Begin Your Oxbridge Journey With The Y11 (Age 16-17) Head Start Programme​

Students who start their application from our Head Start Programme see Oxbridge success rates of 77% (compared to 63% for students enrolled on an Oxbridge Programme).

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Head Start Programme Oxbridge Success Rate 77%
Premium Programme Oxbridge Success Rate 63%
16%

National Average Success Rate

Monthly One-To-One Sessions. You’ll receive 12 individual tutoring sessions with your mentor, supporting your work through a subject-specific research project.

Monthly Group Seminars. These sessions are created specifically for our Head Start students and focus on topics that help establish a solid foundation for your education and teach valuable life skills.

Study Skills Consultation. You will get a consultation with our Study Skills expert, Dr Alix Hibble. She has lectured students at the University of Oxford on study skills and will help you study smarter, not harder.

Gain An Early Lead. UniAdmissions’ Head Start Programme is designed for students who want to start early and put themselves in the best position to achieve their goals.

YEAR 11 (AGE 16-17)

HEAD START PROGRAMME

You will choose a relevant, subject-specific research project to work through over the next 12 months. Your tutor will provide monthly coaching on this project to ensure you are on track.

YEAR 12 & 13 (AGE 17-18)

PREMIUM PROGRAMME

At this stage, you will move into our final year of support which focuses entirely on helping you build the strongest Oxbridge application possible. You’ll continue getting 1-1 support from a tutor.

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YOUR DREAM UNIVERSITY PLACE

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  • Develop Research Skills
  • Learn Academic Thinking
  • Get Support With School
  • Improve Your Employability
  • Bolster Your Application
  • Learn Exam Technique

Why enrol on to the Head Start Programme?

The Head Start Programme is purpose-built to give you an early advantage over other candidates in an ultra-competitive admissions environment. The Programme is tailored around your individual goals and interests and is designed to develop vital skills through a self-led research project – similar to how you will learn at Oxford or Cambridge.

DEEPEN YOUR KNOWLEDGE

The research project you choose will be related to your target course at Oxbridge, and will develop your subject knowledge greatly.

TARGETED ENRICHMENT

By undertaking a research project, you will gain skills to cecome the well-rounded candidate Oxbridge and employers are looking for.

REAL-WORLD SKILLS

Learn to use valuable skills which will bolster your Oxbridge application and develop you into the ideal candidate.

Available Research Projects

The Head Start Programme is centred around EPQ-style research programmes which will challenge you at every step and teach you essential skills. The research project you choose will be related to your course choice when it comes to applying to Oxford or Cambridge. Here are some example projects you could undertake:

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Four Key Stages Of
The Head Start Programme

Identify your:

  • Personal strengths and weaknesses
  • Subject motivations and understanding 

Through your research project, you will get an understanding of who you are and what you need to work on personally. As well as getting to grips with your subject as a field; its various segments and career paths, then identifying why and how you want to be a part of it. Then mapping how to get there.

You will learn:

  • The DNA of a successful Oxbridge student  
  • How life at colleges, teaching methods and campus life works 

This knowledge will give you a solid understanding of what is required for you to be an Oxbridge student and clarity on what this mythical place is about. You’ll reach this point with a clear picture of why Oxbridge is for you and how you the skills you are learning will be valuable.

You’ll develop essential skills such as:

  • Project development and research 
  • Learning and research techniques 
  • Critical thinking and constructing arguments

These invaluable skills will give you practical experience in life as an Oxbridge student, developing an arsenal of skills that will set you apart in your studies at school, as well as set you up for Oxbridge.

The foundations will be set up for:

  • Having the content for an exceptional Personal Statement
  • The ability to do effective admissions test preparation
  • Skills you will use in a work experience context
  • Developing communication skills for your university interview

These foundations will give you a huge head start on one of the toughest application processes on the planet. You’ll leave here with clarity on your strengths and weaknesses for the process, with a clear roadmap for how to get to over-achievement.

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Your tutor will develop an understanding of you as a student and individual, allowing them to provide a personalised experience specific to your goals.

What To Expect From The Head Start Programme

The 12 individual sessions you’ll have through the year with your mentor will develop your academic skills, problem-solving and widen your subject knowledge. They’ll also introduce you to advanced research techniques, with admissions preparation coming through your monthly seminars.

Learning Objective: To reflect on the achievements and challenges of the previous year, identify areas for improvement, and set ambitious yet achievable objectives for the upcoming project.

Description: This lesson kicks off with a comprehensive reflection on the first-year project. The student will evaluate their research process, skills developed, and overall project outcomes. By understanding strengths and areas for growth, they will collaboratively set specific objectives for the more challenging second-year project. The focus is on building upon successes and refining strategies for greater academic achievement.
Reflecting on Year One and Setting Year Two ObjectivesHead Start Programme: [Year 2] Lesson 1
Learning Objective: To deepen research skills by exploring advanced methodologies, data collection techniques, and ethical considerations.

