As the premier universities in the UK and among the best in the world, Oxford and Cambridge demand a rigorous application process which differs from other universities. This article will set out what makes the process unique and offer guidance on how to successfully apply.

Why Oxbridge?

Oxford and Cambridge offer an education that lives up to the reputation. A defining characteristic of this education is the tutorial (Oxford) or supervision (Cambridge) system, meaning that students receive a large part of their learning in small discussions with their tutors, sometimes with one-to-one tuition. This allows students to bounce their own ideas off some of the world-leading academics that Oxbridge attracts, greatly contributing to their educational and personal development. The benefits of such a system are widely recognised among employers. The tutorial system also explains why Oxbridge admissions tutors are primarily looking for enthusiasm for the subject. This should be an applicant’s guiding principle throughout all the stages of the application process.

Oxford or Cambridge?

Since UCAS only allows applicants to choose one or the other, the first step is to decide on Oxford or Cambridge. An applicant should primarily base their choice on the content of their course. There are many differences in how courses are offered. For instance, in Cambridge you can study for a bachelor’s in straight Economics whereas, in Oxford, Economics is only offered as part of joint-honours course like PPE or Economics & Management. Each university’s respective course or faculty page should be your first port of call. Of course, there are other considerations that may come down for personal taste. If the environment of the place you live and study is important to you, Oxford – as the older university – is a denser city, with more narrow medieval streets, whilst Cambridge is more spread out, green, and leafy. Cambridge also has superior punting! Therefore, a visit to the universities - preferably on an open day - is advisable.

Choosing a College

The collegiate system is another aspect of Oxbridge that makes the experience unique. Living and studying within a college makes you feel like part of a community. Colleges have their own libraries, chapels, sports teams, and societies. The UCAS application gives you the option to choose a specific college or to make an “open application”. The open application means that you would be assigned to any college that has an opening and wishes to accept you. The type of application does not influence the chances of being accepted but going to an open day can be a way to discover a college you particularly like. The tutors at a specific college may influence your application if they are an academic whose work you admire. This can also be a bonus to include in your Oxbridge personal statement.

Personal Statement

After deciding on a university, course, and College, you will have to make an application through UCAS. The personal statement is the main part of this and is one of the most important steps of your supplication. It is where you should illustrate your prior knowledge and, most importantly, enthusiasm for your chosen subject. After opening the statement with a sentence or two about your motivation, you should first set out how your A-Level, IB, or equivalent subjects relate to your interest in the course.

You must show how you have gone further than the curriculum through reading around the subject, most commonly through discussing several books or journal articles you have read. A good personal statement should mention at least 3-4 academic works and have something meaningful to say about them. Although other universities will look for extracurricular hobbies or sports, Oxbridge tutors will only want to see activities that are relevant to the course. There are, of course, many extracurricular activities that are relevant and these should be included. For instance, many humanities students volunteered in their local museums. Likewise, potential medical students might want to volunteer with the vaccine. Finally, applicants should always ensure that they know the content of their personal statement inside out, so they are prepared for any questions in the interview.

The deadline for applying to either university is October 15th for all courses.

Admissions Tests

Most courses will have additional tests that an applicant can take in their school or a recognised testing centre. Many courses will have their own specialised “aptitude test”, such as the History Aptitude Test (HAT) or the Biomedical Admissions Test (BMAT). Courses that don’t have a dedicated test tend to use a Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA). There are also more practical assessments for Fine Art and Music. With admission tests, practice makes perfect. Previous years’ past papers as well as marks schemes are freely available on most course web pages. It is best to practice as many past papers as possible to get a feel for the scope of the questions and familiarise oneself with the time limits and other practicalities. The most effective way to revise for the tests is to discuss your answers to past questions with a group of fellow Oxbridge applicants or with a tutor.

Written Work

Some courses may require the submission of written work. Usually this would be an essay from your school studies. The applicant gets to choose which work to submit so it is best to discuss with your teachers and select your highest graded essays. If you need to submit multiple essays, it is better to pick ones on different topics to demonstrate that you have wide range of subject knowledge. As with personal statements, it is important that the applicant has a full understanding of the topics covered in the submitted work and is prepared to answer questions on it in the interview.

The Interview

The Oxbridge interview is possibly the best-known aspect of the application process. Since there is no general structure to the interview and it differs from college to college, it is often the most daunting aspect for applicants. However, all the tutors are really looking for is genuine enthusiasm for the subject. The best way to demonstrate this is to read up on any topics you mention in your personal statement and submitted work. It may also be worth reading around a further subject that you had not yet mentioned in the application process. Therefore, you can call up a range of examples that illustrate your breadth of knowledge when answering questions. Some interviews will also involve a comprehension element where the applicant views a text or source beforehand and must comment on it. The best way to prepare for this is to try mock interviews at school or with a tutor. Sometimes, applicants are sent to attend interviews at a different college to the one they applied to. You should not read too much into this and it is usually tutors trying to figure out where you would fit best. All in all, the interview process should not be viewed with fear but as an opportunity to live in an Oxbridge college for a couple of days as well as to meet interesting tutors and fellow applicants. This is the final stage in the process, with an offer usually being made in January.

How we can help

As the stages outlined above make clear, the personal statement is something that is referred back to at all points of the application process. Alongside admissions tests, it is based on your personal statement that the invitation to interview is made. It is therefore crucial to make the best impression and really highlight your enthusiasm. This can be extremely difficult to achieve in 4,000 characters or 47 lines, no matter how much you have read or know about your subject. That is why Personal Statement Service has Oxbridge-graduate writers who know exactly what the universities are looking for and how best to communicate the applicant’s strengths. The service offers bespoke statements, based on a questionnaire, that can be turned around within 48 hours, with the option of video consultation with our graduates. This allows you to ensure that this crucial part of the Oxbridge application process is completed to the highest standards.