Every college at Oxford is part of the ‘link colleges’ scheme, which links outreach staff to particular local authorities in the UK. At Hertford we’re responsible for maintaining relationships with teachers in Essex (including Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock), Medway, Peterborough and the London Borough of Camden. We also have links with schools all over the country through our current students, alumni, staff and fellows.

Our connections in Essex and Peterborough form part of the Oxford for East England initiative. See the drop down below for more information about this collaborative outreach programme.

At the University of Oxford, we have a long history of working with schools and students from across the East of England. In autumn 2020, we launched a new approach to improve how the university collaborates with these schools and to encourage more students from the East of England to make successful applications to Oxford and other top UK universities.

Oxford for East England brings together three Oxford colleges with established links in the region: Balliol, Hertford and Wadham. Together, we’ll work with pupils, teachers and families to provide bespoke support where it’s needed, from helping raise attainment to offering professional advice about applying to university.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE EAST ENGLAND CONSORTIUM

We’re delighted to participate in Oxford University’s Opportunity Oxford scheme, which aims to prepare talented offer-holders from under-represented backgrounds in the UK for their time at Oxford. Students invited on Opportunity Oxford are made the standard offer for their course and then take part in a supportive bridging programme in the run-up to their first term at Oxford.

The programme is designed to explore and develop high-level academic skills that will help them with their studies here. It also gives an insight into what life as an Oxford student will be like so, when participants arrive to start their degree course, they can feel confident and know exactly what is expected of them and what to expect from Oxford.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OPPORTUNITY OXFORD

Hertford supports Oxford University’s Astrophoria Foundation Year programme, which aims to support the transition to university study for students with high academic potential who have experienced severe personal disadvantage or disruptions to their prior education. Participating students take part in year-long, subject-specific course at the University, and are based in Oxford colleges.

The programme is designed to enable motivated students to reach their academic potential through a challenging course of study. Students are also supported in developing their confidence, self-belief and sense of personal achievement. The Astrophoria Foundation Year admitted its first students for entry in October 2023.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OXFORD’S ASTROPHORIA FOUNDATION YEAR PROGRAMME

We have a long-standing commitment to widening participation in higher education and a well-established policy of open access. We are proud that we were one of the first all-male colleges to admit women in the 1970s. And we’re proud that we took the lead in withdrawing from the entrance examination system that disadvantaged applicants from the state sector through the revolutionary Tanner scheme. In the present day, we organise a wide range of activities to support under-represented applicants and proudly participate in the University of Oxford’s outreach initiatives, including the Opportunity Oxford scheme.