Resources

We hugely value the supporting role that teachers and careers advisors can play in encouraging students to consider their options and make informed decisions. 

Teachers' webpages and newsletter

These webpages aim to provide all the information needed to support students applying to Oxford. We welcome the chance to talk with teachers and advisers about supporting your students through all aspects of considering, and applying to, Oxford. The University also has  an email newsletter for teachers, with updates about our admissions process, events that teachers and students can attend, and our access and widening participation programmes, including UNIQ.

School Access Programme

We visit the region during set weeks each year for in-person sessions, as well as offering online workshops throughout the year. Richard (Trinity College) is based in the region, and may have more flexibility in visiting schools too. You can contact the Oxford for North East Team by email.

Some sessions are about university in general, whilst others focus on the University of Oxford specifically, for example:

• For Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 - What is University? Supporting primary aged pupils to understand university education.
• For Years 7, 8 and 9 - Higher Education Explained. Exploring university and what it might be like to study there.
• For Years 9, 10 and 11- University and Future Choices. GCSEs, A-Levels and how they link to university courses.   
  Why University? Why Oxford? The purpose of university, myth-busting, the cost, and an introduction to the Russell Group and the University of Oxford specifically.
• For Year 12 and 13 - Making a Competitive Application to University, Oxford and the Application Process, Personal Statement Workshop, Super-Curricular Workshop, Admissions Test Workshop, Interview Skills Workshop (suitable for Oxbridge applicants).

We can also provide workshops on Oxplore (our digital outreach platform for students), student finance and can also offer more general topics, such as exploring beyond the school curriculum, essay writing, giving presentations and careers advice for all.

In 2024-25, we expect to be in the region in the following weeks specifically:

We will continue to offer online workshops at any time.

Supporting Higher Education Applications (Teacher CPD)

Oxford for North East run Teacher CPD Sessions throughout the year providing up to date information and guidance relating to the Oxford application process, as well as applications to other competitive higher education institutions. We particularly welcome schools and teachers who have little experience of the University of Oxford or have low pupil progression to the Russell Group or Higher Education in general.

These sessions may include information about the Oxford application process, UCAS teacher references, personal statements, admission tests and relevant super-curricular activities, and we can be quite flexible on timing.

The team are very happy to adapt any sessions to meet your needs, so please get in touch to discuss this further.

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.

Resources for teachers from across the Oxford Outreach Community can be found here.

As a family member or advisor you are in a great position to support your child as they make decisions about their education. Here at Oxford, we value students' families and want you to have all the information you need to feel confident in your supporting role.

University Resources

The University has put together a detailed parents and carers guide, which will take you through everything you need to know about applications to Oxford. If you want to find out specific information about our fees, and the University’s generous financial support offering you can find this on the fees and funding pages. The University’s central ‘for families’ page also covers this information.

Each year the Department of Physics runs an adult supporter event in March, and details of this event can be found on their webpages.

The OxNE team run termly parent and carer talks online and in region. These are held in September, February, and July. If you would like information on how to sing up to these sessions please contact us.

Community in Oxford

Oxford has a thriving community of students from the North East of England, and a variety of ways for these students to make connections with each other whilst they are studying at Oxford.

Students from the North East can join the Northerners’ Society, which is run entirely by students from the North of England and provides social and welfare support for students whilst they are at Oxford.

OxNE regularly brings together our students from the North East.  We hold a North East Offer Holder Event in Newcastle in March each year. This is a great way for Offer Holders to get to know each other before they event start at the University of Oxford. The OxNE outreach team also runs a parent/carer session during this event, providing advice and guidance about supporting an Offer Holder, and current undergraduate students from the region will also be there to answer questions about what life is like at Oxford for North East students.

We also host a reception for North East students each year in Oxford’s first (Michaelmas) term for drinks and networking at either Christ Church, Trinity or St Anne’s College. Students from across the region also get involved with the North East team’s outreach work by volunteering as North East Ambassadors, which has been an invaluable part of the work we are able to do in the region.

One of Oxford’s strengths is its collegiate, community-driven education. Your child’s college will provide social, pastoral and welfare support whilst they are at University. Colleges consist of up to 500 undergraduate students and are supported by a full staff team – meaning that students at Oxford get some of the best support in the country! Whilst students from the North East can – and do – find each other, the collegiate system means that every student coming to Oxford will find a built in community and place to call home.

Distance and Term Time

One of the primary concerns for parents and young people attending Oxford can be the distance from the North East and the associated travel time (4.5 hours on the train, and similar by car). Whilst this can seem very far away from the North East, there is a direct train that runs through York, Darlington, Durham and Newcastle meaning it is easy to get to and from Oxford when necessary!

And Oxford’s terms are short – eight weeks at a time compared to other Universities that run a ten week term, or a semester-based timetable. This means that our students form intense communities whilst they are in Oxford and they have a lot of down time to spend at home with family and friends when they need it.