Equality and Diversity

New College is committed to providing an open and safe environment which both values and promotes diversity and equality of opportunity, encouraging all our staff and students to fulfil their potential.

The Tutor for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion is Barbara Rossi. She is supported by the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Freyja Madsen. The Warden chairs the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee, composed of senior and junior members. 

If you would like to find out more, please read the College's Equality Policy. 

There are many groups which historically have been under-represented at Oxford, and New College is no exception. We are committed to do our very best in changing this. 

Access and Outreach

We work with schools and students of all social, ethnic, religious and educational backgrounds, seeking to ensure that everyone of outstanding academic potential feels able to apply to Oxford. 

There are many groups that are currently under-represented at the University and New College is committed to changing this. To that end, we work with students from state schools from across the country, encouraging them to apply to the University and supporting them to build a competitive application if they do choose to do so - both visiting schools and hosting students here at the College. 

Visit our Working with Schools page to find out more about our Access and Outreach activities - including our new initiative, Step Up.

One area of strong focus for the College is students of different faiths and ethnic minorities. The Warden chairs a Working Party which seeks to encourage a welcoming environment for students of all faiths and ethnicities. Both the JCR and MCR are actively involved in this, as are our wonderful students - our best ambassadors. These include not just UK students that identify as a minority, but also our larger numbers of international students.

Historically, one of the most under-represented groups at Oxford has been Black British students. Our Outreach team visits schools and hosts students to encourage applications and to help make those applications competitive. We also contribute to Target Oxbridge, details of which are below. 

Target Oxbridge

Target Oxbridge is a programme which seeks to help academically gifted, black British students with their applications to Oxford and Cambridge. Students on the scheme will have regular contact with a BME Oxbridge graduate, attend academic sessions and receive coaching on the various stages of the Oxbridge application process. 

At New College, we are committed to increasing the number of Black British students both at the College and at the University. We therefore contribute to the funding of the programme, and are one of the host Colleges for its Easter residential. We are very keen to receive applications from candidates who have been through the programme. 

Annual Faith and Ethnic Minorities Dinner

The College's commitment to celebrate students of different faith and heritage extends to our Old Members. In 2017, we instituted an annual Faith and Ethnic Minorities Dinner (then called the 'BAME Dinner'), celebrating our current and former students of all faiths and ethnicities. Ensuring that prospective students aren’t put off applying to Oxford by a fear of not fitting in is a priority for the College – as is making those that do come as welcome as possible. Those attending deemed the dinner a great success but we know it's only a start. 

Below is a video from the first Dinner in 2017. Apologies in advance for the sound quality - everyone was having such a good time that there was a lot of background noise!

The College celebrates its LGBTQ+ students and staff. The Warden holds an annual LGBTQ+ cocktail party in the Lodgings; the Rainbow and Transgender flags fly at the appropriate times; and a joint annual event of New College Society members and students has just been inaugurated. The JCR and MCR LGBTQ+ representatives also organise a range of events for their members.