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Christ Church is pleased to announce an essay competition on the subject of ‘Home’, for pupils interested in studying Geography at university.

What does the Geography competition involve?

Students are invited to write a reflective essay of up to 800 words on the theme of ‘Home’, in relation to whichever aspect or level of Geography they choose. We welcome creative submissions and entrants are welcome to approach the subject in whatever way is most meaningful to them, as long as they demonstrate thinking geographically. 

Selected entrants will be invited to attend a Geography Study Day at Christ Church on Wednesday 28 May to celebrate their achievement and learn more about undergraduate study at Oxford. This day will include:

  • An introduction to Geography at Oxford
  • A taster lecture
  • Lunch in Hall
  • Geography Skills Workshop
  • Tour of Christ Church
  • Q&A with current students
  • Essay commendations

The event will be free of charge and lunch will be provided. We would not want the cost of travelling to Oxford to prevent students from participating and are able to offer support with travel costs by public transport (e.g. buses and trains) to UK students who have been in care, are young carers, have been eligible for free school meals, or who would otherwise be unable to attend.

Geography Study Day

Who is it for?

The Geography project is for UK students in Years 12 or equivalent, currently in state-maintained education, who are studying an A-Level in Geography (if the subject is offered by the school). We warmly invite entries from students who: 

  • would be the first in their immediate family to go to university
  • are or have been eligible for Free School Meals or the 16-19 Bursary
  • are young carers
  • have been in care
  • are from areas of socio-economic disadvantage (ACORN groups 5 or 6 – this can be checked here)
  • are from areas with low index of multiple deprivation (IMD quintiles 1 or 2 – further information can be found on the UK Government website.)

How to take part?

The deadline for entries is 5pm on Friday 18 April 2025.

Please complete the Home Essay Competition entry form when you are ready to upload your essay. The form will then ask you to submit your document via email in Word (.docx) format. We also request that you use the following format to name your file: Surname Name School Home, e.g. ‘Butler Joel Lyndon Home.docx’. This is to ensure that each essay is identifiable to the correct participant.

Entrants selected for the Geography Study Day will be notified via the email address provided on their entry form during the week commencing Monday 5 May.

We hope you enjoy putting together your essays and we wish you all the best of luck. Any questions can be addressed to the Access & Schools Liaison Officer, Joel Butler, at access@chch.ox.ac.uk or via telephone on 01865 276181.