CTRC Visit Information
We look forward to welcoming visitors to the CTRC. Here we share details about admission and access processes, rules and regulations, the spaces, services and facilities available, plus general further information.
Admissions and access
The Collections Teaching and Research Centre (CTRC) is a new facility for staff, students and researchers, significantly extending access to – and care for – Oxford University collections.
The CTRC contains over one million objects from the University’s four museums, alongside the resources for exceptional object-based teaching and research activity.
The Centre becomes a leading establishment for collections activities; meanwhile each University museum will continue to store, and provide access to, some objects elsewhere.
The CTRC is a resource for staff, researchers and students within and beyond Oxford University.
Visits to the CTRC are by pre-arranged appointment only.
We welcome enquiries about teaching visits from Oxford University staff as well as members of other institutions.
We also welcome research visit enquiries from Oxford University staff and students and from researchers associated with other academic institutions, or anyone conducting research activity for other purposes.
The CTRC is not accessible to the public for general visiting, although occasionally it may be open for pre-advertised bookable tours.
The CTRC is open Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm. The Centre is open throughout the calendar year, with the exception of UK public holidays. Please note that accessing the CTRC is only possible by pre-arranged appointment.
The CTRC remains open as normal during both Oxford University term time and vacation periods.
Non-members of the University may wish to note that the CTRC may be particularly busy during Oxford term time. Dates for each academic year can be found here.
Research activity
The CTRC houses collections from Oxford University’s four museums. To book a research visit, you first need to identify which museum’s collections you wish to study.
Each museum has an online database of their collections which we encourage you to search through:
Once you have identified your museum, please follow the Using Our Collections guidance provided by that institution. Each museum provides contact details for initial enquiries, and the access request should be made directly to that institution:
- For the Ashmolean, please contact the relevant curatorial team
- Department of Antiquities
- Department of Eastern Art
- Department of Western Art by emailing western.art@ashmus.ox.ac.uk
- History of Science Museum
- Museum of Natural History
- Pitt Rivers Museum
If you wish to conduct cross-collections research activity, we ask that you contact each museum and note in your enquiry that you are interested in cross-collection activity with another museum. Across the four institutions, we will then work carefully together to develop a visit with you.
If museum institutions choose to facilitate your research activity, staff will ask you for some further information (such as your availability and any access needs) and then - if appropriate - pass the details on to CTRC staff. You will receive confirmation of your appointment at the CTRC and visit guidance via email.
Please note that each museum continues to store, and provide access to, many objects in locations other than the CTRC.
We ask for four working weeks to arrange a research visit. Please try to make enquiries as far in advance as possible, although we will always endeavour to facilitate requests on a shorter timescale.
We ask that you wait until arrangements are confirmed before booking any form of travel or accommodation as part of a visit to the CTRC.
Research visits to the CTRC are typically possible from half day appointments, either morning or afternoon. Details for your visit will be confirmed via direct email.
Before you visit, you will receive an email with information including directions, and guidance on what to bring with you.
When you arrive, a member of staff will greet you and then escort you to the CTRC on the lower floor (level -1). You will be briefed on the CTRC’s code of conduct together with the relevant collections care requirements for your chosen object(s), and taken to the room where your object(s) will be set up and ready for you.
Teaching activity
The CTRC houses collections from Oxford University’s four museums. To book teaching activity, you first need to identify which museum’s collections you wish to work with.
Each museum has an online database of their collections which we encourage you to search through:
Each museum arranges their own teaching commitments. Requests to develop and deliver object-based teaching should be made to the individual institution:
- Ashmolean - please see information here and email uae@ashmus.ac.uk
- History of Science Museum by emailing collections@hsm.ox.ac.uk
- Museum of Natural History - information here and follow the instructions to submit a form
- Pitt Rivers Museum – see information here and email objects.colls@prm.ox.ac.uk
If you wish to conduct cross-collections teaching, we ask that you contact each museum and include reference in your enquiry that you are interested in cross-collection activity with another museum. Across the four institutions, we will then work carefully together to create the session with you.
If museum institutions choose to facilitate your teaching activity, staff will agree all operational details with you directly.
Pre-visit information will be sent to you via email, and we ask that this is distributed to all attendees of the teaching session.
On the day of the teaching activity itself, staff will greet you on arrival and escort your group throughout the visit.
Please note that each museum continues to store, and provide access to, some objects in locations other than the CTRC.
For the 2026-27 academic year, arrangements for object-based teaching in the CTRC will be confirmed at least one term in advance; individual teaching sessions with a shorter lead time will be facilitated where possible.
These lead times may be subject to change in future academic years.
At present bookings for the CTRC are not linked to any student systems. This means bookings will be confirmed via email and it is then the responsibility of the booker to share the relevant information with students.
Yes it is possible to visit the CTRC in advance. You can book onto one of our periodic tours or make a request for a one-off visit within your teaching approach to museum institutions.
