Oxford is...
Oxford is for people like you. Our students and staff come from all kinds of backgrounds, helping to make Oxford one of the most exciting learning environments anywhere.
We want to encourage and support more students from the East of England to make successful applications to Oxford but we know that sometimes it can be confusing. On this page, we’ve answered some frequently asked questions but, if you can’t what you’re looking for, feel free to contact us or explore the University prospectus.
What are colleges?
Colleges are academic communities made up of students, researchers, teaching and support staff. If you come here, you are likely to spend much of your time in your college, particularly in your first year. Tutorial teaching in small groups of two or three typically takes place in your own college, with lectures and seminars often in a University department or faculty. Your college is also where you live, eat and socialise and they all provide plenty of facilities as well as clubs, teams and societies. Colleges handle undergraduate admissions to Oxford so, if you decide to apply here, then you can pick which you’d most like to attend.
Find out more in our video: Oxford Colleges - what exactly are they?
I’m from the East of England – can I only apply to Balliol, Hertford or Wadham?
Balliol, Hertford and Wadham Colleges work together to provide information, advice and guidance to students in the East of England but you can apply to whichever college you like (there are over 30 to choose from)! We’re here to provide an easy channel of communication between East of England schools and Oxford University.
How do I choose a course?
Choosing the right course is crucial to enjoying your time at university so make sure you really explore your options, even if you think you know what you want to study. It might be your favourite subject or a combination of things you enjoy. With almost 50 to pick from, it could also be something you’ve never even heard of before.
Find out more in our video: Choosing an undergraduate course at Oxford
Increasing access
Oxford is committed to making everyone feel welcomed, valued and respected. Some groups are still under-represented in our academic community but this is changing. By 2023, we intend that 25% of our intake of undergraduates will come from UK backgrounds currently under-represented at Oxford. That’s why we are running two exciting new access programmes called Opportunity Oxford and Foundation Oxford to help ensure that an Oxford education is a realistic goal for anyone with academic talent and commitment.
