The Oxford Internet Institute—founded in 2001—is a multidisciplinary research and teaching department of the University of Oxford, dedicated to the social science of the Internet.

Digital connections are now embedded in almost every aspect of our daily lives, and research on individual and collective behaviour online is crucial to understanding our social, economic, and political world.

• Research: We have unprecedented access to a huge volume of rich social data, and are developing new theories, concepts and methods to analyse it.   About our research
• Teaching: Our Masters and doctoral programmes bring students from all over the world, to work with our faculty at the cutting edge of their fields.   Study at the OII
• Policy: We provide the empirical data and conceptual analysis that is so needed to design policy solutions to societal problems.   About our policy work

Our academic faculty and graduate students are drawn from many different disciplines: we believe this combined approach is essential to tackle society’s ‘big questions’.  Together, we aim to positively shape the development of our digital world for the public good.

The OII aims to operate at the cutting edge in both quantitative, qualitative and computational methodologies that cut across disciplines and topics.  The core of our activity is to develop rigorous peer-reviewed research and disseminate the outputs in high-quality journals, while working together with partners and stakeholders to inform and shape policy and practice.

Our research focuses on areas critical to the public interest and in many cases to advancing fairness in technology.  Our research has already delivered significant impact.  Our faculty were among the first to draw the world’s attention to “fake news” and defined the concept of “big data”.  They have undertaken ground-breaking research into technology and wellbeing using real-time industry data and persuaded major global firms to adopt new methods and practices.  OII researchers have developed the first global ratings system for firms operating in the gig economy and had a significant role in influencing the online harms debate in the UK.

Our four teaching programmes graduate around 80 students a year across our two Masters programmes in addition to around seven doctoral students.  Many of our talented alumni go on to perform important roles and achieve significant accomplishments in the world of policymaking, technology development, civil society and academia.

In 2025, the OII will take up residence in the new Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities, moving from our current location across three sites on St Giles.