Oxford Academic Taster Days

These one day events are open to students who:

• Are entering Year 9 in September 2013
• Are currently predicted to achieve mostly B grades at GCSE (or equivalent)
• Have little or no prior family history of Higher Education
• Are hoping to continue onto Further or Higher Education themselves

We particularly welcome applications from:

• Looked-after children
• Young carers
• Pupils with a disability
• Pupils from a minority ethnic background

Please note this programme is designed to encourage and facilitate interest in Higher Education in general; this is not a gifted and talented programme.

Here are the taster days we held last year to give you an idea of some of the activities you may be taking part in:

Can machines think? Find the answers and learn about computer programming with Computer Science. Enjoy a lunch in Keble's dining hall and a tour of the college. Finish the day in the University Museum of Natural History - exploring the building and the collection whilst looking for patterns in symmetry. Handle some of the creatures in the living collection to find out the significance of symmetry in the animal kingdom

Do you know what counts as murder? Hone your debating skills and learn the difference between murder and manslaughter with real Law students. After a meal in a college and a tour of its buildings you'll get to put your new knowledge to the test and decide whether the infamous Oxfordshire murderess Mary Blandy really was guilty - or just an innocent pawn.

Spend the morning with Earth Sciences and learn about how our planet (among others!) works. Tour Balliol College's grounds and buildings, and have lunch in the dining hall (how many Prime Ministers can you spot on the walls?). In the afternoon you'll find out what it takes to be a Materials Scientist and see what it's like to be part of developing so much of the technology and transport we use today.

You'll spend a morning exploring the vast treasures of the Pitt Rivers museum. You'll handle historic objects from around the world, such as axe heads and magical artefacts and research their meaning by comparing them to other museum displays - don't worry, we won't make you hold the shrunken heads! Enjoy a delicious meal in Mansfield College and a tour of their grounds. Later you'll see how exciting it is to study our planet and its inhabitants.

Dates and sessions for the 2013 Taster Days have not yet been finalized. 

We will update this page with information as soon we have all of the details. Please check back often.