University of Oxford applicants' thread for 2026 entry

those stats are so grim :/

Maybe but remember they are averages and they don’t provide a view on the range. That said, they do provide at least an indication of the levels required.

Yes, but the averages are so high that they will be dragged down by lower results more than they will be increased by higher ones; I would suspect the median is even higher

Yes, but the averages are so high that they will be dragged down by lower results more than they will be increased by higher ones; I would suspect the median is even higher

Hopefully everyone has got their PS and reference sorted and submitted as deadline is tomorrow 6pm!

I know what you mean !! I’m ok on the averages, but on the offers it’s more scary!
However, the results are out of context. At my state school we don’t even get to sit that number of GCSEs, we only did 9.

Yup...school finally got their act together and my sons is submitted. How long does it take to hear anything back. I think interviews are early December, so I guess November will be possible?

You can only achieve at the limits of the opportunity available to you and this is exactly why applicants are fully assessed in the context of their situation. If gcse grades are below the offer averages then it’s entirely feasible to make up for this across other aspects of your application e.g. entrance test, reference, submitted work and interview. This is particularly true for anyone applying with strong A level grades already in hand since admission tutors are well aware that predicted grades can be unreliable at times. Indeed the Cambridge August Reconsideration Program offers an excellent route for eligible contextual applicants who perform strongly in their A levels (and only have this confirmed on results day) but weren’t offered a place in January. The bottom line though, is that places are highly competitive and are offered to the most academically able students, as they should be.

I think it will be w/c 24th November for interview emails / rejections.

Thank you. Fingers crossed 🤞

Yes! Good luck to your son (and me)!

Yup...school finally got their act together and my sons is submitted. How long does it take to hear anything back. I think interviews are early December, so I guess November will be possible?

Hi everyone, I've just applied to Balliol college to study English language and literature. This looks like a friendly and helpful thread so I thought I'd join in. Am waiting for Balliol to get back to me with instructions on how to submit written work, and then after that I'll just wait to hear if I've been invited for any interviews. I know it's not the be-all-end-all if I don't get accepted, but still I'm very nervous. If you don't hear back from me about my interviews then assume I've been rejected.

Good afternoon all,
I’m a parent, and my daughter’s detail as below:
1) A level subject: Art, Biology, Chemistry – all predicted A*
2) Apply for Medicine
3) GCSE: 11 Grade 9s
4) UCAT: 2360
6) Volunteered at charity shop and care home; 1 week work placement at a local GP practice
7) She attends a grammar school (state)
I’ve got a few questions please:
1) Will the uni or college send an acknowledgement letter after application? (long story short – it took more than a month for my daughter’s school to check her application and provide reference, so her application was officially sent yesterday morning)
2) Roughly when an interview invitation will be sent?
Thank you in advance. 😊

Hopefully everyone has got their PS and reference sorted and submitted as deadline is tomorrow 6pm!