What is UNIQ?

Details for UNIQ 2026 will be available soon

The details on this page are for UNIQ 2025 and are subject to change.

UNIQ participant

What is UNIQ?

UNIQ is the University of Oxford’s access programme for UK state school students in their first year of further education. We prioritise places for students with good grades from backgrounds that are under-represented at Oxford and other universities. Every year more students from diverse backgrounds get offered places at Oxford with help from UNIQ.

UNIQ is a completely free programme, aiming to help support you to consider your educational options, decide if Oxford is right for you, and to make successful applications to Oxford.

Established in 2010, UNIQ is a core part of the University of Oxford’s commitment to widening access and participation. Every year we are really lucky to work with up to 1,600 amazing young people through UNIQ. You would be joining one of the most well-established programmes of its kind in the UK!

While participating in UNIQ doesn’t guarantee you a place, each year, more students from diverse backgrounds successfully get offered places at Oxford with help from UNIQ.

How is the programme structured?

UNIQ offers both an in-person residential and an online support programme. See our key dates to find out when the different parts of the programme happen.

Sustained support programme

The sustained support programme runs from April to November. It features a mixture of activities, including evening webinars and online workshops, which we hope will easily fit around your other commitments. The sustained support programme involves a range of activities designed to help you in your journey to university, from application support, to supercurricular activities, to information on student life, clubs and societies, financial support, and more. Some of the sorts of information, advice, and guidance you may receive include:

 

Application support to find out how the Oxford application process works and how you can make the best application possible. Following the application timeline, we move you from overview to focussed sessions from current students and staff on personal statements, admissions tests, and interviews.

Student life sessions giving you an insight into what life as an Oxford student is really like. You will discover how Oxford is a place where you can be you, where you can try something new, or excel at your current talents, and where you can prepare for your future. You can also find out how the University can support you academically, financially, physically and mentally through the range of support services available.

Oxplore sessions based on the University’s Home of Big Questions. These are all about exploring a new subject, having some fun and learning to think like an Oxford student. They will help you build a portfolio of supercurricular activities that you can draw upon in future.

Residential

As well as this, most UNIQ participants will come to Oxford for a four-day academic residential experience, mostly in July. On the residentials, you will get to meet Oxford academics and current students to learn first-hand what studying at Oxford could be like for you. You will experience Oxford teaching and tuition, stay in an Oxford college, and have an introduction to life as an Oxford student.

Our in-person residentials include:

 

  • Three nights' stay in an Oxford college
  • Full board including breakfast, lunch and dinner
  • Academic programme with an Oxford faculty, including seminars, lectures, and tutorials
  • Chance to explore the city of Oxford
  • Social opportunities and a chance to connect with fellow prospective students

 

Space limitations mean we can't offer a UNIQ residential to everyone accepted onto the programme. Even if you missed out on a place on the residential, we want to give more students a taste of Oxford life, so we also offer a number of free trips to attend one of our open days. All students not allocated to a residential are also placed on the reserve list for a residential course.

Does UNIQ cost anything?

No. UNIQ is completely and utterly free!

There are absolutely no fees to either UNIQ participants or their schools or colleges, and we cover all travel, accommodation, meals, and staffing and tuition costs. We think it’s a pretty good deal!

I have another question!

Take a look at our frequently asked questions. If you cannot find the answer there, please get in touch.