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Oxford University

Guide for applicants

Everything you need to know about applying to Oxford, in one place. This guide explains each stage and what to expect, so you can prepare your application with confidence. You’ll find clear, practical guidance throughout.

Take it step by step

Entry to Oxford is competitive, with over 23,000 applicants each year competing for around 3,200 places. We look for students with the academic ability, curiosity and motivation to thrive in a tutorial-based learning environment. When assessing applications, we consider all the information available together. The process involves several stages, which vary by course, so it’s important to refer to your course page for the specific details that apply to you. Take time to understand what each stage involves and keep track of key deadlines.

Our admissions timeline provides a visual overview.

  1. Choose a course and check you can meet the qualification requirements and make a competitive application

  2. Check which colleges offer your course and choose a college or decide to make an open application

  3. Check whether your course has an admissions test

  4. Check whether you need to submit written work by 10 November

  5. Start work on your UCAS application any time from May and check you know who is going to provide your academic reference

  6. Any time from September: submit your application, begin preparing for any test and if required, decide what written work to submit

  7. Remember the UCAS deadline is 6pm (BST) 15 October - this is earlier than most other universities

  8. Take your UAT-UK admissions test in October (NB. UCAT (Medicine) and LNAT (Law) have different timelines)

  9. End November, beginning of December, find out if you have been shortlisted

  10. If shortlisted, prepare and attend your online interview/s in December

  11. Find out in January whether you have been offered a place. Those applying for entry in 2027 will receive a decision on their application on Tuesday, 12 January 2027. 

  12. Offers are typically conditional on offer holders receiving their school leaving qualifications and meeting the entrance requirements for their course.  

Check your course page for course-specific information. 

Every stage explained

Admissions timeline with UCAS application stage highlighted.

UCAS application

Applying to Oxford starts with your UCAS form. Find out when to apply, what information you’ll need and how to complete your application by the 15 October deadline.

Admissions tests

Some Oxford courses require an admissions test as part of the assessment process. Not all courses have one. Check whether your course requires a test and how the 2026 arrangements will work.

Admissions timeline with written work stage highlighted.

Written work

Many of our courses require applicants to send in a sample of their written work as part of their application. Find out what you need to send (if anything), how to send it, and the deadlines by which the work must be received.

Admissions timeline with interviews stage highlighted.

Interviews

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to online interviews in December 2026. Oxford interviews are academic conversations about your chosen subject, similar to a short tutorial and designed to explore how you think and engage with new ideas.

Contextual data

The University of Oxford is looking for students with the highest academic potential, from different backgrounds.

Decisions

Shortlisted candidates for entry in 2027 will be informed of the outcome of their application on 12 January 2027 via UCAS. Colleges will follow up directly later that day.

a student and her parents

Results

Are you holding a conditional offer for entry in 2026? Find out how your A-level, IB, Scottish Higher or equivalent results are considered and what happens next.

Feedback

Many courses provide information about admissions on their departmental websites.

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