Located approximately 60 miles northwest of London, Oxford is regarded as a top educational institution in the world. Studying at Oxford is a dream for bright and ambitious students across the globe. While the exact date of the University of Oxford’s founding is unknown, the school traces its roots back to at least 1096.
Approximately, 47% of the student body is undergraduate students and around 51% of its student body is made up of graduate students, and the remaining 2% are doctoral students. Oxford was ranked first in the world in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings for 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022.
There are more than 25,000 students at Oxford, including 12,510 undergraduates and 13,044 postgraduates. More than half of Oxford’s graduate students conduct research as part of their studies. Research at Oxford takes place in all four of its academic divisions: humanities; mathematical, physical and life sciences; medical sciences; and social sciences.
Oxford’s academic calendar is divided into three terms – Michaelmas (fall), Hilary (spring) and Trinity (summer) – each eight weeks long. The language of instruction at the university is English. This university allows you to learn with more passion and advanced teaching techniques. Getting into Oxford is like a dream come true. However, as one of the most prestigious universities in the world it takes extensive preparation and excellent grades to secure an admission at Oxford. Please find relevant information on eligibility criteria, application requirements and preparation below.
Eligibility Criteria
The eligibility requirements are the first step in knowing how to get admission to Oxford. The requirements might differ from one course to another, but there are some primary eligibility criteria that you must fulfill as an international student applying at Oxford University.
Academic requirements– It is necessary that you have a 10+2 basic qualification from a recognised academic institution with a minimum percentage of marks
University Tests based on your planned major
Personal Statement
School or college teacher reference
Written work
Interview
IELTS or TOEFL score
Students need to demonstrate strong academic performance and perform well on all fronts. Please read on for more information on the Oxford admissions.
A. Academic Requirements:
Oxford requires strong academic performance from students. Based on the course plan to study, you need to achieve at least the following grades in your core subjects in grade 12.
Category | Courses of Study | CBSE | CICSE | IB | A LEVELS |
A*A*A | Chemistry, Engineering Science, Mathematics, Mathematics and Philosophy, Mathematics and Statistics | For the CBSE board as an indication, it is required to have 91 or above for A1 and 81 to 90 for A2 | Overall grade of at least 90%, with 95% or above in four subjects (including any relevant to the course applied for) and 85% or above in the fifth subject. | 776 in the HL Subjects with 40(course points) | A*A*A |
Category | Courses of Study | CBSE | CICSE | IB | A LEVELS |
A*AA | Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Computer Science, Computer Science and Philosophy, Earth Sciences (Geology), Economics and Management, Geography, Materials Science, Mathematics and Computer Science, Medicine,Physics,Physics and Philosophy, Psychology, Philosophy and Linguistics (PPL),Psychology (Experimental) | Grades A1 A1 A1 A2 A2, with grade A1 in any subjects relevant to the course applied for | Overall grade of 90% or more, with grades of at least 95% or above in three subjects (including any relevant to the course applied for) and 85% or above in the other two subjects. | 39 (including core points) with 766 at HL | A*AA |
Category | Courses of Study | CBSE | CICSE | IB | A LEVELS |
AAA | Archaeology and Anthropology, Classical Archaeology and Ancient History, Classics, Classics and English, Classics and Modern Languages, Classics and Oriental Studies, English and Modern Languages, English Language and Literature, European and Middle East Languages, History, Modern Languages, Modern Languages and Linguistics, Music, Oriental Studies, Philosophy and Modern Languages, Philosophy and Theology, Religious and Oriental Studies, Theology and Religion. | Grades A1 A1 A2 A2 A2, with grade A1 in any subjects relevant to the course applied for. | Overall grade of 90% or more, with grades of at least 95% or above in two subjects (including any relevant to the course applied for) and 85% or above in the other three subjects. | 38 (including core points) with 666 at HL 39 (including core points) with 666 at HL) | AAA |
The primary requirement is grades. For A levels Oxford (and Cambridge) require minimum A*, A* & A for students in A levels. For IB students they require 7,7 & 6 with an overall score of 42. Regardless of the system or board, you need to be an outstanding student with equivalent marks in your core subjects.
Choose the correct subjects in class XI and XII. Math is an essential requirement for Engineering, Computer Science, Economics and Medicine. Physics is compulsory for Engineering. Chemistry (not Biology) is required for Medicine.
B. University tests
There are different types of tests to gain admission to the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge. Depending on your choice of major, Oxford (and Cambridge) require you to appear for a test. For example if you are planning to study Math, Computer Science or Economics, you will probably need to appear for the Math Aptitude Test. If you are planning to study Medicine, you will need to appear for the BMAT. If you are planning to appear for Engineering, you will need to appear for the Physics test. Only BMAT(Biomedical Admissions Test) and TMUA (Test of Mathematics for University Admission) are paid admission tests. The table below shows the applicable admission tests for different courses at the University of Oxford.
