Applying

Applying to Oxford can feel exciting but also a bit daunting and we are here to support you every step of the way. We welcome students from every educational and personal background and wherever possible consider academic achievement and potential in context. Doing this helps us to understand achievements fairly and to recognise academic potential wherever it is demonstrated. Your application is your opportunity to show how you think, learn, and engage with your subject.

Oxford’s admissions process is designed to identify students with the academic ability, curiosity, and motivation to thrive in a tutorial-based learning environment. While it may look different from applications to other universities, each part of the process has a clear purpose and guidance to help you understand what to expect.

When we assess applications, we consider all the information available together. Academic achievements, admissions tests, written work, interviews, references, and personal statements are reviewed as a whole to build a clear picture of academic potential and suitability for the course. Different courses may place more emphasis on certain elements, depending on what best predicts success.

Our aim is to select students who will thrive academically at Oxford, using a process that is fair, careful, and consistent for all applicants.

The key resource for everyone applying to Oxford and for their supporters is our Guide for applicants. It provides essential information on what happens at each stage of the admissions process. We encourage you to explore this at your own pace and to return whenever you need a clear overview or a single place to check key information. We recommend using this alongside the other information in this section, as it provides a comprehensive overview and answers many common questions about applying. 

For a quick overview, see our Admissions timeline. 

Together with your course page, the information here should tell you what you need to put in the best application you can. 

Alongside general guidance for all applicants, we provide tailored additional information for specific groups of applicants, recognising that people come to Oxford with different experiences, responsibilities, circumstances, and questions. We welcome students from a wide range of educational and personal backgrounds so whether you are applying from the UK or overseas, as a school-leaver or a mature student, you’ll find guidance relevant to your circumstances, alongside clear explanations of how applications are assessed.