oxford events & activities Virtual interaction These virtual resources may be of use to you when exploring Oxford and the application process with your students, and could be used in your own schools as part of aspiration-raising or informative activities for potential Oxford applicants. Admissions website There is a wealth of information on the Oxford admissions process and how we interact with schools and colleges available on our admissions website www.admissions.ox.ac.uk. You can also download a number of our publications such as the: Undergraduate Prospectus Oxford Interviews Guide Parents and Carers Guide Wall of 100 Faces The Wall of 100 Faces is a collection of short videos, usually one minute or less, of current students talking about some aspect of their time at Oxford. This gives prospective students, staff, media or interested visitors a glimpse of what an average Oxford student is like. Access the Wall of 100 Faces: www.ox.ac.uk/videowall/index.html Podcasts (audio and video) You can access a wide range of audio and video podcasts provided by the various faculties and departments of the University at www.podcasts.ox.ac.uk Specific admissions audio podcasts can be found at www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate_courses/finding_out_more/podcasts Audio admissions tours The audio admissions tours are designed to provide students with information about the University of Oxford from a student perspective and guidance on how to apply for an undergraduate degree course. Oxford University does not have a single campus: the various locations that make up the University are spread across the city. The audio admissions tours will help students find their way around the centre of Oxford and direct them to many places of interest. Each of the six tour routes (Historical Oxford; Life Sciences; Physical Sciences; Humanities; Oxford Student Life and Social Sciences) is designed to cover a different subject area, a selection of undergraduate colleges and departments as well as other University locations, such as the Bodleian Library. If a student is coming to Oxford at a time when there are no fixed admissions events taking place, the audio tours are an ideal way for them to familiarise themselves with Oxford and the admissions process. Students can download the tours onto their mp3 player or ipod before coming to Oxford and print the accompanying map, which will guide them around their chosen route. The tours are equally useful for those potential applicants who are not able to visit Oxford and wish to learn more about the University and admissions remotely. Page 1
Oxford on itunes U The University s audio and video podcasts are available on itunes U www.itunes.ox.ac.uk. This free site features public lectures, teaching material, interviews with leading academics, information about applying to the University and much more. Oxford on YouTubeEDU Oxford recently launched a channel on YouTubeEDU. There are lectures, short talks, interviews with students, academics and alumni and information about the application and interviewing process. The University s YouTubeEDU channel can be accessed here [embed link www.youtube.com/oxford. Teachers e-newsletter Launched in September 2008, the teachers e-newsletter is intended to convey timely information to teachers in schools and colleges. The e-newsletter features short articles of interest to teachers, with links to full details on our website. It is sent to subscribers when we have news about our admissions process, events that teachers and students can attend or our widening participation programmes. You can sign up to the teachers e-newsletter online: www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate_courses/working_with_schools_and_colleges/enews.html. Events and activities in Oxford Open Days On the main University open days, many colleges and departments will be open to visitors, offering a combination of specific talks, tours, drop-in sessions, and information desks where tutors and/or students will be available to answer questions. Students will also be able to visit several libraries and museums as well as the Sports Centre, Language Centre and other facilities which form part of the University. There is no central booking system, however some events do need to be booked in advance at the college or department. For further information go to: www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/opendays. Note that, in addition to the main University Open days, departments and colleges will also run smaller Open days throughout the year (usually in the spring and summer). For further details go to www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/opendays or visit individual department or college websites. Guided Tours If your students are unable to come to an open day, or if they wish to visit Oxford at another time during school holidays, we offer guided tours of various Oxford colleges and departments in late October, mid-february and during the Easter and summer holidays. The programme will typically offer an admissions talk, giving general information about Oxford University and how to apply, followed by tours in a selection of colleges and departments. On some days there will also be the option to attend a subject specific admissions talk in a department. Please note that the tours are intended to give students a taste of Oxford but they cannot provide the same depth or detail as an open day. For more information go to: www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/tours. Page 2
