British | Mongolian
In the context of the University of Oxford, we hope our names; faces and stories will emphasis that there is a place for everyone at Oxford. According to last year’s admissions data, 700 Oxford undergraduates identify as mixed. In 2016, BAME students accounted for 15.9% of the undergraduate intake. Oxford is diversifying, albeit slowly. We hope to empower mixed heritage students at Oxford and foster a community where they can safely share their own opinions, experiences and stories.
I am of mixed Mongolian and British heritage. My Mum was born in Leeds to Mongolian parents, who were among the first Mongols to emigrate to the West. My Dad was born in Newcastle to a Scottish Mother and a Scottish/English Father. Being mixed-race, you undoubtedly find yourself caught between two cultures and can feel a bit out of place at family gatherings. I’m not sure why, but I have always felt more like I ‘belong’ with my Mongol family than with my British relatives. I say to people that I often feel more Mongolian than I do British, even though I have lived here all my life. I expected Oxford to be mostly White. However, I did not consider my heritage a factor in my decision to apply, because I do not believe that the university seeks to uphold, nor is proud of, its ‘White’ reputation. The students I have met at Oxford are bright, friendly and accepting, and as far as I can remember. I certainly think that the college system in Oxford helps with regard to making the university welcoming and inclusive, since it is easy to meet a range of people and find personalities you get on with. I’ve always had something of a soft spot for those with a similar mixture of races to me, White and oriental Asian, and I have noticed a lot more people of this combination in Oxford than I was used to seeing at home. I think that being mixed-race is a radically different category when it comes to debate on issues surrounding race, because it is much more difficult to align yourself with a single perspective when, throughout your whole life, you’ve had to amalgamate at least two. In all honesty, I am not sure of my opinions when it comes to Oxford’s racial discourse, but I would certainly feel supported if I were to make a stand as a mixed-race student. As soon as I saw the Oxford Mixed Heritage Society stall at the Freshers’ Fair, I was looking forward to being part of a community of people who, like me, are lucky enough to be able to see the world through multiple sets of lenses.
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