Academic Taster Days

The Catz Academic Taster Days are a fantastic opportunity for Year 12 students to explore a specific subject area, meet tutors and current students, experience a taste of academic teaching at Oxford, and find out more about studying at university. All events are free to attend, including any refreshments or lunch. We prioritise students from UK state schools and our link region of Wales.

In 2025, 144 students joined us for English, Modern Languages and Linguistics, Women and non-Binary People in STEM, and Music Academic Taster Days in May half term.

 

Online ‘Bright Matter’ Sessions – January / February 2026

In collaboration with St Anne’s, St Hilda’s, Magdalen, Mansfield, Oriel and University Colleges, we are pleased to be part of the Bright Matter programme for women and non-binary students in Years 11 and 12 who are interested in STEM subjects. These sessions are held online (16:30–17:30) and include subject insights, a short academic taster and a live Q&A with current students and tutors.

Online session dates (registration link here):

  • Tues 13 Jan 2026 – Biology
  • Tues 27 Jan 2026 – Human Sciences
  • Tues 03 Feb 2026 – Medicine

Students who attend one or more Bright Matter sessions are invited to express interest in attending an in-person Academic Taster Day later in the year as part of the programme.

 

Catz Academic Taster Days – in-person – May 2026

Our in-person days provide the chance to spend a day at St Catherine’s College, explore a subject in depth, enjoy lunch in our hall and get a feel for college life by talking with current students as well as by submitting questions in a Q&A session.

Click the links below to apply for in-person days.

 

 

Tuesday 26 May – English

including:

  • Professor Bart van Es: ‘How a Shakespeare text is Mad(e)’
  • Professor Kirsten Shepherd: Modernist Epiphanies in Joyce, Woolf, and Mansfield
  • Dr Jeremy Dimmick: ‘They that have of him lost thought and mind’: Fame and Oblivion in Two Medieval Poems
  • a demonstration interview with a current student

 

 

Wednesday 27 May – Modern Languages & Linguistics

including a demonstration interview with a current student and academic sessions options from:

  • Introduction to Linguistics
  • French, Spanish and German (for attendees studying the language at A-level or equivalent)
  • Beginners’ German
  • [Beginners’ Languages tbc: Czech, Italian, Modern Greek, Portuguese]

 

 

Thursday 28 May – STEM & Bright Matter

including academic sessions options from:

  • Biology
  • Computer Science
  • Human Sciences
  • Materials Science
  • Mathematics
  • Medicine
  • [more subjects tbc]

 

 

Friday 29 May – History of Art

including:

  • an introduction to History of Art at Oxford
  • a demonstration interview with a current student
  • an academic taster lecture
  • a visit to an Oxford museum

 

 

Friday 29 May – Music tbc

 

 

 

Who can apply?

These events are aimed at Year 12 students (or equivalent) who are considering applying to the University of Oxford. We prioritise students from UK state schools and our link region of Wales.

 

What to expect

On a typical Academic Taster Day you may:

  • Attend academic sessions in your chosen subject
  • Meet current Oxford undergraduates
  • Hear from a recent graduate talk about what they are doing after Oxford
  • Participate in academic activities, Q&A or demo interview sessions
  • Enjoy lunch in St Catherine’s College
  • Learn more about university applications and student life

 

If you have any questions about booking or accessibility requirements, please contact:
The Outreach Team – outreach@stcatz.ox.ac.uk