Biochemistry at Oxford

Hey everyone,
Was just wondering as there are no entry exams to study biochem at Oxford, what difference does it make to the chances of being accepted for it. Does it make it more difficult as you should aim to look better on your personal statement/ do better at interviews if selected. Does it mean that it's less competitive and therefore slightly easier to get into in comparison to medicine?
Also, is the course/ content more difficult in Oxford in comparison to other unis?
Any advice would be much appreciated!! :smile:

Reply 1

biochemintern

Original post by matylda1111

(off to do biochem at oxford)

1) As there is no entrance exam, it means that the interviewers will focus a lot more on your grades, PS and your performance at the interview, compared to other courses where a bad entrance exam result basically ruins your chances. Therefore, you should defo prepare for that accordingly, especially since you don’t have to spend time preparing for an exam.
2) However, because there is no entrance exam, it does not make it any easier. If anything, it will be harder as they will judge you completely on how you do in your interview – since more or less everyone has top grades and an interesting PS.
3) Don’t compare biochemistry to medicine; they are completely different. Medicine is probably a lot harder to do and has a 9% acceptance rate (https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses/course-listing/medicine)
Whereas biochemistry has a 12% acceptance rate (https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses/course-listing/biochemistry-molecular-and-cellular). That being said, biochemistry is one of the courses with a really low acceptance rate.
If you want to do medicine and become a doctor or whatever do medicine as your undergraduate degree, the Oxford name doesn’t matter that much since all med degrees can lead to the nhs
And defo don’t do biochemistry because you would then need to do a GEM degree, which is a LOTTTT harder.
4) I would say the content is probably going to be similar to many molecular and cellular courses at top universities, e.g. Imperial, UCL KCL, etc.
However, the course would be a lot more challenging because you're at Oxford – 8-week terms vs 11 weeks, so many essays and tutorials you need to prepare for a week; you're with the smartest people in the country/world etc.

Reply 2

matylda1111

Original post by biochemintern

(off to do biochem at oxford)
1) As there is no entrance exam, it means that the interviewers will focus a lot more on your grades, PS and your performance at the interview, compared to other courses where a bad entrance exam result basically ruins your chances. Therefore, you should defo prepare for that accordingly, especially since you don’t have to spend time preparing for an exam.
2) However, because there is no entrance exam, it does not make it any easier. If anything, it will be harder as they will judge you completely on how you do in your interview – since more or less everyone has top grades and an interesting PS.
3) Don’t compare biochemistry to medicine; they are completely different. Medicine is probably a lot harder to do and has a 9% acceptance rate (https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses/course-listing/medicine)
Whereas biochemistry has a 12% acceptance rate (https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses/course-listing/biochemistry-molecular-and-cellular). That being said, biochemistry is one of the courses with a really low acceptance rate.
If you want to do medicine and become a doctor or whatever do medicine as your undergraduate degree, the Oxford name doesn’t matter that much since all med degrees can lead to the nhs
And defo don’t do biochemistry because you would then need to do a GEM degree, which is a LOTTTT harder.
4) I would say the content is probably going to be similar to many molecular and cellular courses at top universities, e.g. Imperial, UCL KCL, etc.
However, the course would be a lot more challenging because you're at Oxford – 8-week terms vs 11 weeks, so many essays and tutorials you need to prepare for a week; you're with the smartest people in the country/world etc.