Black Student Enrollment At Oxford University: The Numbers

Oxford University has been criticised for its lack of diversity, and while the number of black students at the university is rising, there are still low numbers admitted to colleges. In 2019, 3.1% of new students were black, up from 2.6% in 2018. Between 2017 and 2019, 12 of Oxford's colleges admitted five or fewer black undergraduates.

Oxford University's record number of black students

Oxford University has been working to increase the diversity of its student body, and in 2021, it achieved a record number of black students. The university offered places to over 100 black students, the highest number in its history. This represents a significant increase from previous years and is a result of the university's efforts to widen access and build an inclusive environment.

The university's commitment to improving access and diversity is evident in its initiatives such as Opportunity Oxford and Foundation Oxford, which aim to attract students from underrepresented backgrounds. Additionally, the university introduced the Oxford-Arlan Hamilton and Earline Butler Sims Scholarship, its first dedicated, fully-funded scholarship for black British students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The proportion of UK-domiciled students admitted to Oxford who identify as Black has also been steadily increasing. In 2019, the percentage of black students admitted rose to 3.1%, up from 2.6% in 2018. This trend continued in 2023, with the proportion of black students admitted reaching 3.6%.

While Oxford has made significant progress, there is still room for improvement. Between 2017 and 2019, 12 of Oxford's colleges admitted five or fewer black undergraduates, and over the same period, there were five or fewer black students on 13 of the university's largest courses. The university has acknowledged the need to continue its progress and ensure that every talented student, regardless of their background, feels that Oxford is a place where they belong.

Oxford's digital expansion, including the Target Oxbridge programme, has played a crucial role in increasing access and supporting black and mixed-race students with their applications. The university's state school access programme, which usually involves residential visits, moved online during the Covid-19 pandemic, ensuring that students from all backgrounds could continue to access these important resources.

The percentage of black students at Oxford

The University of Oxford has been actively working towards increasing the diversity of its student body. In 2020, the university announced that more than 22% of undergraduate students starting in 2019 were from Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds. This was a significant increase from the previous year's UCAS admissions statistics, which showed a figure of 18%. The overall proportion of Black students admitted to the university rose from 2.6% in 2018 to 3.1% in 2019. This positive trend continued in 2023, with the proportion of UK-domiciled Black students at Oxford increasing to 3.6%.

Despite this progress, there is still room for improvement. Between 2017 and 2019, 12 of Oxford's colleges admitted five or fewer Black undergraduates. Additionally, over the same period, there were five or fewer Black undergraduates on 13 of Oxford's largest courses, including biology, history and politics, and none for geography.

The University of Oxford has implemented several initiatives to address this issue and further enhance the diversity of its student population. In 2019, the university introduced two new initiatives: Opportunity Oxford and Foundation Oxford, aimed at widening access and supporting students from underrepresented backgrounds. Additionally, the university launched the Oxford–Arlan Hamilton and Earline Butler Sims Scholarship, its first dedicated, fully-funded scholarship for Black British students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The university's efforts have been recognised, with Professor Louise Richardson, vice-chancellor of Oxford University, acknowledging the "steady progress towards diversifying the makeup of our student body." The university's commitment to inclusivity and widening access has been further emphasised by Professor Martin Williams, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education, who stated that they are working towards building "a University environment where talented students from every background and region, are welcome and would want to be here."

Black students' experiences at Oxford University

A Sense of Belonging – or Lack Thereof

Abubakar Finiin, a student at Oxford University, has shared his experience as a black student at the institution. In an article for British GQ, he writes about feeling a sense of duty to help diversify Oxford's student body. However, he was met with a predominantly white student population, which made him feel like he didn't fit in.

Racism and Ineffective Responses

Finiin also highlights the broader issue of racism in British society, which is reflected in the experiences of black students at Oxford. In 2020, black students at Oxford spoke out about the university's failure to adequately address racism. The Oxford African and Caribbean Society (ACS), the main group representing black students, expressed their disillusionment and stated that the university needed to do more to foster an inclusive and anti-racist environment.

