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.

Offers for Oxford places for 2012 were set at AAA, with some courses asking for at least one A* grade. In some circumstances candidates who miss their conditional offer may be accepted anyway if there were extenuating circumstances such as illness. For a list of courses at Oxford with conditional offers of at least one A*, see: Oxford courses asking for at least one A* grade conditional entry

The table below shows the A-level grades of candidates applying and getting offers for 2012 entry.

Best 3 A-level grades achieved
Applicants
Offers Success rate %
A*A*A* or above 2,108
940
44.6
A*A*A  2,401 714
29.7
A*AA
 2,879
668
23.2
AAA 1,618
 270
16.7
Less than AAA (including A*A*B etc) 2,723
166
6.1
Total
11,729 2,758 23.5

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 2012 entry.

Acceptances for 2012 entry: A-levels

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

924

 35.9
A*A*A 699 27.2
A*AA 646 25.1
AAA 253 9.8
Less than AAA (including A*A*B etc) 51 2.0
Total 2,573 100.0

The data above is based on the best three A-levels completed by candidates during 2011 and 2012.

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 2011.

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

Acceptances for 2012 entry

Type of qualification Offers Acceptances
A-levels 2,596 2,405
A-level/Pre-U combination 74 63
Pre-U 13 13
International Baccalaureate 208 168
Scottish (Advanced Highers or Highers) 46 41
Singaporean SIPCAL 37
 27
English Language requirements (as sole condition) 22 19
US APTs or SATs 31 23
Romanian Diploma de Bacalaureat 14 9
German Abitur 24 22
French Baccalaureate (incl International Option) 18 16
Polish Matura 10 7
Irish Leaving Certificate 2 1
Dutch VWO 6 6
Australian ATAR/UAI 18 14
European Baccalaureate 8 7
Hong Kong DSE 6 6
Other 98 86
Unconditional Offer 317 300
Total 3,548 3,233

Success by application route, 2012 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 7,060 1,448 20.5 255 71 27.8 4 0 0.0
Independent 4,434 1,081 24.4 418 130 31.1 1 0 0.0
Others 3,796 370 9.7 943 111 11.8 330 22 6.7
TOTAL 15,290 2,899 19.0 1,616 312 19.3 335 22 6.6

last year's figures for comparison:

Success by application route, 2011 entry: all domiciles

  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  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

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