Access & Outreach/
British Bangladeshi & Pakistani Programme

Jesus College, Oxford is pleased to launch the 2025 British Bangladeshi and Pakistani Programme.

Applications are now open here until 9am on Friday 28th March.

The British Bangladeshi and Pakistani Programme is a free online outreach programme led by Jesus College, University of Oxford for Year 12 British Bangladeshi and Pakistani students across the UK. It is ideal for students considering applying to highly selective universities such as the University of Oxford. Participants will have the opportunity to attend online webinars/small group sessions throughout Year 12/13. This will provide an opportunity to receive tailored advice on university applications from academics, current students, and access and outreach staff.

Eligibility criteria

  • Year 12 student (or equivalent) at a UK School 
  • Identify as having Bangladeshi and/or Pakistani heritage 
  • Be interested in applying to competitive university courses, which may include Oxford and Cambridge 

Please note we expect to be able to accommodate a large number of students for the online sessions.

Programme Delivery 

The programme will run from April to December 2025. Sessions will be hosted via Microsoft Teams and will consist of:

  • Webinars on topics including an introduction to University/Oxford, student life, personal statements and interviews.
  • Drop-in clinics for personal statements
  • Mock Oxford interviews

Full content plan:

Session  Date  Content 
Launch  10th April Meet the Access Team and student ambassadors, Q&A and introduction to the programme. 
Finance   15th April  Introduction to student finance and budgeting, with a section on student loans and Islam.
Student Life   8th May  Discussion on academic and social elements of student life including managing workload, sports and societies. 
Academic Enrichment  May/June   ‘Lightening’ talks to provide inspiration for super-curricular activities and an insight into university lecturing. 
Personal Statement  June  Covering how to structure the statement, what admissions tutors look for and where to start with super-curriculars. 
Personal Statement Drop-ins  July/Aug  Regular drop-ins over the summer holidays to review personal statements and receive feedback with Access Team member. 
Admission Tests  July/Sept  Covering how to prepare and what to expect from key Oxford admissions tests, including the UCAT and TSA (subject to confirmation of admission requirements for 2026 entry). 
Interviews  November  Introduction to types of university interviews and how to prepare effectively. 
Interview sessions  Nov/Dec  Mock Oxford interviews with Access Team/students. 

 

Visit day

An additional opportunity to visit Jesus College Oxford in May will be provided to selected participants, allocated based on the priority criteria below. The day consists of college and city tours, academic taster sessions and information, advice and guidance on applying to competitive universities. Further information on the visit day will be circulated to selected BBPP participants by/on 1st April 2025. Please note that limited spaces will be available and the priority criteria below will apply if oversubscribed. This does not affect your participation in the online BBPP. The application form provides an option to express interest in the visit day.

In case of over-subscription for the in-person visit day, applications will be assessed using the following criteria: 

  • Attend a UK state school 
  • Eligible for Free School Meals
  • First generation in family to attend university 
  • From an area of high socio-economic deprivation 
  • From an area of low progression to higher education
  • Are care-experienced/young-carer

How to apply 

Applications can be made using the link here until Friday 28th March 2025 at 9am. Information on application outcomes will be sent by/on Tuesday 1st April 2025.

Questions?

Any questions on the BBPP should be directed to access@jesus.ox.ac.uk, or have a look at our frequently asked questions below!

Sessions will be recorded and uploaded to a private site for BBPP participants, so that you can access them following the webinar.

While some of the information given may cover Oxford more specifically, many aspects of the programme will be beneficial to students considering selective universities.

No information on achieved grades, or predicted grades, is required as part of the application process. 

Applications for the online programme/visit day are open until Friday 28th March. Following this, we will be in contact by/on Tuesday 1st April 2025 about your place on the programme/visit day. 

Places on the visit day are limited, and do not affect your place on the online BBPP.

A good chance to visit Oxford independently is during the summer University Open Days which will be held on 2nd and 3rd July, in which undergraduate colleges/departments are open for tours and information sessions. You can read more from the University here and Jesus College here.

The first webinars will focus on general advice for all applicants. However, we expect later sessions will feature subject-specific components, such as for sessions on admissions tests and interviews.

For Parents/Guardians

Parents/guardians are welcome to attend webinars throughout the BBPP. An option for parents/guardians to sign up is provided on the application form below. Parents/guardians must sign-up at the same time as an eligible student.

For Teachers

If you are a teacher and interested in learning more about the programme or would like promotional materials to share with your students, please drop us an email via access@jesus.ox.ac.uk.