23 Jul 07

Changes to the Oxford application form for undergraduate applicants are set to improve transparency and fairness of the admissions process.

Those applying in autumn for entry 2008 will find additional space to add information which is relevant to the specifics of the Oxford application. It also allows referees to add contextual data on the applicant's education.

For the first time, applicants' referees will be asked to give details regarding the performance of their school, in particular: the size of the higher education cohort relative to the size of the year group; the numbers who typically achieve the grades or marks required for entry to Oxford; and the numbers who are in receipt of Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA).

Mike Nicholson, Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Oxford University, said: 'This additional information will sit alongside the whole range of information on which our admissions tutors base their decisions: the candidate's statement on the UCAS form, teachers' references, written work, aptitude tests and interviews. Information about a candidate's school will not be used as a stand-alone criterion for inviting candidates to interview, nor will it be used to make lower offers to candidates from poorly performing schools.

'Oxford's admission process is one of the most comprehensive and rigorous in the country. We consider each candidate as an individual and are keen to get a comprehensive picture of each individual's academic merit and potential.'

The new form brings together and simplifies two previous application documents, one of which was voluntary and usually used by students on access schemes.

Guidance notes accompanying the form have been rewritten from the perspective of the applicant or referee. They also include more examples on how best to set out information.