LMH Oxford: Ask us anything

Dear LMH,

What TSA score would lead to an interview for Economics and Management and would being part of UNIQ in anyway strengthen an application?

Thanks

Posted from TSR Mobile

Hi, I am just wondering how many AS and A-Levels are good enough to be accepted into oxford, I know it is typically 3, but I'm yet to see and Oxford student on TSR with only 3 a-levels. I'm in year 12 and planning on doing just biology, chemistry and maths as any other subject I would be interested in isn't possible for me to do. So I will just have 3 A-Levels. I also have 11A* and 1A at GCSE, and will have work experience, volunteering etc. Thank you

Hi there,

Three AS/A Levels are all that is needed; there are plenty who have been accepted to Oxford with three subjects, they just might not be in evidence here! When the offer stipulates three A-Levels, we really do mean it - that's all you need! Indeed, it is often said that doing fewer A-Levels can be better, as you have more time for focused revision (this is of course subjective). It is a myth that Oxford are more likely to take students with unusually high numbers of A Level subjects (say 5 or more) - they would much rather admit someone who has time to explore their chosen degree subject outside of the often narrow confines of the A-Level syllabus, and consequently has more specific, unique, academic material to bring to an interview.

A note on work experience/volunteering/other miscellaneous extra-curriculars: Oxford is only really interested in academic or subject-related extra curricular activities in personal statements. At LMH, we prefer to call them "super-curriculars"; activities which go above and beyond the A-Level syllabus and demonstrate your intellectual curiosity and commitment. If your volunteering and work experience don't relate directly to the subject you want to study here, then you should only include them in a short paragraph towards the end of your statement (this will be more than satisfactory for any other top universities where you may also be applying!).

Hope this helps,
India

A few questions:
Do Oxford release things like the average HAT/ELAT/PAT score of successful applicants?

Also India, what were your GCSE and A2 grades ( for A2 what subjects?)
When considering GCSE grades, do Oxford consider which subjects you get A*s in? ( eg. getting good grades in arts and sciences, vs just arts or just sciences)

Hey, is it possible for a non-British student to apply for a joint course involving English? The literature I've studied at school is that of my own country, and everything I know about English Literature I've learnt on my own, and I could mention this in my PS.

Hi there, I have already posted this on the Oxford Prospective Students thread and created a separate thread, yet no reply has come of it. I am writing this in the hope someone can provide some help, as I have no one to talk to about Oxford applications.

I am currently studying Maths, Further Maths, Economics and History (Government & Politics AS; A grade achieved). My GCSEs were (6A*, 2A, 1B; 3rd in school). My AS were A in Maths and Gov. Pol with AAB in Further Maths. I am especially interested in Economics & Management, yet realise that the grades aren't competitive. Therefore, do you think that I would at least get an interview with these grades or should I avoid applying, assuming my Personal Statement is good?

Hi there,

We're glad you've found us as we are always keen to talk to prospectice applicants!

Firstly, I'd just like to clarify your grades. Have you only studied to AS Level so far, or have you fast-tracked any A2s? Your post does not make this clear. Am I correct in saying you have an A in Maths AS, an A in Government and Politics, then a further two As and a B? The entry requirements for E&M are A*AA, with Maths A-Level included in the three - you seem to have more than enough relevant A-Levels to make up an offer, and I am sure Economics would be particularly useful to you.

As a general rule, if you are on track (and predicted) to achieve the offer of A*AA, then it is worth making an application. Your GCSEs are within the average a successful applicant has and would also be considered contextually (since you say they were the 3rd highest in your school, so were clearly a great achievement). Cambridge are more specific about UMS at AS Level than Oxford, although that's not to say it is easier to receive an offer for E&M here!

E&M is a highly competitive course, and even with suitably high AS/predicted A2 grades it would be impossible to say whether or not you would receive an interview or not from this alone: it is also subject to good performance in the TSA test, a strong personal statement, and any references/mitigating circumstances. From what I am inferring about your grades, however, you would have nothing to lose from applying - and of course, I would urge you to consider LMH, where we take three E&M students a year (an unusually high quota for such a small intake course)

Hope you find this helpful,

India

I am in A2 right now, with AS finished. What I meant with AAB was that I had gotten AAB in the three papers I did in Further Maths (two in the mid-80s and one in the mid-70s). My other grades were A in Gov. Pol and Maths. History and Economics have become linear, therefore, I did not give their AS.

