales. Member of Piers Gaveston Society. |
| Jonathon Porritt | Magdalen | | co-founder Forum for the Future 1996; Chairman Sustainable Development Commission 2000– |
| Ben Summerskill | Merton | | Chief Executive of Stonewall 2003– |
| Olive Willis | Somerville | 1895–1898 | founder of Downe House School |