UCAS application

  • UCAS awarding
  • Personal statement
  • Academic reference
  • Instruction
  • Special circumstances
  • Declaring your inability

If you lot want to study at Oxford, you need to use a year before the start date of your course by completing an online UCAS application form. Applications open in June so you can offset work on the form from then. You lot won't be able to submit your application until early September. There is a strict submission deadline of 6pm (Uk time) on 15 October. Your application must be consummate - including the bookish reference - and submitted earlier the deadline. Late applications cannot exist accepted.

The deadline for applications is 6pm (United kingdom time) on 15 October and this must be strictly adhered to. In that location is no change to this borderline in light of COVID-19 and belatedly entries cannot be accepted.

UCAS application

Completing a UCAS application for Oxford follows the same process equally for other universities, we but have an earliersubmission deadline of 15 October.

Please notation that you should not send us as part of your application whatsoever certificates, transcripts or other documents for qualifications which y'all have already taken. The but exception to this is if you already have a degree from a university – encounter Other forms below. We will contact you for evidence of your qualifications if you are offered a place at Oxford.

Before you get-go:

  1. Choose which class you would similar to study. You can only apply to one course at Oxford, and yous can't apply to Oxford and Cambridge in the same year. See information on all our courses.
  2. Check the admission requirements for your grade. Specific grades and subjects required are also shown on each course page.
  3. Make up one's mind whether to limited a preference for a particular college or make an open application. If yous brand an open up application, y'all volition be assigned to a college which has had relatively fewer applications for your class in the year you apply.

The UCAS application volition ask for:

  1. Personal details including an email address. Make sure you check this accost ofttimes.
  2. Details well-nigh your education, and whatsoever qualifications you lot have already accomplished.
  3. A personal statement where y'all tell u.s. why you are interested in your chosen class. See our guidance on writing your personal argument.
  4. Your reference. Remember that your teacher or adviser will need some time to complete your reference, and this must exist completed before the deadline. See our guidance on bookish references.
  5. A fee payment to UCAS is required to complete the procedure.

Read guidance from UCAS on filling in your application.

Admissions tests

For most courses at Oxford y'all are required to take a exam as part of your application.Registration for tests is not automated and is not part of the UCAS procedure. Delight cheque the details for your course, including how to register.

Other forms

If you are applying for a second undergraduate degree, delight send a copy of the transcript from your first degree to the college that is considering your application, to arrive past 10 Nov. No other references, transcripts, or certificates are required or accustomed except for students applying for Graduate-entry Medicine (A101) or Choral or Organ Awards.

Personal statement

I section of the application is called your personal statement. This is where y'all tin write whatever you lot'd like to say virtually yourself and your motivation to study your course.

People sometimes recall that there is a trick to writing a personal statement for Oxford, or that nosotros are looking for some special secret formula, but this is non the case. It's important to recollect thatyou can only write ane personal argument and and so the same diction will be seen by all the universities you apply to. Your personal statement should therefore focus on the class you want to study, not the universities themselves. Please read this helpful communication from UCAS.

Provided that your bookish referee can give us some background on the impact of COVID-19 on your education in their reference, yous practice not demand to specifically refer to this in your personal statement. If the pandemic has shaped how y'all think about your subject or offered you relevant opportunities to show your interest in your subject area expanse, you lot can of course include this equally function of your motivation for applying for the grade. Otherwise, follow the advice given beneath.

How important is the personal argument?

Universities build a pic of you as a educatee from all the different information you provide, to assist make up one's mind whether or not to offer you a place. The film is fabricated up of several different pieces: your personal statement, academic tape, predicted A-level grades (or equivalent), and your teacher'southward reference. For near courses at Oxford you will as well need to accept an admissions test or submit written piece of work (check the details for your course). If your application is shortlisted, your interview will also be taken into account. This means that your personal argument is important but it's not everything: it'southward just i part of the overall picture.

What are Oxford tutors looking for?

Tutors at Oxford are but interested in your academic power and potential. They want to encounter that y'all are truly committed to the subject or subjects you want to written report at academy but it's non enough but to say that yous have a passion for something: yous need to testify tutors how you take engaged with your field of study, higher up and beyond whatsoever you lot have studied at school or higher. This tin can include whatsoever relevant extra-curricular activities.

