UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD
Your guide to Oxford interviews
This version was produced by the Oxford University Accessible Resources Acquisition and Creation Unit in 2016.
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Contents
Why does Oxford interview?
When will I hear?
Applicants with disabilities
Who will interview me?
What happens?
Geography
Support while you are here
What to wear
What to bring
Engineering
What are tutors looking for?
What will I be asked?
Modern Languages
What if I don’t know the answer?
Are there right or wrong answers?
Experimental Psychology
What if I make a mistake?
Are extra-curricular activities taken into account?
Do I have to ask a question at the end?
What about coaching?
Music
How can I prepare?
We recommend that you:
History
International students
What happens next?
Feedback
Finding out more
[1]
“The interview is the part of our admissions process which allows students to have a detailed and in-depth discussion about their chosen subject with Oxford tutors. We are aware that this can be an unfamiliar experience for many students so this guide aims to explain why we interview and how best to prepare.
Every year we have many more strong applicants than places available. Tutors use interviews to recreate the format of an Oxford tutorial, to find out how you will perform in this environment. This helps tutors select students who will benefit most from Oxford’s style of teaching. Interview questions are designed to show how you think, so you will need to have an open and enquiring mind. You will probably be asked to tackle an unfamiliar problem. Tutors also want to find out more about your commitment to your chosen course, so you may be given the opportunity to talk about your wider reading.
Yes, it may feel challenging and unfamiliar but – if you are serious about your studies – it’s also a great opportunity to talk to experts in your chosen subject. This may sound odd, but you may well enjoy the experience: many students do.
Finally – give yourself a pat on the back if you are shortlisted – this is a significant achievement in itself!
Good luck.”
Samina Khan Director of Undergraduate Admissions and Outreach
[2] 
Why does Oxford interview?
“Interviews tell us important things about a candidate which are not captured by grades or test scores. We can see candidates think, not merely parrot information.” Medicine tutor
“Interviews give us the chance to see whether an applicant has the intellectual capacity to learn and be stretched by our teaching system; fundamentally the question is this: can we teach this person in a tutorial situation and will they thrive in this environment?” Italian tutor
“I interview to find what we call ‘potential’ and disentangle it from either poor schooling or coaching.” Physics tutor
When will I hear?
All interviews take place in December but please be aware that you may only be given a week’s notice that you have been shortlisted.
You will receive a letter or an email indicating whether or not you have been invited for interview towards the end of November or in early December. Normally this will be from the college to which you applied or to which you were allocated if you made an open application. Occasionally if a college is significantly oversubscribed for a subject, you may be invited by a different college.
A timetable for interviews is normally available from August, at ox.ac.uk/interviews.
Applicants with disabilities
Oxford University welcomes applications from disabled students, makes reasonable adjustments to facilitate their access to courses, and provides support and assistance throughout the interview process.
Please provide details of any disabilities in your UCAS application. We also recommend that students with disabilities inform their Oxford college of any particular requirements well in advance of their interview, so that any appropriate arrangements can be made.
Please refer to ox.ac.uk/swd for further information on sources of support available.
“Having Asperger Syndrome – a autistic spectrum condition – I thought I would find it really difficult to get talking to all these new people. As it turned out, I was welcomed by friendly current students and immediately started chatting to other people applying for my subject. The interviewers were incredibly sympathetic and understanding. They weren’t looking to catch me out, but rather, to help me demonstrate my ability. It was apparent over those three days, that an Oxford education was welcoming, accessible, and about having fun as well as working hard. Having Asperger‘s and arriving for interviews was terrifying, but well worth it, and it simply wasn’t a huge issue.” Chris, PPE
[3]
Who will interview me?
You will be interviewed by academic tutors, usually within a college. They teach and research at the University and decide who studies here. Normally you will be interviewed by two tutors, occasionally more. If you are applying for a joint course, with two or more subjects, you should expect to be interviewed by tutors representing each of the subjects. For some joint courses you may be interviewed separately for each subject area.
