These events form part of our access programme for young people interested in studying physics at university. They are aimed at students in Year 12 or equivalent.
Year 12 Physics Taster Mornings
We typically run these 2-3 hour long online sessions in November and in late January/ early February. These sessions are intended as a chance to get to know the outreach team and our programme for prospective applicants and to try out some physics activities in a specific area of physics.
In 2026/2027 the first Year 12 Physics Taster Morning will be held on Saturday the 14th November 2026 and the second will be held on Saturday the 30th January 2027.
Year 12 Physics Masterclasses
These day-long online events are typically ran twice a year, in March and May/ June. The events provide advice on applying to study physics at the University of Oxford, a lecture in a cutting-edge topic in physics and interactive problem-solving workshops. Students are guided through the problem-solving process, and solve a range of unusual problems with help and guidance. Students who attend the live event have the chance to ask questions and interact with the speakers through the online webinar platform. However, we will record many of the sessions, and these will be available on-demand for two weeks after the event for students who are unable to attend live.
In 2026/2027, Year 12 Physics Masterclasses are expected to be held on Saturday the 13th March 2027 and Saturday the 22nd May 2027.
Particle physics masterclasses
Every March we also provide the opportunity for students to take part in an International Masterclass in Particle Physics. Students learn more about Particle Physics with Oxford researchers and gain insight into topics and methods of research relating to matter and forces. They will perform measurements on real data from the ATLAS experiment and participate in a video conference to discuss the results.
Students will have the opportunity to:
- Learn how we use particle detectors at the Large Hadron Collider to explore the Universe.
- Study the Z particle and identify its signature in data from the ATLAS experiment.
- Work with Oxford particle physicists and join other students in a video conference with CERN to present the results.