How to get into Oxford University: 8 tips for students & applicants
- 1. Understand Oxford’s courses and admissions requirements
- 2. Choose the right Oxford college
- 3. Have a solid 5-year plan
- 4. Practise past admissions test papers
- 5. Participate in super-curricular activities
- 6. Make sure your personal statement is academic
- 7. Prepare for the Oxford interview
- 8. Boost your chances of getting into Oxford with a tutor
Time and time again, students ask me ‘how do I get into Oxford.’ Luckily, I know exactly how to answer this.
In 2025, the average acceptance rate for Oxford University was 14.2%. Here at The Profs, 70% of our applicants get in! Meaning, our students are over 3x more likely to get into Oxford.
The admissions process for Oxford is completely different to most other universities. For example, Oxford considers historic grades, often requires the completion of admissions tests, and interviews 45% of their applicants. Due to Oxford’s holistic approach to admissions, NONE of these steps can be discounted.
Most Oxford applicants have top grades, so an excellent academic track record does not guarantee your admission, nor will it help you to stand out.
Plenty of our team have studied at Oxford or previously worked in Oxbridge admissions. In our experience, very few students know how to write an undergraduate university application that targets Oxford’s unique admissions criteria. Thankfully, we offer the right support and preparation to aid you in submitting an application that stands out and maximises your chances of an offer.
Read on for insider information from our team of Oxford Admissions Tutors to maximise your chances of getting into Oxford this year.
1. Understand Oxford’s courses and admissions requirements
Oxford’s entry requirements vary depending on the course you’re applying to study and the country you’re applying from. The table below shows the UK qualifications and some of the most common international qualifications accepted by Oxford, and the entry requirements for each.
If your qualifications are not in this table, or you need more information on English language requirements and additional admission requirements, check Oxford’s guide for international students. Or, better yet, connect with our Oxbridge Admissions Tutors for one-to-one support.
| Qualification | Entry requirements |
| A Levels | Range from A*A*A-AAA, depending on the course. |
| International Baccalaureate (IB) | Total score of 38-40 points (depending on the course) including core points, with 6s and 7s in subjects taken at the higher level. |
| European Baccalaureate (EB) | An average of 85% or above, with scores of between 8 and 9 in subjects specified at A level or equivalent. |
| Abitur (Germany) | Overall grade of 1.1-1.3, depending on the course. |
| Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) | Grade 5 or A in three elective subjects, taken from either Category A or Category C. |
| AP (Advanced Placement) (USA) | Either four APs at grade 5; Or three APs at grade 5 plus a score of 33 or above in the ACT or 1480 or above (out of 1600) in the SAT. |
| Other international qualifications | Check the full list of international qualifications accepted by Oxford. |
Worried about meeting Oxford’s entry requirements? Join the 92% who raised their grade by working with one of our A-level Tutors. They’re subject specialists trained in exam technique and graduates of world-leading universities, including Oxford University.
Please note that the entry requirements for Oxford differ depending on your chosen course, so make sure you check on the relevant course page before applying.
Keep scrolling to find out everything you need to know about applying to Oxford.
2. Choose the right Oxford college
When choosing a college, be aware of the subjects your college offers as well as what departments it specialises in. Is this college suited to your academic and personal interests? Can it facilitate your goals?
You can choose a specific college to apply to or, if you don’t have a preference, you can join the 40% of students who make open applications. However, making an open application does not mean that your application is sent to all colleges. Oxford will assign you one and your application will be processed through this college alone. Therefore, an open application will not offer you a greater chance of being admitted. In fact, showing clear knowledge of a college as well as a keen interest in joining their community might give you a better chance as this will show you have genuine enthusiasm.
Oxford suggests you take virtual tours and contact your shortlisted colleges’ admissions offices to help you make a decision.
Insider tip: Due to ‘pooling’, once you’ve completed your college interview on the interview day you could be sent for more interviews for different colleges. This could happen whether you’ve submitted an open application or not. Possible reasons for this are:
- Your college thinks you’re an excellent candidate and wants to show you off.
