What is OxTrack?
OxTrack is a 16-month programme for Sixth Formers who are aiming to make applications to high-tariff universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, and other leading Russell Group institutions. It was developed collaboratively by KICC’s Breaking Educational Barriers (BEB) programme and St Hugh’s College, Oxford, based on many years of experience working with young people who are aiming for Oxbridge. It brings together expertise in Oxbridge admissions, academic and personal development.
OxTrack is designed to advance participants’ skills and confidence, and to give them useful practical information in order to help them make competitive applications to highly selective universities. Throughout their journey, participants are supported by inspirational members of Oxford (including staff and current students), with first-hand experience of the application process, as well as teachers and specialists in study and exam skills from BEB. In addition to sessions focusing on the components of the application process, the programme includes a research project element, as well as team building and recreational activities. Group identity and a sense of community are highly important parts of the OxTrack ethos.
The OxTrack programme will begin with a Launch Event on 9th May 2026 (at St Hugh’s College), and culminate with a University Preparation ‘Bootcamp’ and Certificate Award Ceremony (at KICC), in August 2027. The full planned programme is available here.
Applications will open on Monday 2nd March 2026!
Is OxTrack for me?
OxTrack is a sustained contact programme, which means that participants benefit from sessions and activities that take place at regular intervals over a period of 16 months. Activities are delivered in person and online, with in person events and sessions held at St Hugh’s College in Oxford, or at KICC in Chatham. Most sessions will be in groups, with some one-to-one elements (for example, for personal statement feedback). For a full schedule of activities, please click here.
In addition to led activities, participants will receive an Academic Journey Planner which will act as a companion for taking notes, keeping track of important deadlines in the university application process, as well as tips, and links to useful resources.
The programme is for students who are currently in Year 12 at a state funded school or college. It is aimed at students who have excellent GCSE grades, who are seriously considering applying to either Oxford or Cambridge in October 2026, and who are on track to getting the post-16 grades required for entry to their chosen course (Oxford requirements; Cambridge requirements).
OxTrack is aimed at students who attend school or live in either Kent or London.
If you are a Sixth Former from either of these regions with a strong academic profile and would like to develop your academic skills, knowledge of the Oxbridge application process, and confidence in tackling its various parts, then this programme is for you!
During the course of the programme, we will bust myths about the application process and what it’s like to be a student, help you prepare and stand out in your application, and equip you with crucial skills that will help you succeed in your exams, admissions tests, university applications, and beyond.
To be eligible to apply you must:
- Currently be in Year 12 at a state funded school or college.
- Attend a school/reside in either Kent or London. Please note that we will also consider applicants from the wider South East who are able to travel to the programme venues as required, but priority will be given to applicants from Kent or London.
- Have a strong GCSE profile. As a guideline, we would expect a competitive OxTrack applicant to have achieved all, or mostly, 7s, 8s, and 9s at GCSE level. We will look at how your GCSE grades compare to those of previous successful applicants for your course.
- Be seriously considering applying to either Oxford or Cambridge in October 2026.
- Have predicted grades (A Levels, the IB, etc.) meeting the Oxford or Cambridge entry requirements for your chosen course(s). You can find out what these are at these links:
Oxford: Admission requirements for 2026 entry | University of Oxford
Cambridge: Entry requirements | Undergraduate Study
- Provide the contact details of a teacher who will support your application by supplying predicted grades, writing a brief academic reference, and confirming your achieved GCSE grades.
- We will also use contextual information about your local area and your school, as well as any additional information of this kind that you provide on the application form, to prioritize candidates, or when choosing between very closely matched applicants.
Places will be awarded based on the information supplied by applicants and their teachers. Decisions are made based on the student’s achieved and predicted grades, statement of purpose, teacher’s reference, and any relevant contextual information.
Please note that applications to OxTrack are competitive, and we therefore recommend taking your time to fill in the application form. It is also important that you read the programme description and schedule and reflect on why you are choosing to apply, how the programme might benefit you, and whether you are ready to make this commitment. We also suggest that you thoroughly research courses and universities that you are interested in, and assess how their entry requirements align with your achieved and predicted grades.
Applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application in the week commencing 13th April 2026.
If you have any questions about the application process, please send an email to outreach@st-hughs.ox.ac.uk.
How do I apply?
Applications to OxTrack will open on Monday 2nd March 2026. The application deadline is 11:59pm on Friday 27th March.
An application consists of two parts:
- Every applicant must fill in this form by 11:59pm on Friday 27th March, which will collect basic information such as your full name, contact details, school information, subject choice, and course choice, as well as a brief statement of purpose explaining why you wish to be on the programme. Additionally, you will be asked to provide the name and contact details of a teacher who has agreed to support your application. We strongly suggest that you discuss this with them in advance as the submission of your form will result in an automatic email being sent to them from us.
- Your nominated teacher will then automatically receive an email from us asking them to fill in a supporting form providing your predicted A level, IB, etc. grades, an academic reference, and confirmation of your GCSE results. The deadline for your teacher to complete this is also 11:59pm on Friday 27th March. Therefore, you are strongly advised to complete your application well in advance of the deadline, to ensure that your teacher has time to fill in the form before the deadline passes. Please note that applications without a supporting form from a teacher will not be considered.
Applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application in the week commencing 13th April 2026.
If you have any questions about the application process, please send an email to outreach@st-hughs.ox.ac.uk.
Frequently Asked Questions
This programme is free of charge to participants. All sessions, as well as meals and travel will be covered by BEB and St Hugh’s College.
The programme was created because many talented students in state Sixth Forms do not consider (for a variety of reasons) making applications to Oxford or Cambridge, or to other high-tariff universities in the Russell Group. Additionally, because state schools may not always have the knowledge, time, or resources to support Oxbridge applicants, even very strong candidates may not be successful in their applications, or may find the process overwhelming. OxTrack bridges this gap, and building on many years of experience, supports students in such scenarios.
OxTrack is predominantly for students who reside in, or study at, schools in Kent or London. This is because St Hugh’s College is linked with all state schools in Kent for the purposes of its outreach activities, and BEB (Breaking Educational Barriers) has close links with local schools in London.
The geographical restriction is also due to practical constraints such as access to shared transport and the locations of event hubs.
Please note that we will also consider applicants from the wider South East who are able to travel to the programme venues as required (as St Hugh’s College is part of the Oxford for South East Consortium), but priority will be given to applicants from Kent or London.
- Three expert development streams
OxTrack provides combined expertise from Oxford outreach and admissions staff, and educational specialists from KICC’s BEB team. Over 16 months, participants follow three development streams. Firstly, in-depth sessions led by inspirational members of Oxford help participants consolidate their understanding of the admissions process, giving them the knowledge, skills, and confidence to take their application to the next level. Secondly, personal development and broader study and life skills sessions led by educational experts from BEB equip participants with key competencies to help them flourish at university and beyond. Thirdly, participants will choose a research topic; with guidance from programme leaders, they will explore their topic in detail and deliver a short presentation to Oxford academics at a conference-style event at St Hugh’s.
- Our group identity
At the core of the programme is a strong community ethos: peers, session leaders, Student Ambassadors, and other speakers all work together to foster a welcoming and motivational environment.
- Start-to-finish support
OxTrack provides support and resources in a range of mediums (in person, online, and printed materials including a bespoke OxTrack Academic Journey Planner). These are delivered throughout an applicant’s journey, from the Spring of Year 12 through to the end of Year 13. All participants benefit from the full programme regardless of whether they make a successful application to Oxford or Cambridge.
Yes, you absolutely can. It may also be a good idea to investigate subject-specific programmes, summer schools, or taster days, as these will give you additional insight and support in choosing and applying for your specific course.
All outreach activities run by the University, its colleges and departments are designed to inform and support prospective applicants. In this sense you may increase your chances of putting together a strong application by taking part in such activities. However, taking part in OxTrack or any other programmes or activities does not automatically increase your chances of getting in (put plainly, you would not get ‘extra points’ on your application simply by participating).
Yes, absolutely. KICC BEB volunteers support the programme, but no prior participation is required.
No, any Oxford applicant is free to apply to whichever college they wish.
