| Uplift type | Uplift amount |
|---|---|
| 2025 Main pay spine (August 2025) | 1.4% and changes to OUW |
| 2025 Clinical Consultant pay award (April) | 4% |
|
2025 Pay award for clinical staff below consultants
|
Pay awards
Information for staff about pay awards
The Universities & Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) conducts collective pay negotiations with the five Higher Education trade unions (UCU, UNISON, Unite, EIS and GMB) on behalf of a significant number of UK HE institutions. This is done through the Joint Negotiating Committee for Higher Education Staff (JNCHES). UCEA member institutions decide individually whether they will participate in each negotiating round to address the uplift to be applied to the national pay spine. The negotiations take place annually, between March and May with dispute resolution meetings held in July if necessary.
The University remains committed to the national bargaining arrangements via New JNCHES and is committed to constructive dialogue with the trade unions. Once agreed for implementation, the University applies the pay award to all staff on non-clinical grades. Further information about the process is available from the UCEA website.
Oxford University Weighting
Separate arrangements are in place to review the Oxford University Weighting. In September 2024, the University implemented the Oxford University Weighting for all University staff on grades 1–10 of the main salary and grading structure. The Oxford University Weighting is paid in addition to nationally negotiated pay spine salaries. It is applied pro-rata for part-time and hourly paid staff and in-year starters and leavers. For colleagues with joint appointments, the University will pay its proportionate share of the weighting.
Clinical pay awards
Separate arrangements exist for Clinical pay awards, which are agreed nationally by UCEA and effective from 1 April each year. The awards tend to reflect what has been agreed for NHS salary scales.
Changes to the University pay spine (effective from 1 August 2025 until 31 July 2026)
The national pay negotiations for 2025/26 have now concluded, and University non-clinical salary scales have been updated to reflect a 1.4% pay award. This increase will be implemented in the September payroll and backdated to 1 August 2025, covering the period from 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026.
In addition to the national pay award, University Council also decided to both increase the Oxford University Weighting and extend it to all non-clinical staff. As such, the Oxford University Weighting will increase by 15% (£230). It will also be extended to staff beyond those on grade 1-10 for the first time. This includes non-clinical staff on the University Terms & Conditions including Associate Professors, Statutory Professors, and senior staff above Grade 10.
It is pro-rated for part time staff. For colleagues with joint appointments, the University will pay its proportionate share of the weighting.
The increase is effective from 1 August 2025, and will be paid on September payday (Monday 29 September 2025).
Pay scales
Information about past pay awards (both clinical and non-clinical) can be downloaded below.
| Uplift type | Uplift amount |
| 2023 Clinical pay award (April) | n/a |
| 2023 Pay award for all non-clinical staff (August) | top up to 5% (from spine point 28) |
| £1000 | |
|
2023 Pay award for clinical staff below consultants (April)
|
| PERS(22)04 |
Clinical consultants pay award |
| 2022 Pay award for all non-clinical staff | |
| PERS(22)01 |
2022 Pay award for clinical staff below consultants |
| PERS(21)01 |
Increase to Oxford Living Wage |
| PERS(21)03 |
Clinical pay uplift 2021
|
| PERS(21)05 |
Non-clinical pay award 2021/22 |
| PERS(21)06 |
2021 Salary increases for clinical consultants |
| PERS(20)01 |
Clinical pay uplift 2020
|
| PERS(20)02 |
Pay awards and implementation of the Oxford Living Wage |
| PERS(20)03 |
2020 pay uplift for clinical consultants |
| PERS(19)07 | 2019 Salary increases for clinical academic and related staff |
| PERS(19)06 | Revision of University salary scales 2019: all non-clinical staff |
| PERS(19)04 | Recoding miscellaneous pay and the introduction of new allowances |
| PERS(19)02 | Hours on payslips |
| PERS(18)05 |
2018 Salary increases for clinical academic and related staff |
| PERS(18)04 |
Revision of University salary scales 2018: all non-clinical staff |
| PERS(18)01 |
The Living Wage: Change to Grade 1 and Grade 1A of the salary and grading structure |
| Month | Year | Uplift | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| August | 2005 | 3% | |
| August | 2006 | 3% | or £515, whichever is greater |
| February | 2007 | 1% | |
| August | 2007 | 3% | |
| May | 2008 | 3% | or £240, whichever is greater |
| October | 2008 | 5% | or 2.5% or RPO whichever is greater |
| August | 2009 | 0.5% | |
| August | 2010 | 0.4% | |
| August | 2011 | £150 | |
| August | 2012 | 1% | |
| August | 2013 | 1% | |
| August | 2014 | 2% | |
| August | 2015 | 1% | up to 2.65% on points 1-8 |
| August | 2016 | 1.1% | up to 2% on points 1-3 |
| August | 2017 | 1.7% | up to 2.24% on points 1-12 |
| August | 2018 | 2% | up to 2.55% on points 1-10 |
| August | 2019 | 1.8% | up to 3.53% on points 1-11 |
| August | 2020 | 0% | Living Wage point implemented at Oxford |
| August | 2021 | 1.5% | up to 2.45% on points 11-21 |
| August | 2022 | 3% | up to 5.5% on points 11-19 |
| February | 2023 | £1,000 | 2% on points 42-55 |
| August | 2023 | 5% | top up from Feb to 5% above spine point 26 (up to 8% below this) |
| August | 2024 | TBC |
Earlier circulars
If you need a copy of an earlier circular copies can be requested from reward@admin.ox.ac.uk
