Widening Participation

Oxford University is all about educating students with the greatest academic potential. Oxford students come from every background right across the world – in fact, you could say that academic potential is the only thing that every Oxford student has in common. Excellent students come not only from affluent private schools but also state schools, poorer areas and minority groups.

In order to encourage applications, Oxford University has dedicated extensive resources to reaching out to many groups who might be put off applying by popular misconceptions about what Oxford is like. Myths abound, and the vast majority of them are either completely false or several decades out of date. By actively reaching out, the University is hoping to give potential applicants the correct information about Oxford, and let them make the decision to apply based on their own knowledge and experience.

Oxford is an elite university, not an elitist one.  Whatever your background, if you’re interested in your subject and successful academically, Oxford is a university you can consider.

The University and constituent colleges are home to lots of student-run groups who organise open days, provide information and visit secondary schools and Sixth Forms. You can always contact these groups to see if they can provide you with any support and information to help you decide whether you’d like to apply.

Target Schools

Target Schools is a student-run scheme based in the Student Union (OUSU). It provides information, runs open days, arranges student visits to schools and organises conferences to encourage students from state schools to consider applying to Oxford. For more information, or if you have any questions about Target Schools, feel free to email access@ousu.org or ring 01865 288464.

The Oxford Access Scheme

The Oxford Access Scheme is a student-led charity that works to raise aspirations among students in inner cities and minority groups to apply to higher education in general, and to top universities like Oxford in particular.  It runs open days, information evenings, shadowing schemes, conferences and school visits. 

Undergraduate Information Office

The University Undergraduate Information Office deals with the administration side of applying to study at Oxford. You can contact them for copies of the official University Undergraduate Prospectus, course literature, interview leaflets and other helpful publications. Their website is here and they have a central office, called the Admissions i, on Little Clarendon Street in the centre of Oxford. Whatever your questions, however small, they’ll always be happy to help.

FE Access

The Oxford Further Education Access aims to encourage applications to the university from the Further Education (FE) sector.  The largest widening participation project in Oxford, FE Access organises school and college visits, interview training, e-mentoring schemes, conferences and open days throughout the year.  Their website can be found here.