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Target Oxbridge is a widening participation programme run by RARE Recruitment in partnership with the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford.
The programme supports high-achieving Black African and Caribbean students and students of mixed race with Black African/Caribbean heritage in Year 12. It equips them with the knowledge and confidence to make competitive applications to Oxford or Cambridge.
What Target Oxbridge offers
On the programme, you'll have access to:
- one-to-one mentoring from the team at RARE
- subject specific group mentoring from a current Oxford or Cambridge undergraduate
- advice on personal statements, admissions tests and interviews
- super-curricular sessions and resources
- in-person visits and residential experiences at Cambridge and Oxford
Aims of the programme
The main aims of the programme are to develop your:
- confidence and resilience about life at the universities of Cambridge and Oxford
- familiarity with learning and teaching approaches at Oxford and Cambridge. The programme offers mentoring and challenging academic activities
- understanding of the Oxford and Cambridge application and interview processes. You'll work with trained mentors, academics and admissions staff
The main aims of the programme are linked to the Become, Practise and Understand pillars of the Network Evaluating and Researching University Participation Interventions (NERUPI) framework.
Applying to Target Oxbridge
You'll need to meet our eligibility criteria to apply. You must apply online via the Target Oxbridge website. As part of the Target Oxbridge application process you may be interviewed.
Applications for the 2027 cycle will close at the end of October. Interviews will take place in January or February 2027.
Apply online at Target Oxbridge
Check if you're eligible to apply
To take part in Target Oxbridge, you must be:
- Black African and Caribbean or of mixed-race with Black African and Caribbean heritage
- in Year 12, or Year 13 if you study in Northern Ireland or S5 if you study in Scotland
- currently resident in the UK and attending a UK state school or sixth form college
You will also need to meet the minimum academic requirements:
- typically, to apply to all subject strands except Medicine, you must have achieved at least 5 GCSEs at grade A*/8/9
- for Medicine you must achieved at least 8 GCSEs at grade A*/8/9
You don't need to meet the following criteria to apply. But, if you do, you have a better chance of getting a place on the programme:
- Care Experienced
- Refugee or Asylum Seeker
- eligible for Free School Meals at any time in the past 6 years
- caring responsibility
- home post code (IMD Q1 or 2)
Find out more
You can find out more about the programme on the Target Oxbridge website.
If you have any questions about Target Oxbridge, contact cambridgetargetoxbridge@admin.cam.ac.uk