Media

Record application numbers for Oxford University

2 November 2009

 The University of Oxford has received over 17,000 applications this year for undergraduate courses, an increase of 12% on 2008. The vast majority of the increase in applications came from state school students.

Mike Nicholson, Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Oxford University, says: ‘This is great news. We have worked hard to ensure that all students with the potential to succeed at Oxford apply, regardless of their background. I believe we can now say that this work is beginning to bear fruit.’‘We have had a 17% increase in state-educated applicants this year, which suggests that our efforts to challenge stereotypes and mythology about Oxford are having an impact.”

The University received 17,085 applications by the deadline of 15 October, compared with 15,277 last year. The extra 1,808 applications included 1,110 more from UK state schools than were received in 2008, with 399 more independent school applicants and 299 more from other, mainly international students.

Of the UK students that applied, 63.6% were from state schools and 36.4% from independent schools.

Last year, the total spend across the University and colleges on outreach activities was around £2.8m. Staff from across the collegiate University conducted over 1500 outreach activities with groups from primary age upwards, with a particular focus on working with teachers and guidance advisers.

Eilidh Brown participated on one outreach programme, and is now studying Law with German Law at Brasenose College, Oxford. She says: ‘I knew I wanted to be a lawyer but I'd never seriously thought about Oxford. I admit I believed all the myths, that the students were all rich and all stuck-up. Each workshop, residential and meeting chipped away at this opinion until I realised that the only thing stopping me applying was my own belief that I wouldn't fit in. Now I'm here, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else – nobody cares about your background, it's all about the work and the people you meet.’

While the number of applications to Oxford has increased again, the number of places available remains static, meaning getting into Oxford gets more competitive every year. Nearly all of the applicants will be predicted three As at A level or the equivalent.

‘The increase in the number of highly qualified applicants does create challenges. But we are confident our rigorous selection process meets these challenges by using a range of measures to select the very best candidates from the very good,’ says Mike Nicholson.

Oxford’s selection process assesses academic ability and potential by looking at: attained grades; aptitude tests (in many subjects); written work (in some subjects); at least two interviews; and references, which include predictions about future potential.

‘It’s great to get more applications,’ says Mike Nicholson, ‘but of course that means things get more competitive every year. I want to get the message out that if you have the potential, put Oxford down as one of your five UCAS choices. But remember that it is just one of five and there are many excellent universities out there.’

For more information please contact the Press Office, University of Oxford on +44 (0)1865 280530 or press.office@admin.ox.ac.uk.

Notes to Editors

  •  Oxford tries hard to ensure that all those with the potential to succeed apply – regardless of background.
  • Last year, the total spend across the University and colleges on outreach activities was around £2.8m (which is in addition to the almost £5m a year spent on bursaries). In 2008/9, staff from across the collegiate University conducted over 1500 outreach activities with groups from primary age upwards.

    Oxford’s outreach work has a number of aims, not just increasing the number of applications from state school pupils in this and every year. It includes three distinct but overlapping strands: recruitment, widening access and aspiration-raising activity.

    Recruitment activities provide all those considering applying to Oxford with the necessary information, and tackle any myths. They include school visits, attendance at higher education fairs, regional conferences, and work with teachers.

    Widening access initiatives aim to encourage applications from underrepresented groups, for example those from disadvantaged backgrounds or ethnic minorities. This includes summer schools and targeted school programmes.

    Aspiration-raising activities aim to raise aspiration towards university in general, not necessarily Oxford in particular. Activities are aimed at younger year groups and initiatives are typically long-term programmes, such as the Oxford Young Ambassadors programme and Black Boys Can, which run over four years. Curriculum enrichment programmes include special lectures, workshops, mentoring sessions and residentials.

    It was the Oxford Young Ambassadors programme in which Eilidh Brown took part. The programme seeks to empower young people to make a difference to their own educational pathway, and in doing so affect that of their peers in their wider community, by recruiting a student at schools with little or no history of sending pupils to research-led universities to act as an advocate for higher education.
  •  All applications had to be received by 15 October. Selection is based purely on academic ability and potential. The time, thought and effort that goes into identifying the best students is unrivalled by almost any other university.
  • Selection criteria for each subject are published and made widely available for all potential applicants. http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate_courses/courses/selection_criteria_for_subjects_links/index.html
  • Academic ability and potential is assessed through a range of measures:

    (i) Attained grades (usually GCSEs, usually all A and A*): seen on application form in October

    (ii) Teacher’s reference, which includes commentary on predicted academic potential: seen on application form in October

    (iii) Aptitude tests (in many subjects): taken in advance of interview, around November, for some subjects; taken during the interview period, in December, for others

    (iv) At least two and up to four interviews, increasingly at at least two colleges: in December
    In making a final offer, all these measures are considered and compared between candidates – they should not be seen as stages in an elimination process.
  • The University of Oxford is not using the new A
  • grade at A level when making offers for 2010 or 2011 entry. This is a similar position to almost every other university in the UK.

    The decision on A* grades was made a number of months ago purely because we received the clear message from teachers and schools that they felt uneasy about identifying accurately which students will achieve the new grade. The A level syllabus has gone through a major revision for most subjects, and many teachers will therefore be teaching the new material for the first time this year.

    We will review our position once we get a sense of the numbers of students achieving A* grades, and the University will publish further guidance in time for the 2012 entry. Predicted A-level grades are just one of a range of methods we use to identify outstanding students.