British Bangladeshi and Pakistani Communities: Illuminating Pathways to Oxford and Cambridge

ClickCambridge 2026

ClickCambridge is an online outreach programme run collaboratively by a group of Cambridge Colleges. It is the only programme of its kind at the University of Cambridge, designed specifically for UK-domiciled Bangladeshi, Pakistani, and Arab (BPA) or mixed-BPA students at state schools. The programme is entirely free of charge.

• ClickCambridge website — Apply and find full programme details
• Cambridge Undergraduate Study page — Official listing with application information

Who is it for?

• Year 11 students in England and Wales
• S4 students in Scotland
• Year 12 students in Northern Ireland
• State (non fee-paying) school students only

What does it offer?

• Interactive webinars (January–March 2026) on post-16 choices, study skills, and university preparation
• Sessions featuring insights and Q&As with current BPA Cambridge students
• Optional, fully funded one-night residential at Cambridge (August 2026), including travel, accommodation, food, and all activities
• Continued Year 12 support – online webinars guiding participants through the full university application process

British Bangladeshi & Pakistani Programme – Jesus College Oxford

The British Bangladeshi and Pakistani Programme (BBPP) is a free, year-long online outreach programme led by Jesus College, University of Oxford. It is open to Year 12 British Bangladeshi and Pakistani students across the UK who are considering applying to highly selective universities. This programme is directly linked to our research project through the collaboration with Jesus College.

• BBPP Programme page — Apply and access participant resources
• University of Oxford BBPP listing — Official Oxford outreach event page

Led by

Dr Matthew Williams — Access and Career Development Fellow, Jesus College

Contact: access@jesus.ox.ac.uk / Tel: +44 (0) 1865 287261

What does it offer?

• Online webinars and small-group sessions via Microsoft Teams throughout Year 12/13
• Tailored advice from academics, current students, and outreach staff
• Sessions on: Oxford student life, personal statements, admissions tests, and interviews
• Parents and guardians are welcome and can sign up at the same time as eligible students
• Teacher CPD sessions to help educators support British Bangladeshi and Pakistani students
• An optional in-person visit day at Jesus College, Oxford

BeUNIQ – University of Oxford (Years 10 – 11)

BeUNIQ is an ambitious widening participation programme for 14–16 year old students (Years 10–11) at UK state schools, focused on groups currently underrepresented among Oxford undergraduates. It currently works with students from Bangladeshi and Pakistani heritage in five schools in Birmingham, Bradford, and Oldham. BeUNIQ is completely free — all resources, activities, and trips to Oxford are covered by the University.

BeUNIQ — University of Oxford — Programme information, eligibility, and how to get involved

What does it offer?

• Interactive and educational sessions with current Oxford students and academics
• Whole-school approach — resources and information for students, parents/carers, and teachers
• Engagement with the wider local community, going beyond the school gates
• Support fostering oracy, academic confidence, and self-efficacy
• A clear pathway into UNIQ, Oxford’s flagship Year 12 access programme

UNIQ – University of Oxford (Year 12)

UNIQ is Oxford’s flagship access programme for UK state school students in their first year of A-levels or equivalent. It offers around 1,300 places each year and is completely free, covering accommodation, meals, academic courses, social activities, and travel. Students who complete UNIQ have a higher success rate when applying to Oxford than other applicants.

Priority is given to students who are eligible for Free School Meals, those with experience of being in care, and students from areas of low progression to higher education.

• UNIQ website — Explore subject programmes and apply
• Oxford increasing access page — Overview of all Oxford access and outreach programmes

What does it offer?

• Regional in-person events introducing students to Oxford and the application process
• A one-week, subject-specific residential at Oxford (late June to end of July)
• Academic programme including seminars, lectures, labs, and tutorials run by Oxford faculties
• Post-residential online support: admissions tests, interview preparation, and personal statement guidance

UNIQplus — University of Oxford (Postgraduate)

UNIQplus supports talented undergraduates from under-represented groups who would find continuing into postgraduate study a challenge for reasons other than their academic ability. The University of Oxford strongly encourages applications from students of Black, Bangladeshi, and Pakistani ethnicity. The programme is funded through Crankstart and other major donors.

• UNIQplus — University of Oxford — Eligibility criteria, available projects, and application guide

Postgraduate Applicant Support Scheme

For those planning to apply for Oxford postgraduate study in the coming academic year. A free online, four-week skills development programme (evenings) followed by mentoring support throughout the application process.

Research Internships

• Seven-week summer research internship at Oxford (July to August)
• Placement within an active Oxford research group — contributing to real ongoing research
• Transferable skills training, including presentations and postgraduate application guidance
• Free college accommodation throughout the programme
• A payment of approximately £3,400 to offset the cost of not taking paid employment over the summer
• Up to 130 places available across all divisions: Humanities, MPLS, Medical Sciences, and Social Sciences

Oxford Bangla Society and Oxford Pakistan Society

The Oxford Bangla Society is the official Bengali student society at the University of Oxford, representing Bengali culture and supporting Oxford students of Bengali heritage. The society hosts cultural events and activities open to all.

