About the University

Undergraduate admissions statistics: Qualifications

The majority of applicants for undergraduate courses apply with A-levels, but Oxford accepts a range of different qualifications.
 
A prediction of AAA at A level (excluding General Studies), or equivalent, makes someone a potential candidate for Oxford. However, around 45,000 people a year achieve AAA excluding General Studies, and Oxford only has around 3,200 places.

Almost all offers for Oxford places were set at AAA for 2011 entry. In some circumstances candidates who miss their conditional offer may be accepted anyway if there were extenuating circumstances such as illness. For 2012 entry some course at Oxford will set a conditional offer of at least one A*, see: Oxford's policy on the use of A* in conditional offers for 2012 entry

The table below shows the A-level grades of candidates applying and getting offers for 2011 entry.

Best 3 A-level grades achieved
Applicants
Offers Success rate
Less than AAA (including A*A*B etc) 2,675
147
5.5%
AAA 1,708 261
15.3%
A*AA
 2,879
570
19.8%
A*A*A 2,509
737
29.4%
A*A*A*
2,266
999
44.1%
Total
12,037
2,714
22.5%

Candidates may have taken more than 3 A-levels but table shows only the best 3 A-levels.

The table below shows the A-level grades of accepted candidates for 2011 entry.

Acceptances for 2011 entry: A-levels

Best 3 A-level grades achieved No %
A*A*A*

978

 38.5
A*A*A 721 28.4
A*AA 554 21.8
AAA 252 9.9
Less than AAA (including A*A*B etc) 33 1.3
Total 2,538 100

The data above is based on the best three A-levels completed by candidates during 2010 and 2011.

Candidates may have taken more than 3 A-levels but table shows only the best 3 A-levels. 

Note that applicants with A-level grades below AAA may have achieved additional Pre-U qualifications or A-levels prior to 2010.

The table below shows the numbers of offers made to, and final acceptances for, candidates not taking A levels.

Acceptances for 2011 entry

Type of qualification Offers Acceptances
A-levels 2,471 2,295
A-level/Pre-U combination 70 67
Pre-U 17 15
International Baccalaureate 216 172
Scottish (Advanced Highers or Highers) 35 30
Singaporean SIPCAL 27 17
English Language requirements (as sole condition) 26 22
US APTs or SATs 19 13
Romanian Diploma de Bacalaureat 17 15
German Abitur 14 13
French Baccalaureate (incl International Option) 12 12
Polish Matura 10 9
Irish Leaving Certificate 10 9
Dutch VWO 7 6
Australian ATAR/UAI 7 7
European Baccalaureate 6 6
Other 83 70
Total 3,047 2,778

Success by application route, 2011 entry: all domiciles

The tables below show the number of applications and acceptances by application route. ‘Pre Q’ (pre-qualification) refers to candidates applying before their final school/college examination results are know. ‘Post Q’ (post-qualification) refers to candidates applying after their final school/college examination results are known. ‘Graduate’ refers to candidates who are applying having already graduated from a first undergraduate degree.

  Pre Q Post Q Graduate
App Acc SR % App Acc SR % App Acc SR %
Maintained sector 7,142 1,391 19.5 477 125 26.2 4 0 0.0
Independent 4,273 1,034 24.2 545 154 28.3 0 0  
Others 3,660 334 9.1 900 106 11.8 342 42 12.3
TOTAL 15,075 2,759 18.3 1,922 385 20.0 346 42 12.1

last year's figures for comparison:

Success by application route, 2010 entry: all domiciles

  Pre Q Post Q Graduate
App Acc SR % App Acc SR % App Acc SR %
Maintained sector 7,249 1,379 19.0 440 92 20.9 55 4 7.3
Independent 4,552 1,093 24.0 652 182 27.9 25 2 8.0
Others 3,207 279 8.7 720 106 14.7 244 17 7.0
TOTAL 15,008 2,751 18.3 1,812 380 21.0 324 23 7.1

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