What is Opportunity Oxford and how does it help students?

Miles Burke, Undergraduate Coordinator and Admissions Officer, interviewed Benjamin Beggs, a current 2nd-year undergraduate student at SoGE, about his Oxford journey and the support he received from Opportunity Oxford, an academic program that helps prepare talented UK offer-holders from under-represented backgrounds for successful student careers at our university. Find out more about Opportunity Oxford.

Could you please tell me a bit about yourself and your journey? How did you end up studying Geography at Oxford?

I'm from Bristol and did my secondary school and sixth form at Bristol Free School. I always enjoyed geography during my GCSEs, I liked being outdoors and all. But when I hit A-levels, I also got into Economics and Maths. At first, I thought I'd go down the economics path, but studying both subjects together made me realise how geography just felt like there were no boundaries. In economics, I felt a bit boxed in, but geography let me explore anything and everything. That inclusivity and relevance of every person and thing in the world got me hooked, and that's why I aimed for Oxford.

Great! It is important to have enthusiasm for your topic. Were you hesitant about applying to Oxford?

Yes, I heard the application process was tough, and the interviews and tests were no joke. It seemed super competitive. But then I found a bunch of free resources online to prep for it all. I also wondered if Oxford was too intense for me, but the more I fell in love with geography, the less that worried me. The chance to study in such a top-notch department was too tempting to pass up.

What made you feel like Oxford was the perfect fit for you?

Participating in Opportunity Oxford was a game-changer. It showed me there was a diverse crowd at Oxford, which eased my initial worries. The residential was nerve-wracking at first, but everyone, including the ambassadors, was down-to-earth and friendly. By the end of it, I figured if most of Oxford felt like that, it wouldn't be as alienating as I thought. Turns out, I was right, and settling into my college didn't take long at all.

I'm glad to hear that. You mentioned the residential trip; could you share more about your experience?

I was at Baliol college with a small group of students, mainly geography folks like me. We had all sorts of activities related to our courses, from field trips to Wytham woods to learning about GIS mapping and climate law. We even had to write an essay and had a tutorial, which gave us a taste of the Oxford learning system. The evenings and weekends were filled with structured social activities, and the whole group clicked. The ambassadors, who were older students, were a great source of Oxford info, and they made the experience even better.

Sounds like it was a fun and useful trip! Did the Opportunity Oxford experience help you settle into Oxford life?

Absolutely! I already had a friend in my college and other friends around uni from the residential. Having that support network during the first few weeks felt like a huge advantage. Plus, knowing my way around the department and the city from the residential made things way less stressful. Throughout the year, being taught by the same staff we met during the residential was a nice touch.

Lastly, what are your reflections on your first year at Oxford? What were the highlights, and what are you most looking forward to next year and beyond?

I loved my course—it covered a ton of interesting content. Next year, I'm excited to dive into my dissertation, although I'm still figuring out what that'll be. There are more choices for course modules, and I'll probably focus on physical and environmental geography. Outside of classes, I tried some societies but didn't stick with many, so I'm hoping to explore new opportunities in my second year. As for the future, I'm not sure about my career yet, but I feel confident that my broad geography degree can apply to many roles. Time flies, though!