Applying to Oxford

For details of how to apply to Oxford, please see our 'How to apply' pages. Applications are made through UCAS and must be submitted by 15 October. Please note that several subjects require you to take an admissions test as part of your application and/or to submit written work. To make sure that you can prepare in good time and register for any tests that may be required, please do check the details for your subject course pages.

International students

Please check International Applicants pages for details of interview arrangements for international students.

Shortlisting

Many excellent candidates apply each year, and most of them have a good personal statement, a glowing reference and top predicted grades. With so many applications for each place at Oxford, it just isn’t possible to interview everyone. Tutors review each UCAS application, along with any written test or written work required for the subject, and then decide on shortlist of candidates who will be invited to interview.

For some courses, over 90% of candidates are shortlisted. In other subjects, particularly those that are most heavily oversubscribed, a smaller proportion of candidates will be shortlisted – in some cases less than 50%. Sadly, this does mean that some candidates will be disappointed, as their applications will not be considered beyond the shortlisting stage. However, it also means that those candidates who have been identified as having the strongest ability and potential may have more than one interview, increasingly at more than one college.