Oxford helped me rebuild and find my place again

On leaving prison, Haidar Razzak set himself the goal of a place at Oxford. It proved a bruising and challenging undertaking, but with the support of the Longford Trust he achieved it and, since graduation, has gone forward into a successful career as a business leader and entrepreneur. Here, he urges others in the same situation ‘don’t assume Oxford is closed to you because of your past’.

I was reasonably academic during my A-levels, so I was aware of Oxford and Cambridge and the status they carry. But before I really had the chance to explore that properly, my life went off track and I ended up in prison. At that point, I felt like I’d completely derailed what I thought my future was going to be. When I came out in my late 20s, I believed that period of my life was going to define everything that came after it.

I was certain people wouldn’t look past it. So, I made a decision. If I was going to change how people saw me, I needed to do something that carried real weight in a positive direction. That’s what led me, in my late 20s, to apply to Harris Manchester College at Oxford to study maths and philosophy. I chose it because it’s a college for mature students, so I thought they’d be more open to people who hadn’t followed a conventional path, including someone like me.

Navigating the obstacles in my path

Harris Manchester were great. They were open, understanding, and genuinely supportive. The issue came later, when my application was pooled to another college because the maths side of the degree would need to be taken elsewhere. On the UCAS form, I was only asked to declare unspent convictions. Unsure what that meant, I checked with my probation officer and was advised that I didn’t need to declare anything. But the college my application had been pooled to later became aware of my record and refused me a place. That caused the whole thing to fall through.

By that point I’d already been awarded a Longford Scholarship, and the Trust quite reasonably suggested I consider other top universities. But I was set on Oxford, so I reapplied, this time to Mansfield College, and after a bit of back-and-forth, I was offered a place. Once I was there, the reality was very different from what I’d expected. Most tutors and students, whether they knew about my background or not, were welcoming and treated me normally. Of course, there were a few exceptions, but nothing I wasn’t prepared for.

At the start, especially in first term, there was a lot of curiosity. It’s a small college, and people had looked me up, so I ended up having a lot of conversations about my past. It wasn’t always comfortable, but it settled down pretty quickly. Oxford has a way of making sure everyone’s attention ends up where it should be, on the work.

‘Fairly or not, people make assumptions when they see Oxford on your CV’

I probably would have enjoyed other universities too, but the reason I stuck with Oxford is simple. It carries weight. Fairly or not, people make assumptions when they see it on your CV. In my case, it helped shift how people saw me. It opened doors and gave me opportunities I might not have had otherwise. Ten years on, I run my own fitness business across two sites in London, with a third on the way. Looking back, the process of getting into Oxford probably taught me more than the degree itself in some ways, especially how to deal with setbacks and rejection. That’s something I’ve used a lot in business.

It also showed me that I could rebuild and find my place again. I even met my wife there. If I was speaking to someone with a similar background thinking about university, I’d say this: there are lots of good options out there, and Oxford isn’t the only path. But if you’re considering it, don’t assume it’s closed to you because of your past. It’s not easy. Getting in takes hard work, persistence, and sacrifice. Once you’re there, it’s demanding and will challenge you. But the path does exist, and for those who choose to take it, it can be a rewarding one.

Professor Beth Breeze OBE adds: I am so pleased that Haider is sharing his experience of applying to, and studying at, Oxford. As the current Principal of Harris Manchester, Oxford’s only college that is exclusively focused on mature students, I am glad to add my voice to his and encourage others with a similar background to apply. We exist to ensure that the world’s best higher education is accessible to everyone who has the talent and desire to seize this opportunity. We value having a diverse cohort of students and are proud to be working with the Longford Trust to make this a reality.

For further information: contact Clare, our scholarship manager. Or to join the prospective student mailing list, have a real or virtual tour, and read some of student stories, go to Harris Manchester’s website here or email admissions@hmc.ox.ac.uk