UNIQ Residential – Spring or Summer

Year 12 students come to Oxford for five days, stay in a college, attend an academic programme during the day and take part in social activities in the evenings. Students will get first-hand experience of life at university, meet like-minded people and gain deeper understanding of a subject that interests them.

During UNIQ students will be taught by Oxford academics, attend lectures and labs, and use departmental facilities – just like a real undergraduate! In addition to lectures students might be asked to prepare some independent work for a tutorial at the end of the week where they will go through the topic in detail, either individually with a tutor or in a small group.

UNIQ also includes a range of dedicated sessions throughout the week providing information on every aspect of the application process, as well as opportunities to take part in a range of social activities outside the academic timetable.

For more information on the selection criteria for UNIQ and to make an application visit the UNIQ website.

Target Oxbridge

Target Oxbridge is a free programme that aims to help black African and Caribbean students and students of mixed race with black African and Caribbean heritage increase their chances of getting into the Universities of Oxford or Cambridge. Since launching in 2012, Target Oxbridge has helped 81 students to secure Oxbridge offers. 

The programme is open to UK-based students in Year 12 (as well as, in certain circumstances Year 13). The students accepted onto the programme will be high attainers (ideally achieving 5 grades at A*, 9, 8 or 7 at GCSE).

More information about how to apply can be found here.

Universify Education

Universify's vision is for all students to reach their potential in education. To achieve this, Universify want to help more students from non-traditional backgrounds to feel empowered and excited about fulfilling their potential at top universities.

This year-long programme is for Year 10 students unsure about whether university is for them. By taking part in the programme they will become a university student for a week in the summer, and gain a true experience of what it is like to study at a top university and how they can make it to a highly selective university, with the help of a Universify coach.

You can register your school’s interest in this programme here. Or get in touch with access.offcier@trinity.ox.ac.uk to explore the options for running and Oxfordshire schools & Universify programme at Trinity College. 

Study Higher 

This programme is funded as part of the National Collaborative Outreach Programme (NCOP) which aims to promote social mobility by encouraging access to higher education for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Under the NCOP, we are required to work with young people in school years 9 -13 who live in specific geographical areas across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, and Swindon. 

More information on the targeting of the project and student eligibility checker can be found here.
 

Astrophoria Foundation Year

The University of Oxford’s Astrophoria Foundation Year is a one-year fully-funded programme with additional full bursary to cover accommodation and living expenses. The course enables motivated students to reach their academic potential through a supportive and challenging academic course aimed at developing their skills, self-belief and academic confidence. Students passing the course are awarded a nationally recognised Certificate in Higher Education (CertHE) qualification. If passed at the required level, they will be automatically admitted to their chosen undergraduate degree course, without the need to re-apply.  Students are also supported to apply to other universities using their CertHE qualification if not continuing onto the full degree programme at Oxford. 

Who: For UK state school students in Year 13, applying to university, predicted to meet A level entry requirements ranging from BBB-AAB (depending on course selected) with significant academic potential, who have experienced severe personal disadvantage and/or disrupted education which has resulted in them being unable to apply directly for an Oxford undergraduate degree programme. 

When: Full time study will begin in October of the year of application.

Where: University of Oxford.

Links: Find out more on the Astrophoria website. Applications are submitted via UCAS  by the standard deadline in January each year.

Opportunity Oxford

Under this programme, selected Oxford offer-holders participate in an academic bridging programme which supports them in their transition from school or college to our university. The programme explores and develops high-level academic skills that support the success of participants in their further studies. 

Opportunity Oxford aims to prepare academically-talented students for university so that they can make the most of their abilities and enjoy their studies. All students have to do is apply to Oxford through UCAS in the normal way. If they are eligible, they will automatically be considered for a place on Opportunity Oxford. They will know if they are successful in receiving an offer from Oxford and a place on Opportunity Oxford in January, and at the same time as all our offers for undergraduate study are made every year. Find out more about this initiative here.
 

Oxbridge Student Conferences

These conferences are designed as Open Days on the road, our conferences bring experienced admissions staff, subject specialists and current students from the universities of Oxford and Cambridge to you and your students at venues around the UK.

 The events are aimed at Year 12 students (or equivalent) who are studying for their A Levels/IB (or equivalent) and are beginning to consider their options for study beyond sixth form. These full day events provide up to date information about our courses, clearly outline the admissions process and provide students with the opportunity to hear first-hand how our current undergraduate students find life at Oxford and Cambridge.

Open Days

All colleges will be open for all prospective students on Oxford University Open Days. 2021 Open Days take place in late June or early July and again in September each year.  You can access more information about these days here.

Additionally, subject departments will hold Open Days throughout 2020-21 and details of exact dates will be made available later in this year.

Oxplore: The Home of Big Questions 

Oxplore is an innovative digital outreach portal from the University of Oxford. As the ‘Home of Big Questions’ it aims to engage those from 11 to 18 years with debates and ideas that go beyond what is covered in the classroom.

