Brasenose College welcomes the 2nd annual release of Oxford undergraduate admissions statistics.
The College is concerned about the lack of Black British students as undergraduates as highlighted in the University statistics. We are determined to intensify our efforts to recruit talented students from this under-represented group.
The Principal of Brasenose, John Bowers, said “Diversity is integral to our values. This year the College admitted more female students, more state school students, and more students from regions of high deprivation or where fewer students go on to higher education. This is all encouraging – but we are very disappointed that only a single Black UK undergraduate started their course over the last three years. The College is taking a number of steps to encourage and support Black applicants to Brasenose, including working with Target Oxbridge, and starting a new bursary for Black British graduates who are or want to be teachers”
Measures already undertaken by the College to encourage Black British applications and support Black British students include:
- Working with and helping to fund Target Oxbridge, a free programme that aims specifically to help Black students and students of mixed race with black heritage increase their chances of a successful Oxbridge application.
- Supporting student groups within Oxford, including sponsorship of Onyx Magazine: a creative publication, founded and run by Oxford students, which showcases the voices of students of African and Caribbean heritage.
- Working with virtual schools and Oxford’s Rees Centre for research into fostering to offer mentoring, raising aspiration and other support to care leavers / care experienced applicants.
- Funding a pilot residential programme for the STEM Skills Fund (a free programme for high ability female students from deprived backgrounds aimed at furthering access to STEM science subjects.)
Brasenose College is developing further initiatives, including:
- Working with BME alumni to identify role-models and potential mentors of Black British students and those of other ethnicities. This complements the women and LGBTQ+ alumni networks already established.
- Creation of fully-funded studentships for Black British graduates entering PGCE teacher-training and for established teachers enrolled on continuing professional development at Oxford’s Education Department. The College is working with the University to deliver this project.
Click here to read the University of Oxford data release report. Also see some recent admissions statistics specifically for Brasenose College.