Finding Out More

Visiting friends at Oxford and talking to current students

One of the best ways of finding out more about Oxford is to talk to someone who studies here. If a friend or relative went to Oxford in the last few years, they’re a good first point of call; otherwise take advantage of our access services and email access@ousu.org or the JCR access officer at a college you’re interested in. The OUSU Access officer is a sabbatical officer who just graduated, and JCR committee members are current students (usually second years). If they can’t help, they’ll point you in the direction of someone who can. There are no stupid questions – if you want to know something, just ask.

Open days

Open days at Oxford are typically arranged by colleges and departments. There aren’t really any University-wide open days, but in many cases the college open days coincide so that you can have a look at several in one visit. Details of all official open days are available here. In many cases, it’s recommended that you contact the admissions secretary of the college or department in advance in order to book a place (contact details can be found on the college websites).

Interviews

The interview timetable for various subjects can be found here. If you’re thinking of applying, it’s very important that you keep your interview days free of other commitments.

Visiting colleges

Don’t worry about the “Closed To Visitors” signs looming in the entrance of many colleges; they’re aimed at tourists. If you explain that you’re a prospective student and would like to look around, the porters will generally be happy to let you in, though it’s best to phone in advance.

If there’s a particular college you’d like to check out, it might be a good idea to get in touch with the JCR Access officer in advance to see if he or she is willing to find someone to meet you on the day. Being shown around college by a current student will give you a much better idea of what the place is like than walking around on your own, and they’ll be able to show you some of the facilities and accommodation that you might not otherwise be able to access. For contact details of JCR committee members, have a look on the college’s JCR website.

Visiting the city

Don’t take a car if possible; driving in Oxford city centre can be a traumatic experience. If you do, it’s best to use the Park and Ride as it’s much cheaper than central parking. The train station is a five minute walk from the centre and the buses all stop right in the middle of town.

Oxford is a bit different outside term time – by all means, have a look around, but remember that it’s a different crowd and a different atmosphere when all the students go home.

Official contacts

If you want to talk to someone who works for the University, there are several main points of call. First of all, try the Admissions Office. They keep copies of the Undergraduate Prospectus, as well as the course prospectuses, and are happy to answer any questions.  Their main website can be found here. 

Secondly, look at the Further Education Access scheme website, the largest widening participation project in Oxford.  FE Access runs interview training sessions, e-mentoring schemes, open days, conferences and organises school visits throughout the year, and are an excellent source of information and support.

If you’d like to know more about a certain college, try the tutor for admissions (contact details can be found on the college website). For course information, it’s best to contact the department directly – the best person to talk to in this case varies from department to department, but the website will usually point you in the right direction.