Impact of the Black Lives Matter Movement

The Black Lives Matter protests and the killing of George Floyd brought renewed attention to racial inequality and the experiences of black students at Oxford. During this time, black and minority ethnic (BAME) students wrote letters condemning the university's record on dealing with racism. The university's vice-chancellor, Louise Richardson, acknowledged their collective failure to address systemic racism properly.

Efforts Towards Change

Oxford University has recognised the need for improvement and has implemented several initiatives to increase diversity and support black students. In 2019, the university introduced Opportunity Oxford and Foundation Oxford, and in the same year, they announced their first dedicated scholarship for black British students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

A Continuing Journey

While Oxford University has made strides towards creating a more inclusive environment, black students' experiences highlight that there is still work to be done. The university continues to face criticism for its handling of racist incidents and its slow progress in diversifying its student body.

The experiences of black students at Oxford University vary, but there is a common thread of a lack of representation and the need for a more inclusive environment. While the university has taken steps to address these issues, the student testimonies and protests indicate that systemic racism and inequality persist. Oxford University must continue to listen to and work with its black student community to create meaningful and long-lasting change.

Oxford University's initiatives to attract black students

Oxford University has been criticised for its lack of diversity in student and staff bodies. In response, the university has implemented several initiatives to attract more black students.

In 2019, the university announced two new initiatives: Opportunity Oxford and Foundation Oxford, alongside a steady increase in the number of students choosing the university from underrepresented backgrounds. Additionally, the university unveiled the Oxford–Arlan Hamilton and Earline Butler Sims Scholarship, its first dedicated, fully-funded scholarship at the undergraduate level for black British students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The Black Academic Futures programme is another initiative that aims to address the underrepresentation of Black UK graduate students at Oxford (around 1.5% of all postgraduate students compared with 4% across the UK sector). The programme provides up to 10 new scholarships to Black UK research students starting their studies in the following year.

Oxford University has also made efforts to create a more inclusive environment for all students. Professor Martin Williams, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education at Oxford University, emphasised the university's commitment to "widening access and building a University environment where talented students from every background and region are welcome and would want to be here." The university aims to ensure that all students feel welcome, valued, respected, and that their well-being matters.

Despite these initiatives, some black students at Oxford University remain disillusioned by the institution's failure to adequately address racism. The Oxford African and Caribbean Society (ACS), the university's main group representing black students, has expressed that more needs to be done to foster an inclusive and anti-racist environment.

The number of black students admitted to Oxford colleges

The University of Oxford has been criticised for its lack of diversity in student and staff bodies. In 2019, only 3.1% of new students were black, up from 2.6% in 2018. This represents a rise of almost 50% on 2014 figures. However, between 2017 and 2019, 12 of Oxford's colleges admitted five or fewer black undergraduates, and over the same period, there were five or fewer black undergraduates on 13 of Oxford's most popular courses. None were admitted to study geography, and only one for biology.

In 2020, the proportion of British students from Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) backgrounds admitted to Oxford increased to more than a fifth (22.1%), up from 18.3% the previous year. The number of black students with Black African or Black Caribbean heritage awarded places also increased from 2.6% in 2018 to 3.2% in 2019. However, the number admitted to some Oxford colleges and courses remains low.

In 2021, Oxford University offered a record number of places to black students, with more than 100 accepted. The university increased the proportion of BAME students to record levels and also made progress on increasing the number of offers to state school and disadvantaged pupils. The data from the admissions body Ucas shows that Oxford is now more likely than comparable institutions to make offers to ethnic minority and socially disadvantaged pupils.

Oxford has been working to widen access and build a university environment where talented students from every background and region feel welcome. The university's access and outreach teams work with schools, families, and communities to reach students and provide opportunities for them to learn about what the university has to offer.

Despite these efforts, some black students at Oxford University say they are disillusioned by its failure to tackle racism, and they no longer feel comfortable working on outreach programmes to attract other black students to apply. The Oxford African and Caribbean Society (ACS), the university's main group representing black students, has stated that more needs to be done to foster an inclusive and anti-racist environment.

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