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
"The online course and the tasks that we were asked to work through were highly engaging as well as accessible. I knew that the assignments would focus on a wide range of subjects, and I understood that the aim of this was to see how one would approach varying information on various topics at many different levels. I didn't expect the variety of topics, articles, journals, excerpts, essays and interviews. As well as the interesting and diverse themes which explored history, art, culture, science, religion, literature and politics, just to name a few. This aspect of the course was particularly amazing and instead of feeling overwhelmed or dismayed at the scope and size of the tasks I really just wanted to see what interesting topic the next assignment would be about."
"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."
"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."
"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. 
"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."
"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." 
"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." 
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
opportunityoxford@admin.ox.ac.uk
