The University of Oxford has developed a programme to simplify communication between the University and all schools in the United Kingdom. This is so that each school in the UK has a first point of contact in the University and so we can more efficiently work with as many schools as possible.

University College is the “link college” for the regions of Reading, West Berkshire, Wokingham, Shropshire, Telford and the Wrekin, Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent. The Schools Liaison and Access Officer welcomes contact from teachers and students at any school in and beyond the UK, but particularly schools in these regions.

Please note the scheme does not have any bearing on the Oxford admissions process and does not influence whether a college offers a candidate a place. It is not intended to replace any existing contact a school may have with a particular college or department.

For more information please read the University’s Regional Outreach pages at ox.ac.uk

Univ runs a highly successful volunteering programme for our current students in which they assist with our schools liaison and access work.

Our ambassador team is made up of over 60 undergraduate students from many different backgrounds and subject areas. The Univ ambassadors work with young people to encourage, motivate and inspire them to continue and complete their studies successfully. They assist in providing students with advice, information and guidance on progression to higher education and applying to the University of Oxford. Univ ambassadors act as tour guides on Open Days, and help to run a wide variety of events and schemes such as school visits, taster days for primary school, secondary school and college students. They are also available to make visits to schools independently, to talk about their experiences of learning at and applying to Oxford.

The ambassadors have completed a comprehensive training scheme to ensure they are well prepared to visit schools and colleges. Each ambassador gives as much or as little of their time as they wish and many find the role a worthwhile and rewarding aspect of their university experience.

If you would like an ambassador to visit your school then please contact our School Liaison and Access Officer, Savannah Phillips T: 01865276677 E: access@univ.ox.ac.uk

Online Resources

There are rich online resources to support prospective applicants to the University of Oxford available on the central University of Oxford website ox.ac.uk

Events

See below details of events for school groups and individual students at University College.

For events across the University, check out the outreach events calendar on the University of Oxford website.

Teachers’ Email Mailing List

If you are a teacher interested in hearing about relevant events and opportunities you can sign up to receive email newsletters. Savannah, the Schools Liaison and Access Officer, occasionally emails round with details both about University College events and events from other Colleges/Departments across the University of Oxford. You can sign up using this form (and use the same link later to change your mailing preferences or unsubscribe).

Please note, the majority of our schools liaison communication will go to schools in Univ’s “link region”. This is because many of our events are prioritised for the schools for which we have particular responsibility. We are keen to form relationships with schools outside our link region, but if you are a UK school outside of our link region, you may also want to find out what might be specifically available from your “link college”. You may also want to check the University’s general resources for teachers: www.ox.ac.uk/teachers.

• If you would like to request a visit to your school please complete this online form
• If you would like to request a visit to the College please complete this online form

Each term Univ offers set days on which schools can book to bring small groups of students to. These aim to challenge myths surrounding the University of Oxford and its admissions process, provide students with insight into studying at university, and allow them to meet and ask questions of current undergraduates.

The days include activities such as:

• An “Introduction to Oxford” workshop
• A tour of the College with current undergraduates
• An opportunity for students to eat lunch in the College Dining Hall
• An afternoon taster session led by students or a facilitated session at one of the University’s museums

Please see our Standard Programme PDF for Year 10 and 11 visits.

For each day we expect one, two or three schools to attend with groups of up to 10-15 students each (usually a full mini-bus). Due to demand it is likely that priority will go to state-funded schools in University College’s “link regions”. More information about the regional link scheme is available here.

Please contact the Schools Liaison and Access Officer to express an interest in attending one of these days (T: 01865 286565 E: access@univ.ox.ac.uk).

We know how important it is that Oxford is made as accessible as possible.

With that in mind, Univ aims to provide a programme of virtual outreach in addition to our in-person work. We offer virtual talks and workshops to schools in our link regions. Our virtual events include:

• Introduction to Oxford (Year 9)

• Exploring Oxford and Super-curricular Activities Talk (Year 10 and 11)

• Personal Statements and Admissions Workshop (Year 12)

If you would like to arrange for a virtual session with your school, please contact the Undergraduate Admissions and Access Manager, Joshua Newman T: 01865276677 E: access@univ.ox.ac.uk

A lot of Univ’s outreach with schools and students takes place in Oxford. We believe that making a visit to the College and meeting our current students in-person is the best way to get a feel for what it might be like to attend the University.

We also understand that making the trip to Oxford, particularly for those guests travelling a long distance, can be very expensive. Because of this, the College has a selection of travel grants that students and teachers can apply for.

These travel bursaries are provided by the kind donations of past Univ students (through the Old Members Trust). The College is grateful for the support that allows us to offer these generous bursaries to participants in our schools’ outreach.

