UNIQ Summer School

Join our UNIQ Summer School

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Photo credit: Steve Langton

We're delighted to be running another UNIQ Summer School this summer. We look forward to practising and thinking about the archaeology and anthropology of food and drink with our UNIQ applicants and we think our course might just CHANGE THEIR LIVES. The summer school in July 2021 will take place online and will include lots of varied activities and opportunities to engage with staff and students from the School of Archaeology and the School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography. 
 

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