- Your college thinks you’re a very good applicant and wants to give you ample opportunity with more colleges than just this one.
- Your college thinks you might be better suited to another college.
3. Have a solid 5-year plan
An Oxford degree opens doors. Oxford values applicants with a clear and ambitious career plan because they want their students to go on to get good jobs after university and maintain a strong Oxford alumni network.
Getting into Oxford is a great goal to have, but it’s also important to think about the long-term plan and how a degree in your chosen subject from Oxford will help you achieve your future career goals. You may want to go on to study a Master’s or PhD (check out our postgrad admissions tutors), or use the skills acquired in your undergraduate to help you set up your own business. For example, if you’re applying for Medicine or Law, it’s imperative to show you’ve thought about your career and what comes next.
Having these goals in mind will help you communicate your reasons for wanting to study your course in your personal statement and prove to Oxford that you are motivated and committed to your academic future.
4. Practice past admissions test papers
A key stage of the Oxbridge application process is the admissions test. Which admissions test you’re required to take depends on the course you’re applying for. You must register for your admissions test before you submit your UCAS application by the 15th October Oxbridge deadline. You’ll then need to sit your test before your Oxbridge interview in December; the exact date will depend on which admissions text you’re taking.
It’s really important to prepare and practise as thoroughly as possible for your admissions test, as it will be used to assess your academic ability and how well-suited you are to your chosen course. Tips for Oxford’s admissions tests:
- Test papers are key and dry runs are crucial. The more papers, the better!
- Look at mark schemes.
- Practice and revise over the summer; you’ll have less time once your A levels begin.
- YouTube and Google examiner and tutor comments regarding what they like to see. This will be different for Oxford than AQA examiners.
Insider tip: You should be aware of the average scores for your required admissions test. Aim above the average scores of interviewees and offer holders to make your application as competitive as possible. Make sure you’re using the latest test format (some, like the PAT and Geography test, have changed). Also, be aware of the different sections and skills within your admission test.
Our extensive network of Admissions Test Tutors can tutor you in both the academic content and the technique of these tests. If you’re applying for Oxford, get in touch with The Profs today. Making a competitive application with us will quadruple your chances of success.
5. Participate in super-curricular activities
Work experience: To help prove your commitment to your long-term goals outlined in your personal statement, you should look to gain relevant work experience in your field. Whether paid or unpaid, having experience working in your desired field will provide you with invaluable real-life knowledge about the industry.
For undergraduate courses at Oxford, work experience is never a requirement. However, Oxford is perhaps the most competitive university in the world, and it’s best to do all you can to maximise your chances. Expressing what skills you have learned from this experience and how they will help you with your course will also make you a more attractive candidate.
Extracurriculars: If you can’t secure work experience, try to engage in as many extracurricular activities related to your chosen subject area as you can.
Ask yourself: What is your X-factor? Have you competed nationally, scored very highly in a competition, or perhaps grown a large following on your YouTube vlog? A black belt in Judo might be hard to associate with the Law degree you’d like to take, whereas, being head of your school’s debate team is certainly relevant. Similarly, if you’re applying for Oxford’s Medicine course, it’s great if you can share any experience volunteering in a care home.
You can stand out by mentioning scholarships, awards, class prizes, the percentile you were ranked in your class (if your school offers this), and competitions such as the Intermediate Biology Olympiad or the Oxford German Olympiad.
Insider tip: Elite universities, especially Oxford and Cambridge, compare applicants to their school peers. Therefore, it’s vital to do more unusual supercurricular activities than those your school pushes everyone to do. This is why essay competitions are great (especially now that some have a limit on the number of entries per school).
6. Make sure your personal statement highlights your academic potential
For Oxford’s many competitive subjects, lots of applicants will inevitably achieve the grades required for entry. Oxford will therefore use applicants’ personal statements as a key factor in deciding who to offer places to. That’s why investing plenty of time and passion into writing your personal statement is so important in the application process.