Attempt to avoid writing your personal statement as though you are ticking things off a list. There is no checklist of required achievements, and tutors volition non just browse what you have written to look for key words or phrases. Tutors volition read your personal statement to try to understand what has motivated you to use for their course. It's a good idea to evaluate your experiences, to show what you have learned from them and how they have helped develop your understanding of your subject.

Where should I starting time?

Think well-nigh talking to your friends nigh what you desire to report at academy: what would you tell them? What have you read or watched or seen that has inspired you? (This might have been at school, at abode, in a museum, on TV, in a volume, on YouTube or a podcast or anywhere else. Y'all tin besides take a look at our suggested reading and resources.) Why was it interesting? What do you want to detect out adjacent? What did y'all do?

If you lot find this difficult, information technology might be time to think about whether or non you've really chosen the correct course. If you can't think of anything that has inspired you, this lack of enthusiasm will probably come up across in your personal statement, or it will become articulate at interview, and you're unlikely to gain a place at Oxford. If y'all find it easy to answer these questions, y'all will have a long listing of ideas to help you write your personal statement.

When you lot start to write, remember not merely to list your achievements but show how they have afflicted you, how you lot take benefited, and what you'd like to acquire adjacent. Exist honest near yourself and what has inspired you, whether that'due south been text books, museums and literature, or websites, podcasts and blogs. Be sure to tell the truth, every bit tutors might check later, so don't exaggerate and certainly don't brand whatsoever false claims. Don't hold back either – this is no fourth dimension for modesty.

When you've written a first typhoon, take a look dorsum at the pick criteria for your course and think about the evidence you've given for each of the criteria. Accept you covered everything?

Should I include extra-curricular activities?

Nosotros typically advise that you focus effectually 80% of your personal statement on your academic interests, abilities and achievements. This can include word of any relevant actress-curricular activities. The remaining 20% can then encompass whatever unrelated extra-curricular activities.

In that location's a myth that Oxford is looking for the virtually well-rounded applicants, and that you will only be offered a place if you have a long list of varied actress-curricular activities. In fact, extra-curricular activities are only helpful in and so far as they demonstrate the selection criteria for your course.

If you are applying to other universities too equally to Oxford (yous can make five choices on your UCAS form) then you may need to find out whether the other universities have different selection criteria. If they do, and then you might want to provide some information about your extra-curricular interests – merely continue it to a minimum. The space in your personal statement is limited, so think carefully about what you want to include.

Do I need feel of piece of work and travel?

We sympathise that not everyone has the opportunity to practice work feel or to go travelling then these activities are not a requirement for whatsoever of our courses. Tutors won't be impressed by your connections, or the stamps in your passport, merely they will be impressed by how you've engaged with your subject field.

For instance, some of our applicants for Medicine may have had piece of work experience placements in prestigious hospitals just non be able to evaluate their fourth dimension there. If you lot have no more experience than some simple voluntary work, or fifty-fifty just discussing medical matters with your friends and family, you tin can still write an constructive personal statement past reflecting critically on what you take learned and discussed.

To requite another case, for the History of Fine art form, tutors volition non want to hear about all the galleries and exhibitions that yous take visited around the earth if you cannot discuss the fine art that y'all saw. You tin can run across more finer in your personal argument by evaluating art you have seen, even if y'all've only seen information technology online or in books without ever leaving the school library.

Don't be put off past any friends who yous remember have more than impressive things to say in their personal statements. Call up that tutors do non accept a checklist of achievements that they are looking for: they want to meet how you accept engaged with your subject.

I'thou applying to dissimilar courses at different universities – how should I write my personal argument?

If you are thinking of applying for completely unlike courses at different universities (eg Physics and Accounting, or Biology and Music) nosotros'd encourage you to reconsider. It's important to choose a subject area that you really want to report, and focus on that one area when making your applications. Also, yous can only write one personal statement which volition exist seen past all the universities to which you apply, then it needs to exist relevant for all your courses.

If you are thinking of applying forrelated courses at different universities then we advise that you avoid using course titles in your personal statement. We recommend that you write near your interest in the general course themes, and how you lot take engaged with relevant subject areas, so that your personal statement is as relevant for each of your grade choices.

Does my personal argument need to stand up out?

Students sometimes feel that they need to say something dramatic to stand up out from the crowd and be really memorable in their personal argument simply this is not true. Applying to Oxford is not similar a talent testify where you may only have a few seconds to make an impression. Tutors consider each application carefully on its individual claim, looking for show of your commitment and power. If you use your personal statement to demonstrate your academic abilities and your engagement with your subject field or subjects, and then your application will exist memorable for all the right reasons.

