Page 58 - Future Leaders 2018-2019
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ARE THERE ANY BLACK STUDENTS
AT OXFORD?
Yes! Though not as many as we would like. The number of
off ers made to black students has doubled over the last
fi ve years. 1.9% of our UK intake identify as black, which is
higher than the 1.8% of students achieving AAA or better
at A-level who identify as black.
Some of our students are featured in this magazine.
You may also like to read about our African and Caribbean
Society and Black Alumni Network at oxfordacs.com and
oxfordblackalumni.org.
The transition to Oxford was certainly a tense phase
in my life, and I was particularly wary about coming
into an environment often noted in the media for its lack
of diversity. However, my expectations did not meet my
reality, and Oxford has proven itself to be a welcoming
and inclusive environment.
I strongly believe that any prospective students with
concerns about fi tting in or compromising who they are,
should not allow such preconceptions to deter them.
Ope Oreyemi, student
OXFORD IS…
…what you make it.
Ever thought about studying at Oxford? Here are some things you should know.
WILL I BE THE ONLY BLACK WHAT IS OXFORD DOING TO
PERSON IN MY COLLEGE? INCREASE DIVERSITY?
Each college community is a diverse We are expanding our UNIQ residential
group with students from diff erent programme, to provide 500 extra places
parts of the UK, and from all over the in 2019. We also work closely with Target
world. They have diff erent interests, Oxbridge, and our African and Caribbean
hobbies and faiths and will study a Society, specifi cally to encourage more
wide range of courses. This diversity students with African and Caribbean
is part of what makes life at Oxford heritage to apply.
so rewarding, as you will make new We strongly believe that
friends from all diff erent backgrounds. no student should
Colleges are fairly small communities, feel limited by their
so you may be the only black person social, economic and/
studying your course at your college. or racial background.
There are also university-wide societies We fully appreciate
like the African and Caribbean Society the eff orts made by
where you can meet other students Oxford University
from similar backgrounds. We hope Admissions and
that you will also help inspire future Outreach on various
students to come here. schemes targeted at
Before coming to Oxford, I really did students from a number of
not know what to expect. I was born backgrounds across the country. We often
in Cameroon and lived there until I was 12 I expected to have a similar experience at work in collaboration with them on these
before moving to Cardiff and attending a Oxford but I was pleasantly surprised and programmes.
predominantly white high school. There, I a huge part of that has been thanks to the Justice Kanu, former Oxford student
faced many challenges as a result of being African and Caribbean Society. and Chair of the Executive Board of the
the only black girl in my year. Christy Nganjimi, student Oxford African and Caribbean Society
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