How to Apply to Oxbridge
If you’re thinking of applying to Oxford or Cambridge, you might already know that Oxbridge applications are handled a little differently to other universities.
We've created an in-depth guide explaining how to apply for Oxford and Cambridge to demystify the process, from choosing between the two universities, to writing a stand-out application, as well as hitting the all-important UCAS Oxbridge deadline.
What is Oxbridge? #
The term Oxbridge describes both the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge, the two oldest universities in the UK.
One of the things that differentiates Oxbridge universities from most others in the UK is their collegiate system. Oxford and Cambridge are each made up of individual colleges and when writing their Oxbridge applications, potential students can choose to apply to a specific college within the university.
These prestigious Russell Group universities are highly selective when it comes to accepting students, with a very competitive application process.
How hard is it to get into Oxbridge? #
Most courses at the two Oxbridge universities ask for top A-level grades, but that’s not all they’re looking for. Successful applicants need to demonstrate a deep interest in their chosen course, as well as excellent critical-thinking skills: the admissions team wants to be impressed by an applicant’s academic potential.
Alongside your personal statement and UCAS application, you may also be invited to attend an interview and sit an admissions test.
Why apply to Oxford or Cambridge? #
Of course, Oxbridge applications are competitive for a reason – and that’s because students who are offered a place can expect to receive a world-class education.
Both Oxford and Cambridge are renowned for their high academic standards and are consistently ranked among the top universities globally. They're at the forefront of research across many subjects, giving students access to cutting-edge resources.
The universities also operate a unique tutorial system, teaching students in small groups or one-on-one. Receiving this kind of personalised feedback from leading experts in a particular subject can be hugely beneficial to students.
Oxford University
Oxford vs Cambridge: making your choice#
A common question asked by applicants is: can you apply to Oxford and Cambridge? Sadly, the answer is no. You can only apply to one per application cycle.
This means that you’ll need to do some really thorough research to make sure you choose the university that’s best suited to you.
Why can’t you apply for both Oxford and Cambridge? #
It comes down to numbers: both universities get a huge amount of students applying for places. If applicants were allowed to apply to both, it would potentially double the amount of applications each university would have to work through.
There is a positive side to this though. It means that students have to put a lot of thought into which university they’d prefer to attend, which in turn means they’re more likely to be happy on their course if they are offered a place.
Choosing between the universities #
There are a few areas you can look at to help you decide which university to apply to.
Firstly, get a handle on the differences between the specific courses you’re interested in taking. Think about things like the content of the modules on each course: which interests you the most? Also, take a look at how the course is assessed: is it more coursework or exams-based, and which would you prefer?
It’s also worth going along to open days to get a better feel for what life would be like at Oxford or Cambridge – both academically and socially. You can go to both university-wide open days and departmental ones.
College-specific advice#
At the Oxbridge universities, each college acts like its own mini university, complete with their own student halls and tutors. You can choose which college you want to apply to, which will take a little bit of research.
A few areas to consider are: the college’s entry requirements; the subject’s course content; the academic staff; and each college’s reputation in specific subjects. It’s also worth thinking about how likely you are to get into each college, as some are more competitive than others.
The application process: a step-by-step guide#
Give yourself the best chance of success by making sure you thoroughly understand the Oxbridge applications process.
Timelines and deadlines for Oxbridge applicants#
The Oxbridge application deadline is a few months earlier than other universities: you need to send your application off before 15 October 2024 for 2025 entry.
You’ll be able to submit your UCAS application from September onwards.
Filling out your UCAS application correctly #
On your UCAS portal, Oxbridge applications will be similar to other universities.
The main difference, aside from the earlier deadline, is that Oxford and Cambridge are collegiate universities. This means you can choose to apply to a specific college within the university. To do this, you need to enter a campus code in your application. If you’d prefer not to choose a specific college, you can make an open application by using the code ‘9’.
You should also let your referee know if you're applying to Oxford or Cambridge, because the UCAS Oxbridge deadline is earlier than other universities for both applicants and referees.
Writing a standout personal statement for Oxbridge#
As with other universities, you’ll need to write a personal statement as part of your Oxbridge application. You can use your personal statement to show the applications team exactly why they should choose you by demonstrating your passion for the subject.
Your Oxbridge personal statement should mainly focus on demonstrating your academic ability and intellectual curiosity. For example, you could give examples of subject-relevant things that you’ve found particularly interesting to learn, and why you enjoyed learning them.
Once you’re done, thoroughly proofread your personal statement – you don’t want to get tripped up by small mistakes.
We have a full guide explaining how to write an engaging and compelling personal statement.
The deadline for the UCAS personal statement is the same as the application deadline: 15 October.
In-depth on extra forms, admissions tests and submission deadlines#
Alongside your UCAS application, you may be asked to fill out some additional forms, and send examples of your written work.
For the University of Cambridge, all applicants will be sent an email asking them to fill out a form called My Cambridge Application (MyCApp). This form will ask for information such as details of the units you’re taking and a copy of your secondary school transcript.
For 2025 entry, the deadline to submit your MyCApp form is 22 October 2024.
Cambridge will also ask you to complete an Additional Applicant Information form (AAIF), which covers interview arrangements.
At both universities, you’ll be required to take admissions tests for certain courses such as Medicine and Law. And for Oxford University, you’ll have to take a test as part of your application for most courses. These tests are arranged by Oxford outside of UCAS .
You can find past papers and mock tests online. Practising with these can help you prepare for the Oxbridge admissions tests by identifying the weak spots where you should focus your revision.
St John's College, Cambridge University
Preparing for an interview at Oxbridge#
If the university is impressed by your potential, you’ll be invited to an interview. Most interviews will take place in December, and you’ll usually be sent an invite about two weeks in advance.
What to expect during the interview process#
The interviews are carried out by Oxbridge academics: the tutors that interview you are the same ones that would teach you if you’re offered a place.
For 2025 entry, Cambridge interviews can be held online or in person and Oxford interviews will all be held online.
There’s no set format to the interviews, but it will likely be an exploration or discussion of ideas, rather than set questions and answers, similar to a short tutorial. Instead of testing what you know, they’re trying to gain insight into how you think.
When do Oxbridge offers come out? #
After your interview, you should hear back by January – so, for 2025 entry, you should find out whether you’ve been offered a place by January 2025.
Make sure you read your offer letter thoroughly. If you haven’t already completed your A-levels and received your grades, you’ll be given a conditional offer. This means you’ll need to achieve certain grades to take your place. If you’ve already finished your A-levels and got your grades, you’ll be given an unconditional offer.
Final thoughts: maximising your chances of success#
To give yourself the best chance of being offered a place at one of the Oxbridge universities, it makes sense to start writing your Oxbridge application as early as possible.
This does not mean you need to submit to UCAS ahead of the Oxbridge deadline, but that you give yourself as much time as you can to make your application shine. This way, you’ll be able to identify any weak spots in your application and work on perfecting it without having to rush.
You could also give yourself a head start by practising admissions tests and asking a teacher or member of your family to run through a mock interview.
Best of luck with your Oxbridge applications!
