For applicants

The North West Science Residential allows Year 12 students in Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool, Lancashire, and Cumbria to get a taste of what it might be like to study a science-related course at the University of Oxford.

You will understand what being an Oxford student is really like through staying in College accommodation, meeting undergraduate STEM students, and attending a range of academic taster sessions and tutorials. You will gain first-hand insight into university-style learning, the facilities available at Oxford colleges and departments, and how to make a competitive university application.

If you are passionate about maths and science and want to learn more about what being an Oxford student is like, this programme is for you.

You must be in Year 12 at a state (i.e. non-fee-paying) school in Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool, Lancashire, or Cumbria. You should be studying at least 2 science/maths subjects at A-level. As part of the selection process, we will consider whether you are on track to achieve at least AAA in your A-level subjects.

We will also prioritise students who identify with one or more groups that are currently underrepresented at the University of Oxford: living in an area of socioeconomic disadvantage or low progression to university, eligibility for Free School Meals/16-19 Bursary, or first in your family to go to university.

Unsure if you meet the eligibility criteria? You can contact us at schools.liaison@queens.ox.ac.uk to check.

Applications are not yet open for the 2027 residential. Please check back in December 2026 for further details.

As part of the application process, students will be asked to submit a short supporting statement about their motivations for attending the residential. Students will also be asked to nominate a current teacher to write a brief reference in support of their application. GCSE grades, predicted A-level grades, and contextual data will be considered alongside your statement and teacher reference.

If you have any further questions, please contact schools.liaison@queens.ox.ac.uk.

This four-day residential gives Year 12 students from across the North West a true flavour of what a Classics degree at university offers. Through lectures, language classes, and small group Oxford-style tutorials, students spend the week developing the skills needed to study Classics and the Humanities at Oxford. Academic taster sessions explore Ancient Greek and Latin language, literature, history, philosophy, and archaeology to mirror the breadth of the Classics course at Oxford – no prior experience required! Through interactions with current Oxford students and living in College accommodation for the week, attendees can see for themselves what being a Classics student here would be like.

The Ancient Worlds Network Residential is open to Year 12 students from across the wider North West region, including Greater Manchester, Liverpool and Merseyside, and Cheshire, alongside Queen’s own link regions of Lancashire and Cumbria.

You must be in Year 12 at a state (i.e. non-fee-paying) school in the North West of England. As part of the selection process, we will consider whether you are on track to achieve  AAA in your A-level subjects.

We will also prioritise students who identify with one or more groups that are currently underrepresented at the University of Oxford: living in an area of socioeconomic disadvantage or low progression to university, eligibility for Free School Meals/16-19 Bursary, or first in your family to go to university.

Unsure if you meet the eligibility criteria? You can contact us at schools.liaison@queens.ox.ac.uk to check.

Applications are not yet open for the 2027 residential. Please check back in December 2026 for further details.

As part of the application process, students will be asked to submit a short supporting statement about their motivations for attending the residential. Students will also be asked to nominate a current teacher to write a brief reference in support of their application. GCSE grades, predicted A-level grades, and contextual data will be considered alongside your statement and teacher reference.

If you have any further questions, please contact schools.liaison@queens.ox.ac.uk.

Held in a Lewisham host school, we run workshops throughout Year 12 covering personal statements, interviews, student finance and admissions tests.

We also host two taster days at Queen’s, one in October half term and one in February half term, each focussed on a different area of study:

• Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
• Sciences, Maths and Medicine

These will allow you to attend some subject-specific taster sessions, meet current students studying courses which match your interests, and see the College and University facilities.

Interested? If you attend a state sixth form in Lewisham, speak to your Head of Sixth Form or enrichment/careers adviser for further information. Lewisham Borough Council organise the sign up process for the programme and share information with participants about upcoming events.

If you have any other questions, please email us at schools.liaison@queens.ox.ac.uk.