Hi LMH ,
I am a post A level candidate and would be interested in applying for biochemistry at Oxford. I have A*A*A at A level in maths, biology and chemistry but less strong GCSE's (2A* 6A 3B) with A's in all the subjects I took at A level. I understand biochemistry is somewhat essay based for a science and I also have an A in AS level history and EPQ related to biochemistry. Based solely on academics, what are my chances of getting an offer?
Thanks
I missed the A* in chemistry by 3 ums, which is 1% of the A level grade not sure if you guys will hear about that tho x

Hi there,

It is more than possible for an international student to secure a place on an English or related joint school course, but you would still need to offer an A-Level or national equivalent in English Literature or combined Literature and Language, and satisfy the minimum requirements for spoken & written language (as do all international students on every course). This can include English at Higher Level in a Baccalaureate. For reference, here is the English admissions page:

https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses-listing/english-language-and-literature?wssl=1

Although you sound very motivated in your independent study of English Literature, the qualification requirement is an essential part of your application.
You don't say which joint school course you are interested in, but if it is (for example) English and Modern Languages, would it perhaps be better for you to apply for a language which you have already studied at school? Oxford language courses are very literary, and you can study a second one from scratch if you wish to do so.

Hope this helps,

India

Thanks a lot for your response! English and Modern Languages is the exact course I'm applying for. It's not that I haven't studied English at all, it's just that I haven't sat the baccalaureate in this subject. Over the four years of college, I have had courses in both English Language and British and American Civilisation. The language I've chosen for my joint course is German, which I have studied at school too.

As for the minimum requirements for languages - I think I satisfy them. I passed the Cambridge Proficiency Exam with A, and I've also done the Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache (it's the German equivalent of IELTS), which I got almost full grades in.

I've already sat the Romanian Baccalaureate - which I passed with the equivalent of A*A*A*. My subjects were Romanian Language and Literature, Mathematics and Biology - they were more or less mandatory, there was no way for me to choose English or German, but this doesn't mean that I'm not prepared in these subjects.

I will also be sending written work, and that's going to help too, I guess.

I don't doubt that your English more than satisfies the reading and writing requirements, but it would be incredibly unusual for the English Faculty to admit a student who did not have a formal qualification in the subject (especially as it is compulsory for those who have studied A-Levels). It may be worth you contacting the faculty directly, as your circumstances are quite different to the standard profile of an English applicant.

I've also double checked the International Qualifications page of the central university admissions webpage for you, (https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/international-students/international-qualifications?wssl=1) which confirms the following:

"There are also specific entrance requirements for some courses, particularly in the sciences, so please check the requirements for your course. The qualifications below will only be sufficient alternatives to A-level where they cover the same content as the required A-levels, to the appropriate standard.

If your qualification is listed as being insufficient to make a competitive application to Oxford, then you will need to undertake further study if you wish to apply."

This is what makes me say that your current qualifications may not be suitable to make an application for EML, as excellent as they are! The same webpage provides a link to the British Council who should be able to advise you on where you would be able to study for British A-Levels to put you in the right place to make a competitive application; you are clearly very motivated by your studies, so I am sure it would be well within your reach. Oxford do have to reinforce their compulsory admissions requirements quite vigorously, often because the formal qualifications they request are an essential part of assessing a students' ability.

I hope this helps to clarify my first response - please don't hesitate to get in touch if you have any more questions!

India

I don't doubt that your English more than satisfies the reading and writing requirements, but it would be incredibly unusual for the English Faculty to admit a student who did not have a formal qualification in the subject (especially as it is compulsory for those who have studied A-Levels). It may be worth you contacting the faculty directly, as your circumstances are quite different to the standard profile of an English applicant.

I've also double checked the International Qualifications page of the central university admissions webpage for you, (https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/international-students/international-qualifications?wssl=1) which confirms the following:

"There are also specific entrance requirements for some courses, particularly in the sciences, so please check the requirements for your course. The qualifications below will only be sufficient alternatives to A-level where they cover the same content as the required A-levels, to the appropriate standard.

If your qualification is listed as being insufficient to make a competitive application to Oxford, then you will need to undertake further study if you wish to apply."

This is what makes me say that your current qualifications may not be suitable to make an application for EML, as excellent as they are! The same webpage provides a link to the British Council who should be able to advise you on where you would be able to study for British A-Levels to put you in the right place to make a competitive application; you are clearly very motivated by your studies, so I am sure it would be well within your reach. Oxford do have to reinforce their compulsory admissions requirements quite vigorously, often because the formal qualifications they request are an essential part of assessing a students' ability.

I hope this helps to clarify my first response - please don't hesitate to get in touch if you have any more questions!

India

Thanks a lot for the detailed response! The Romanian Baccalaureate is listed as an accepted qualification. Contacting the Faculty definitely sounds like a good idea, but I just want to ask you this question: if I apply with my present qualifications, get good results in the pre-interview tests and send good written work that demonstrates my abilities, is there a possibility for me to be shortlisted for an interview? And if I perform well in the interviews, could I be made an offer nonetheless? Maybe a conditional one?