ADMISSION EXAMINATION | COURSE | DATES/FREQUENCY | DURATION OF EXAM FORM OF EXAM |
Biomedical Sciences, Medicine | BMAT | Testing starts in October every year Date: 18th October 2022 | Duration: 2 hours BMAT tests problem solving, understanding argument, and data analysis and inference.It tests students ability to apply this knowledge in unfamiliar contexts. Form of Exam: Paper 1: MCQ’s Paper 2: MCQ’s Paper 3 : Writing Task |
Classics, Classics and English, Classics and Modern Languages, Classics and Oriental Studies | CAT (Classics Admissions Test) | 2nd November 2022 | Duration: 3 hours The CAT exam is designed to test the student’s aptitude. Course 1 to be taken by those who are studying Greek and Latin to A-level. Course 2 and Classical Language Aptitude test to only be taken by students who are not taking either Greek or Latin in college. Form of Exam : Subjective Exam |
English Language and Literature | English Literature Aptitude Test (ELAT) | 2nd November 2022 | Duration: 90 minutes ELAT exam tests the students’ close reading skills and their ability to shape and articulate an informed response to unfamiliar literary material. Form of Exam: Subjective Exam |
History, History (Ancient And Modern) History and Economics, History and English, History and Modern Languages, History and Politics | HAT (History Aptitude Test) | 2nd November 2022 | Duration: 1 hour The HAT is a test of skills. It tests the student’s ability to read carefully and critically, the adoption of an analytical approach, ability to answer a question relevantly, ability to handle concepts and select evidence to support points, originality and independence, precision and clarity of writing. Form: Question Based |
Law (Jurisprudence) | LNAT(National Admissions Test for Law) | Testing starts before or on 15th October every year | Duration: 2 ¼ hour test LNAT is a test designed to study the students aptitude for studying law. Form Section 1: MCQS Section 2: Essay type Question |
Computer Science, Computer Science and Philosophy, Mathematics, Mathematics and Computer Science, Mathematics and Philosophy, Mathematics and Statistics | MAT (Mathematics Aptitude Test) | 2nd November 2022 | Duration of Paper: Two hours and 30 minutes The MAT tests the students’ knowledge in high school mathematics and their ability to study the subject in university. Form of Exam: MCQ’S |
European and Middle Eastern Languages, Classic and Modern Languages, English and Modern Languages, History and Modern Languages, Modern Languages and Linguistics, or Philosophy and Modern Languages. | MLAT (Modern Languages Assistance Test) | 2nd November 2022 | Duration: 5 hours Consists of 10 Sections The MLAT tests the student’s knowledge on different languages like Czech, French, German, Italian, Modern Greek, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish in the first 8 sections. The last 2 sections are ● Language Aptitude test which tests the aptitude of those applying for new languages as beginners and for Russian. ● The Philosophy test (for those applying for Philosophy and Modern Languages). |
Oriental Studies, Classics and Oriental Studies (Oriental Studies with Classics), European and Middle Eastern Languages, Religion and Oriental Studies. | OLAT (Oriental Language Aptitude Test) | 2nd November 2022 | Duration: 30 minutes Form: The OLAT is designed to assess the student’s ability to analyze how languages work. |
Engineering, Material Science, Physics, Physics and Philosophy | Physics Aptitude Test (PAT) | 2nd November 2022 | Duration: 2 hours Relevant for those who want to Pursue Engineering. The PAT tests students’ knowledge in high school Physics. Students should have a strong understanding of Physics and Math to perform well in this test. Form: Subject-specific admissions test. |
Philosophy and Theology | Philosophy Test (Philosophy and Theology only) | 2nd November 2022 | Duration: 60 minutes Philosophy test is not a test of philosophical knowledge. It is designed to test a student’s philosophical reasoning skills. Form: Part A: Comprehension Style Questions Part B: Logic Style Questions Part C: Half hour essay Questions |
Experimental Psychology, Geography, Human Sciences, Philosophy, Politics and Economics, and Psychology, Philosophy and Linguistics, Economics and Management | Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA) | 2nd November 2022 | Duration: 2 hours TSA tests students’ problem-solving skills, including numerical reasoning. This test also seeks to evaluate a candidate’s ability to organize ideas in a clear and concise manner, and communicate them effectively in writing. Form: MCQ’s Section 1: Thinking Skills Assessment [Only for those taking Economics and Management or History and Economics] Section 2: Writing Task. |
C. Personal statement
Your personal statement is a chance to show your potential to excel at the University and beyond. It should include:
Your career aspirations
How you became interested in studying the subject
What, if any, relevant work experience you have undertaken that is related to the course or subject
What aspects of your previous education have you found most interesting
What attracted you to the University of Oxford
Other relevant academic interests and passions which display positive character and personality
Genuine experiences of extra-curricular clubs, work experience or knowledge about a subject would make your personal statement stand out. Admissions officers are looking for evidence to see whether you can be a productive member of the university.The average length of a Personal Statement for undergraduates is 400-600 words.