How many versions should I write?

Enquire a teacher to read through what you've written, heed to their feedback and so make any updates that they propose. You may need two or three tries to get it right and it can take longer than yous call up, especially with the limited number of characters. It can be tricky to get in everything you desire to mention, simply don't spend too much time trying to make your personal statement completely perfect - information technology's only one of the things that the tutors will consider.

Some dos and don'ts

Exercise:

  • DO utilise for a course y'all really want to study.
  • DO exist yourself: tell the truth about your interests.
  • DO sell yourself: this is non the fourth dimension for modesty.
  • Exercise re-read your personal statement before an interview – the tutors may inquire you to talk about things you've mentioned
  • DO read the UCAS guidance on personal statements.

DON'T:

  • DON'T be tempted to brand anything up, as you lot might be asked about information technology at interview.
  • DON'T copy anyone else'due south personal argument. UCAS uses plagiarism detection software.
  • DON'T list qualifications like your GCSE grades or anything else that's covered elsewhere on the awarding.
  • DON'T only list your other achievements: you need to evaluate them.
  • DON'T feel the need to be dramatic in order to be memorable.

Academic reference

A reference from a teacher or someone else who is qualified to comment on your academic ability is an essential part of your application. Your application will exist incomplete without a reference and nosotros will not be able to consider it.

UCAS have at present published guidance for how academic references should explain the touch on of COVID-19. Please refer to this guidance in improver to the information provided hither.

Communication for candidates

  • The process is different for those applying through a school/college/centre and those applying afterward they accept left school or as an individual. See how to get a UCAS Undergraduate reference.
  • The reference must be in English language. If your referee is non confident writing in English, they can inquire an English language-speaking colleague to help them. Alternatively, yous can have a certified translation fabricated for them to upload. Delight inquire them not to submit a reference in whatsoever linguistic communication other than English, and to make certain that they take uploaded a reference in English language to UCAS by the fifteen October borderline.
  • Your reference must be from someone who can write about your academic potential; it tin't exist from a family member.

Advice for referees

  • See how to write UCAS Undergraduate references for general information about writing an academic reference for a student'south UCAS application as well as specific guidance for how to explain the impact of COVID-19 on this candidate.
  • Nosotros strongly recommend following the UCAS advice to publish relevant information nigh school closures and disruption to whole cohorts on a specifically created web page on your school website. Y'all can then link to this webpage in your academic references to ensure that most of the reference word count tin yet be dedicated to the academic potential of your student.
  • At that place is more data nearly writing a UCAS reference for a student applying to Oxford on our Advice for Teachers page.
  • If the candidate is currently studying or awaiting results y'all will be asked to include predicted grades for these qualifications. This is an important part of the application, and then please do include predicted grades.
  • It may be helpful first for you to refer to the pick criteria and admission requirements for your candidate'due south chosen grade.
  • Delight also include data on whatsoever mitigating circumstances that you lot think we should know virtually. Alternatively, if for whatsoever reason this is inappropriate, y'all may similar to contact the higher because your candidate'south awarding.

Education

This is the department of the UCAS form where you listing all your qualifications along with the grades you have already achieved and any standardised examination scores. You as well demand to list any educational qualifications you are currently working towards.

Please list everything as the admissions tutors need to see the whole motion-picture show of your bookish studies so far. It doesn't matter if you have taken a lot of qualifications, a few, or none, we inquire you to tell u.s.a. about them.

Note: do non transport united states transcripts for the qualifications y'all've already taken; y'all will only need to produce certificates or transcripts if you are offered a place here. Yet, if you are applying for a second undergraduate degree, you will need to send a transcript from your offset degree separately, to the higher that is considering your application. You practice not upload this as function of your UCAS form.

For any time to come exams, whoever writes your academic reference must tell us how they think you volition perform in them. These predictions help the admissions tutors understand your bookish potential and will let them know if you are going to meet the admission requirements for your grade.

We appreciate that many educational systems around the earth do not normally predict a pupil's grades in this way; notwithstanding without these predictions from your teacher nosotros are unable to consider your application. At that place'due south lots of communication for teachers in the teachers' section of our website and on UCAS nigh writing references and predicting grades.

Why do we ask for predicted grades?

Using predicted grades means you can apply to study at Oxford earlier y'all take finished school (or equivalent) and you don't have to look until all your exams are complete and your results are known. If you are made an offer of a place, it will be conditional on your achieving the required grades (based on the entrance requirements for your course) in whatever outstanding exams.

