What is Opportunity Oxford?

What does the programme involve?

Opportunity Oxford is a combination of online events, an academic course and a residential programme. Students participate in an online welcome event (which parents, guardians and supporters are encouraged to attend) led by current Oxford undergraduates who have previously taken part in the programme. The core elements of the programme include a six-week online academic course during the summer and a two-week residential programme just before the start of the academic year.

Students at work during an OppOx session

The programme is designed to explore, develop and equip students with core academic skills for their future degrees, ensuring they are fully prepared to thrive from day one at Oxford. It also offers a supportive induction into life as an Oxford student, helping participants to feel confident and ready to embrace their university experience.

Since 2020 the University has made more than 1,000 offers with a place on the Opportunity Oxford programme, and a further 1,500 offer holders have been invited to take part in the OppOx Digital programme.

Each year we expect there to be around 250 offer holders taking part in the Opportunity Oxford programme and 300 who participate in OppOx Digital.

Who is Opportunity Oxford for?

All applicants to Oxford are assessed for eligibility for the Opportunity Oxford programme. Candidates apply to Oxford through UCAS in the normal way. There is no separate application process.

A discussion between tutor and student.

Around 20% of offer holders have school or other circumstances which mean they are eligible to take part in this academic transition programme. The University provides this programme each year for those students who tutors think would benefit most from participating.

Eligible applicants are considered for a place on the Opportunity Oxford programme or the OppOx Digital course. Decisions are made by Oxford tutors during the admissions process. You will know if you are successful in receiving an offer from Oxford and a place on the Opportunity Oxford programme in January, at the same time as all our offers for undergraduate study are made each year. If you have been selected for the OppOx Digital course you will hear from the OppOx team in February with more information.

Warmest congratulations if you have been successful in receiving an offer with a place on Opportunity Oxford. We look forward to welcoming you onto the programme.

Who is selected for Opportunity Oxford?

The University aims to admit students with the highest academic potential, whatever their background. To be eligible for Opportunity Oxford, students will be on track to meet the academic requirements of their chosen Oxford course and will come from either an area with low progression to higher education or an area of socio-economic disadvantage, or both.

In common with many other universities, Oxford defines progression rates and socio-economic disadvantage according to standard national data, and a student’s eligibility under one or more of these criteria is determined simply by their residential postcode.

For Opportunity Oxford, we prioritise students who have more than one marker of under-representation, and we take account of such other factors as the proportion of students at a candidate’s school or college who are entitled to free school meals, the average academic performance of their current and previous schools or colleges and whether a student is care experienced.

We know that high-performing students from some backgrounds are not as well-represented at Oxford as they should be and we are determined to improve on this. We also know that many students have not been given the same level of academic support that some other students have received. This programme is a key step to achieving that ambition and in our commitment to access. You can read more about our commitment to diversifying Oxford.