The scheme aims to improve the student experience of undergraduates from lower income families and offer them financial and career development support during their time at university.
Christ Church, famed for its connection with Harry Potter (the film version of Hogwarts was partly based on the hall at Christ Church), will offer four new scholarships for students with outstanding academic potential from low or middle-income households. The scholarships will provide up to £13,500 per year, including a £3,000 tuition fee reduction.
It is introducing maintenance subsidies of up to 50 per cent for accommodation and food for lower income students and also plans to strengthen its links with organisations and charities that encourage young people from less advantaged backgrounds to apply to Oxford and other universities.
Following reports that students from low and middle-income families find it difficult to take up unpaid or low-paid internships and placements, Christ Church is introducing summer bursaries too. These will help students to pay for living costs while they do internships during the summer holidays.
Launching the new scheme, tutor for admissions Dr Jennifer Yee said: “I came to Christ Church from a completely non-Oxford background myself and I’ve found it to be a remarkably friendly and relaxed place.
“The people here come from much more diverse backgrounds than you might think, but maintaining and broadening that diversity is something we need to work on.
“That’s why we’re introducing these new access initiatives.”
Christ Church is keen to help raise aspirations in schools and areas with little track record of sending pupils to university and will help promising students prepare their Oxford applications.
With this in mind, the college is appointing staff to work directly with schools and visiting groups.