Which university did Stephen Hawking attend for his undergraduate degree?

Stephen Hawking attended the University of Oxford for his undergraduate degree, studying physics at University College, Oxford. He began there in 1959, aged 17, and graduated with a first-class BA degree in 1962.

Hawking initially found the academic work at Oxford relatively easy and later estimated that he studied for about 1,000 hours during his three years there. He became socially active, joined the University College Boat Club, and served as a coxswain for its rowing crew. His time at Oxford helped shape the lively personality that later became part of his public image.

The main confusion is that Hawking is also strongly associated with the University of Cambridge. Cambridge was where he completed his graduate work and earned his PhD in 1966, specialising in general relativity and cosmology. His undergraduate institution, however, was Oxford.

The distinction matters because Hawking’s academic career was divided between the two historic universities: Oxford for his first degree and Cambridge for his doctoral studies and most of his professional life.