As well as describing your ambitions, skills and experience, dedicate your personal statement to explaining why you would be an excellent and unique candidate. The Profs’ Personal Statement Tutors can provide further guidance and support on how to write a stand-out statement tailored to Oxford.
Insider tip 1: Successful applicants are original and can express interests that do not follow the crowd and show independent thinking e.g. a BioMedical Science applicant might talk about a medical ailment they or a close family member underwent and what this taught them about modern medicine and treatment, as well as inspiration for a hypothesis that they can foresee being solved in the future.
Insider tip 2: Make your personal statement personal! An Oxford Law graduate told us: “When applying to Oxford University for Law, always remember what makes you unique. For example, I used my ethnic background of being Albanian as something that could distinguish me from my peers. By highlighting my experience and knowledge of the Albanian legal system, I differentiated myself from my peers.”
7. Prepare for the Oxford interview
Oxford’s overall acceptance rate is about 13-15%, meaning many interviewed candidates will still be rejected. Performing well at the interview stage is therefore crucial to securing an offer.
During the interview, tutors assess how you think rather than what you know. They want to see intellectual curiosity, independent thinking, and how you approach unfamiliar problems. The interview also tests whether you would thrive in Oxford’s tutorial system, where teaching takes place through one-to-one academic discussions.
Strong interview performance can significantly strengthen your application, even if other aspects of your profile are less competitive.
Here are some interview tips, specific to Oxford:
- Always check whether there’s pre-reading and get to the interview early. This way, even if you’re surprised by any expectations, you have time to prepare.
- You might have multiple interviews, not just for colleges but for subjects e.g. one for Spanish and one for German. Prepare equally for all your interviews.
- Unsure of how to answer a question? Articulate what you’re thinking and/or sit for a moment in silence. You can even say: “Please can I have a moment to think about that.”
- Oxford is more interested in how you answer a question and how your brain works, than your answer itself. So, remain flexible and open-minded!
Insider tip: An Oxford graduate (Hertford College) told us: “What I believe tutors want to see over anything else is someone who has an evident and emphatic love for the subject. They have devoted their life to it and therefore want to teach people who feel the same way.”
Medicine interviews at Oxford still follow the traditional panel format (rather than an MMI format), so you’ll need to research common questions and practise interview techniques to maximise your chances of success. Interviews for other subjects also tend to follow this traditional panel format, but what each department is looking for will differ, so it’s best to work with an Oxford Admissions Tutor.
The most effective way to prepare for the interview is to practise with someone who deeply knows the Oxford and Cambridge admissions process. Many of our Interview Training Tutors are former Oxbridge admissions staff, so they can equip you with the insider knowledge needed to help you secure an offer.
8. Boost your chances of getting into Oxford with a tutor
At the Profs, we have many Admissions Tutors who can guide you through the process of applying to Oxford, as well as LSE, Imperial and other top UK universities.
Here’s how we help:
- Candidate profile review: We assess your academic record, subject suitability and wider profile to identify strengths, address gaps and set realistic Oxbridge goals.
- Course and college strategy: Compare Oxford courses and colleges, understand their admissions requirements and make choices aligned with your academic strengths.
- Personal statement guidance: Develop compelling subject-specific ideas, select the strongest evidence and refine each response through detailed, iterative feedback.
- Admissions test preparation: Establish a clear baseline, target weaker areas and build the accuracy, speed and exam technique needed for competitive scores.
- Interview preparation: Practise with realistic mock interviews, learn to think aloud under pressure and engage thoughtfully with challenging academic questions.
- Application planning: Stay on track with UCAS deadlines, admissions tests, written work and every other requirement in the Oxford application process.
- Oxbridge expertise: Work one-to-one with experienced Oxbridge tutors, including former Oxford admissions staff and senior university academics.
Oxbridge applicants who work with us are over 4x more likely to receive an offer.
