The Student Room Group

Oxbridge FAQ!

This FAQ aims to cover the main areas of confusion about applying to Oxbridge. It won't answer your every question, and it certainly won't get you in, but hopefully it'll make your life a little easier if you're thinking about applying to Oxbridge.

Once you've read this guide, have a read of our articles:

Applying to Oxbridge
Choosing a College: Oxford
Choosing a College: Cambridge
Oxbridge Interviews
University of Oxford
University of Cambridge

To apply or not to apply?

Why should I apply?
Most people really enjoy their time at Oxbridge. The courses are well put together and brilliantly taught, the extra-curricular opportunities are second to none, and the doors opened for later life are numerous. They're popular universities because most students there have a fun and successful time. If you would too, you should apply.
You should not apply to improve your job prospects, because your parents want you to, or because your head-teacher insists you do. If the course, teaching methods or environment at Oxbridge aren't right for you, you'd be happier and better off elsewhere at another university.

Is there any point in me applying?
Almost definitely yes! If you're predicted or already have A*AA/A*A*A at A-level, you have a chance no matter your previous record. Every year people get in with supposedly 'useless' grades. It'll only take up one of your five choices on the UCAS form, and who knows, you might just get in - 7,000 people do each year! What's more, most applicants do enjoy the application process. It's a chance to challenge yourself, show off what you can do and, at Oxford at least, be put up and fed for free for up to a week!
(note for medics: With only four choices and very competitive entry, you'll have to think more carefully about where to apply).

Are my grades good enough?
If you've come near the top of your school at GCSE/AS/A2, your grades are good enough for Oxbridge. Obviously the better the grades the better your chances, but you do not need outstanding exam grades to get in; they're only one part of the application. For the same reason, even amazing grades aren't in themselves enough to ensure you get an offer.
At the same time, Oxbridge students generally have A*s at GCSE and A*/As at A/AS level in subjects related to their course, and possibly across the board; you should aim to do the same, especially at A-level.
If you have done non-English qualifications, you won't be at a disadvantage! Tutors are familiar with the likes of IGCSEs, Highers, the IB, Abitur and SATs, and apply the same standards whatever course you studied at school. If you're doing a very unusual qualification, it may be worthwhile to get in touch with the college you're applying to just to make sure there aren't misunderstandings.

The actual application process

Choosing a Course:
This is probably the most important choice in your application - your course will be a central feature of university life for three years. If you do not enjoy your course, you will not be happy and you will not do well, and though it may be possible to switch course it's best to get it right first time.
Make sure you consider all the options, as there are subtle variations between courses. Look in detail at the course description online, which will explain what sort of papers you'll take, how much flexibility you'll have, what sort of skills will be required and what sort of facilities will be available.

Oxford or Cambridge?
Since you cannot apply to both (unless you're an organ scholar or a graduate), you'll have to choose one of Oxford or Cambridge. Many people decide based on course preference. This is obviously true for PPE or HSPS applicants, but even if you're applying for a subject both universities offer their courses are likely to differ in significant ways.
A lot of people base their decision on more sentimental grounds. The two towns have different atmospheres, because Oxford is a lot bigger and less dominated by the university, so some people just find they prefer one town to the other. It doesn't have to be some massively rational reason - choose the university where you think you'll be happiest.
Finally, again, choose the right university for you, not anyone else! Parents and friends may provide useful advice, but the final choice is yours.

Choosing College:
See the relevant Cambridge
or Oxford
articles for this

Grades:
You must include all your grades (for every examination you’ve sat, including resits). Be truthful - colleges do ask for certificates and if they found out you lied, they can withdraw your offer!

Personal Statement:
This is less important for Oxbridge than for other universities, but it's still a chance to show your commitment to your course and that you've studied it at a bit of depth. Do your best to explain why you're interested in your course, and to give some evidence that you've done some independent study into it. It is usually recommended that you spend three quarters of your PS focusing on your academic interests and motivations, and the remaining quarter on other activities. Note, however, that neither Oxford nor Cambridge care about the other stuff.
Comments from your personal statements may be used to start off conversation at interview, so make sure you know what you've said in it, and that it's true!
Don't forget that there is a PS Help Service available on TSR.

School reference:
Obviously you won't write this, so there's not too much you can do about it. If there's something you think is important to mention in it, for example if your AS grades were affected by serious illness, ask whoever's in charge of writing it and hopefully they'll include it.

Subject tests:
A lot of subjects now have additional tests, either right before interview or in November. They're very different to A-levels, so it's important to use the online resources (past papers, specifications etc) to familiarise yourself with the format Oxford's done research and it found marks do go up if you spend 5-10 hours doing this.
Because they're so different to A-levels, tests can be a bit unnerving. The important thing to remember is that just about everyone finds them weird and hard! That's the point of setting them - they test you in ways you've not experienced before. So you just have to do your best.

Submitted written work:
Many subjects now ask for submitted work, although sciences usually don’t. What you send in doesn't particularly matter (if the college has specific requirements, they'll tell you), so long as it shows ability; sending a history essay when you're applying for PPE or a politics essay when you're applying for history are both fine, so long as they're good!
Essays are usually discussed at interview. Make sure you know the topic well, because you're very likely to be asked to explain why you said certain things and have your reasoning challenged. It doesn't matter what position you assume - you can change your mind, say you now realise what you wrote was wrong, or stick to your guns; the important thing is to argue your position properly.

Interviews:
Interviews are a test of whether you can be taught in a tutorial or supervision - no more, no less. They're a mini tutorial, basically. A quick rundown of events in my average tutorial will show why interviews should not be daunting. Typically, I will: drop my pen 12 times; mishear my tutor 4 times; get something completely wrong 5 times; get something partly wrong, 10 times; hesitate or pause to think 20 times. What I'm getting at is that all you have to worry about at interview is learning. Your interviewer will try to get as quickly as possible to an area you don't know much, if anything, about. They may give you a problem you can't do, present a point of view you haven't previously thought about, or just give you information you'd never seen before. Your job is to try to apply this new material. How might you go about solving this problem? How can you change your argument to incorporate the new evidence? The point isn't to get it right, or to be really smooth, or anything like that. It's to finish the tutorial having learned to do something you couldn't do at its start.

If you're nervous about interviews, one way to make yourself more comfortable is getting some experience of the interview atmosphere. Find an adult you don't know too well and get them to ask you some questions, and if possible challenge a few things you say. In terms of environment, that's what the interviews will be like.

Preparing academically for interviews is more complicated. In the immediate run up, make sure your basics are solid. Know the things you've said you know (A-level topics, books in your PS etc) - the risk of messing up simple things like standard integrals or key dates can be minimised by a little revision.

In the long run, you just have to get good at your subject! Anything which makes you think harder about the topics you've studied is good. For maths, I think it's easier, with all those maths challenges/Olympiads books out there. For everyone else, it's a bit more difficult. If you can find some old exam papers (Oxbridge, STEP papers, S-level etc) with questions which are relevant to you, try those. Otherwise, you'll have to stick to books. Try to do reading which makes you look at things differently: either through a whole different approach, or just a different viewpoint to something you've already studied. Either way, get practice at assimilating new information and adapting your viewpoint to it.

To give you an idea of what the interviews are like, Churchill College Cambridge have produced some videos of mock interviews here. If your subject isn’t on there, just search for them as many other colleges have done the same.

The SAQ:
Cambridge requires you to complete a Supplementary Application Questionnaire (SAQ) online immediately after applying, which is meant to ensure that they have a full picture of who you are as an applicant, what topics you've studied at A level and your UMS marks (if your A levels were modular). More details about the form can be found here. Oxford doesn’t have this.

Maximising your chance of getting in:

AS/A2 choices:
All A levels are viewed equally, but try to make sure you take subjects relevant to your course where available. The subject requirements for each course can be found here for Cambridge and here for Oxford. Mathematicians are expected to take Further Maths, and it is a benefit for related subjects like Engineering and Physics. Otherwise, taking 4 A levels is unlikely to benefit your application and only 3 are Required remember, A*A*A* is better than A*AAA, especially if you replace the fourth subject with relevant wider reading or a related EPQ.

Extra-Curricular and Super-Curricular activities:
In general, neither Oxford nor Cambridge care about Extracurriculars activities, unless they’re relevant to your course (e.g. volunteering in a Hospital for Medics). Super-curriculars can be beneficial though, so take part in as many essay competitions, maths challenges and science Olympiads as possible.

Exceptional circumstances:
Tutors take these seriously. If your application has been affected by serious illness, family grievance, school/exam board **** ups etc, that will be taken account of so long as the college is made aware of it. Having your school mention it in your reference is the best way to do this, although Cambridge also has an ECF form. If you’ve already sent your application in, contact the admissions office ASAP and the information can be added to your application.

Useful links:

Oxford Admissions - http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/
Oxford Alternative Prospectus - http://www.ousu.org/prospective-students/ap
Cambridge Admissions - http://www.cam.ac.uk/admissions
Cambridge Alternative Prospectus - http://www.applytocambridge.com
(edited 2 years ago)

Scroll to see replies

Reply 1
JUSTaGIRL
Has the application fee not been abolished?


Not unless they're planning to abolish it for 2005 admissions..
Reply 2
JUSTaGIRL
Has the application fee not been abolished?


Well, I dunno about Oxford, but when I applying to Cambridge back in 2003, I cant remember there being a fee. That said.....it seems to be in the distant past now.......!
I'd just like to say that is an excellant summary. It worries me sometimes that people who are supposed to be intelligent come to this forum asking questions which could be answered in a second by using the relevant univeristy/college web-site.
Reply 4
I'm still in Year 8 and I wanted to join he Army Cadets but my dad said that it was a bad idea.
Should I join anything else instead?
What extra-curricular activities are better?
Reply 5
H&E
Firstly, if you are still studying for your GCSEs, it's probably too early to think about university

Other than that though an excellent source of advice which answers almost all the questions that get asked.
Reply 6
This is a great idea. I was getting a little frustrated at the sheer volume of 'what gcse's should i do to get into oxbridge' type threads too...

should probably add some cambridge links too:

http://www.cam.ac.uk/cambuniv/courses.html

http://www.cusu.cam.ac.uk/publications/altpro/
Reply 7
And honorary Scots too :wink:
Reply 8
Very good idea this. Perhaps you could include an explanation of the pooling systems under College Choice.
Reply 9
Good summary, I wish I'd found something like that before I applied.

Like Sophetta said you might want to add something for people with Scottish and other "non-Alevel" qualifications, which nearly put me off applying (I didn't expect an interview, let alone an offer).

Edit: I see you've done that already. Guess I was too slow at reading!
Reply 10
You should make this a sticky or whatever they call it so that it doesn't appear down the list
Reply 11
Is it worth mentioning something about open days?
The alternative prospectus link from the OUSU website hasn't worked for ages. http://users.ox.ac.uk/~wadh1305/ousu/pubs/ap2003.pdf is the only way to get too it. :smile: And it's quite out of date.

Other than the above, it's great. Hopefully this will cut down on the amount of "How many GCSEs do I need" threads.
Reply 13
BazTheMoney
Other than the above, it's great. Hopefully this will cut down on the amount of "How many GCSEs do I need" threads.


Hopefully! Although I suppose I couldnt talk when I first joined the forum!
Reply 14
piggysqueak
I'm still in Year 8 and I wanted to join he Army Cadets but my dad said that it was a bad idea.
Should I join anything else instead?
What extra-curricular activities are better?


Read the FAQ again. If you're in year 8, that's far too young for you to be thinking about uni. Enjoy your life now, and do what you like. You must be 12 or 13? when you apply you'll probably be 17 or 18, and the admissions tutors won't be interested in what you did four or five years ago. If you want to join the cadets then go ahead. As it says in the faq, it doesn't really matter what you do so long as you enjoy it and it shows that you can do more than schoolwork.
Reply 15
babyballerina
I'd just like to say that is an excellant summary. It worries me sometimes that people who are supposed to be intelligent come to this forum asking questions which could be answered in a second by using the relevant univeristy/college web-site.


Me too :frown: Here's hoping that people will use this, seeing as they can't use the standard channels!

shiny
You should make this a sticky or whatever they call it so that it doesn't appear down the list


We're hoping to do that after it's finished and we've received enough suggestions :smile: I plan to PM the mods of the forum when we've reached that stage. Also, loftx has asked if he could use it on his website so that'll be another place it'll remain constant.


Thanks everyone for your appreciation and input :biggrin:
Reply 16
F. Poste
Read the FAQ again. If you're in year 8, that's far too young for you to be thinking about uni. Enjoy your life now, and do what you like. You must be 12 or 13? when you apply you'll probably be 17 or 18, and the admissions tutors won't be interested in what you did four or five years ago. If you want to join the cadets then go ahead. As it says in the faq, it doesn't really matter what you do so long as you enjoy it and it shows that you can do more than schoolwork.


I think it was slightly tongue in cheek. I hope :redface:
To be honest, you shouldn't join the cadets. I went to one of those higher ed fair things and the army were there. I went up to the guy on the stand and said "Hi, i'd like a job killing people". He replied "i'm sorry, we don't have jobs like that in the army". Yes, this is a true story.

MB
Reply 18
Helenia
I think it was slightly tongue in cheek. I hope :redface:


I thought so too but I checked the person's profile in case and it says they're 13.. and seeing as they have a fairly substancial number of posts I guessed that they probably weren't a troll. If it is a joke, then someone else with a similar question might benefit, who knows? There was that amrou person who did something like that and that person wasn't a joke. Well, not in the sense I'm thinking of :tongue:
Reply 19
Sophetta
You could add standard grades in with the GCSE where you need to get credit marks

Highers alongside the as-levels and I think they expect you to do 5 and get AAAAA/AAAAB

Apparently not.

Advanced higher/a levels are the same.

No! No! No! No! ( Thankfully ) English Universities by and large recognise that while Advanced Highers are of the same standard as A-Levels ( maybe... um... even slightly higher? ) that far fewer students sit Advanced Highers than sit A-Levels. It varies from place to place of course but in my school it was exceptional enough to do one. Oxbridge are pretty much inflexible on their rules about A-Level requirements but as far as I can see they are a lot more considerate when it comes to Advanced Highers.

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