What if you tin't provide predicted grades?

If you have listed any exams or qualifications as not yet taken on your UCAS class, and then you lot must get your instructor to provide predicted grades for them.

If yous can't get predicted grades, and so your just alternative is to wait until you lot accept got the terminal results for all your exams and qualifications before applying to Oxford.

Please remember that you can just apply to Oxford between early September and 15 October every year.

How practice I declare international qualifications in the UCAS form?

You lot should self-report all details of your qualifications, standardised test scores, and grades on the UCAS awarding form under 'Instruction'. It will need to be clear from your application that you are on track to achieve the admission requirements for your course. Please see our international qualifications page for the international qualifications nosotros take and the level of bookish attainment we would require.  For any exams yous are withal to take, you will need to ask your referee (normally the teacher supporting your application) to predict your results and submit these as part of your UCAS application. Please refer your referee to our communication on writing references and predicting grades.

You may choose to declare the results of whatever private modules or internal exams in the 'Didactics' section of your UCAS application, but this is not essential. You may instead similar to ask your bookish referee to mention the results of any internal school exams in the reference, if you feel that these results will aid to demonstrate your academic power and potential.

For further advice on how to enter your qualifications on the UCAS form, please see the UCAS website.

Special circumstances

If y'all have personal circumstances that y'all'd like to tell u.s.a. about delight include them in your personal argument, or ask your instructor to include the information in your reference. If for any reason this is non appropriate, then please wait until you have had confirmation that your application has been received by a higher and so contact them directly. This is probable to be around the terminate of Oct. You can contact our Admissions Office for further information and advice if you're non sure what to include.

Usually special circumstances are something that yous as an individual take experienced, something that is unique to you. And so we would not, for instance, expect you to permit us know about your school being closed due to COVID-xix. We are extremely aware of the widespread disruption to education during the pandemic and will be asking your academic referee to tell us how this has affected your year grouping.

Students with disabilities

Please meet the tab Declaring your disability and read our Guidance for disabled applicants to find out about the back up nosotros offering our students.

Other extenuating circumstances

Nosotros are sympathetic to the fact that sometimes candidates under-perform at school or college considering of extenuating circumstances. If you lot experience that your functioning has been afflicted in this fashion please let united states of america know. You should let us have this information in your UCAS application as we need to receive this information earlier admissions decisions accept been made.Information received later on admissions decisions have been fabricated will only be considered in infrequent circumstances and if this was not bachelor earlier.Examples would include disruption acquired by change of school or system, severe discontinuity of teachers (only non if this was due to nationwide school closures due to COVID-nineteen), bereavement, and debilitating illness. We take care to treat each application individually and would e'er take such mitigating circumstances into account, if they are brought to our attention earlier admissions decisions have been made. You could include this data in your personal statement or your instructor could mention this in their reference. If for any reason this is not possible, then we would advise you to contact the higher you practical to (or are assigned to if making an open application) in one case you have had confirmation that your application has been received. This is likely to exist effectually the end of October.

Teachers and other academic referees should follow the guidance provided by UCAS in order to explain the impact of COVID-xix on your instruction.

Any your particular circumstances, the earlier we know well-nigh your individual requirements, then the sooner we tin begin to meet them. We are committed to making sure that all our students can benefit from the peachy opportunities at Oxford so please do tell u.s.a. well-nigh whatever inability, whether seen or unseen, on your UCAS application. This should include any long-term illness, mental health condition, an autism spectrum condition or specific learning difficulty.

Please exist assured that admissions decisions are made on bookish grounds alone.

By telling united states of america at present, you will help u.s. put in identify any agreed support early on and to brand reasonable adjustments to facilitate your admission to your course and our University. It will also hateful that we can provide appropriate arrangements during the admissions process, so for any test or interview. While you do not need to include this information at this stage, we strongly recommend you do and so in order to give u.s.a. time to prepare and arrange suitable back up.

You lot'll find the relevant section at the lesser of the Personal Details tab of your UCAS application

  • Click 'see list' to select the relevant category
  • Fill in the second box beneath Category to requite details of any facilities or special provisions required.
  • UCAS also has some good advice nigh how to tell us well-nigh your disability.

See besides our further Guidance for disabled applicants. This includes information on contacting our Disability Advisory Service and how to put in place any necessary arrangements for our admissions tests, if this is ane of the admission requirements for your chosen class.