UCAS application

  • UCAS application
  • Personal statement
  • Academic reference
  • Education
  • Special circumstances
  • Declaring your disability

If you want to study at Oxford, you need to apply a year before the start date of your class past completing an online UCAS application class. Applications open in May then you lot can showtime work on the form from then. Y'all won't exist able to submit your application until early September. There is a strict submission deadline of 6pm (UK time) on 15 October. Your awarding must be complete - including the academic reference - and submitted before the deadline. Late applications cannot exist accepted.

The deadline for applications is 6pm (UK fourth dimension) on 15 October and this must be strictly adhered to. There is no change to this deadline in light of COVID-19 and late entries cannot be accepted.

UCAS application

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

Please note that you lot should non transport u.s.a. as part of your application any certificates, transcripts or other documents for qualifications which you lot have already taken. The only exception to this is if y'all already have a degree from a academy – run across Other forms beneath. We will contact yous for bear witness of your qualifications if y'all are offered a identify at Oxford.

Before you lot start:

  1. Choose which grade you would like to study. You tin simply utilise to 1 course at Oxford, and yous tin't apply to Oxford and Cambridge in the aforementioned year. See information on all our courses.
  2. Bank check the admission requirements for your course. Specific grades and subjects required are also shown on each course page.
  3. Make up one's mind whether to express a preference for a detail college or make an open application. If you make an open up application, you lot will exist assigned to a college which has had relatively fewer applications for your course in the year y'all utilize.

The UCAS application will ask for:

  1. Personal details including an e-mail accost. Brand sure you check this address frequently.
  2. Details most your education, and whatever qualifications you have already achieved.
  3. A personal statement where you tell us why you are interested in your chosen course. Meet our guidance on writing your personal argument.
  4. Your reference. Think that your teacher or adviser will demand some time to complete your reference, and this must be completed before the borderline. See our guidance on academic 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 well-nigh courses at Oxford yous are required to have a test as part of your awarding.Registration for tests is non automatic and is not part of the UCAS procedure. Please check the details for your course, including how to annals.

Other forms

If you are applying for a 2d undergraduate degree, delight send a copy of the transcript from your first caste to the higher that is considering your application, to get in by 10 November. 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

One section of the application is called your personal argument. This is where you lot can write whatever you'd like to say well-nigh yourself and your motivation to study your course.

People sometimes recollect that in that location is a trick to writing a personal statement for Oxford, or that we are looking for some special secret formula, but this is not the case. Information technology'due south important to remember thatyou can only write one personal statement and and then the aforementioned wording will be seen by all the universities y'all apply to. Your personal statement should therefore focus on the course you desire to written report, not the universities themselves. Please read this helpful communication from UCAS.

Provided that your academic referee can give us some background on the touch of COVID-19 on your education in their reference, you do non need to specifically refer to this in your personal statement. If the pandemic has shaped how you lot recollect near your subject field or offered y'all relevant opportunities to show your interest in your bailiwick surface area, you can of grade include this as function of your motivation for applying for the course. Otherwise, follow the advice given beneath.

How of import is the personal statement?

Universities build a picture of you as a pupil from all the different information y'all provide, to help decide whether or not to offer you a place. The pic is made upwardly of several unlike pieces: your personal argument, academic tape, predicted A-level grades (or equivalent), and your teacher's reference. For most courses at Oxford y'all will likewise need to take an admissions examination or submit written 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 of import but it'southward non everything: information technology'southward just 1 function of the overall picture.

What are Oxford tutors looking for?

Tutors at Oxford are only interested in your academic ability and potential. They want to run across that y'all are truly committed to the field of study or subjects yous want to study at university but it's not plenty just to say that you have a passion for something: yous demand to evidence tutors how you have engaged with your subject field, above and beyond whatsoever you lot have studied at school or college. This can include any relevant actress-curricular activities.

Try to avoid writing your personal statement as though you are ticking things off a listing. In that location is no checklist of required achievements, and tutors will not simply scan what you have written to wait for fundamental words or phrases. Tutors volition read your personal statement to endeavour to understand what has motivated you to apply 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 offset?

