On Wednesday 25th February, a group of Debate Mate Plus students in Year 12 attended an insight day at Christ Church College, Oxford.
The visit began with a lecture titled ‘Oxford Explained’, delivered by an admissions tutor who offered a clear and engaging overview of university life. Students gained insight into what makes Oxford distinctive, how the collegiate system works, and what the admissions process really looks like beyond the prospectus.
After lunch in the magnificent Great Hall, students took part in a lively Q&A session with current undergraduates. Conversations ranged from preparing for interviews and managing academic workload to day-to-day life in college — including what it’s like to dine in the very hall that inspired scenes in the Harry Potter films.
The afternoon continued with a guided tour of the college, during which students were granted access to areas not usually open to the public, including the Junior Common Room, lecture spaces, and residential areas. This exclusive access offered a genuine sense of what studying and living at Oxford might feel like.
The day concluded with a choice of taster lectures. Students could attend a STEM session exploring the immune system or a humanities lecture introducing key ideas in philosophy and metaethics. Both sessions challenged students to think critically and engage with university-level content.
Overall, the visit was an invaluable experience, providing students with first-hand insight into Oxford life and greater confidence in navigating the application process.