Accessibility

Our commitment to accessibility

At Oxford University Press, we always seek to make our products accessible to, and inclusive of all our users, including those with visual, hearing, cognitive, or motor impairments.

To support these goals, we follow the general principles of web usability and universal design and, where feasible, endeavour to make our platforms and services accessible to all regardless of physical or cognitive impairment or the device used.

While level AA of the World Wide Web Consortium Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG 2.1) is often the standard specified in legislation, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (1990), the European Accessibility Act (2025), and other relevant regulations, we have been working towards a higher standard (WCAG 2.2) for many years.

We keep this page updated so you can find the most accurate information about the accessibility of Oxford Learning Link.

Guidance on navigating the site

Note: For many OUP titles, Oxford Learning Link content is available via the Oxford Learning Link platform, which can be navigated with both a mouse and a keyboard. However, our content is also available in courseware on a third-party platform, and via links embedded in individual instructors’ courses within an institution’s LMS/VLE. In those cases, the Oxford Learning Link interface (site navigation, header links, footer links, etc.) is not displayed to the user, and so the guidance below regarding those elements does not apply:

Skip links

Each page includes a “Skip” link that allows you to move directly to the main content, bypassing navigation elements. The link appears when you first tab into the page. The skip links will take you to different locations depending on the page, but in most cases the links will jump to the first link in the page’s left-hand column.

• Oxford Learning Link Homepage -> link to Carousel
• Search results page -> body section
• Product title homepage -> body section
• Student and instructor/lecturer resources homepage -> body section

Menus

All dropdown menus are usable with a keyboard by tabbing to the menu and then pressing the Enter/Return key to open the menu. The items within each menu can be reached by pressing the Up-Arrow and Down-Arrow keys and selected via the Enter/Return key. To exit a menu without selecting a menu item, use Shift + Tab.

Pop-ups

Several site features are contained within pop-ups. When a keyboard is used to open a pop-up, the focus will be moved into the pop-up and remain within the popup until the user tabs to the ‘Close’ icon and selects it. When the popup closes, the focus returns to the original link that opened the pop-up.

Links

All links are designed to be accessible via keyboard navigation and standard browser controls. When a link receives focus via the Tab key, it will be outlined by your browser’s default style. Once selected, links can be activated by pressing Enter/Return.

Additional support from other sources

There may be browser features or extensions, or physical settings and overlays, which can support your individual needs. Further tips and guidance for adjusting your device can be found on  AbilityNet’s My Computer My Way resource.

How accessible is Oxford Learning Link?

We are currently targeting adherence to level AA of the World Wide Web Consortium Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.2 (WCAG 2.2).

We commission independent Voluntary Product Accessibility Templates (VPATs) to help us better understand how we can improve accessibility on Oxford Learning Link. Annual VPAT assessments are conducted across multiple browsers and devices using accessibility tools such as NVDA.

The outcome of this assessment is an Accessibility Conformance Report. In our latest assessment from 2026, we achieved full conformance with WCAG 2.2.

Browser and mobile device support

Oxford Learning Link is optimized for use with currently supported, secure versions of these browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari. It can be accessed using older versions, but some features may not function properly. Please check your browser version or contact your organization's IT department for details on any browser updates available.

Oxford Learning Link sometimes uses third-party software to display certain types of content. This software may have features that are not supported by all browsers. Where possible, Oxford University Press works with the relevant third-party developer to address browser-specific issues.

Accessibility and OUP e-books (EPUBs)

Accessibility conformance for EPUB files depends both on the content produced by OUP and the software environment through which that content is delivered. This statement therefore focuses primarily on the accessibility of Higher Education EPUB files (“EPUBs”) i.e. the content. OUP has specific Accessibility Statements for its E-Commerce Services (see links below).

