BeUNIQ
BeUNIQ is an ambitious programme for students in Year 10 at UK state schools from groups who are currently underrepresented among Oxford undergraduates. Working with both schools and the wider local community, BeUNIQ offers bespoke engagement and support.
BeUNIQ students visiting Oxford. Copyright © University of Oxford / UAO
Participants on BeUNIQ will be encouraged to consider themselves as strong candidates for our UNIQ access programme and potentially for study at Oxford. BeUNIQ is free of cost for all schools and participants involved. All resources and activities, including trips to Oxford, are covered by the University.
Why BeUNIQ?
The programme aims to:
- Contribute to the higher education goals and early aspirations of students participating in the programme
- Inspire students through a range of interactive and educational sessions with current Oxford students and academics
- Equip students with academic confidence, critical thinking skills and self-efficacy
- Provide essential resources and information for students thinking about the next step in their academic journey, as well as those supporting them.
- Create long lasting partnerships with schools, families and the communities that surround them
- Provide support with the application process for our flagship outreach programme, UNIQ.
If you have any questions or would like to find out more, you can email us via [email protected].
Who is BeUNIQ for?
BeUNIQ currently works with 7 state schools across Birmingham, Bradford and Oldham. The programme engages with the whole school community and more specifically delivers small group sessions for students from Bangladeshi and Pakistani heritage.
In 2025, BeUNIQ engaged with over 1,200 Year 10 students, 213 Year 10-11 cohort students and 46 parents and supporters across its partner schools. This also included the successful pilot of Oxford residential visits, providing students with direct exposure to university life and academic opportunities.
In 2026, BeUNIQ welcomed approximately 140 students into its second cohort, marking continued growth of the programme. The programme is now moving to full-scale delivery, with all 7 partner schools actively engaging in the full programme. This includes regional school-based workshops, Oxford residential visits during spring and summer and the first cohort preparing to apply to UNIQ in November.
BeUNIQ partner schools:
- Birmingham: Swanshurst School
- Oldham: North Chadderton and Oasis Academy Leesbrook
- Bradford: Feversham Girls Secondary Academy, Dixons Trinity, Dixons Allerton and Dixons City.
Looking ahead, BeUNIQ aims to further expand the programme to reach more students from identified underrepresented groups. The programme will also seek to work more closely with wider communities, including families, schools, and local partners.
What it offers
BeUNIQ supports selected UK state schools with their higher education aspirations and includes:
- A variety of in-school super curricular workshops (Oxplore Big Question sessions)
- Talks, support and guidance from current students and researchers at Oxford (BeUNIQ conversations)
- Sustained online academic support and engagement
- Information and guidance sessions for parents and teachers
- Support with applications to our Key Stage 5 programme, UNIQ.
Oxplore Big Question sessions:
- Oxplore sessions challenge students with debates and ideas that go beyond the classroom
- Students discuss and explore our Big Questions that tackle complex ideas across a wide range of subjects and introduce the kind of critical thinking students undertake at university
- These sessions are underpinned by the latest research from the University of Oxford
- Find out more: Oxplore Home of Big Questions.
BeUNIQ conversations include:
- Current Oxford students facilitating sessions about life at university, choosing a course and what it’s like to study at Oxford
- Drawing on their experience and own journeys to higher education, Oxford students act as mentors to support school students’ aspirations.
For school and family communities:
- Q&A sessions on university life
- Bespoke webinars for school staff and parents
- Online guidance for families and carers
- Visits to the University of Oxford
- Essential guidance on applications, funding and admissions.
After BeUNIQ
BeUNIQ participants will be encouraged and supported to apply to UNIQ, Oxford's outreach programme for UK state school students in their first year of higher education - typically Year 12 or equivalent. BeUNIQ aims to increase the number of successful applications made to UNIQ from participating areas: currently Birmingham, Bradford and Oldham, and specifically students from Bangladeshi and Pakistani heritage.
UNIQ prioritises places for students with good grades from backgrounds that are underrepresented at Oxford. This programme helps:
- Prepare students for university and explore subjects that interest them
- Students get to know our Oxford undergraduates and work with our academics through face-to-face lectures, laboratory work and tutorials
- Participants learn about Oxford's admissions process, and, for those who decide to apply to Oxford, there is more intensive support available to help with preparation for our admissions tests and interviews.
“Having graduated and gone full circle from my young self at UNIQ, I can say it’s been an experience and a half! Getting the chance to experience Oxford for a week made me realise I could genuinely see myself studying there, but also reaffirmed my subject choice. It gave me a glimpse into how the college system works and definitely made applying to Oxford less daunting, as I had technically studied there already!”
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