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Can you receive multiple college offers at Oxford University?

Hi! I’ve recently received an offer for a DPhil programme at Oxford University. Today, I received a college offer from Linacre College. When I submitted my application, I didn’t know much about the colleges and didn’t state a preference. Since then, I’ve read some worrying reviews and I’m not sure what to think.

Do applicants ever receive more than one college offer? Should I wait before responding?

Reply 1

Original post
by xsleax
Hi! I’ve recently received an offer for a DPhil programme at Oxford University. Today, I received a college offer from Linacre College. When I submitted my application, I didn’t know much about the colleges and didn’t state a preference. Since then, I’ve read some worrying reviews and I’m not sure what to think.
Do applicants ever receive more than one college offer? Should I wait before responding?

No. Postgraduates receive only one college offer, and one has to accept that college offer to attend Oxford. In other words, rejection of the college offer means rejecting your Oxford offer. There is an exception if one receives a scholarship from another college; in that event, one would move from the assigned college to the college offering the scholarship.

I would not be worried about Linacre. It’s a nice college in a good location a short walk to the city center but off the tourist trail. There’s lots to like about it. Most students in the end are happy with their college, even if it was not their first choice.

Reply 2

Original post
by xsleax
Hi! I’ve recently received an offer for a DPhil programme at Oxford University. Today, I received a college offer from Linacre College. When I submitted my application, I didn’t know much about the colleges and didn’t state a preference. Since then, I’ve read some worrying reviews and I’m not sure what to think.
Do applicants ever receive more than one college offer? Should I wait before responding?

Hey! That's extremely early for a college offer for DPhil ! When did you get your offer for the University?

Look at your offer certificate from the University, on mine it's clearly stated: "Once a college makes you an offer, there are normally only two grounds on which a change of college during the
application process is possible:
(i) the University moves you to another college as part of the process for securing funding;
(ii) as a result of measures to respond to any pandemic, epidemic or local health emergency.
If you choose to turn down your college place (or exercise any cancellation right that the college gives you),
please be aware that this will mean you are also turning down the University place on this Certificate of Offer."

In my understanding at least, that means that you will receive one and only one offer, except if you are considered for a scholarship from another college.

Linacre seems like an excellent college, I would be glad to take your place if I could 😆

Reply 3

Original post
by Anonymous
No. Postgraduates receive only one college offer, and one has to accept that college offer to attend Oxford. In other words, rejection of the college offer means rejecting your Oxford offer. There is an exception if one receives a scholarship from another college; in that event, one would move from the assigned college to the college offering the scholarship.
I would not be worried about Linacre. It’s a nice college in a good location a short walk to the city center but off the tourist trail. There’s lots to like about it. Most students in the end are happy with their college, even if it was not their first choice.

Thank you! Additional question if I may, does that mean you may receive a scholarship from any college? Even if I accept Linacre now? Should I then submit scholarship applications to all colleges?

Reply 4

Original post
by Anonymous
Hey! That's extremely early for a college offer for DPhil ! When did you get your offer for the University?
Look at your offer certificate from the University, on mine it's clearly stated: "Once a college makes you an offer, there are normally only two grounds on which a change of college during the
application process is possible:
(i) the University moves you to another college as part of the process for securing funding;
(ii) as a result of measures to respond to any pandemic, epidemic or local health emergency.
If you choose to turn down your college place (or exercise any cancellation right that the college gives you),
please be aware that this will mean you are also turning down the University place on this Certificate of Offer."
In my understanding at least, that means that you will receive one and only one offer, except if you are considered for a scholarship from another college.
Linacre seems like an excellent college, I would be glad to take your place if I could 😆

Thank you! I received the news via email from the department on the 31st of January, and then a few days later, I received an official offer via the admission portal

Reply 5

Original post
by xsleax
Thank you! Additional question if I may, does that mean you may receive a scholarship from any college? Even if I accept Linacre now? Should I then submit scholarship applications to all colleges?

That's not how college scholarship work: you are automatically considered for all scholarships if you applied before the December deadline (except for a few specific and small scholarships). Choosing a college won't change anything to your chance of getting accepted for a scholarship to another college, but you'll need to change college if you accept the scholarship, hence the sentence: "the University moves you to another college as part of the process for securing funding;"

Reply 6

Original post
by xsleax
Hi! I’ve recently received an offer for a DPhil programme at Oxford University. Today, I received a college offer from Linacre College. When I submitted my application, I didn’t know much about the colleges and didn’t state a preference. Since then, I’ve read some worrying reviews and I’m not sure what to think.
Do applicants ever receive more than one college offer? Should I wait before responding?

Congrats for receiving this so early!

May I ask what is your course?

Reply 7

Original post
by Anonymous
Congrats for receiving this so early!
May I ask what is your course?

Thank you! When is the usual time for receiving an offer?

My course is DPhil in Medical Sciences

Reply 8

Original post
by xsleax
Thank you! When is the usual time for receiving an offer?
My course is DPhil in Medical Sciences

I think a few weeks after your admissions offer, which could even be 4-8 weeks after.

I think your division is one of the earliest to be giving out offers I guess. Mine is Social Sciences and I only applied for Jan 27th deadline so the wait is so long!

Reply 9

Original post
by Anonymous
Congrats for receiving this so early!
May I ask what is your course?

8-10 weeks after the official offer according to the certificate of offer (you should really read it bro hahaha)

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