Dr Alice Spiers

Oxford academic, educator, and IBT-featured thought leader championing research-led enrichment in the Humanities and Social Sciences.

Founder & Director

About Alice

Dr Alice Spiers holds a DPhil in History from the University of Oxford, exploring medieval religious and cultural history. She has extensive experience in teaching, research, and Oxbridge admissions. She has taught across Oxford colleges, delivered undergraduate programmes in history and interdisciplinary methods, and developing targeted learning support provisions. She has contributed to various access-widening initiatives to support students from underrepresented backgrounds, including working on the design and establishment of Oxford’s Astrophoria Foundation Year.

Alice’s work combines rigorous academic practice with a passion for transformative learning, with a particular focus on the Humanities and Social Sciences. She has contributed to research and policy using qualitative and quantitative methods, helping to quantify the value and impact of Humanities and Social Science disciplines in UK research funding frameworks. Alice’s experience informs the design of Inquisitas programmes, ensuring enrichment is not only intellectually engaging but also demonstrates the impact and vitality of Humanities and Social Science disciplines in a fast-changing world.

  • Inquisitas grew out of years of experience teaching and mentoring at the University of Oxford and was founded in response to a clear and pressing need: ambitious students in the Humanities and Social Sciences often lack access to the same subject-specific enrichment and structured opportunities that exist for their STEM peers.

    Through extensive work in admissions, I saw this gap firsthand - and the difference it made when applicants had been supported to think deeply, test their ideas, and take real initiative in independent learning. These experiences not only strengthened their applications, but enriched their transition into university-level study.

    Our programmes are designed to empower students to pursue their academic interests with clarity and confidence. Through structured, one-on-one research supervision, students are encouraged to explore complex ideas, develop original thought, and articulate their arguments with precision. These are not just academic skills - they are lasting habits of mind. At the heart of our approach is the belief in ‘learning with’ rather than simply ‘learning from’. We create space for meaningful academic conversations between students and experienced mentors - an environment that builds not only knowledge, but confidence, independence, and direction.

    We also believe strongly in challenging the misconception that Humanities and Social Science pathways are less serious or less viable than other routes. Too often, students turn away from subjects they love due to concerns about future prospects. At Inquisitas, we aim to reframe that narrative, helping students see themselves as scholars capable of contributing meaningfully to the world through critical thinking, cultural understanding, and thoughtful analysis.

Recognition & Thought Leadership

International Business Times (2025): Profiled as one of “ten leaders whose thinking is helping to shape the agenda right now”.

Read the IBT article →

Research & Policy: Contributor to British Academy-commissioned studies analysing the measurement of the research impact of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences in the UK Research Excellence Framework (REF).

Read more here →

Why Alice Founded Inquisitas

Alice founded Inquisitas to bridge elite academic practice and broader learning communities. Her mission: to provide students with enrichment that:

  • Cultivates intellectual curiosity and confidence

  • Prioritises a love of learning alongside academic attainment

  • Develops independent research and critical thinking skills essential for navigating the modern world

  • Supports university readiness and lifelong learning

  • Champions the Humanities and Social Sciences as valuable and rigorous pathways

Our students live in unprecedented times, in a globalised world both more connected and more fragmented than ever before, and in which access to information, expertise and understanding are increasingly complex issues. The research, critical thinking, and communication skills at the heart of the Humanities and Social Sciences are more vital than ever in addressing the challenges facing the world today. We are committed to supporting the next generation of thinkers, speakers, writers and innovators, empowering curiosity and inspiring ambitious and confident academic journeys.
— Dr Alice Spiers

Connect on LinkedIn | Email: info@inquisitas.com (FAO Director)