University

02 Nov 09

Over 17,000 students have applied this year for undergraduate courses at Oxford.

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.'