Brookes Engage 2026

A national outreach programme for students in Year 12 or the first year of college.

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What is Brookes Engage?

A free subject based programme designed to support you in making decisions about your next steps after school or college through the following activities.

On campus 'masterclass days'

Visit the campus to take part in an exciting range of activities and make use of our state of the art facilities. 

You’ll get to engage in your choice of subject sessions as well as benefiting from information, advice and guidance related to university applications and beyond. 

Online content

You can choose what content to complete and complete it in your own time so that you can tailor your experience to what you are interested in or need more support with. This includes further subject content as well as support with UCAS and careers information.

Mentoring from current Oxford Brookes students

Mentors will help you navigate the challenges of applying to university, and will tell you all about student life and what it is like to be a student at Oxford Brookes. Your mentor is also able to support you with subject related questions, and you can meet your mentor when you visit Oxford Brookes.

Summer School Experience

Gain a deeper understanding of what being a student at Brookes is like by joining our summer school. Alongside further subject content, you will have the opportunity to stay in Halls, use our facilities, and get to know the city better. 

What’s in it for me?

“The programme has given me an insight into what university is like. I am more confident about going to uni in the future.”

Brookes Engage graduate, 2023

What will I do?

Part 1 - Exploring your options

The programme will start in January of Year 12 with masterclass days taking place throughout the rest of the year:

EventDateLocation
Masterclasses:
Delve into your subject with the Brookes Engage academic masterclass series.
Saturday 16 and 30 JanuaryOxford Brookes University
Explore Oxford:
Get a taste of Oxford with cultural and social activities in the city
Monday 15 FebruaryOxford City Centre
Information, Advice and Guidance:
Support with UCAS, university decisions and study skills
Saturday 20 MarchOnline event
Mentoring:
Mentoring with a current Oxford Brookes University student
Throughout the programme

Online mentoring platform

All travel and meals for in-person activities will be provided at no cost to you. 

Two smiling teenage girls

Part 2 - Summer School

Get an in-depth understanding of university life by participating in summer school. Continue subject taster sessions and get more familiar with our campus and the city of Oxford. You have the option to stay in university accommodation or commute if you wish. 

You will attend one of the following based on your subject stream: 

StreamsDateLocation
Biomedical Science
Architecture, Urban Design and Planning
Oxford Brookes Business School Experience
Creative Industries
Tuesday 29 June - Thursday 1 JulyOxford Brookes University
AI & Cyber Security
Adult and Children's Nursing
Law, Crime and Justice
Tuesday 6 July - Thursday 8 JulyOxford Brookes University

Part 3 - Transition to University

Once you return for Year 13, the programme will begin again in September with a range of support available for your UCAS application. In October or November you can visit campus again, with a special invite to the university open day. In the spring, celebrate completing the programme at our 'mini graduation'.

EventDateLocation
UCAS personal statement supportFrom September to NovemberVirtual Appointments
Interview support for those applying to healthcare courses (optional)From September to NovemberVirtual Appointments
Open Day (optional)Saturday 16 October, Saturday 23 October and Saturday 13 NovemberOxford Brookes University
GraduationSaturday 25 March 2028Oxford Brookes University

What can I study?

 Alert Applications are now closed for all streams except Architecture, Urban Design & Planning and Creative Industries.

This year the subject streams on offer are:

Biomedical Science

On this stream, you'll gain valuable insights into studying a Biology-related subject at university. You'll meet and collaborate with staff from the Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, experiencing a range of research and teaching roles.

The sessions will include practical workshops, lectures, and discussions, giving you ample opportunity to ask questions. You’ll explore how learning and studying work at university, the types of assessments you might encounter, and the diverse career paths in research, industry, and laboratory roles that a Biology-related degree can offer.

Architecture, Urban Design and Planning

EXTENDED DEADLINE TO APPLY: FRIDAY 27 NOVEMBER  

Curious about careers in a Architecture, Urban Design, Planning and the wider built environment industry? Look no further! This stream gives you a practical insight into how we plan, design and construct our buildings and cities, working with our academics as well as gaining insight on how to build your portfolio for university applications and beyond.

