Statement from the Provost on the 700th anniversary of Oriel College’s foundation
Study Day residentials for year 12 students open for applications
26 January 2026
Oriel College has opened applications for its annual series of Study Day residentials for year 12 students.
Four Study Days, taking place between 29 March and 2 April 2026, will focus on one of Classics, English, Music or STEM. The programmes aim to give year 12 students from non-selective UK state schools who are considering applying to degree courses at competitive universities an insight into studying at an Oxford college.
The STEM Study Day is run in partnership with University College, Oxford, and only students who have signed up for the Bright Matter programme for female and non-binary students are eligible to attend. Students who have signed up to the programme will be invited separately to a Study Day at a participating college.
Each Study Day residential will include activities led by student ambassadors and outreach professionals and academic taster sessions with subject experts. Students also get to experience staying overnight in one of Oxford’s oldest colleges.
The 2026 Study Day residential series builds on the success of the past three years.
Reflecting on their experience, a student who attended a programme in 2025 said: “It really helped me see how people like me can be in Oxford. Speaking to student ambassadors, I could see myself in each of them, which made a real difference.”
Another participant commented: “Getting to know the wide range of people who want to come to Oxford, and who are already studying here, was the most enjoyable part. It felt like a genuinely inclusive atmosphere.”
To apply for a place on one of the Study Days, students must be in year 12 at a UK state school, interested in studying a degree course relevant to the programme and predicted A-level grades satisfying Oxford’s standard offer for the relevant course.
The application deadline for the Classics, English and Music programmes is Sunday 15 February. Students may only apply to one option.
The Study Days are offered at no cost to students. An alumnus of Oriel College covers all related expenses, including accommodation, meals and reasonable travel costs.