THE WARDEN AND SCHOLARS OF THE HOUSE OR COLLEGE OF SCHOLARS OF MERTON IN THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD
Financial health, per its FY2023 accounts
The accounts state that the College reported a net deficit of £2.47 million for the year, driven by a £2.96 million loss on investments, although this was an improvement on the previous year's £3.87 million deficit. Total net assets decreased to £358.06 million, with free reserves standing at £8.43 million, which the trustees note represents nearly seven months of expected expenditure against a policy target of two to four months. The trustees confirmed the College has adequate resources to continue as a going concern.
What the accounts disclose
“The College’s target is to maintain free reserves of at least two to four months of expected expenditure.” — page 22
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/07/2025)
Trustees
- ANDREW MACKIE
- CHARLES ALAN HEATHCOTE ALEXANDER
- Dr Alice Brooke
- Dr Andres Bustamante
- Dr Bassel Tarbush
- Dr Gabrielle Messeder
- Dr JULIA CAROLINE WALWORTH
- Dr Jane Gover
- Dr Jennifer Altehenger
- Dr Kate Blackmon
- Dr Katharina Friege
- Dr Lindsay Baker
- Dr Matthew Grimley
- Dr Raz Slutsky
- Dr Rory Gregson
- Dr Sumali Bajaj
- Dr Ted Tregear
- FRA' JOHN EIDINOW
- Mark Coote
- PROF DAVID PATERSON
- PROFESSOR ALAN MORRISON
- PROFESSOR ALEXANDER SCOTT
- PROFESSOR ARTUR EKERT
- PROFESSOR HUGH WATKINS
- PROFESSOR IRENE LEMOS
- PROFESSOR PETER WILLIAM HAROLD HOLLAND
- PROFESSOR SIMON MARTIN HOOKER
- PROFESSOR SIR ANDREW WILES
- Prof Radek Erban
- Prof. Daniel MacGregor Grimley
- Professor ALAN BARR
- Professor ALEXANDER SCHEKOCHIHIN
- Professor Ehud Hrushovski
- Professor Helen Small
- Professor IAN MACLACHLAN
- Professor JONATHAN RALPH WARBURG PRAG
- Professor James Newton
- Professor Julian Knight
- Professor Lorna Hutson
- Professor MICHAEL WHITWORTH
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/07/2025 | £20.4m | £24.0m |
| 31/07/2024 | £21.2m | £21.9m |
| 31/07/2023 | £19.3m | £19.0m |
| 31/07/2022 | £15.1m | £19.0m |
| 31/07/2021 | £13.8m | £17.0m |
Common questions
Is THE WARDEN AND SCHOLARS OF THE HOUSE OR COLLEGE OF SCHOLARS OF MERTON IN THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD financially healthy?
The accounts state that the College reported a net deficit of £2.47 million for the year, driven by a £2.96 million loss on investments, although this was an improvement on the previous year's £3.87 million deficit. Total net assets decreased to £358.06 million, with free reserves standing at £8.43 million, which the trustees note represents nearly seven months of expected expenditure against a policy target of two to four months. The trustees confirmed the College has adequate resources to continue as a going concern. Its FY2023 accounts were audited by Critchleys Audit LLP.