I have a place on Opportunity Oxford
About Opportunity Oxford
Opportunity Oxford is designed to support talented students in the transition from school or college to Oxford. The programme consists of a welcome day, online course and residential which will help you to develop core academic skills, and feel confident to ‘hit the ground running’ when you start your undergraduate degree.
Read the Opportunity Oxford video transcript.
'We know that starting an undergraduate degree can seem quite daunting, so the Opportunity Oxford programme is designed to help you build on all the hard work you did to earn your University place. The online programme and the residential introduce you to your new academic life, with support from Oxford tutors and current students. Previous participants on the programme tell us they found it a great boost to their studies, so we hope you enjoy it too. We look forward to working with you as you continue your journey to Oxford!'
Lucinda Rumsey - Academic Programme Lead, Opportunity Oxford
There is more information about each element of the programme in the different tabs, and you can hear what some previous students have to say here:
About Opportunity Oxford - Video transcript
Student stories
I really recommend that you see the programme as a chance to set a solid foundation and to help you to be well prepared for your university career. Being part of the programme, I began to see it as an opportunity that allows all students to be on a level playing field before starting their courses, and that all students have been offered a place because they are all equally worthy of it. The best thing about the programme was the friends I met. Also, the practicals and lab work gave me a chance to get used to the different equipment and techniques, which proved to be a great asset when I started my course in October.
Shathuki, Biology
Coming from a state school in Liverpool I was worried that I would not fit the stereotypical ‘Oxford type’ that you hear about. I will admit that when I received my offer, I was confused at the idea of a bridging programme; in some ways I felt as though I had to ‘prove my worth’ but in hindsight I can assure any future students that this is not the case! I am grateful that I was given an Opportunity Oxford offer as the programme overall gave me an insight into life at university. I would encourage anyone who has received an Opportunity Oxford offer to think of it literally as an invaluable ‘opportunity’ that only few get the chance to experience!
Faye, Ancient and Modern History
Before going on Opportunity Oxford, I had reservations about leaving home, and whether I wanted to leave home early to go university. However, I found that going on Opportunity Oxford was an enriching and eye-opening experience as to what university life is like. When I was on Opportunity Oxford, I had lectures every day on weekdays as well as practicals and an essay. This meant that the start of term was much less daunting to me, and it was so much easier to get used to life in Oxford.
Harsimran, Biomedical Sciences
What does the programme involve?
As part of Opportunity Oxford, you will take part in three different aspects of the programme:
- An online welcome day event for all participants and your parents/guardians/supporters in February.
- An online academic course in the summer during July and August, before receiving your results and confirmation of your place at Oxford.
- A two-week residential in Oxford in September, before term starts in October.
Timeline
Which colleges and courses take part in Opportunity Oxford?
The programme is available at all of Oxford's undergraduate colleges.
For 2025-entry, the programme will be available for all Oxford courses (including joint courses) and participants on Opportunity Oxford will follow one of these streams:
Humanities Programme
For students who will be studying:
- Archaeology and Anthropology
- Asian and Middle Eastern Studies
- Classical Archaeology and Ancient History
- Classics
- English Language and Literature
- Fine Art
- History
- History of Art
- Modern Languages
- Music
- Psychology, Philosophy and Linguistics (depending on course combination)
- or Theology and Religion.
Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences (MPLS) Programme
For students who will be studying:
- Chemistry
- Computer Science
- Earth Sciences
- Engineering Science
- Materials Science
- Mathematics
- or Physics.
Medical Sciences Programme
For students who will be studying:
- Biochemistry
- Biology
- Biomedical Sciences
- Experimental Psychology
- Human Sciences
- Medicine
- or Psychology, Philosophy and Linguistics (depending on course combination).
Social Sciences Programme
For students who will be studying:
- Economics and Management
- Geography
- Law
- or Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE).
Are there any differences between an offer with a place on Opportunity Oxford and all other undergraduate offers to study at Oxford?
As a student on Opportunity Oxford, you have been made the same standard offer for your course and have been admitted on the same rigorous basis as all other students. Once you begin your degree, you will follow an identical degree programme, receive the same tuition, be assessed according to the same criteria and be awarded a degree on the same basis as all other students.
The distinct feature of receiving an offer with a place on Opportunity Oxford is that you will participate in the bridging programme during the summer before the start of your degree, to support your transition to studying at university.
We are confident that following this programme will be a really worthwhile and enjoyable experience, and you will gain valuable skills to take with you as you embark on your degree.
Welcome day
Everyone taking part in the Opportunity Oxford programme, together with family and supporters, is warmly invited to an online welcome day in February. This gives you a chance to meet other offer holders and speak with our student ambassadors, many of whom have been on the programme themselves.
You will also meet some of the academic tutors who teach on the programme, speak to current students and representatives from Oxford colleges, hear from the University's finance, disability and welfare representatives, and find out more about what to expect from the programme and university life at Oxford.
The online welcome day includes a number of different sessions, such as:
- Welcome and introduction to the programme
- Q&A with current undergraduate students
- About the online course
- Meet the tutors in an academic session
- University support
- Meet students and staff from your offer college.
The welcome day is the best opportunity to ask all your questions and learn more about the programme and what it will involve, and we look forward to meeting you there.
You can learn more about what to expect from the welcome day in the interview below with some students who have previously taken part in Opportunity Oxford. Please note, the video mentions an in-person event, but all our welcome events are now online.