Tips for Writing a Personal Statement:
Be passionate about your subject
Start the statement strongly to grab an admission officers attention
Link outside interests and passions to your course
Be honest, but don’t include negative information
Don’t attempt to sound too clever
Don’t leave it to the last minute, prepare ahead of the deadline
Have friends and family proofread it
Don’t duplicate material from your CV/resume
D. School or college reference
Your tutors will report your academic performance as part of your UCAS reference, including your predicted grades. This is also where some contextual information about you can be included. Recommendation letters are a very important part of the application process. Your mentor needs to be someone you respect, someone who inspires you and is related to your field of interest. If you are a high school student aspiring to study engineering, this may be your Physics (Chemistry or Computer Science) teacher.
E. Written work
Oxford requires some applicants to send samples of written work as part of their application. Oxford will expect this work at different times, so double check the deadline when you apply to ensure you don’t miss it. Students who are planning on studying in Oxford need to submit essays (in some courses) or a portfolio (in Fine Arts). These are some of the courses where submitting written work is important.
Classics, Classics and English, Classics and Modern Languages, Classics and Oriental Studies, English and Modern Languages, English Language and Literature, European and Middle East Languages, History, History and Economics, History(Ancient and Modern), History and English, History and Modern Languages, History and Politics, History of Art, Modern Languages, Modern Languages and Linguistics, Music, Oriental Studies, Philosophy and Modern Languages, Philosophy and Theology, Religious and Oriental Studies, Theology and Religion.
COURSE | WRITTEN WORKS |
Archaeology | ● Two recently-marked essays, each written as part of a school or college course within a two-week period or less and preferably in different subjects. ● A short essay of no more than 500 words in response to the following question: What can we learn about people, either past OR present, from their material culture? |
Classics | Two pieces (either essays or commentaries). |
English | One piece of written works done on literary texts or a short timed essay on a brief critical commentary. It should not exceed 2000 words. |
Fine Art | The portfolio should include a range of work which gives a sense of their artistic and intellectual interests and an awareness of contemporary art. |
History | An essay on an historical topic. |
History of Art | ● One marked essay of up to 2,000 words written for an A-level which will demonstrate ability to construct a sustained written argument ● one personal response, written in no more than 750 words, to a piece of art, architecture or design. |
Modern Languages | One piece of essay a few 100 words in length written in the languages you plan to study. Second piece of marked writing in English language. |
Philosophy | One piece on an examination or test answer to an unseen question, which has been supervised and marked by your school or college.(No more than 2000 words) |
Theology, Religion and Philosophy of Religion | An essay on Religious Studies or work in a related area, for example work on any Humanities subject, such as History or English.(No more than 2000 words) |
F. Interview
Oxford is one of the few universities in the UK that require an admission interview for admission. The interview allows you to meet your potential academic tutors. In essence, the interview is a friendly academic interrogation which enables tutors to tease out how you think about various academic subject matters whilst also allowing them to see if you’re the type of student they can see themselves teaching. It is essential to re-read what you’ve written in your personal statement, especially the books you’ve mentioned and the projects you’ve undertaken. Interviewers may quiz you on what you’ve written in your personal statement. It would also help to have a mock interview with your school’s career advisor before going for the actual Oxford interview.
G. English Language Proficiency Test Scores for Oxford University
English Language proficiency tests are an essential requirement for international students planning to study in Oxford University. These tests include TOEFL, IELTS and Cambridge Test in which TOEFL can be taken both online and offline. Standard Level Scores for programs like Computer Science, Mathematics, Mathematics and Computer Science, Mathematics and Statistics are given in the table below:
Test | Minimum overall score | Minimum score per component |
IELTS Academic | 7.0 | 6.5 |
TOEFL iBT, including the ‘Home Edition’ | 100 | Listening: 22 Reading: 24 Speaking: 25 Writing: 24 |
C1 Advanced | 185 | 176 |
C2 Proficiency | 185 | 176 |
Higher Level or HL score required for other programs.
Test | Minimum overall score | Minimum score per component |
IELTS Academic | 7.5 | 7.0 |
TOEFL iBT, including the ‘Home Edition’ | 110 | Listening: 22 Reading: 24 Speaking: 25 Writing: 24 |
C1 Advanced | 191 | 185 |
C2 Proficiency | 191 | 185 |
Although it is difficult to get into Oxford, with extended preparation you can improve your chance of getting into this prestigious university.
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