UNIQ Summer Schools

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 Photo credit: Steve Langton

Archaeology and Anthroplogy of Food and Drink - Free Summer School - July 

We're delighted to be offering another UNIQ Summer School next year. We had so much fun with this last summer and we think if you take this chance to spend a few days in Oxford with us, practising and thinking about the archaeology and anthropology of food and drink with our staff and students, it might just CHANGE YOUR LIFE.

APPLY NOW for this FREE UNIQ experience taking place here in Oxford in July.  
So what is UNIQ and who can apply?

UNIQ is an access programme, which means that we prioritise state school first year A-Level (or equivalent) year 12 students with good grades from backgrounds that are under-represented at Oxford and other highly selective universities. If you have good school grades but are not sure if Oxford, or any university is right for you or perhaps you’re generally feeling uncertain about the future then our free UNIQ programme might be just what you need.

For four nights and five days in July, you can discover student life for yourself. You will  live just like our students, you will stay in an Oxford college, attend academic and admissions sessions during the day and relaxed social activities in the evenings.

You will be able to quiz student helpers and share thoughts on any aspect of student life: all whilst getting to know one of the most student-friendly cities in the UK. By the end of UNIQ you should have a real understanding of university life and feel in a much better position to make your upcoming big decisions.

Why take part in our course on the Archaeology and Anthropology of Food and Drink?

Archaeology and anthropology are two very interdisciplinary fields of study which appeal to curious, engaged people who enjoy tackling big questions about who we once were, who we are now, and what that means for our future. That means that if you have an open and inquiring mind, a passion for the material culture of the past and present, and, you enjoy tackling questions and ideas which require you to apply to both the arts and the sciences, then this is the course for you! Food and drink is just one of the lenses through which we can focus our gaze on the past and the present and it lets us ask questions like:

  • What may our ancestors have eaten and how did they prepare their foods?
  • Why do all societies think some things are edible but other things not?
  • What role does food play in constructing people’s identity?
  • What do we know about the origins of agriculture, and why do some societies chose not to engage in it?
  • Is there more to food than just nutrition?
  • Was farming a bad idea?
  • Does cannibalism exist and how might we explain it?
  • And what, if anything links raw, rotten and cooked foods?

We'll tackle these questions with you through a mixture of interactive talks, practical hands-on sessions and visits to local museums and laboratories.

Are you eligible to apply?
UNIQ is a free programme for state-educated students from all over the UK who are in their first year of further education (A-Levels or equivalent). Places on UNIQ are prioritised for students who live in areas where relatively few people progress to higher education (using POLAR postcode classification) and who come from low socio-economic backgrounds (using ACORN postcode classification). 

If you have any questions or concerns please do get in touch:

  • University Offices, Wellington Square, Oxford, OX1 2JD
  • 01865 280126 / 01865 270322
  • uniq@admin.ox.ac.uk

Human Sciences - Free Summer School - July

Human Sciences is one of UNIQ’s most diverse and individual courses. Throughout the week you’ll be able to get involved in studying humans at a variety of levels, from societal interactions to the physiology of the body. There is no such thing as a ‘typical’ Human Science background, both arts and science subjects lend themselves well to the course, especially a mix of two. It is, however, useful to have studied Biology in sixth form.

The course is ideal for anyone who has an interest in the ‘big’ problems facing human populations today and looking for solutions to them from a variety of angles and disciplines. You may never have heard of Human Sciences before, but many find that it provides an interesting alternative to the more ‘traditional’ human-focused subjects of Medicine, Biology, Anthropology, Geography etc.

The UNIQ course is taught through lectures and supplemented by discussion based classes and three museum trips (the Pitt-Rivers Museum of Anthropology, the Museum of Natural History, and the Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology). Spending a week as a Human Scientist will develop your analytical skills and help you to approach problems from an inter-disciplinary perspective. UNIQ will give you a taste of as much as possible in the time available. The course in recent years has included human ecology, anthropology, human evolution, sociology, physiology, genetics, health and disease.

Requirements: Studying Biology or Mathematics to A2 are helpful with this course
Available Places: 20
Places to Applicants: 1 in 5
 

If you have any questions or concerns please do get in touch:

  • University Offices, Wellington Square, Oxford, OX1 2JD
  • 01865 280126 / 01865 270322
  • uniq@admin.ox.ac.uk