OUP’s approach to EPUBs accessibility

OUP Higher Education EPUBs are typically produced using EPUB 3 and are designed to support accessible use. Where applicable, they include:

• Reflowable content that adapts to screen size and user settings

• Semantic HTML5 structure with consistent heading hierarchy

• Logical reading order supported by landmarks, lists, and structured tables

• Alternative text for meaningful images, with decorative images appropriately marked

• Avoidance of images of text, except where essential meaning cannot otherwise be conveyed

• Support for text resizing and high magnification without loss of content or functionality

• Full keyboard accessibility, with no keyboard traps

• Correct declaration of document language and accessibility metadata within the EPUB

Content characteristics

Where applicable, Higher Education EPUBs are designed so that they do not include:

• Flashing or strobing content

• Timed interactions

• Motion‑based or gesture‑dependent controls

Platform and delivery considerations

Although OUP takes steps to ensure EPUBs are robust and interoperable, some aspects of accessibility are influenced by the delivery platform or reading system used, (e.g., Apple Books, VitalSource Bookshelf, Adobe Digital Editions, Thorium), which provides its own focus indicators, zoom handling, interface controls, and screen reader behavior.

OUP works closely with its vendors to ensure that content and platforms are developed in line with recognized accessibility standards, including WCAG and EPUB Accessibility guidelines. As accessibility can be influenced by the reading system and assistive technologies used, OUP focuses on ensuring robust, standards-based delivery across its products.

Governance, strategy, and continuous improvement

Accessibility is supported by a coordinated programme across OUP Higher Education, including:

• Collaboration with colleagues in accessibility, design, UX/UI, and technology across the Press

• Exploration of training opportunities to empower colleagues to create accessible content and products

• Monitoring of industry trends and emerging best practice

• Engagement with external vendors to identify opportunities for shared accessibility improvements

• Identification of strategic initiatives to remove accessibility barriers and improve the learner experience

Accessibility considerations are embedded throughout platform and feature development processes, ensuring that new or changed functionality is assessed with accessibility “front and centre” from the outset.

Content teams are required to account for accessibility when creating new digital products by applying accessibility metadata within Oxford Publish / Biblio. This metadata feeds into delivery platforms and customer‑facing descriptions, helping customers understand accessibility characteristics prior to purchase.

Recent improvements

We have made significant accessibility improvements across our platform, including:

• Revamped key purchase journey screens to improve accessibility and deliver a more intuitive user experience.
• Resolved Android TalkBack compatibility issues, enhancing usability for screen reader users.
• Improved accessibility of image-based content types through enhanced support for assistive technologies.

Forthcoming improvements

Planned development will further enhance the experience for all users, including

• Enhancing forms and user-input experiences across the platform to provide a more consistent, intuitive, and accessible user journey, beyond current compliance requirements.
• Improving accessibility of media playback experiences through enhancements to our media player, with a focus on keyboard navigation, screen reader support, and overall usability.
• Continuing to strengthen accessibility within shared UI components and design patterns to ensure a consistent experience across the platform.
• Expanding accessibility testing and monitoring practices to identify and address potential issues earlier in the development lifecycle.

Digital Rights Management (DRM)

Content on Oxford Learning Link that isn’t open access (OA) or available freely for promotional or other reasons for a limited time is only available to authenticated users and is thus subject to digital rights management.

A content item’s availability status is indicated using one of two status icons – Available and Available for Purchase. The meaning of the icons is viewable on hover-over and is read by screen-readers.

How to request accessible copies of our publications

We are proud to collaborate with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), one of the UK’s leading sight loss charities and the largest community of blind and partially sighted people. If you are in the UK, you can access our frontlist books through RNIB Bookshare. If you are outside of the UK, please send your request to ourAccessibility Resources team.

To make a request for other accessible materials, please complete this non-disclosure agreement to provide details about your situation, and send this along with proof of purchase to our Accessibility Team.

Get in touch

Our commitment to providing accessible and inclusive content is an ongoing activity. If you have any comments or insights on accessibility, or questions you cannot find the answer to on this page, please contact our Accessibility Team.