Handles:

• Instagram — @oxbanglasoc — most active channel for events and updates
• Society website — Home of the Oxford Bangla Society
• Email: committee.oxfordunibsoc@gmail.com
• Oxford Pakistan Society Instagram – @oxpaksoc

Oxford University Islamic Society – Access Team

OUIS has a dedicated Access Team working with schools and colleges to support prospective Muslim students with applications, tackle misconceptions about Oxford, and engage with parents. Their aim is to demonstrate that Oxford is an attainable goal for Muslims, and an opportunity to strengthen one’s faith community.

Key resources:

• OUIS Outreach website — Alternative Prospectus, Subject Guides, and Admissions Exam Guides
• Instagram — @ouisoc_access — Access Team updates, school workshops, and events

Oxford Muslim Access Conference (OMAC):

OMAC is OUIS’s flagship annual event, offering tailored support to Muslims considering an Oxbridge application. It features subject workshops, application advice from admissions tutors, alumni panel discussions, and myth-busting sessions about life as a Muslim student at Oxford. The Access Team also delivers bespoke school workshops — teachers and colleges can request these directly.

Students with admissions questions can use the following official channels:

University of Oxford — Undergraduate Admissions

• Oxford ‘Any Questions’ portal — Submit admissions queries and search popular Q&As — the University’s recommended first port of call for all enquiries

• Oxford outreach social media: @OxOutreach on X (Twitter) | @StudyAtOxford on Instagram and YouTube

• Open Days 2026: 1 and 2 July 2026 and 18 September 2026 — open to all prospective students

Jesus College — British Bangladeshi & Pakistani Programme

• Email: access@jesus.ox.ac.uk | Tel: +44 (0) 1865 287261

• Dr Matthew Williams, Access and Career Development Fellow

University of Oxford — Graduate Admissions

• Graduate Admissions contact form — Online query tool — most queries receive a reply within three working days

• Graduate Admissions by phone: +44 (0) 1865 270059 (Mon–Fri, 10:00–16:30 UK time)

• UNIQplus queries: uniqplus@admin.ox.ac.uk

Close the Gap is a £1.6 million joint research project between the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, funded by Research England, the Office for Students, and both universities. It directly addresses the lower offer rates received by Black British, British Bangladeshi, and British Pakistani doctoral candidates — groups that have historically been only around half as likely as White candidates to receive an offer for doctoral study at either university.

What does it do?

• Analyses formal and informal doctoral admissions cultures, systems, and practices at Oxford and Cambridge
• Co-develops new disciplinary-specific, race-literate, and fair selection processes
• Works with partner organisations Blueprint for All and CRAC Ltd
• Aims to create systemic, lasting change in postgraduate research admissions — not just one-off adjustments

Why does this matter for our project?

Close the Gap directly concerns the communities at the heart of our research — British Bangladeshi and British Pakistani students — and is working to dismantle the structural barriers they face when trying to access postgraduate research at the UK’s two most selective universities. Understanding this initiative can help students and families see that Oxford and Cambridge are actively working to make doctoral pathways fairer.

• Close the Gap website — Full project overview, research aims, and latest updates

Founded in 2016, Leading Routes is a pioneering organisation dedicated to strengthening the academic pipeline for Black students in UK higher education. They work to democratise information about postgraduate study, celebrate Black scholarship, and build supportive networks for Black students and academics.

Leading Routes co-authored ‘The Broken Pipeline’ report (2019), which documented the severe underrepresentation of Black students in UKRI-funded doctoral places, and directly influenced the commitment of £8 million by Research England and UKRI to widen participation in postgraduate research. They are a key partner in the In2research programme funded by the Office for Students, which specifically targets inequalities facing British Pakistani and Bangladeshi postgraduate research students.

What they offer:

• Events, panel discussions, and careers series for Black PhD students and early career researchers

• Information on navigating research funding, academic job markets, and postgraduate applications

• Partnership with institutions on race-literate postgraduate access initiatives

Note for students

Leading Routes primarily focuses on postgraduate and academic careers. Their resources and inspiring networks may be particularly valuable for students in our research cohort who are considering academic pathways beyond undergraduate study.

• Leading Routes website — Reports, events, and resources for aspiring Black academics

• ‘The Broken Pipeline’ report — The landmark 2019 report that changed national policy on doctoral funding access

Talking Futures is a government-backed programme providing careers and higher education information resources for parents and carers. It is designed to help families have informed, confident conversations with young people about their futures. Crucially, resources are available in multiple community languages, making them particularly well-suited to British Bangladeshi and Pakistani families.

What it offers:

• Multilingual conversation starters and guides for parents — available in several community languages
• Practical, accessible resources helping families navigate higher education and careers options
• Support materials for schools, colleges, and careers advisers working with diverse communities
• Talking Futures website — Parent-facing resources and multilingual guides