The Complete Guide

Applying to Oxford, explained.

The Oxford admissions process is not as opaque as it appears. This is the end-to-end timeline every international applicant should understand. by year, by month, by step.

~24,000
Annual applicants
~3,300
Offers made
~14%
Overall offer rate
15 Oct
Application deadline

The admissions calendar

From research to result

  1. 01
    Year 12 · Spring

    Begin research

    Identify target course, college, and admissions test. Read course pages on ox.ac.uk in full.

  2. 02
    Year 12 · Summer

    Start serious preparation

    Build foundations in your subject. Begin TMUA / ESAT / TARA prep depending on course.

  3. 03
    Year 13 · September

    UCAS opens

    Begin drafting your personal statement. Register for admissions tests through your school or test centre.

  4. 04
    Year 13 · 15 October

    UCAS deadline for Oxford

    All Oxford applications must be submitted. There is no flexibility on this date.

  5. 05
    Year 13 · Late October

    Sit your admissions test

    TMUA, ESAT, TARA or subject-specific assessment, depending on course.

  6. 06
    Year 13 · November

    Submitted work

    Some courses request additional written work to be submitted directly to the college.

  7. 07
    Year 13 · December

    Interviews

    If shortlisted, interviews take place in early December, primarily online.

  8. 08
    Year 13 · January

    Decisions released

    Offers and rejections are issued in mid-January. Successful applicants typically receive A*AA conditions.

What actually decides offers

Factor

Academic record

Predicted and achieved grades. Oxford expects evidence of consistent academic excellence. but predicted grades are not enough alone.

Factor

Admissions test

Your TMUA, ESAT, TARA or subject-specific test score is the primary numerical filter before interview.

Factor

Submitted work

For Humanities courses, two pieces of marked schoolwork. Tutors read these carefully.

Factor

Interview

The decisive stage. Tutors assess how you think, not what you already know.

Begin the path.

Take the free diagnostic and receive a personalised plan. Or speak with an advisor about your course and timeline.