As arguably the top university in the world Oxford University is valued as an education facility by businesses and other educational institutions alike. As a prestigious institution the expectations from users for its website will be high. The website analysis has been done to establish whether the website caters to its audience and reflects the quality to be expected from such a top class educational facility.

The homepage of Oxford University is striking to say the least. The dark background provides the feeling of importance which is associated with the institution. The logo is clearly displayed in the upper left corner and the search facility is on top which is the best position to ensure that the user sees it immediately. There is also a contact person search which is equally useful. With such a large site, the user requires a sitemap. Fortunately it is provided to help with orientation. The sitemap is also a must for search engine optimisation.

A quick links option with a dropdown menu ensures easy navigation without having to drill through several categories to find information. If a site is updated on a regular basis it is useful to supply last updated information as has been done at the Oxford University website. The copyright notice is displayed and the contacts link is to be found at the bottom. The page provides a form for completion and several contact options. The website also includes an accessibility statement page where information such as downloading of PDF files, font sizes and more is provided.

What is striking is that it offers a directory like first page with several text links organized under specific headings. When you read the “about this site” page you immediately understand why this system is employed. Without it, it would have been extremely difficult to navigate through the website as it consists of more than 150 sites making up the Oxford University website.

Consistency cannot be guaranteed throughout simply because there are so many sites which operate under different departments and bodies. The Oxford University website however, has succeeded in providing an overall professional image, highly relevant content, and an exceptionally well organized website to its users.

Users will find the online facilities, enrolment options, and comprehensive information particularly useful. The rest of the pages have light or white backgrounds ensuring easy readability. Standard web fonts have been used and information is organized in a logical manner. The pages are not excessively long and text is complimented through images which contain ALT tags. The quality of the images is excellent and because the Oxford University website is not overloaded with images and multimedia it downloads fast.

The user will not get lost even though it is a complex site, since the “You are here” application is utilized as well as a home link option provided throughout navigation. Image maps are supplied which can be used to locate Oxford University campuses and offices around the world. In addition text links which are underlined and thus identifiable are provided. The central website utilizes Google Maps. The site is best browsed through the use of Firefox 2 or Internet Explorer 6 and 7 if pc user. The Mac user will be able to get the most from browsing through the use of Safari 2 and Firefox 2.

The user focus is evident in the availability of the site in different formats which can be requested by contacting the webmaster. The formats include CD and large print.

The links are descriptive of the content pages whereto linked. Users can also make use of the tab key on their keyboards to move from one link to another. Interactivity is increased through the use of tools such as blogs where ideas are shared and discussions promoted. Videos are supplied at the blogs and other relevant pages. Student comments can be accessed to help prospective students make informed decisions.

What makes the Oxford University website so successful is the way that information is organized and multimedia utilized in a practical manner. Internet marketing is not left behind as the “recommend this page” option is provided as a viral marketing tool. The site boasts a top Google Page Rank of 9 at the date of website analysis (May 9, 2008). Contributing factors to its excellent ranking include:

• Sitemap
• Content
• Lay-out
• Internal Links
• WC3 compliance
• Sound SEO policies
• Viral marketing techniques
• Incoming links which amount to 502,300
• Authority

From the website analysis done, it is evident that the Oxford University website design ensures a pleasant visit and that the content organization has been well-planned. Visit their site whether you are a prospective student, someone wanting to start a career at the institution or even as researcher requiring information.