The big questions aim to tackle complex ideas across a wide range of subjects and draw on the latest research undertaken at Oxford. Oxplore aims to realise aspirations, promote deeper thinking and stimulate intellectual curiosity. This could be an effective tool to aid thinking and discussion skills development. Find out more about Oxplore here and explore some of the Big Questions here.

Inspiring Digital Learning Materials

The University of Oxford has compiled the best of our digital resources to support learning and exploration. They can help parents and teachers to feed the curiosity of growing minds and inspire them to think broadly. These resources can also enable older students to explore their passions and interests further, and to discover more about Oxford.

You can find these resources on this dedicated site.

Competitions for pupils

Several colleges and departments of the University of Oxford run competitions which are open to students from schools and colleges.

Preparing an entry for one of these competitions is a valuable experience for academically motivated students so please do encourage your students to enter. There are also some exciting prizes to be won. Further details can be found here.

The Bodleian Library – for schools 

The education sessions on offer through this programme aim to inspire secondary school and college students to engage with the library’s outstanding collections of manuscripts, maps, rare books and archives.

The Bodleian's Education Officer is based in the Department of Special Collections at the Weston Library. Working with state secondary schools and colleges in Oxfordshire is prioritised and workshops are available for groups from KS3 to KS5. To find out more details about the schools programme and to access future opportunities visit the Bodleian Schools page or contact the schools liaison officer here: education@bodleian.ox.ac.uk

Gardens, Libraries and Museums

The University of Oxford's Gardens, Libraries and Museums are open to the public, providing broad access to the internationally significant collections held by the University as well as to the research and academic activity happening across the University. 

There is an enormous range of opportunities available to schools to take part in events, visits and programmes. We encourage teachers to look at the website here to find out what is on offer for their pupils. The Access Team will work with teachers to help them build a whole visit day around activities taking place at one of the gardens, libraries or museums. This means pupils get to both experience learning in one of these world class facilities as well as visit Trinity College. 

 

Oxford careers education for schools

Our Teacher Engagement Officer, Richard Petty, is also responsible for supporting schools to access Oxford Careers Education for Schools. The University of Oxford Careers Service have adapted a series of successful programmes that we use with undergraduate students, in versions appropriate, usable, and effective for schools. Tailored programmes especially for schools are Litmus, The Student Consultancy for Schools, and Ignite. 

The programmes are free to schools and students in the maintained sector and are aimed at all learners within schools and colleges, not just those with particular aspirations in mind.

This initiative also extends to a specialised programme called Oxford Opportunity North, which offers careers education support for state schools in the Northeast of England. 

For more information about this programme please contact Richard Petty here; you can read more about each of these programmes by clicking on the dedicated linked web pages below:

Litmus

Targeted and personalised careers advice can be more effective with students and more efficient for staff; Litmus is a careers registration tool that asks students to define their frame of mind around their career and the specific industry sectors in which they are interested. Staff can then use these to arrange tailored careers events that fit with students’ current mindset and industry interests. Find out more here.

The Student Consultancy for Schools

The Student Consultancy for Schools is a structured programme designed to engage teams of pupils on real business issues with local organisations. Pupils who take part learn basic consulting skills including analysis, research, interviewing, presenting and report writing, as well as secondary skills of planning their time, taking part in a 12+ week project, working with the public and business people, and understanding how organisations work. Learn more here (SSO required).

Ignite: Careers Confidence for Schools

Ignite is a programme of over 60 separate, age-specific lessons on assertiveness, confidence, networking, and marketing for Key Stages 3, 4, and 5. The programme is designed to be delivered by (e.g., PSHE) teachers within the existing curriculum, in 20, 30, 45, or 60 minute lessons. You can find out details here (SSO required).

The Oxford Careers Website 

Oxford University Careers website might be of particular interest to teachers interested in supporting student progression within their own school. On this website teachers can find information supporting and developing student knowledge and understanding of the different sector & occupation pathways , guidance on generating careers ideas and CV writing.
 

Regional Teacher Conferences

Because the University recognises the key role that teachers and careers advisers play in encouraging students to consider their options and make informed decisions, we run regional teacher conferences . During conferences, we welcome the chance to talk with teachers and advisers about supporting your students through all aspects of considering, and applying to, Oxford. Sign up to attend the next conference in your region.

Teacher Summer Schools

The University of Oxford’s CPD accredited Teacher Summer School is a FREE two-day residential conference for teachers from state-funded schools and colleges in the UK. During the summer school, teachers receive detailed support and guidance about the Oxford admissions process, experience taster sessions for different academic subjects, and learn from mock interviews. It aims to support teachers to stretch and challenge their most able students, and equip them with the best possible advice and guidance on selective university admissions. Details of the summer school can be found on the teacher summer school website.