Individual Year 12 student travel bursary

Eligible students attending one of Univ’s Year 12 Subject Study Days, can apply for a travel bursary worth up to £85 to go towards the cost of travel to the event. Terms and conditions apply.

The individual student travel bursaries are prioritised for students attending a Univ Year 12 study day who meet at least one of the following conditions:

• have been eligible for Free School Meals at school;

• are a recipient of the 16-19 bursary;

• are resident in an area of low progression to Higher Education (POLAR);

• are care experienced;

• are an asylum seeker or refugee.

Students can be considered who do not meet the above criteria but for whom there are other factors meaning it will be difficult for them to meet the costs of attending an event. For more details please email access@univ.ox.ac.uk

Individual teacher travel bursary

Teachers from eligible schools are able to apply for up to £120 to offset the costs of attending a Univ Teachers’ Conference. This can contribute either to travel or to substitute teacher cover costs.

These bursaries are prioritised for teachers from the West Midlands, or from Univ’s “link regions”, that have a higher than average number of FSM eligible students, a high number of students resident in areas of low progression to Higher Education, or a high number of care-experienced students. Teachers from other schools may be considered where there are available funds. For more details: T: 01865 286565 E: access@univ.ox.ac.uk

School group travel bursary

Eligible school groups attending one of Univ’s Year 10-11 taster days can claim up to £200 to contribute towards the cost of minibus, coach or public transport to Oxford.

These bursaries are prioritised for schools from Univ’s “link regions”, that have a higher than average number of FSM eligible students, a high number of students resident in areas of low progression to Higher Education, or a high number of care-experienced students. Other schools may be considered where there are available funds. For more details: T: 01865 286565 E: access@univ.ox.ac.uk

Some of Univ’s outreach events take place online. We understand that students interested in our events do not necessarily have access to the technology they might need to fully participate online. During the coronavirus pandemic, the College developed a Digital Access Award, to support students attending virtual events. This fund is being maintained to continue to support students attending future virtual events.

Students can apply to receive any of the following items:

• Noise cancelling headphones

• Internet access provided by a dongle

• Computer Tablet

The application process involves filling in a form and also nominating a teacher from your school or college to support your application. The teacher will be asked to confirm that you have not already received similar materials from the school in the past. For more details: T: 01865 286565 E: access@univ.ox.ac.uk

The Digital Access Awards are prioritised for students from the West Midlands attending a virtual event run by University College. They may also be available for students wanting to attend events run by other colleges, or to students attending schools outside the West Midlands, where funds are available.

These travel bursaries are provided by the kind donations of past Univ students (through the Old Members Trust). The College is grateful for the support that allows us to offer generous bursaries to participants in our schools’ outreach.

Eligible schools can also apply for a box of books to support students as they engage in super-curricular exploration beyond the school syllabus. See our dedicated page for more information about this scheme. See our Staircase12 digital outreach resource for more information about super-curricular activities.

“One of the things that attracted me to Univ was the strong and long-standing commitment the College had to widening access. One way this has been demonstrated is through pioneering the innovative Opportunity Programme. We are very pleased to see an expanded version of the programme running successfully on a University-wide scale. I hope that this will have a significant impact, increasing the diversity of the student body.” – Baroness Valerie Amos, Master

Launched in 2016, the Opportunity Programme provided 10 extra places per year, filled through the University’s normal competitive admissions process, but available only to students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

As well as a place on the undergraduate course, the Opportunity Programme provided to these students a free three-week bridging programme in the summer before they started their degree. This was in recognition that many students from disadvantaged backgrounds may not have had the opportunity to broaden and deepen their academic skills and experience beyond the school curriculum.

The Opportunity Programme, and subsequently Opportunity Oxford, has become a core part of Univ’s identity as a college determined to open up Oxford to under-represented groups. The participants of both programmes have contributed so much to all aspects of the Univ community.

The Opportunity Programme saw the College increase its undergraduate intake by 10%. Although the College no longer runs an in-house Opportunity Programme, we have maintained the 10% increase in undergraduate numbers. These places are now reserved for participants in the University-wide Opportunity Oxford programme. While a different and separate programme, Opportunity Oxford runs similarly to its precursor and, like the Opportunity Programme, relies on an increase to the overall footprint of the College.

The College is extremely grateful to its Old Members for their generous support, without which the Opportunity Programme and the College’s continued involvement with Opportunity Oxford, would not have been possible.

Univ is now proud to be an active participant in Opportunity Oxford, a university-wide programme providing an academic bridging programme to up to 200 eligible participants.

Alongside a welcome day for participants and families, the programme consists of an online course and summer residential. Overall, Opportunity Oxford aims to provide participants both with academic skills to support their success in their further studies and with a chance to settle into university life.

To find out more about this programme, including the available subjects, eligibility criteria and how to apply, see the University’s website.