What happens?
You will be asked to come to Oxford for one day or more, depending on the course that you’re applying for. You will be given a room in college if you need to stay overnight, and your accommodation and all your meals will be provided for free.
Once you arrive you will find out when your interview(s) will take place. In some subjects you will automatically be interviewed at a second college. For other subjects, you may be offered the opportunity to have an interview at a second or even a third. This does not necessarily mean that you will not be offered a place at the first college or that this college is no longer considering your application. This system of additional interviews is to give you the best possible chance of gaining a place.
“The interviews were a great chance to give an intellectual account of yourself to some of the sharpest minds on the planet, which despite being an unnerving experience was ultimately very rewarding. When I wasn’t in interviews I could hang out with other applicants as well as with current second years, who were all really amazing company. We were well looked after, constantly kept supplied with tea, coffee and biscuits, and second years organised outings to restaurants and ice-cream parlours. The experience was so enjoyable that I’ve since been using it as an argument to get people to apply – it’s almost worth applying just for the chance to sample Oxford University for a few days.” Alex, Philosophy and Theology 
Geography
If I were to visit the area where you live, what would I be interested in? ox.ac.uk/interviews
[4]
Support while you are here
“Hi there! I’m Charles, and I’m an undergraduate at Pembroke College, Oxford and an interview helper. Coming to Oxford for your interview might seem like a scary process at first, but we are here to assure you that there’s nothing to worry about. Each college has its own group of interview helpers, and we’re all here to assist you with anything you need during the period. Whether it’s a friendly face to show you to your room and elsewhere in college, someone to take you to another college for interview, or even just someone to talk to, it’s our job to make sure that you feel as welcome as possible during your stay. We also organise evening entertainment in the form of film nights, games nights and so on. But, most importantly, we’re here to let you know that Oxford students aren’t all workaholics who never set foot outside the library; we’re just like you! Best of luck for your interviews.” Charles
What to wear
Wear whatever clothes you feel comfortable in. Most tutors will not dress formally, and you really don’t have to either. You won’t be judged on what you wear.
What to bring
Your invitation letter will let you know what to bring but here are some general recommendations:
•	Copies of your personal statement and any written work that you have submitted (tutors may refer to these during your interview)
•	A mobile phone and charger (so that the college can contact you if they need to)
•	A book or some current school work (only a relatively small amount of time is spent in interviews)
Interviews are a chance for you to see what life is like as an Oxford student:
•	In many ways your interviews will be like a mini tutorial, the format of much of the teaching at Oxford
•	Only a small amount of your time in Oxford will be spent in interviews, so you will have plenty of opportunity to explore Oxford and to get to know the city
•	If you are here for more than a day, you will live in college and have a chance to meet other students
Engineering
How would you design a gravity dam for holding back water? ox.ac.uk/interviews
[5]
What are tutors looking for?
“First of all, there really is no Oxford ‘type’. A promising applicant is one who is flexible, responsive and thoughtful in their approach, whichever educational system or background they come from.” Italian tutor
“Clarity of expression and thought, precision of analysis, flexibility of argument, and sheer enthusiasm for the subject – a raw intellectual curiosity which encourages the student to think and question.” History tutor
“A deep, irresistible interest in the subject they want to study combined with an imaginative but rigorous mind. The best interviews develop into conversations rather than question-and-answer sessions.” English tutor
What will I be asked?
Tutors will understand that you may be nervous and will try to put you at your ease. They want you to feel able to be yourself in the interview, and to allow you to demonstrate your skills and abilities.
They will probably ask you a few simple questions to begin with: perhaps about something in your personal statement. They will then move on to questions about your subject.
Depending on what is relevant for the course you are applying for, you may be given a text, a poem, a graph, or an object, and then asked to answer questions and comment on it. You may be given these before the interview, and will be advised if there is anything in particular on which you need to focus.
Tutors may also refer to any written work that you were asked to submit.
