University of Oxford The University of Oxford , also known as Oxford University or simply Oxford , was a university located in the English town of the same name . Students . Richard Francis Burton studied at Oxford before being recruited by the Star Chamber . ( PROSE : " The Book of the War " ) Oscar Wilde read Classics there ( at Magdalen ) in the late 19th century . ( PROSE : " The Scarlet Empress " ) Gordon Seavers studied natural science for two years under Professor Sowerden during the later years of the 19th century . ( PROSE : " The Banquo Legacy " ) Constance Clarke received a first in modern languages at Somerville College , University of Oxford . ( AUDIO : " Criss - Cross " ) In 1993 , Tom Cheynor attended school there and studied under Professor Rafferty . ( PROSE : " The Dimension Riders " ) Arthur Tyler III and Pierre - Yves Dudoin were roommates . They graduated the same year as fellow classmate Christine Holland . ( PROSE : " Escape Velocity " ) Luke Smith got his A Levels a year ahead of schedule and left to study at Oxford in September 2010 . He took K9 with him . ( TV : " The Nightmare Man " ) Although not a student , the Qetesh known as Ruby White constructed a false backstory for her human identity which included a first - class degree in biophysics from Oxford . ( TV : " Goodbye , Sarah Jane Smith " ) Teachers . In 1898 , Sowerden was a professor of natural science . ( PROSE : " The Banquo Legacy " ) In 1901 , John Lafayette taught linguistics there . ( PROSE : " Walking to Babylon " , AUDIO : " Walking to Babylon " ) In 1906 , Alexander Hugh was professor of advanced sciences . ( COMIC : " Final Sacrifice " ) In 1911 , Marcus Scarman was a fellow and professor of Archaeology at All Souls College . ( TV : " Pyramids of Mars " ) In 1944 , Alan Turing gave a lecture on Computable Numbers at St John ' s College , University of Oxford . ( PROSE : " The Turing Test " ) In 1977 , Dame Emily Shaw taught Medieval Studies at St Matilda College , of which was also the dean . ( AUDIO : " The Cloisters of Terror " ) In 1993 , the Seventh Doctor ' s friend James Rafferty held the post of Professor of the newly - established department of Extra - Terrestrial Studies . ( PROSE : " The Dimension Riders " ) In 2013 , Cedric Chivers taught there . ( AUDIO : " The Time Machine " ) Centuries after the 28th , Lorraine Baynes taught history there . ( AUDIO : " Davros " ) Behind the scenes . Real world connections . Real world Oxford alumni with connections to " Doctor Who " include Ian Marter and Richard Dawkins . Show producers , such as Russell T Davies , also attended the university . Torchwood website . The series 2 version of the Torchwood website had a profile of 1918 Torchwood Three operatives , including Harriet Derbyshire . It said that in her time period , though women could attend lectures and sit examinations , they could not take degrees . Harriet sat in physics lectures at the University of Oxford , educating herself in the subject " for years " . Recognising her aptitude , a professor at the University recommended her to Torchwood . Prior to her death in 1919 , she was making notes for a paper that would have " beaten Heisenberg to the Uncertainty Principle " . When Oxford changed its regulations in 1920 , Harriet was given a posthumous degree .