Blackfriars Hall

Blackfriars Hall is a permanent private hall of the University of Oxford. Unlike a college, a Hall is owned and governed by an outside institution (in this case, the English Province of the Order of Preachers) and not by its fellows. Although historically a centre for the study of theology and philosophy informed by the intellectual tradition of St Thomas Aquinas, it now admits men and women of any faith to a wide range of postgraduate degree programmes in the humanities and social sciences. The current Regent of Blackfriars is Fr. John O'Connor, O.P..

Blackfriars Hall
Oxford
Arms: Gyronny sable and argent, a cross flory counterchanged.
Location	St Giles', Oxford
Latin name	Aula Fratrum Praedicatorum
Established	1994
Named after	The black cappa of the Dominican friars
Regent	Rev. John O’Connor, OP[1]
Undergraduates	(8) (visiting students only)
Postgraduates	53+ [2]
Website	Hall website

Blackfriars Hall is the home of a number of other institutes including, the Las Casas Institute on ethics, governance and social justice.[3] Launched in November 2008, the institute contributes to the hall's founding vision to be a centre of the social as well as the sacred sciences.[4] Its founding director (from October 2008 to January 2011) was Francis Davis;[5] As of 2022 the director is Richard Finn.[6]

The Aquinas Institute was established in 2004 under the directorship of Fergus Kerr.[7] It aims to foster study of St Thomas at Oxford through seminars, conferences, summer schools and programmes. Patrons of the institute include John Haldane, Alasdair MacIntyre and Eleonore Stump.[8]