Oxford Brookes Business School Experience: Accounting and Finance, Business and Management    Consider key aspects of Business Management, Marketing, Accounting & Finance and Events Planning to further your understanding of what a degree, and career, in this vibrant and exciting industry could involve. The Business subject stream will provide you with a wide range of experiences, skills and knowledge by exploring themes from our Business undergraduate courses.

Creative Industries

EXTENDED DEADLINE TO APPLY: FRIDAY 27 NOVEMBER    

Step into the world of creativity and explore what it takes to bring ideas to life. This programme offers an introduction to the creative industries: from film, media, journalism and publishing to photography, Graphic Design and Fine Art. You’ll discover how these fields connect, the possibilities for future study, and how creativity can shape the world around you. 

In our summer school , you’ll bring it all together through an exciting hands-on project - designing posters, choreographing a film sequence, diving into journalism, and experiencing the thrill of collaboration across the arts.

AI and Cyber Security

Get hands-on experience of Cyber Security and Artificial Intelligence, experimenting with practical activities and work in our high spec computer labs to delve deeper into what studying this course at Brookes is like. Sessions will cover an introduction to AI, programming, autonomous vehicles and more.

Adult and Children's Nursing

You are invited to join us at Brookes to explore both the Adult and Children's Nursing professions and gain insight into the knowledge and skills required to provide person centered nursing care . Using patient case studies, immersive learning technology in a simulated clinical environment, you will have the opportunities to gain practical skills , develop problem solving, reflection and communication skills which are key for all careers in healthcare.

Law, Crime and Justice

A fair justice system is important but who decides what is fair, how do we ensure impartiality and how do we challenge injustice and create change? 

This subject stream will focus on the subjects of Law and Criminology but will also ask you to consider those important questions with input from academics from our History, Philosophy, Sociology, Literature and Education programmes. Working in a range of disciplines you'll undertake enquiring investigation into our relationship to society and power, at the same time building the critical and creative thinking skills vital for future success.

Who can take part?

To be eligible to apply for Brookes Engage, you must meet all of the following criteria:

  • be in the first year of a two-year Level 3 qualification (e.g. A Levels, BTEC, or equivalent)
  • be studying at a non-selective state school or college in England
  • live in England
  • be aged 16 or over at the time of starting the programme.

To be eligible to apply for Brookes Engage, you also need to meet at least one of the following criteria.

  • currently eligible for free school meals or 6th form bursary
  • currently live in local authority care, or have lived in care
  • are a young carer (are under 18 and help to look after a relative with a disability, illness, mental health condition, or drug or alcohol problem)
  • are of black or minority ethnic origin
  • have official refugee status in the UK, or are an asylum seeker
  • live in an area of higher socio-economic disadvantage. To find out whether this applies, please use the postcode look up tool. 
    • Type your postcode into the search box. 
    • Select 'Download Data' todownload the Excel spreadsheet generated. 
    • Open the file titled 'IoD-2025-custom_data_download-LSOA' to view your IMD score in column G. 
    • If the number in the column labelled ‘Index of Multiple Deprivation Decile’ is 1-4, you are eligible.

Applications will also be considered from those who meet any of these other criteria:

  • have a disability, mental health condition, or specific learning difficulty

  • are of minority ethnic origin.
  • Have at least one/parent/carer who has served in the armed forces at any time within the past six years
  • Are irreconcilably estranged from both birth parents
  • Are from a traveller family

Information for Parents and Carers

Parents and Carers are invited to attend Masterclass Day 1 on 16 January. This day will include an introduction to the programme, information on supporting your student with their UCAS application and student finance, and insights into the benefits of higher education. A travel bursary, breakfast on arrival and lunch will be provided. 

How do I apply?


Complete the Brookes Engage Application Form

What our students say

“The programme has helped me understand more about higher education and the 'best' ways to continue my path in education.”

Brookes Engage graduate, 2023

“I was able to speak with a student to find out more about life at a university and help with decisions regarding where I want to go to a university and what I am looking for.”

Brookes Engage graduate, 2023

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