Oxford Open Offer

Congratulations! Open offers mean that if you meet the offer, you will be assigned a college which has a space open because of someone else missing or declining an offer. It's a way for Oxford colleges to collectively mitigate the risk of direct offer applicants not coming. If everyone did accept or meet their offer, one college will have guaranteed your spot with them if it's needed, to make sure you end up somewhere. I'm not sure whether this guarantor is more likely to be Oriel but I would imagine so, however it's unlikely you would even end up going to the guarantor college since usually spaces will open up elsewhere. Hope that helps!

Thanks so much this explains it really well - yes Oriel said that I would go there if I wasn't allocated to another college. Do you know how Open Offers are decided, as to why I got that instead of just a direct offer? I am of course over the moon with the offer but I feel a bit worried not knowing. Maybe I'm just overthinking lol.

I had the same question, I got an open offer from queen's

You were both really good applicants but they must have reached their quotas on offers so have given you an open offer in the case that a place is made available at another college after results day. But if this doesn't happen you would go to the college that gave you the open offer. Just make sure you meet all the requirements and you'll be given a place somewhere in Oxford

Oh yay I'm not alone! What subject?

Hi there! I got an offer yesterday for History and am so excited! I applied to Oriel and was told that I received an 'Open Offer'. Can anyone help me understand what this means? What is the likelihood of staying at Oriel? Can I influence this? When will I find out what college I will be going to?

Thanks!