Opening doors: our annual Swiftstream residential

20 July 2026

Outreach Officer Lucy Stevens writes:

Swiftstream is always a highlight of Hertford’s outreach calendar, and we were thrilled to welcome 20 students from Medway to Hertford in early July for a jam-packed residential.

Hertford’s Swiftstream programme works with Year 12 state school students in Medway to help them develop the skills and confidence to apply to highly selective universities, including Oxford. It aims to encourage students to explore their academic interests outside of the classroom, build confidence in making decisions about university, and feel that Oxford can be an approachable and exciting place to study.

The residential marked the culmination of the 2026 Swiftstream programme, which began back in November 2025 with online sessions, including admissions-focused sessions unpacking the application process and taster sessions by some of our Hertford academics.

The Swiftstream residential offered students the opportunity to attend the University Open Day with free travel and accommodation provided, to experience university life and to participate in workshops aimed at supporting various stages of the Oxbridge admissions process.

Participants dove head-first into university life, attending subject talks and exploring colleges at the University Open Day, making new friends, and even hunting for ghosts on the ghost tour.

Our brilliant student ambassadors Diogo, Erin and Tilly opened up about their experiences at university and welcomed our Swiftstreamers to college with the warm friendliness for which Hertford is known.

A quick glance at the residential feedback is hugely encouraging. One participant told us that Swiftstream ‘was amazing – I really understood what it would be like as a student on practical levels. It was perfectly timed as the Open Day was an amazing opportunity to explore the uni further.’

We are proud of Swiftstream’s impact on its participants. Outcomes for past participants are excellent, with students from the 2025 programme currently holding offers from top universities including Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial and Queen Mary to study a wide range of subjects including Human Sciences, English and Physics. Our one-year catch-up with the 2025 cohort reinforces the importance of Swiftstream and our other outreach programmes.

‘This was one of the most influential programmes in my decision-making for uni. It introduced me to a course that I’d ultimately end up doing in university – without it I have no idea what I’d be doing now.’ Chisom, 2025 Swiftstreamer

‘I am so grateful for Swiftstream. It showed me that university can be for people like me, who live in Medway and are from a first generation immigrant background.’ Emmanuella, 2025 Swiftstreamer

We love having our Swiftstreamers visit Hertford every summer as part of our wider outreach programme, and we wish them all the best with their next steps.