In Oxford
There are a range of opportunities for students and teachers from the North East region to visit Oxford. Please see the event calendar for events in Oxford, or sign up to our mailing list for more updates.
For students
Open Days (Years 11-13)
The next University-wide Open Days for undergraduates will be held on Friday 20th September 2024. These days offer an ideal opportunity for you to explore Oxford, find out more about our courses, tour colleges and quiz tutors and students.
It is not mandatory to register for an Oxford Open Day, although we strongly recommend that you do in order to receive our newsletters, full of top tips on how to make the most of your day. You may also need to book for some popular sessions in advance. Please see www.ox.ac.uk/opendays for further information.
Free accommodation is offered by many colleges across the University, including those in Oxford for North East. Please check the Open Days website for more details, or get in contact.
North East Open Day Residential (Year 12)
This free residential visit gives students from the North East the opportunity to visit the University of Oxford during its Summer Open Days on a three-day, two-night programme. In addition to exploring Oxford on the Open Days, students will stay in College accommodation, attend academic information sessions and have opportunities to speak with current Oxford students from the North East and members of staff. It is completely free of charge for students, including coach travel to Oxford, all food and two nights of accommodation at Christ Church, St Anne's, Lincoln or Trinity Colleges.
To apply you should:
- be in Year 12 at a state school/college in North East of England
- be predicted at least three A grades at A Level (or equivalent)
- have at least 5 GCSE grades 6, 7, 8 or 9 (or equivalent)
- Further selection may be made based on contextual factors, depending on how many places are available (in 2019, we hosted 85 students, in 2022 this was increased to 120).
Applications for the North East Residential will open again in February 2025 and further information will be sent out to schools and our Year 12 mailing list. For more information email [email protected].
Christ Church Applicant Preparation Day
What is it?
The day is designed to help students understand how to finalise their Oxford applications and prepare for the various stages of the application process beyond the UCAS form. The day will involve workshops on personal statements, admissions tests, and interviews, as well as plenty of opportunity to ask questions to admissions staff, current Oxford students, and academics.
Lunch will be provided, and participants can also then stay with us overnight at Christ Church, completely free of charge, for the 20 September University of Oxford Open Day.
Who is it for?
Applicants should attend a state-maintained school. If the event is oversubscribed, we will prioritise applicants based on contextual factors such as Free School Meals eligibility, POLAR and ACORN quintiles, being the first in their family to attend university, other indicators of educational disadvantage or disruption, and prior engagement with Oxford access and outreach programmes and opportunities.
How to apply:
Prospective applicants are welcome to complete the Application Preparation Day application form by 5pm on 16 August 2024. We will aim to contact successful applicants no later than Friday 23 August. Participants who would otherwise be unable to attend can arrange in advance for us to reimburse their travel costs after the event. We are able to cover reasonable public transport costs within the UK if these have been agreed with us a week in advance of the event. To discuss this with us, contact us at [email protected].
Any other questions about the Application Preparation Day can also be directed to the Access & Schools Liaison Officer, Dr Joel Butler, at [email protected] or on 01865 276181.
Visit Oxford (all years)
We welcome school visits from across the region. Please ask your teachers to get in contact if you would like to arrange a visit for a group of students from your school.
UNIQ Oxford (Year 12)
UNIQ is open to students studying in their first year of further education, who are based at UK state schools or colleges. It is completely free to attend. The programme provides comprehensive information and guidance on the university admissions process, and aims to give you a realistic view of Oxford student life through videos, activities and quizzes through its online components, as well as 1000 places available on the academic summer residential. There is further support during Year 13 through the application process. Students can apply from December and applications close in January. More information here.
Target Oxbridge (Year 12)
Target Oxbridge is a free programme that aims to help black African and Caribbean students and students of mixed race with black African and Caribbean heritage increase their chances of getting into the Universities of Oxford or Cambridge. The programme includes a residential in Oxford, student mentoring by black or minority ethnic Oxbridge graduates as well as many tailored sessions throughout the year.
Further Opportunities
There may also be further opportunities through your school to visit Oxford, such as though the Universify programme (for students from Year 10-11), or through the Oxford for North East Brilliant Club Scholars Programme (for students in Year 9). Please ask your teachers whether your school participates in these programmes. They can also get in contact for more information.
For teachers
Open Day Teachers and Advisors Residential
The University holds three Open Days each year; two in July and one in September. Teachers from the North East are also invited to attend a residential visit to Oxford across the June Open Days, where you will receive specialist guidance relating to the application process, personal statement support, reference writing, challenging your high achieving students and using the EPQ effectively. To apply you should be a teacher in a state school or/college in the North East of England. This residential is completely free of charge for students and teachers, including coach travel to Oxford, all food and two nights of accommodation at one of the colleges.
In the event that this is over-subscribed, priority will be given to schools with low progression to HE/Oxford. If you have any questions, please email [email protected].
School Visits to Oxford (all years)
If you would be interested in bringing a group of your students (primary or secondary) to visit Oxford during the year, please get in contact.
These visit days are designed to give pupils a taste of University life and can be adapted for all year groups. As far as possible, we aim to cover the costs of such a visit, and may be able to support with teacher supply and accommodation costs. Please note that we may only be able to offer overnight accommodation in colleges outside of Oxford's term times, due to restrictions on space.
A typical visit might include a talk about the University of Oxford, meeting current undergraduate students, and academic taster sessions at a museum or department, as well as meals in college. We're happy to adapt these events depending on the needs and preferences of your school and students.
Teacher Summer Schools
Oxford’s CPD accredited Teacher Summer School is a free two-day residential conference for teachers from state schools and colleges in the UK. During the summer school, teachers receive detailed support and guidance about the Oxford admissions process, experience taster sessions for different academic subjects, and learn from mock interviews. It aims to support teachers to stretch and challenge their most able students, and equip them with the best possible advice and guidance on selective university admissions.
Inspirational Teachers Award
Since 2010, the University of Oxford has run a scheme to recognise inspirational teachers from UK state schools and colleges. This award scheme recognises the crucial role teachers play in encouraging talented students in their schools or colleges. Each year, current first-year Oxford undergraduates from UK state schools or colleges with a limited history of sending students to Oxford are asked if they would like to nominate an inspirational teacher.
