In this official guide to undergraduate study at Oxford we'll explain how to be a strong applicant. Wherever you are in the world, applying to Oxford is very similar, but it involves a few more steps than applying to most other UK universities. As with other UK universities, everyone must complete an online UCAS application form. For Oxford, you need to do this one year before your course is due to start and submit any time from early September to the final deadline. This is normally 6 pm on the 15th of October, unless this date falls on a Saturday or Sunday. Always check the deadline for the year you're applying. You can start work on the form from June but first you need to choose your course. To make sure you enjoy your time at University it's really important that you choose the right course. So take your time and explore your options, even if you think you know what you want to study. To avoid disappointment later, make sure you have met, or are on target to meet, the admission requirements for the course you choose. All courses require specific grades in A-Levels or equivalent qualifications. Some courses also require these grades to  be in particular subjects, so do check this. The UCAS form will also ask which college you would like to apply to. You can select a specific college or make an open application. This is like saying that you don't have a preference. If you make an open application you'll be assigned to a college that has had fewer applications for your course. Bear in mind that even if you do pick a college, other colleges could also interview you or offer you a place. As part of your UCAS application you'll be asked to write a personal statement. This is where you tell us about yourself and your motivation to apply. Here are top tips: Assume it will take you longer than you think, so start early. Don't be afraid to sell yourself, but be honest. Remember, we want to know why you have chosen your course and what will make you a good student. We suggest you spend 80 percent of the UCAS application talking about why this course, what you're already studying and what you have explored outside of your classroom studies. What have you watched, listened to or visited and formed an opinion on? Have you done any work experience? If you mention extracurricular activities, make sure you focus on the relevant skills they've given you. And finally, do check the spelling and the grammar. [Music] For many of our courses you will need to take an admissions test, which you'll have to register for in advance. Everyone who applies for a subject sits the same test, so they're very important in helping us choose between all the great candidates. You will need to take the test on a specified day. To get the best result you can on your test you will need to spend time preparing. Our website has lots of advice on how to do this and pass papers, which you can practice. Don't worry if you find the past papers very difficult they're supposed to be. What is important is that you give yourself the best possible chance by familiarising yourself in advance with the sort of content and questions and the time to spend on each one. Full details on test registration and how to prepare can be found at ox.ac.uk/tests. Some of our courses require you to send in one or more samples of written work as part of your application. Written pieces shouldn't be more than 2,000 words in length, and should demonstrate the analytical, reasoning, language and writing skills that you will need for your course. The deadline for submitting written work is the 10th of November. Unless you have already left school or college, the work should not be written specially, but should be part of your ongoing studies and have been marked by your teacher. If you're not sure what to send, you can contact the Oxford College considering your application. If you're shortlisted, you will be invited to interview sometime in December. There are fixed dates for every course, so look at the online timetable and get these in your diary. There are lots of myths about Oxford interviews, but really they're just conversations about your subject with someone who knows a lot about it. And they're similar to being in an Oxford tutorial. Have a look online at our demonstration interviews to find out more. Interviews help tutors select candidates who are the most likely to benefit from the way Oxford teaches. Interviewers are looking for someone with academic ability and potential, lots of self-motivation, someone who thinks independently and is keen to engage with new ideas. Wherever possible, we want to see your achievements in context, so we can compare you fairly with other applicants. If you're a UK applicant, we'll look at information about your school, your neighbourhood and if you have experience in the care system. We're interested in things like your school's performance levels and how many students are eligible for free School meals. If you are offered a place at Oxford and come from a UK background currently underrepresented here, you could also be offered a place on our Opportunity Oxford programme. This program takes place during the run-up to your first term and helps us ensure that you are fully prepared for your studies, so you can really enjoy learning at Oxford and your life as a student. If you think that your personal circumstances or disrupted education mean you're not able to apply directly for one of our undergraduate courses, you might like to see if you meet the admissions criteria for our Astrophoria Foundation Year. To continue your research go to ox.ac.uk/apply where you'll find other essential information and guidance.