We realise that given the current global situation and with College effectively “on pause” for the moment, you probably won’t be able to visit in person for some time.

Some very exciting things have been happening and we want to offer you the chance to see these from the comfort of your own home. That’s why we’d like to welcome you to Univ in a slightly different way – via our new VR app.

With our VR app you can navigate your way around Univ with a 360° tour of key parts of College and take a glimpse into the near-future with a look at developments in North Oxford. Explore and rediscover locations such as the Hall, Chapel, and the Shelley Memorial, and then immerse yourself in 3D renderings from University College, North Oxford.

We hope you will enjoy both the familiar and the new.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is VR?

VR (Virtual Reality) is the use of computer technology to create a simulated, 3D environment. Our VR app will make you feel like you are actually visiting Univ; you turn your head and the world turns with you.

Where can I get the Univ VR app?

The Univ VR App is available both in the App Store and Google Play, so both IOS and Android users can download it. If you have an Apple device, please search for “Univ VR App” in the App Store. If you have an Android device, please follow this link to download the app.

Why have you done this?

The Univ, North Oxford project represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the College; we have not seen an expansion like this since the Radcliffe Quad was completed in 1719. As not everyone is in a position to visit the College, we want to bring the College to you. VR is also a great way to showcase the architects’ plans in North Oxford.

Who made the app?

The app is the product of a collaboration between the Development Office, two University of Oxford postdocs, and the team at Níall McLaughlin Architects, who have provided the 360° images.

How do I get a headset?

VR headsets can be bought online or in store – in the UK VR headsets vary greatly in price and quality. We have created a limited number of our own branded headsets, which we can post to you free of charge. Please email us (development@univ.ox.ac.uk) to register your interest in receiving a headset.

How do I use the App?

When you open the Univ VR App on your device, you will have a choice between visiting a) the College, b) Univ North or c) our website. Navigation is very similar in both VR tours. To visit any of the locations, simply align the white dot with the location you would like to visit, it will open up to a circle, then tap the screen to enter. Our Univ headset has a space (marked “screen tap hole”) at the bottom, which allows you to insert your finger and touch the screen.

If at any point you would like to revisit the App’s home screen, look down and select the blue exit square – this will bring you back home. When visiting one of the 360 images at Univ North, you can always find your way to the main Univ North navigation page by looking down and selecting the house icon.

In many of the locations you visit in the Univ VR App, we have arranged for someone to tell you a bit more about the site. To get the full effect please make sure to have the sound on your device set to “on”.

We hope you enjoy the app.

If you have a question which is not listed, please get in touch with Gordon Cox at Gordon.Cox@univ.ox.ac.uk

Published: 6 April 2020

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