Open Days and Events

Our doors are always open to schools and pupils interested in studying at Somerville.

Somerville is open to prospective applicants and offer holders; you can pick up a self-guided tour from the Porters’ Lodge when you arrive, or you can ask at the Lodge if there’s a member of the Academic Office or Access Office available to show you around. Members of the general public can visit us free of charge on most days, without needing to book ahead.

If you are a teacher, you can book a school visit for a group of students for next term using the following form, which includes options for schools to book both in-person and virtual visits:

Book a school visit (Virtual or In-Person)

We participate in the university-wide open days in June/July and September and host visits from schools each week during term time. We also host annual Year 12 Study Days and collaborate in university-wide Remote Interview Workshops in November for state school applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds to help demystify the interview process. See below for more information.

Open Days

The University hosts Open Days for prospective applicants at the end of the summer term and the beginning of the autumn term. In 2023 these will be on 28th and 29th June and 15th September.

At an Open Day, our team of warm and friendly student helpers will be on hand to guide you around the College and give you a first-hand account of life at Somerville. There’ll also be talks to help you learn more about the subject you’re interested in applying for.

Here is a timetable for this year’s Open Days:

College Opening Hours: 08:45-17:00

Free drop-in tours led by current Somerville students: 09:00-16:45

Admissions talk by Tutor for Admissions: 09.00-09.45 in Flora Anderson Hall. He will be available to chat to prospective applicants all day. Our Welfare Officer and Disabilities Lead, Jo Ockwell, will also be available to talk to on request.

Meet the tutors drop-in available from 12.30-14.00. An opportunity to meet one of the Somerville tutors in the subject of your choice!

The Director of Chapel Music may be available in the Chapel to discuss Choral Scholarships and the College Choir.

Refreshments:

There will be a free sandwich lunch from 12:30-14:00 in the Flora Anderson Hall. Tea & coffee will also be available throughout the day.

Accommodation

We do have some B&B rooms available in Somerville, which can be booked through our Bed & Breakfast page from August onwards. If you are UK-based, live over 70 miles away from Oxford and attend a state school, you may book from July onwards and we can provide you with a discount – please contact our Access & Outreach team if you are eligible.

If you wish to arrange a personal or school group visit to Somerville at another time, please contact our Access & Outreach team.

Oxford Remote Interview Workshops

Somerville is one of the colleges which participates in the University-wide Remote Interview Workshops, which are held in November following applications but before the invitations to interview are sent out.

These are run for Oxford applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds on Microsoft Teams, and involve general admissions guidance, as well as subject-specific workshops and Q&A opportunities with tutors and current students.

The subject workshops may include mock interviews, discussion of sample questions, and advice about what interviewing tutors are looking for.

More information will be sent out to eligible candidates nearer the time.

Year 12 Study Days

Somerville is host an annual series of Virtual Study Days. These are open to all Year 12 students currently at a UK state school or college. They are entirely free of charge.

The Study Days will feature taster lectures or workshops run by Oxford University academics, which will offer a challenging and entertaining introduction to university-level study of the subject.

The sessions are open to all Year 12 students at a UK State School who are taking a related subject, and/or are thinking about going on to study a related subject at university. There will also be opportunities to hear advice from admissions and outreach staff about applying to Oxford and Cambridge, and to ask the college tutors and current undergraduates questions about their subject of interest.

The 2023 Study Days have now taken place and the dates for the 2024 Study Days will be released next year.

Young Carers' Insight into Higher Education Day

Somerville are delighted to be hosting an Insight into HE day for Young Carers’ in Year 12 at a UK state school on the 31st of May from 1pm to 4pm.

This informal event is aimed that those who have caring responsibilities in their family and who are considering their post-18 education options. The afternoon will provide opportunities to learn more about university life, find out about the support available and also to meet current students, including those who are also young carers. The information talk will also be live streamed for those unable to come in person.

Timetable:

12:45-13:00 – Arrival and sign-in
13:00-14:00 – Information talk about University
14:00-14:30 – Tour of Somerville College
14:30-15:30 – Small group Q&As with current students
15:30-16:00 – Tea, coffee and biscuits
16:00 – Depart

Please fill out this form by 5pm on the 19th of May if you would like to attend.

If you have any questions or need assistance covering the cost of transport to the event please email access@some.ox.ac.uk

Virtual Tour

Can’t wait until Open Days to have a look around? Luckily, thanks to our Interactive Map Tour, you won’t need to.

TAKE a Virtual Tour of Somerville

Or you can watch our college tour video below:

You can also watch our students’ virtual tour videos to see college through their eyes and to see some of our first year accommodation:

Watch our students’ Virtual Tour

Watch our students’ Bedroom Tours

Join the Somerville Mailing List

School teachers may be interested in joining our mailing list in order to find out about the opportunities offered by Somerville and other parts of the University to learn more about studying at Somerville and Oxford.

Please email us at access@some.ox.ac.uk if you’d like to receive our regular newsletter or call 01865 270592 to find out more about applying to Somerville and organise a visit.

You can also find out about the latest outreach events by following us on Twitter.