Questions may be about the subjects that you are currently studying at school or college. However, you will also be offered opportunities to show whether you have read around the subject and to demonstrate your interest beyond your school or college syllabus.
Modern Languages
Should poetry be difficult to understand? ox.ac.uk/interviews
[6]
What if I don’t know the answer?
“For the most part, interviews are about seeing how well you can think something through, not how much you already know. So don’t hesitate to ask for clarification if you are unfamiliar with a particular technical term, or if a question you’ve been asked seems unclear or ambiguous.” Medicine tutor
If you don’t know the answer to a question, don’t worry! You may wish to explain that you haven’t covered that topic yet, but do try to work out the answer if you can. Many questions are designed to test your ability to apply logic and reason to an idea you may never have encountered before.
Are there right or wrong answers?
“We want to see someone thinking for themselves, being willing to tackle a challenging question – It’s really important for candidates to understand that ‘tackling’ doesn’t necessarily mean ‘solving’: it’ll be about applying skills that you already have to a new scenario, text, or problem, so we want to see how you set about it.” French tutor
Sometimes tutors may suggest an alternative way of looking at a problem. They are looking for evidence that you are willing to engage with new ideas, and that you can be flexible in your thinking.
“In my first interview, two tutors asked me questions about a couple of poems they’d given me. At one point I had absolutely no idea what to say, so they just moved on! I thought it was bad at the time, but I suppose it didn’t matter. In my second interview I was invited to expand on some of the things from my personal statement. That evening we were shown where we could eat dinner in college and after meeting a few people there, we headed out to relax and compare our experiences of interviews”. Richard, English
“I had heard so many stories about the interviews: crazy questions, crazy tutors, expecting some crazily intelligent response – so I was very nervous. Upon arrival I started to relax a bit. My first interview went fine; as I was applying for Physics they asked me logical questions about physical things. Often I had no idea what they were talking about, so they would give some hints and then we would work it through. The key was an open mind, and a readiness to learn. I had no idea whether I had got in or not; I felt that I had done badly, but I had enjoyed it. I guess the key is; before interviews talk through problems – unrelated to your syllabus – with teachers, be calm and have an open mind – take a second to think – if you have no idea, say and they will help”. Will, Physics
Experimental Psychology
Why do humans have two eyes? ox.ac.uk/interviews
[7]
What if I make a mistake?
“You said something that on reflection does not seem so clever after all? No big deal. “Oh – sorry – I take that back...” (big smile) “perhaps this might be a better way to think about it...” Exploring a blind alley or two is part of the normal thought process, and everyone makes occasional mistakes, but only very good candidates spot their own mistakes and recover from them.” Medicine tutor
Are extra-curricular activities taken into account?
Tutors may ask you about extra-curricular activities which you have mentioned in your persona statement, particularly to help you settle into the interview. However extra-curricular activities will not be assessed unless they help to demonstrate how you meet the selection criteria for your course.
Do I have to ask a question at the end?
Please don’t feel as though you must ask a question. If you are given the chance to ask your own questions at the end of the interview, this does not form any part of your assessment.
What about coaching?
“It is much less likely that a candidate who has been coached will really listen to the questions they’re being asked because they’ll be focusing on what they’ve prepared.” English tutor
“Most of the sort of thinking questions we are asking are very hard to rehearse for. It is therefore usually quite easy to distinguish a candidate’s real ability to think on their feet and their enthusiasm for the subject from the veneer that comes from coaching.” Medicine tutor
“I am looking for potential, not polish.” Physics tutor
“My preparation was mostly to look over my personal statement and submitted essay which is just as well because they both came up in my first interview. Before my second interview I was given half an hour to read a source and have a think about it. In the interview the questions were broad and general, allowing me to play with some different ideas. This interview felt a little tougher than the first one but I found myself really enjoying the challenge of the questions. I got the train home feeling generally happy and quite intellectually stretched.” Francesca, History
Music
If you could invent a new musical instrument, what kind of sound would it make? ox.ac.uk/interviews
[8]
How can I prepare?
