OxAbility

OxAbility is a careers development programme launching in Michaelmas term 2025. The programme runs each term and has two elements: learning and development opportunities with real organisations lasting up to five days; a mentoring programme, which gives students a mentor who has experience of working with a disability. 

With one in four Oxford University students now registered with the University Disability Advisory Service, this initiative offers inclusive careers programmes tailored to students’ needs.

Applications for the learning and development placements are open from 1 October until 31 October 2025. The mentoring part of the programme will take place in 2026 - more information to follow.  

About the programme

Each student offered a place on the OxAbility programme will take part in a structured series of activities designed to build confidence, experience, and self-advocacy in the workplace. 

Work experience 

The work experience placements offered through the OxAbility programme are five-day learning and development opportunities with real host organisations. These placements will provide students with hands-on experience in a supportive environment, where hosts are aware that participants have a disability. It creates a safe space to explore workplace culture, navigate discussions around adjustments, and gain confidence. Placements are unpaid, but we will reimburse student expenses such as local travel and lunch. 

Students interested in taking part in OxAbility are invited to apply for one or more work experience projects via CareerConnect by 31 October 2025. Placements will run in 9th week of Michaelmas term, Monday 8 December – Friday 12 December 2025, and will generally be in person, although some, for example those with organisations based outside Oxford, will be offered virtually. 

Mentoring - more information to be confirmed

From Trinity term 2026, some students who applied for work experience in Michaelmas 2025 through the programme and expressed an interest in mentoring may be matched with a mentor with lived experience of disability or neurodivergence, who can provide guidance on navigating the workplace. The Careers Service will match students with a mentor and mntoring conversations will take place three times across the year. 

Learning outcomes

At the end of the programme, successful applicants will have: 

• Gained work experience with a host organisation or taken part in three mentoring sessions with a professional who has navigated working life with a disability. 
• Learned how to share your condition with a host organisation and how to ask for workplace adjustments.
• Reflected on the experience and thought about how to use it in job applications. 

What support will you get before the programme? 

Students will be invited to take part in two one-hour careers workshops before the placement or mentoring scheme. The first workshop will focus on sharing a health condition or disability with a host organisation and how to ask for workplace adjustments. The second will take place after the placement or mentoring, helping students reflect on their experiences and use them to inform future career planning.

Who is eligible to apply?

This programme is open to all current matriculated student at the University of Oxford who are:

• Disabled under the Equality Act 2010, which defines “disability” as a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on your ability carry out normal day-to-day activities; and
• Registered with the University of Oxford Disability Advisory Service.

As places are limited and demand is expected to be high, not everyone will be offered a placement. If you are not selected, this is due to limited availability and not a reflection of your skills or potential. You are encouraged to apply again in future rounds, or to consider the OxAbility Mentoring Programme in 2026.

Any questions?

Please get in touch on oxability@careers.ox.ac.uk.