How are Oxford and Cambridge universities tackling social inequality?

Oxford and Cambridge universities are tackling social inequality through outreach programmes and financial support schemes.

Oxford and Cambridge, two of the world's most prestigious universities, are making concerted efforts to address social inequality. They are doing this by implementing a range of initiatives designed to widen access to students from underrepresented and disadvantaged backgrounds.

One of the key ways they are doing this is through outreach programmes. These programmes aim to raise aspirations and encourage applications from students who might not otherwise consider applying to Oxford or Cambridge. They involve a range of activities, including school visits, open days, summer schools, and mentoring schemes. For example, Oxford's UNIQ summer school offers free residential courses to students from UK state schools and colleges. Similarly, Cambridge runs the Sutton Trust Summer Schools, which provide a week of academic, social and cultural activities for students from underrepresented backgrounds.

Another important initiative is the provision of financial support. Both universities offer generous bursaries and scholarships to help students from lower-income families cover the costs of studying. For instance, Oxford's Crankstart Scholarships provide financial support and career development opportunities to UK undergraduates from lower-income households. Cambridge, on the other hand, offers the Cambridge Bursary Scheme, which provides non-repayable bursaries to UK students whose household income is below a certain threshold.

Furthermore, both universities have made changes to their admissions processes to promote greater diversity. They have introduced contextual admissions, where a student's background is taken into account alongside their academic achievements. This means that students from disadvantaged backgrounds who show potential may be given an offer even if their grades are slightly below the typical offer.

In addition, Oxford has launched a new initiative called Foundation Oxford, which offers a year of preparatory study to talented students who have experienced personal disadvantage or severely disrupted education. Cambridge has a similar scheme called the Cambridge Transition Year, which provides a bridge to undergraduate study for students who have faced educational disadvantage.

Through these initiatives, Oxford and Cambridge are striving to ensure that every talented and dedicated student, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to study at their institutions.