Description: Building on the foundation laid in the first year, this lesson delves into more advanced research techniques. Topics include advanced literature reviews, survey design, data analysis methods, and the ethical considerations surrounding research. The aim is to equip the student with a sophisticated toolkit for their second-year project, ensuring they can undertake more complex investigations with confidence.
Mastering Advanced Research Techniques and MethodologyHead Start Programme: [Year 2] Lesson 2
Learning Objective: To formulate a clear and compelling project proposal, and develop a detailed plan outlining milestones, deadlines, and resources for the second-year project.

Description: In this lesson, the student will learn the art of creating a comprehensive project proposal. Emphasis will be placed on clearly defining research questions, hypotheses, and project goals. The session will also cover strategic planning, breaking down the project into manageable tasks with set timelines. By the end, the student will have a well-defined proposal and a detailed plan to guide them through the challenges of the more intricate second-year project.
Crafting a Robust Project Proposal and Strategic PlanningHead Start Programme: [Year 2] Lesson 3
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You'll be given a full report after each session

After each session your tutor will fill out a detailed progress report commenting on various areas of your performance in that session. 

  • Recieve A Report After Each Session
  • Uncover Your Strengths & Weaknesses
  • See How Much You Progress Over Time
  • Use The Report To Prepare For Your Next Session
Report From UniAdmissions Programme
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"I can't thank my tutors enough. I got the Oxford offer I really wanted and I couldn't have done it without them!"
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Offers from Oxford, UCL & Lancaster

We work only with the best tutors

  • We select only the most driven and successful Oxbridge tutors to join our elite pool of professionals.
  • We only work with experienced, passionate tutors who have scored in the top 10% and shown a true passion for their subject.
  • We utilise challenging selection interviews to select personable, charismatic tutors who have natural teaching ability, as well as the academic brilliance that led them to Oxbridge.

How do we match these tutors to our students?

The secret lies in our proprietary dedicated tutor management system, TutorMatch. This platform enables our tutors to generate a personal profile of their skills and expertise. This enables us to select the very best tutors out of those who apply. This system has a number of benefits for our students:

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"I felt like I really got on with my tutors. Especially Orin, she was a godsend! Please pass on my thanks to her."
Ella
Offers from Cambridge, Edinburgh & Swansea

Fast, efficient process of tutor selection.

We select the best tutors from an already elite group, based on your subject and University preferences.

Transparency of investment: tutors produce reports after every session to monitor progress.

77% of students on our Head Start Programmes get their Oxbridge place, our tutors help us achieve this.

Automation and data analysis means we are constantly improving the process.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Head Start Programme is designed for students aged 15-16 (Year 1) or 16-17 (Year 2) who are beginning to think about their higher education goals.

The Programme aims to put students in the best possible position for their upcoming GCSE and A-level exams, whilst giving them the skills they need to succeed at university and beyond.

We provide most of our tuition online, however, if you are set on in-person tuition we can provide this.

In person tuition is usually held in a location that’s convenient for you and your tutor in Central London, Cambridge or Oxford.

In some cases, it may be possible to have the sessions at your house depending on your location.

All tutors are either current senior students, recent graduates or from a professional background. Our selection process ensures only the best tutors work for us, in roles most suited to their skill-sets.

UniAdmissions is commited to providing the highest quality service to you. If you are unhappy with your Programme at any point, you can contact your dedicated Programme Manager to arrange a new tutor and discuss any issues – we will do everything we can to keep you satisfied.

If you’re still unhappy with your Programme, we offer a 14-day cooling off period in which you can cancel and get a full refund, no questions asked.

These are sessions, created specifically for students on our Head Start Programme, are held monthly in a group setting with other Head Start students. These sessions will cover vital topics such as The Importance Of Goal Setting, Pricinciples Of Chemistry, Dealing With Conflict and various other topics.

The intention behind these topics is to set our students up with a firm foundation upon which they can build their application and academic future.

Enrichment is all about improving students by expanding their knowledge and improving the skills that university admissions tutors and employers seek.

Enrichment encompasses many different skills – we work with students to help them attain these skills and become the well-rounded candidate universities actively try to recruit.

The Head Start Programme is based on a self-led project, however, the tutoring sessions are customised completely to your individual needs and requirements.

If you feel you need support in one area, your tutor will focus on this area to ensure you are comfortable with it. Likewise, your tutor will identify areas for improvement and work with you to turn them into strengths.

The Head Start syllabus can be tailored by our Admissions Consultants to suit your requirements, no matter what the time of year is.

Speak with our Admissions Consultants now to find out how it would work for you specifically.

UniAdmissions is the leading Oxbridge admissions company in the UK – this gives us a unique insight into the essential skills Oxford and Cambridge are looking for.

With years of experience in the industry and the best tutors available, we are able to support students in a way no other company can.

Discuss Your Requirements With Our Admissions Consultants

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