Audio Admissions Tours The audio admissions tours are designed to provide students with information about the University of Oxford from a student perspective and guidance on how to apply for an undergraduate degree course. Oxford University does not have a single campus: the various locations that make up the University are spread across the city. The audio admissions tours will help students find their way around the centre of Oxford and direct them to many places of interest. Each of the six tour routes (Historical Oxford; Life Sciences; Physical Sciences; Humanities; Oxford Student Life; Social Sciences) is designed to cover a different subject area, a selection of undergraduate colleges and departments as well as other University locations, such as the Bodleian Library. If a student is coming to Oxford at a time when there are no fixed admissions events taking place, the audio tours are an ideal way for them to familiarise themselves with Oxford and the admissions process. Students can download the tours onto their mp3 player or ipod before coming to Oxford and print the accompanying map, which will guide them around their chosen route. The tours are equally useful for those potential applicants who are not able to visit Oxford and wish to learn more about the University and admissions remotely. Arranging a visit with my school to Oxford See text files for interactive flowchart 2 UNIQ Summer Schools UNIQ is a programme of academically-focused summer schools in July and August. Students who attend UNIQ participate in a challenging academic programme, which reflects first year undergraduate study. Students live in an undergraduate college of the University for a week, and take part in admissions sessions, alumni events and social activities. The programme will continue, growing each year, in terms of places available and subjects on offer, until 2014. It is aimed at academically able and enthusiastic students, who are engaged, independent learners beyond the school environment. We believe it is this type of student who may benefit from learning more about the opportunities that the University of Oxford can offer. All lower sixth form students currently studying at UK state schools are eligible to apply. The selection criteria for UNIQ prioritise applicants who: have performed well against their GCSE school cohort; attend schools with little or no history of successful applications to Oxford; live in areas of socio-economic deprivation (using ACORN postcode data); are categorised as looked after children. We also ask that all applicants write a short (2000 characters) Personal Statement when applying, noting the reasons why they have chosen to apply to UNIQ and what they find interesting about the subject they have applied for. The Personal Statement is also taken into account at selection. For further details about the scheme, please visit www.ox.ac.uk/uniq. International Guidance Counsellors Conference This event aimed at International Guidance Counsellors provides a unique opportunity to visit the world s most prestigious university and stay in the one of the most recognisable cities in Europe. The two-day residential conference programme for 2011 gives delegates the chance to: Page 3
Meet with admissions staff from across the collegiate University Gain insight into our academic offering and tutorial system Obtain information on our admissions procedures including the opportunity to observe a mock interview Speak with current international students Dine in an Oxford college Visit world class museums and teaching facilities Visit the famous sights of Oxford Network with others in their profession College-based activities All Oxford colleges provide activities for pre-16 and post-16 students. To be kept up to date with events and provision that the colleges can provide, please sign up online: www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate_courses/working_with_schools_and_colleges/enews.html to the teachers e-newsletter. Recent examples of schools events in Oxford colleges include Oxford Taster Days for year 10 state school students, subject study days for Sixth Form students and Raising Aspirations days. Department-based activities A number of the University s departments to provide schools events for a variety of age groups in Oxford. Examples include: Chemistry Connect Physics Outreach Women in Science Computing at Schools 6th Form Conference Classics Outreach Programme Museums outreach Each of the Oxford University Museums and Collections has its own education programme, booking procedures and education staff. Activities include a wide range of taught sessions and study days across all Key Stages of the curriculum, providing ample opportunities for developing cross-curricula themes. Bookings may also be made for independent visits for a recommended maximum period of two hours. For further details of the Education programmes and to find out about booking procedures go to: www.museums.ox.ac.uk/schools OUSU Target Schools Target Schools is the Oxford University Student Union s widening participation campaign. It was established in 1982 with the aim of dispelling myths about Oxford by providing information to state school pupils, and to campaign for the University to make greater efforts in its access work. In recent years, Target Schools has: Regularly produced an Alternative Prospectus, sent to all state schools in the UK every year. Organised open days for state schools in colleges around Oxford. Coordinated a student school visiting scheme in the Easter holidays, involving hundreds of students. Page 4
If you would like any information about the Target Schools Scheme, please email access@ousu.org or see their website www.targetschoolsoxford.com Events and activities in my area The Student Recruitment Team interacts with potential applicants from all over the world in a number of ways. The kind of activities available will depend on where you are based, whether in the UK, EU or elsewhere in the world. UK Oxford and Cambridge Student Conferences Held in March and April each year, these events provide students with a locally based opportunity to find out more about the two universities. A large number of focussed sessions provide information on the admissions process, student life, interviews, student finance and a large number of the different courses offered by each University. Admissions tutors, Admissions Office staff and current undergraduates are all present to provide clear and concise advice about applying to the two universities. There are also a number of sessions entitled Teachers Forums which are structured discussions on key issues connected to the application and admissions process at Oxford and Cambridge Universities. Staff are given the opportunity to meet and chat with Oxford and Cambridge Universities Admissions Tutors. For further information go to: www.studentconferences.org.uk Regional Teachers Conferences Each year we hold a series of Regional Teachers Conferences in June and July, giving up-to-date information on admissions, tests, qualification