UNIQ is Oxford’s free access programme for UK state school students. Featuring a sustained contact programme and in-person summer residential, you’ll be taught by Oxford academics and explore subjects aligned with your academic interests.
The programme encourages you to make friends with other UNIQ participants: you’ll meet them at regional events and live alongside them during the Oxford residential, where current undergraduates will also be supporting you and on hand to answer your questions about student life at Oxford. We'll also support you to make a strong university application to a course at Oxford or elsewhere.
For Modern Languages specifically, we'll be running courses in French, Spanish and German. Each of these courses is designed to offer a taste of what it is really like to study Modern Languages at Oxford, and to give you a sense of the true breadth of our degree courses.
The majority of the UNIQ course will focus on the language you already study at A-level (or can speak to an equivalent level). There will be sessions to hone your language skills as well as lectures and discussions exploring an exciting array of topics such as literature, theatre, film or linguistics, from the medieval period to the present day. You will also take part in a tutorial – an important part of the Oxford student experience.
During the latter part of the course, you will have a taste of some unfamiliar languages, such as Italian, Portuguese, and Russian, which can all be taken from scratch at Oxford. This offers a unique opportunity to learn new grammar and phrases in a different language and to explore new cultures through literature, film, or linguistics.
Applying is quick and simple – just register and fill out the form on the UNIQ website. It shouldn’t take you more than 15 minutes.
Applications are open now and close on 13 January 2026. You can find out more about the programme and selection criteria on the UNIQ website (www.uniq.ox.ac.uk) and by following us on Instagram (@OxfordUNIQ). If you have any queries about the applications process, check out our FAQs or contact us at uniq@admin.ox.ac.uk.