Bookings for teaching activity should include any time needed for set-up before your session and pack-down afterwards. Please discuss requirements with staff during your enquiry process.
We ask that groups arrive together, and a member of staff will greet you on arrival. Staff will escort your group to the CTRC, located on the lower floor (level -1) of its building, and on to the room where your session will take place. Your object(s) will be set up and ready for you.
Rules and regulations
We ask that visitors to the CTRC respect that it is a working space, with some shared passageways, rooms and other spaces. Visitors must also follow all collections-care instructions issued. Anyone causing a disturbance to other users or a risk to objects will be asked to adjust their behaviour or leave; we reserve the right to refuse permission of entry.
Please note that neither smoking nor vaping are permitted in any Oxford University premises.
The CTRC has an obligation to care for the University collections and many objects in the collections are extremely old, fragile and exceptionally rare.
All visitors will be asked to take special precautions to ensure the safety and long-term preservation of the objects being viewed; this may include wearing gloves, using specialist object supports or other collections best-practice activity, and using pencil rather than pen for notetaking. Details will be provided in information sent prior to your visit, and staff will additionally provide in-depth advice at the beginning of your appointment.
Pending each individual institution agreeing to facilitate your request, CTRC staff can arrange for multiple objects to be viewed in one visit.
We appreciate that seeing one object may inspire interest in related material. Where possible, we will consider requests to view additional objects, although this will depend on the circumstances on the day.
We therefore ask that you undertake as much research as possible - via each museum's Collections Online database - ahead of your initial visit enquiry to anticipate what you may need. You can of course make new requests to return on a future occasion.
The appropriate number of objects to view in one appointment will vary on case-by-case basis. Staff will be able to advise during your enquiry process and we will facilitate multiple objects within reason.
For the long-term preservation and care of collections, no food or chewing gum is allowed anywhere in the CTRC.
When teaching or research activity is taking place with objects from the University’s collections, no drinks of any kind (including water bottles) are allowed inside the CTRC’s teaching rooms.
No drinks of any kind (including water bottles) are allowed inside the CTRC’s collections stores.
Water bottles and other personal belongings may be left in dedicated storage close to the CTRC entrance, where individuals may access them during the course of a visit.
Please note that there are no facilities for visitors to prepare food or drink onsite at the CTRC. Within the building, our neighbour the Radcliffe Science Library has a limited vending machine offer. However to purchase food and drink we recommend the nearby Horsebox Coffee Co, situated on the Museum of Natural History’s lawn, or the Taylors Museum Café inside on the museum’s first floor.
Photography of collections material is normally permitted for personal use only.
For permission to publish images, please follow the guidelines set out by the object’s home institution:
Spaces, services and facilities
There are three separate spaces for teaching activity (lectures, classes and tutorials), each with a capacity of 20 seated. These rooms are modular and can be joined together, including to create one large space with the capacity of 96 seated. When not in use for teaching, the three teaching rooms also host research visits.
On a case-by-case basis, activity may also take place in a shared study room or directly in the collections store. CTRC staff will always ensure the most appropriate allocation of space to accommodate every visit.
In addition to the spaces for teaching and research, the CTRC is comprised of high-quality collections storage across two levels, with bespoke solutions for each unique collection and environmental controls, alongside a conservation laboratory and a digitisation studio.
WiFi
Visitors are able to connect to free WiFi on personal devices via a public network or the Eduroam network.
Use of the public WiFi is subject only to the acceptance of terms of use. Eduroam is open to all Oxford University students and staff, as well as members of other academic institutions who already have an account.
Other equipment
The CTRC’s teaching rooms offer AV equipment including screens, with use instructions available onsite.
Outlets
A limited number of plug sockets suitable for charging personal laptops or mobile devices are available.
Storage
Lockable storage is available close to the CTRC entrance. We ask that all visitors leave personal belongings (with the exception of any laptop, notepaper, pencils or camera required for a visit) in the storage before entering the CTRC.
Toilets
Gender-neutral accessible toilets are available on the building’s ground floor and gendered facilities are available on the lower floor (level -1), near the CTRC’s entrance.
Further information
Information including the CTRC’s address and directions will be sent via email before a visit.
At present only the Pitt Rivers Museum can offer the option of virtual research visits. Please get in touch to discuss this option with them.
During the course of a visit either colleagues from your object’s home institution or CTRC staff will be available to offer collections-based help and assistance.
The three teaching spaces each have AV equipment including TV monitor screens. Whiteboards and flipcharts (with stands) will also be available. Objects will be presented with all appropriate collections-safeguarding materials.
At present, we ask that teaching staff supply any further equipment themselves.
We prioritise usage of the CTRC for delivering objects-based teaching and research visits with the collections held in the CTRC.
On occasion it may be possible for Oxford University members to use the CTRC for other University-specific activity, subject to discussion and variable charges. For enquiries, please contact ctrc@glam.ox.ac.uk.
Please contact us by emailing ctrc@glam.ox.ac.uk and we look forward to helping.