equivalency, identifying and supporting candidates, and presenting mock interviews in the sciences and arts/humanities. Attendance at the conferences is free of charge and booking information can be found at www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/rtc. Higher Education Fairs Our admissions staff attend higher education fairs and conventions across the UK. They give face-to-face advice about applying to Oxford and tell you and your students more about our undergraduate courses. To book onto a UCAS HE Fair, please visit the UCAS website: www.ucas.com/events/conventions. For details of which HE fairs Oxford is attending go to: www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate_courses/working_with_schools_and_colleges/he_fairs. EU/International Europe Each year the Oxford Student Recruitment Team runs a series of events in a number of European countries. Our events in Europe are designed to provide detailed information regarding all aspects a candidate might consider when applying to Oxford. This includes: the choice of course, the collegiate structure of the University, social life, the costs and the benefits of studying at Oxford. In addition, details of how to apply to Oxford University within the context of the UK Higher Education system would be addressed, including the UCAS application process, admissions tests and interviews. At all of the events there is ample opportunity for students and their parents and advisors to ask questions on a one-to-one basis. Page 5
In 2011 we will be holding events in Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. For more information please visit www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/europe. For more information please contact Cat Murdoch at cat.murdoch@admin.ox.ac.uk. North America Kate Burn, Student Recruitment Officer, visits a number of schools and colleges in the US and Canada during September and April each year. The visits include a range of sessions delivered to teachers and guidance counsellors, parents and students at host schools or colleges. Our most common session is Oxford Explained, which explains what life at Oxford University is like and details the admissions process. Presentations and workshops for teachers and guidance counsellors about studying in the UK and supporting prospective students have also been included in the programme of visits. Last recruitment cycle Oxford also attended NACAC and OACAC conferences. For further information about our activities in North America or if you would like to become a host school please email kate.burn@admin.ox.ac.uk. Asia Julia Richardson, Student Recruitment Officer, visits a number of schools and colleges in Asia during May and October/ November each year. The visits include a range of sessions delivered to teachers and guidance counsellors, parents and students at host schools or colleges and often the British Council. Previous sessions include Oxford Explained, which explains what life at Oxford University is like and details the admissions process, and Interview Workshops, which aim to support current applicants with their understanding of the Oxford interview process. Presentations and workshops for teachers and guidance counsellors about studying in the UK and supporting prospective students have also been included in the programme of visits. In the last recruitment cycle we visited Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Korea, China and Hong Kong. For more information please contact Julia Richardson at julia.richardson2@admin.ox.ac.uk. Middle East The past decade has seen significant expansion in the provision of high quality education establishments in the Middle East and in particular the increase in institutions offering A-levels and the IB. The Student Recruitment Team has started to develop a number of initial contacts and activities in the region. The past year has seen visits to the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey. The Head of Student Recruitment will be taking personal responsibility for the region and hopes to foster links with schools and guidance counsellors in the region. For more information, please contact Paul Teulon at paul.teulon@admin.ox.ac.uk. Oxford in the local community Widening Participation Pre-16 Local Engagement The Undergraduate Admissions Office works with state school students aged 10-16 (Year 5 to Year 11) in Oxfordshire, Milton Keynes and Buckinghamshire, to help them understand what they could gain from Further or Higher Education, and what Page 6
type of study might suit them best. We can offer activities to suit a variety of ages, from one hour workshops through to residential events, and are happy to chat through what might suit your students. Please do get in touch. You can find contact details on the meet the team page. www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate_courses/working_with_schools_and_ colleges/widening_participation_pre16_local_engagement/meet_the_team.html In addition some of Oxford s colleges also offer activities for pre-16 students across the UK. To find out more and to keep up to date with Oxford s events and activities please subscribe to the teachers e-newsletter at: www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate_courses/working_with_schools_and_colleges/enews.html. Student volunteer groups Jacari Jacari is a student-run charity providing home teaching for children living in Oxford. These children, who are between 4 and 16 years old, do not speak English as their first language and often come from refugee families and those seeking asylum. University students volunteer to help improve their allotted child s English and performance in other subjects as required. For further information, see www.users.ox.ac.uk/~jacari/. KEEN (Kids Enjoy Exercise Now) KEEN is a registered charity and a joint organisation of Oxford & Oxford Brookes University students which provides recreational activities for young people with special needs. For further information, see www.keenoxford.org/web. Other community outreach work For further details of Oxford s role in the local community and other aspiration-raising activities please visit: www.ox.ac.uk/visitors_friends/oxford_in_the_community/learning.html. Examples include: Oxford University Science Roadshow Modern Foreign Language mentors Page 7