Bodleian Libraries welcomes students from Target Oxbridge programme

In April 2023, the Bodleian Libraries Education Team welcomed nine students attending the Spring residential for Target Oxbridge. Partnering with the University’s Undergraduate Admissions Office, Target Oxbridge is a free programme that supports young people of Black African, Caribbean, and mixed heritage in their bid to attend the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge.

It was the group’s first time visiting the Bodleian Libraries and during their visit to the Weston Library, the students discussed special collections relating to representations of the British Empire in popular culture with Georgia Lin, a DPhil student in Education and Senior Tour Guide for Uncomfortable Oxford. Items selected with the kind support of curatorial colleagues included Conservative Party campaign posters, and Clark’s Chart of the World, which also featured in our recent These Things Matter exhibition. These items were chosen to illustrate how the British Empire used everyday materials, such as board games and food advertisements, to gain support for Britain’s imperial conquests across the world at the height of its power.

Speaking of the visit, Georgia said:

These workshops provide opportunities for students to critically engage with archival sources held at the Bodleian and highlight the uncomfortable histories and legacies of the British Empire. It is always a privilege to facilitate these sessions and introduce more students to the wealth of resources at the libraries and expand their existing knowledge on historical themes of empire, colonisation, gender, and imperialism.

Over the last 10 years, the University has seen an increasing number of Black heritage students at the University of Oxford, but work is continuing to further boost the numbers of students who may feel the University is inaccessible to them. Now in its eleventh year, the programme offers students an opportunity to be completely immersed in life as a University of Oxford student, as well as providing tailored support for every step throughout the application process. It has helped over 350 talented students secure Oxbridge offers.

Find out more information about Target Oxbridge.