School visits

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Educational visits for students

We offer an inspiring range of opportunities to engage with our outstanding collections of manuscripts, maps, rare books and archives. A visit to the Bodleian Libraries is a wonderful way to introduce students to working with primary sources, develop their visual and verbal literacy, and improve their research skills.

Learning sessions can be linked directly to the curriculum or designed to provide additional stretch and challenge and an insight into university study. We currently prioritise working with state schools and colleges in Oxfordshire, as well as schools visiting as part of the University of Oxford’s widening access initiatives.

As part of the University of Oxford's Gardens, Libraries and Museums (GLAM), we can also help you arrange sessions with other University collections as part of joint visits.

The Education team is based in the Weston Library, which houses the Bodleian’s special collections. To visit the historic Bodleian Old Library and Divinity School you will need to book a guided tour; please contact the Tours team.

Planning a school visit

Opportunities for school-age students

Group of children looking at an exhibition

Exhibition visits

Maximum group size: 30

The two exhibition galleries in the Weston Library showcase a selection of Bodleian treasures. Schools are welcome to book a visit to our regularly changing programme of exhibitions for a self-guided tour. We also offer taught learning sessions, activities, and guided tours for many exhibitions.

Make a booking enquiry

Tour of the Weston Library

Maximum group size: 15
(only available in combination with other elements)

Schools can explore behind the scenes of the Weston Library, home of the Bodleian’s special collections, on a guided tour. Participants will learn about the work of the library and what it’s like to use libraries as a University student. The tour ends with a weather-dependent trip onto the roof terrace, to enjoy beautiful views of Oxford’s dreaming spires.

Group of men wearing colourful robes from an Ethiopic manuscript

Collections up close

Maximum group size: 15

Smaller school groups with a particular subject interest can enjoy close encounters with rare books, archives or manuscripts. Current sessions include:

Oxford and the English Civil War (KS3 and GCSE History)
The Anti-Apartheid Movement in Britain (A Level History)
Moments in Medicine (GCSE History)
Vaccine Hesitancy Then & Now (KS3–5 Critical Thinking and Biology)
Trade and the British Empire (A Level History)
Penicillin Pioneer: Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin (KS2–3 Science)
Political & Social Protest Writing: Atwood, Blake and unseen texts (A Level English Literature)

Make a booking enquiry

Two people look at a printed plate in a letterpress printing workshop

Printing workshops

Maximum group size: 15

Hands-on workshops using our historic letterpress printing equipment allow students to experience the craft and labour involved in creating a printed book, and make a keepsake to print and take away.

Make a booking enquiry

A young person sits in front of a laptop at a dining table, they look at the screen and have a pencil case to their left

Study Skills virtual classes

Maximum group size: 60

We offer live and interactive taught sessions via video platforms such as MS Teams and Google Meet for our Sixth Form Study Skills series for the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). This popular course covers five elements:

effective online research
evaluating online sources
note-taking
avoiding plagiarism
referencing sources

They are bookable as standalone sessions or as a suite of five. Alternatively, our single 60-minute EPQ Essentials module gives a concise overview.

Request a virtual Study Skills class

RLF Bridge: Academic Writing workshop

Maximum group size: 15

This full-day workshop will guide Key Stage 5 students to become more confident in their writing skills as they make the transition to university, college or work. Delivered by professional writers, the session focuses on essay writing using a combination of practical tasks and discussion.

Royal Literary Fund Bridge workshops are highly interactive and designed to demystify the processes and terms of formal and academic writing; they clarify what ‘good’ writing looks like and share approaches and techniques to encourage all students to feel that writing is not a hurdle but an opportunity.

Request a workshop

Group of smiling students giving a presentation

Study days

Maximum group size: 100

In partnership with Oxford University's academic departments and museums, we host themed study days that give students an introduction to Oxford’s world-class collections and teaching through lectures and object-based workshops.

Recent study days have included: