Question about Oxford

After doing some research I've seen that cambridge doesnt offer just "Physics" as a course, from what I can see at least, assuming I were to get AAAA for my AS level (working on it) would Oxford even go for an interview with only 3 A*'s? I got A*'s for physics chemistry and maths including an A in the FSMQ additional maths course. My other GCSE's were fairly average, 5 B's and then C's in subjects which I just hated (History and Economics).
tl;dr would oxford even request an interview if you had AAAA for AS but only 3 A*'s at GCSE (in relevant subjects)

After doing some research I've seen that cambridge doesnt offer just "Physics" as a course, from what I can see at least, assuming I were to get AAAA for my AS level (working on it) would Oxford even go for an interview with only 3 A*'s? I got A*'s for physics chemistry and maths including an A in the FSMQ additional maths course. My other GCSE's were fairly average, 5 B's and then C's in subjects which I just hated (History and Economics).
tl;dr would oxford even request an interview if you had AAAA for AS but only 3 A*'s at GCSE (in relevant subjects)

Alright, but would it be worth applying with the hope to do well in PAT test and that they'd accept and interview with 3 A*'s or would it be better to apply for a form of engineering course at cambridge, or even maths with physics etc, where I'd probably have a better chance to get in with good AS/A2 grades.

Cambridge tend to place more emphasis on GCSEs. Better to impress via the PAT and predicted grades to get an interview at Oxford than rely on your grades alone to get an interview at Cambridge (you do their version of the test at interview, not before).

Alright, but would it be worth applying with the hope to do well in PAT test and that they'd accept and interview with 3 A*'s or would it be better to apply for a form of engineering course at cambridge, or even maths with physics etc, where I'd probably have a better chance to get in with good AS/A2 grades.

I've heard the complete opposite? I've been told Oxford place more emphasis on GCSE whilst Cambridge look more at your AS/A2 grades (but still using GCSE's for an overall impression)

I've heard the complete opposite? I've been told Oxford place more emphasis on GCSE whilst Cambridge look more at your AS/A2 grades (but still using GCSE's for an overall impression)

That's the same advice my school give us. Oxford are GCSE Nazis. whereas Cam look more towards your AS scores

Surely you'd apply for Natural Sciences, not Engineering, if you want to do Physics?


You're right, generally speaking, although for Oxford the admissions tests and interviews are the most important parts.

Well my original "plan" was chemical engineering, as I also took chemistry A level (alongside maths, further maths and physics), however physics is by far my strongest of the subjects so I was looking into pure physics courses, although at cambridge I could still study chemical engineering or something of the sort.

The problem is that you can't apply for Physics and Engineering courses because you can only effectively write a personal statement for one or the other. An admissions tutor isn't going to be very happy about admitting a student who doesn't seem to be able to choose between two subjects!

Well I'd either be applying for Physics at Oxford, or Engineering/Maths w/ Physics at Cambridge (I believe you can't apply to both?), bare in mind I've only just started AS so this is all a bit in the future but worth thinking about, are engineering courses not highly physics based in any case?

Yes, Engineering courses are highly Physics based but the courses are still very, very different. One's Engineering, the other is a natural Science.

Can you try clear up what a "natural science" course is, for the physics choice of course, it seems quite different to "Physics" on its own.

No, I mean Physics is a natural science, i.e. you're studying Physics as a scientific discipline which is very different from studying Engineering where you are simply using Physics as a tool to exploit for technological development. They may cover similar content but it's a completely different perspective and a completely different means to a different end.

If you mean what's the difference between Physics at Oxford and Natural Sciences at Cambridge, the main difference is that at Oxford you're studying 100% Physics from Year 1 whereas at Cambridge it will be a maximum of 25% in Year 1, 67% in Year 2 and potentially 100% in Years 3 and 4. This means that, at least according to what the Universities say, whilst you will reach the same depth of understanding in both universities, you will have a broader understanding of Physics at Oxford than you would do at Cambridge (and similarly, you will have a broader general scientific understanding at Cambridge since you will have studied other sciences in your first two years). So it depends on whether you want to specialise Year 1 or whether you're happy to specialise later on. Oxford makes it very clear that they're looking for people 100% dedicated to Physics so if you're not sure, Cambridge NatSci might be a better bet.

Well I'd definitely prefer to do Physics at Oxford then, but I'd have to see how Chemistry goes, I done well for GCSE and plan to do better for AS but its definitely the weaker of the two, does natural science involve Biology as well? Seems like it does but if so I'd really rather stay away from it (only a B at GCSE and wasn't very interested at all)

For Natural Sciences at Cambridge, there's a large collection of courses available and you choose three in the first year (+ compulsory maths) and three in the second year. You do not have to take any biological options, it is completely up to you. For instance, in first year, you could take Physics and Materials Science and Earth Sciences, or Physics and Chemistry and Computer Science.

I'll definitely look more into the natural science route then, although if I find that AS physics goes extremely well I would still probably apply for Physics at Oxford assuming I could do well on the PAT test.