Online course
Participants will follow one of four online courses (see Overview tab) depending on their future degree:
- Humanities
- Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences (MPLS)
- Medical Sciences
- or Social Sciences.
Each of the four online courses has been written by our academic tutors and consists of structured, in-depth, problem-based academic tasks, together with supporting materials which will assist you in adapting for university the skills you have already acquired at school or college.
The online course begins at the start of July and will take around two weeks to complete. You are given six weeks to complete the course. The timetable for the online work is deliberately flexible, so that you are able to fit this work around other commitments such as a job or holiday. Everything you need for this period of study is provided online and you will also have access to support from tutors and receive ongoing feedback whilst completing the course.
Some of the work you complete will be standalone, but for some courses the academic work you complete will form the basis of classes and content that you engage with during the residential. Whatever work you complete, you will be developing core academic skills which will be useful preparation for your undergraduate course starting in October.
The Online Course - Video Transcript
Student stories
The online course exceeded my initial expectations as I was not expecting such detailed feedback from my tutor, nor did I think I would read about such a variety of topics. I also gained more reassurance and motivation from watching the Q&A sessions with students who had completed the course before coming to Oxford.
Eleanor, Modern Languages
In terms of socialisation and university preparation, it met every expectation. I was able to join group calls with people on similar courses, meet a Biomedical Sciences tutor and meaningfully stretch the limits of my understanding of biology and how to approach the new workload. I'd never utilised full-length research papers in any previous work, and it was quite challenging to start doing so right off the bat, but I found it to be a rewarding experience. I do now feel significantly more prepared for my course.
Bet, Biology
I think that OppOx Digital provides an academic springboard from which students can go on to develop their independent study and critical thinking skills. Additionally, I think that it offers an opportunity to become more familiar with the type of content and work associated with studying at Oxford University - which I personally find to be very different from that which I have previously encountered.
Curtis, Economics and Management
Residential
In August, you will receive your exam results and confirmation of your place at Oxford. In September, students starting their undergraduate degree at Oxford will come on a two-week residential, staying in an Oxford college with other Opportunity Oxford participants and student ambassadors.
During the residential, you will build on the work you completed earlier in the summer on the online course. There will be both classroom-based and independent work, and you will also have lectures, tutorials and, where appropriate, practical work. You will study with peers taking related subjects at different colleges, giving you a great opportunity to meet other students and to get to know Oxford’s colleges and departments.
Alongside the academic work, you will have time to settle into university life and get to know each other through social activities. Meeting the other students, making friends and learning from each other's experiences are valuable parts of the programme. Our team of student ambassadors will also be on hand to offer advice and help you make the most of the residential and learn more about student life and studying at Oxford.
The Residential - Video Transcript
'We are delighted to welcome students to Oxford for the residential. We know that adapting to University study at Oxford can be demanding for any new student. The Opportunity Oxford residential is designed to help students become comfortable in the new academic environment before their university course gets underway.
We hope you will use the residential as an opportunity to try out new ways of studying and thinking, as a chance to engage with tutors in your subject and ask any questions you have, to make friends and to get to know the city. Previous participants have told us the residential was very useful and was a great help in their transition to university study. We hope it will be the same for you and look forward to working with you.'
Lucinda Rumsey, Academic Programme Lead, Opportunity Oxford
Student stories
I had no idea what OppOx was but looking back, it’s one of the best experiences I’ve had in Oxford! The online programme gave me the opportunity to settle into university-level academic work, reading and summarising articles, writing short essays, and analysing set work. The residential was quite scary at the start as I’d never visited Oxford before, so I had to quickly adjust to the new city and living with others. I stayed at Lincoln College and my cohort clicked instantly. My friends on OppOx are my best friends three years later. Without OppOx, I really would’ve struggled starting Oxford, but it gave me the opportunity to experience lectures and a tutorial, meet new friends, and explore the city before term started. Our ambassadors made the experience ten times better, answering all our questions and guiding us through the week. My advice is look forward to it! There are no negatives to being on Opportunity Oxford but there are a million positives. I fell in love with the city and, for the first time since getting my offer, I felt like I belonged at Oxford.
Chloe, Human Sciences
The best thing was getting to meet like-minded people. Many of the people who I met on the programme are still some of my closest friends at Oxford! It's great to know people across different colleges and to forge friendships before starting my degree. The programme was so useful for understanding what is expected of me on my course, how to engage in a tutorial, how to approach essay writing, how to use the library system and for getting to know the city. When I initially received the letter about Opportunity Oxford, I wasn't sure of the purpose of the programme, but then I saw I was being provided with an extra opportunity to get ready for my degree. The programme was incredibly fun, and I am so glad I got this opportunity.
Daniel, History and Politics
For me, being able to form lasting friendships was the most enjoyable and memorable part of the residential. The online section really helped me build an intuition for my subject which has proved invaluable so far! Don't think of it as another task you have to complete to earn your place - you've already earned it! Instead, think of it as an opportunity to get a head start on experiencing university life, meeting people from other colleges and getting a feel for how content might be delivered. When I received my offer, I was confused about why I was selected for the programme. However, looking back I'm very glad I had an opportunity to experience university life ahead of the first term and become more familiar with the city.
Jacques, Mathematics
Further questions?
If you are an offer holder with a place on Opportunity Oxford and have any questions about the programme, please get in touch with the team at
[email protected]
