What are you looking for?

Everyone is welcome at Worcester, whatever their background, education or experience. We work alongside young people, teachers and families to support students from backgrounds under-represented at Oxford: whether it’s raising aspirations about Higher Education, or helping them make a successful application to the University.

Open Day helpers in pink t shirts

We believe that the education we offer should be available and accessible to all with the ability and potential to benefit from it. We champion equality of opportunity and access to the University for the most academically able students, and work with teachers and potential applicants to enable young people with a passion for learning to make informed choices about their futures.

Between 2020 and 2022, 84% of our successful UK applicants were educated at state schools – the second highest intake in the University. Almost a quarter of our successful UK applicants were admitted from less advantaged areas (ACORN categories 4, 5, 6) and areas with low progression to higher education (POLAR quintiles 1 and 2), while close to a third had Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic heritage.

We believe that this diversity is reflected in our academic excellence. We continue to seek to raise aspiration and ambition among groups that are currently under-represented at high-tariff universities, and select the very best applicants based on academic potential, regardless of their ethnic, social, religious or educational background. To do this we offer a range of formal and informal engagement and outreach activities, including school visits, College-based residentials, and University and online events. These activities are designed to give pupils an opportunity to learn more about university life, and we are particularly keen to encourage those with little or no experience of sending applicants to Oxford.

I cannot thank you enough for the memorable and enriching experience you offered to our students. It was truly transformative for our young learners who are now starting to genuinely believe in the possibility of studying at a university like Oxford.
Miss Olivea, Head of Higher Ability at I.D.E.A. National Academy

Our outreach & admissions team

Headshot of Helen Parish

Senior Tutor

Dr Helen Parish

Headshot of Helen Parish

Dr Helen Parish

Senior Tutor

Governing Body Fellow

Education

MA (St Andrews), DPhil (Oxford)

Helen Parish joined Worcester from the University of Reading, where she was Professor in Early Modern History and Head of School in Humanities. Her academic work is focused on the history of belief, broadly understood, including the European Reformations, church and clergy, alongside debates over superstition, magic, witchcraft and the supernatural, and the connections between religion and natural history. As Senior Tutor, she is responsible for the strategic planning and oversight of the College’s academic activities, and for undergraduate admissions.

Headshot of Zoe Campbell

Senior Admissions & Outreach Officer

Zoe Campbell

Headshot of Zoe Campbell

Zoe Campbell

Senior Admissions & Outreach Officer

Zoe leads the work of the Access and Admissions teams, overseeing the undergraduate admissions process and outreach with schools and prospective applicants.

Headshot of Lily Morris

Admissions & Outreach Officer

Lily Morris

Headshot of Lily Morris

Lily Morris

Admissions & Outreach Officer

Academic Office Assistant

Poppy Moulis

Poppy Moulis

Academic Office Assistant

Visitors walking past an arch in the main quad

Visit Oxford

Are you a teacher or advisor in West Yorkshire? Find out more about what we offer to visiting school groups and how to book one of our events for your students.

BOOK YOUR SCHOOL VISIT JOIN OUR TEACHERS’ MAILING LIST

Outreach at Worcester

92

school visits to Oxford each year

4

nights of residentials for students and teachers

118

trained student ambassadors to lead tours and answer questions

3

University Open Days each year

92

school visits to Oxford each year

4

nights of residentials for students and teachers

118

trained student ambassadors to lead tours and answer questions

3

University Open Days each year

Students reading in the library

Resources for applicants

What’s the best way to read more about your favourite subject? How can you demonstrate your enthusiasm in your personal statement? Explore our resources for prospective applicants and their supporters.

DISCOVER YOUR NEW FAVOURITE SUBJECT