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 Oxford Living Wage (effective from 1 April 2026)

With effect from 1 April 2026, University staff and apprentices on the lowest three points (across grades 1-2) of the University’s main salary scale will receive a salary increase to reflect the rise in the Oxford Living Wage. The Oxford Living Wage is rising from £13.16 to £14.06 per hour. The increased rates will be live in the April payroll. The increase will be applied by temporarily uplifting the relevant pay spine hourly rates and the Oxford University Weighting. This ensures alignment with our commitment to the Oxford Living Wage while national pay discussions are ongoing. No adjustments have been made to reconcile spine points at this stage, while we await the outcome of national negotiations. This interim uplift is separate from any future pay changes, which will be determined following the outcome of the national pay negotiations. Further information will be communicated once the national negotiations have concluded.   

The revised rates should be applied to new appointments and vacancies from 1 April 2026. Uplifts for existing staff will be implemented by central teams. View the updated pay spine below.

 

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. 

Expand All

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

 

Historic uplift amounts of the nationally negotiated pay spine 
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

Related links