“Have a clear reason in your mind as to why you have applied for this subject.” Engineering tutor
“Practise talking through your thinking process - whether that’s speaking aloud to yourself, or to a friend or teacher” French tutor
“By far the best way to prepare for an interview is to do a few trial runs with a friend or teacher asking questions. This helps to demystify the situation.” Physics tutor
“There is no better practice for being interviewed than being interviewed. If you can’t get someone to interview you, mentally rehearse it in your head.” Medicine tutor
“Read as widely as you can in your chosen subject and then think carefully about what you read. Ask yourself questions: so rather than “I really like this book” it should be “Why do I really like this book?”, “How does it compare to something else I’ve read?”, “What connections can I see between this book and others?” English tutor
We recommend that you:
•	Remind yourself of the selection criteria for your chosen subject at ox.ac.uk/criteria.
•	Re-read your personal statement and any written work submitted, and ensure that you are happy to discuss them.
•	Read widely around your chosen subject, including newspaper articles, websites, journals, magazines and other relevant publications.
•	Take a critical view of ideas and arguments that you encounter in your reading, at school or college, or in the media: think about all sides of the debate.
•	Find examples of your subject in the wider world, such as taking an interest in the scientific or economic theories that underlie news stories.
•	Revise material you have studied at school recently.
History
Imagine we had no records about the past at all – except everything to do with sport – how much of the past could we find out about? ox.ac.uk/interviews
[9]
International students
If you are currently studying in the UK, the rest of the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland, then you will be expected to attend interviews in Oxford in December if your application is shortlisted.
If you are currently studying in another country, we understand that it may not be possible for you to travel at short notice. In this case, your college may arrange to interview you by telephone or over the internet. (The one exception to this is for Medicine where all shortlisted applicants must attend interviews in Oxford.)
If you decide to book a flight before hearing whether or not you have been shortlisted, and are then unsuccessful, you might like to use this time to visit other higher education institutions in the UK. If you choose to wait to hear if you have been shortlisted, then you will need to factor in the cost of travel to Oxford at short notice.
A timetable for interviews is normally available from August, at ox.ac.uk/interviews.
Please see ox.ac.uk/int for further details about international applications.
“My interviews were very much focused around maths and problem solving. They started with some warm-up questions on my personal statement, and then a few questions on modern-day engineering. It is definitely worth reading a few engineering magazines before your interview, so you are up to date with the engineering world. Then the maths began, for example, in one of the interviews, I was asked about how many watts a cycling machine might output. This meant using basic physics formulae and general knowledge to vaguely work out a sensible answer. I was asked increasingly hard questions on pendulums and questions to do with a toppling wall. In a weird way, I enjoyed my interviews: they were obviously a little stressful but looking back it was fun”. Dan, Engineering
[10]
What happens next?
You will receive a letter or an email by the middle of January letting you know the outcome of your application. If you are successful, this will tell you whether:
•	You have been made an offer of a place, conditional upon achieving certain exam results. The offer may specify that you need to achieve certain grades in particular subjects. (It may also include a requirement for evidence of proficiency in the English language, if English is not your first language or if you have not been educated in the medium of English language during your two most recent years of study.)
•	You have an unconditional offer based on your existing academic records.
•	You have been made an ‘open offer’. This means that you are guaranteed a place at Oxford if you meet the conditions of the offer. However the college you will go to has not yet been specified, and will not be decided until some point after your final exam results have been published.
Feedback
In January you can request feedback on your interviews (the deadline for requests is 30 April) from the college which originally invited you for interview. College contact details can be found at ox.ac.uk/ugcolls.
[11]
Finding out more
Contact details
If you have any further questions you can call or email us.
Tel: +44 (0)1865 288000
Email: study@ox.ac.uk - ox.ac.uk/study
Sample questions and video
Find example questions from interviews and an interviews video at ox.ac.uk/interviews
iTunes U
Lectures, interviews, short films about life in Oxford, and our podcasts can all be found on iTunes U. itunes.ox.ac.uk
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