FAQs about applying to Oxford
How many 9s do you need for Oxford?
There is no fixed number of Grade 9s required to apply to Oxford. However, strong GCSE results are important, especially for competitive courses. Many successful applicants have a high proportion of 8s and 9s, but Oxford assesses candidates holistically.
All applicants must demonstrate exceptional academic achievement, strong predicted grades, and clear evidence of academic ability and potential. GCSEs are used alongside A-level grades, admissions tests, and the UCAS personal statement to evaluate your overall profile.
Is 7 GCSEs enough for Oxford?
Yes, 7 GCSEs can be enough, provided they are strong. Oxford looks more closely at the quality of your GCSE grades rather than just the quantity.
If your school offers fewer GCSEs, your application will be considered in context. Oxford admissions teams review your school work, reference letters, and wider academic profile to ensure fairness. Strong A-levels, high predicted grades, and performance in subject-specific admissions tests can offset fewer GCSEs.
What’s the easiest subject to get into at Oxford?
There is no “easy” subject at the University of Oxford. Every course is highly competitive, and acceptance rates vary year to year depending on demand. That being said, Modern languages, Classics, and Music are among the subjects where over half of applicants receive an offer.
But instead of choosing an “easier” subject, focus on making a competitive application for a subject you are genuinely interested in. Oxford is looking for students who can think critically, evaluate evidence, and show strong subject engagement through reading, research, or relevant experience.
How difficult is it to get into Oxford?
Oxford is one of the most selective universities in the United Kingdom, with acceptance rates typically around 15–17%. This means only a small proportion of applicants get a place at Oxford.
To be accepted into Oxford, you need:
- High A-level grades (often A*AA or above).
- Strong GCSE results.
- Excellent performance in any admissions test.
- A compelling UCAS form and personal statement.
- Strong interview performance.
Oxford admissions tutors carefully scrutinise each application for academic ability and potential.
Do you need perfect A-levels to apply to Oxford?
You don’t need perfect A-levels, but you do need to meet the grade requirements for your course. Most offers are conditional on achieving top grades (typically A*AA) in your final exams.
Oxford requires applicants to show consistent academic excellence, but they also consider your predicted grades, school context, and performance in written tests and interviews. A strong application goes beyond grades and shows intellectual curiosity and subject depth.
Can international students apply to Oxford?
Yes, international students can apply to Oxford through the same UCAS application process. Oxford welcomes applicants from around the world, including the United States and other international education systems.
You will need to provide equivalent academic qualifications, meet English language requirements, and may need to take subject-specific admissions tests. Oxford evaluates international applicants using the same academic standards as UK students.
Oxford or Cambridge: which should you apply to?
You can only apply to one of either Oxford or Cambridge in a single application cycle. Both universities have similar academic expectations, but their courses, teaching styles, and application process can differ.
Research specific courses carefully. For example, mathematics, modern languages, or history and politics may be structured differently at each university. Choosing the right course fit is more important than choosing based on reputation alone.
What does Oxford look for in applicants?
Oxford is looking for students who demonstrate:
- Strong academic qualifications and high grades.
- The ability to think critically and solve problems.
- Evidence of reading beyond the school curriculum.
- Engagement with subject-specific topics.
- A genuine interest in their chosen subject.
Applicants get shortlisted based on academic strength, but final decisions often depend on how well you perform in interviews and admissions tests.
Do you need an admissions test for Oxford?
Many courses at Oxford require you to take subject-specific admissions tests, such as the LNAT for Law or maths-based tests for STEM subjects.
These tests assess your academic ability and potential, rather than memorised knowledge. You may also be required to submit written work or complete additional assessments as part of the Oxford application.
What happens after you submit your UCAS application?
After submitting your UCAS form, Oxford will:
- Review your academic record and reference letters.
- Assess your performance in any required admissions tests.
- Shortlist candidates for interview.
- Make conditional offers based on your predicted and final results.
The full application process is rigorous, so preparation at each stage is key to success.
