Fitting in
You may have been told that there's an 'Oxford type', but actually our students and staff come from all over the world and from all kinds of backgrounds. This helps make Oxford such an exciting learning environment. Oxford students have academic ability and intellectual curiosity in common - but that's pretty much it!
With around 26,400 students from across the globe at Oxford, each with an amazing range of interests, you will meet people like you and not like you. This is likely to be one of the most enjoyable and liberating aspects of your student life here.
If you're not sure whether you'll fit in, or whether you'll like Oxford, why not come to one of our Open Days or outreach events and talk to current students? Or be involved with UNIQ. All we ask is that you make up your own mind.
Feeling at home
Whoever you are, and whatever your personal identity, you will find others like you here at Oxford. You will also have the opportunity to meet a diverse mix of other people, who will widen your horizons, challenge your assumptions and with whom you can share your particular beliefs and experiences.
There’s no type of student at Oxford. It’s beautifully diverse and you will find your place.
Aditi
University can be daunting at first and joining one or more of the hundreds of groups, clubs, societies or campaigns at Oxford is definitely one of the easiest ways to make friends, feel at home and build your support network.
In addition, our Equality and Diversity Unit and Oxford University Students’ Union work hard to make sure that everyone feels welcome and has a voice.
These are just some of the groups and campaigns within Oxford University and our Oxford University Student Union (Oxford SU) you may be interested in:
- Gender: the Women’s Campaign
- Ethnicity: CRAE (the Campaign for Racial Awareness and Equality), Oxford African and Caribbean Society, Oxford Chinese Students and Scholars Association
- LGBTQ: LBGTQ+ campaign
- Class Act: campaign to support, represent and campaign on behalf of working-class, low-income, state-school educated and first-generation students. The campaign also offers a buddy system to support applicants and students.
- Religion and belief: There are a wide range of University faith groups, such as Oxford Sikh Society, Oxford Jewish Society, Oxford Islamic Society, Oxford Inter-collegiate Christian Union, Oxford University Buddhist Society.
- Disability: support for disabled students including the Oxford Students’ Union Disability Campaign
- Peer support
- Care-experienced students: one-on-one meetings at open days and support throughout your time here. Contact [email protected].
Go for it! If you’re an ethnic, racial, religious minority or if you come from a low income household – don’t be intimidated.
Rumana
Be part of the change
Some groups are still under-represented in our academic community and we want this to change. If you agree, then please apply and be part of the change. Remember, Oxford can only be what its students make it.
You might be interested to read more about Class Act, Oxford SU's new campaign that aims to support working-class, low-income, state-school educated and first-generation students.
There’s a niche and place for everyone – yes there are some posh people but that’s only a small part. There’s also sporty people, groups who love drama, people who... love a quiet evening in... who play Quidditch. Basically, whoever you are and whatever you like, you’ll find people like you.
Daniela
What's it really like?
So what's studying at Oxford really like? Is it all tea on the lawn and croquet? Well, the truth is that it's whatever you want it to be.
You might be into student activism, championing gender inequality or fighting poverty; you could be dedicated to sport and trying out for your college team; you might be a journalist, a video games fan, or just someone focusing on getting through their essay crisis.
There are lawns, and you can have tea on them, but it's fine if you want to sit in your room and watch TV instead. The choice really is yours.
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