Think about talking to your friends near what you lot desire to study at university: what would you lot tell them? What have you read or watched or seen that has inspired y'all? (This might have been at school, at home, in a museum, on TV, in a book, on YouTube or a podcast or anywhere else. You can also take a await at our suggested reading and resources.) Why was it interesting? What do you want to find out next? What did you do?

If you lot find this difficult, information technology might be time to think about whether or not you've really called the right course. If you tin can't think of annihilation that has inspired y'all, this lack of enthusiasm will probably come up across in your personal argument, or it volition become clear at interview, and you're unlikely to proceeds a place at Oxford. If you lot find it easy to answer these questions, you lot will have a long list of ideas to aid you write your personal statement.

When you offset to write, remember not just to list your achievements but show how they accept affected yous, how you have benefited, and what you lot'd like to learn next. Be honest virtually yourself and what has inspired you lot, whether that's been text books, museums and literature, or websites, podcasts and blogs. Be sure to tell the truth, equally tutors might cheque later, so don't exaggerate and certainly don't make any false claims. Don't hold back either – this is no time for modesty.

When you've written a first draft, have a look back at the choice criteria for your course and think most the bear witness you've given for each of the criteria. Accept y'all covered everything?

Should I include extra-curricular activities?

We typically suggest that you focus around 80% of your personal statement on your academic interests, abilities and achievements. This tin can include discussion of whatever relevant extra-curricular activities. The remaining 20% tin can then cover any unrelated extra-curricular activities.

There's a myth that Oxford is looking for the near well-rounded applicants, and that you lot will but be offered a identify if you have a long list of varied extra-curricular activities. In fact, extra-curricular activities are only helpful in so far every bit they demonstrate the selection criteria for your form.

If you are applying to other universities every bit well equally to Oxford (y'all can make 5 choices on your UCAS course) then you may demand to find out whether the other universities have different selection criteria. If they practice, and so y'all might want to provide some information about your extra-curricular interests – simply keep information technology to a minimum. The space in your personal statement is limited, so think carefully about what y'all want to include.

Practise I demand feel of piece of work and travel?

Nosotros understand that not everyone has the opportunity to practise work experience or to get travelling so these activities are not a requirement for any of our courses. Tutors won't exist impressed by your connections, or the stamps in your passport, but they will exist impressed by how you've engaged with your subject field.

For example, some of our applicants for Medicine may have had work experience placements in prestigious hospitals but not be able to evaluate their time there. If yous have no more feel than some elementary voluntary work, or even just discussing medical matters with your friends and family, y'all can however write an constructive personal statement by reflecting critically on what you lot take learned and discussed.

To requite another case, for the History of Art course, tutors will non want to hear about all the galleries and exhibitions that you lot have visited around the world if y'all cannot hash out the art that you saw. You tin can come up across more finer in your personal statement by evaluating art you have seen, even if y'all've only seen it online or in books without ever leaving the school library.

Don't be put off by any friends who you retrieve take more impressive things to say in their personal statements. Recollect that tutors do non have a checklist of achievements that they are looking for: they want to see how you have engaged with your bailiwick.

I'm applying to different courses at different universities – how should I write my personal statement?

If yous are thinking of applying for completely different courses at different universities (eg Physics and Accounting, or Biology and Music) we'd encourage y'all to reconsider. It's important to choose a discipline that you really desire to study, and focus on that one expanse when making your applications. As well, yous can only write one personal argument which will be seen by all the universities to which you apply, and then it needs to be relevant for all your courses.

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

Does my personal statement demand to stand out?

Students sometimes feel that they need to say something dramatic to stand out from the crowd and be really memorable in their personal statement only this is not truthful. Applying to Oxford is not like a talent bear witness where you may just have a few seconds to brand an impression. Tutors consider each awarding advisedly on its individual merits, looking for evidence of your commitment and ability. If you lot utilise your personal statement to demonstrate your academic abilities and your appointment with your discipline or subjects, then your awarding will exist memorable for all the correct reasons.

How many versions should I write?

Ask a instructor to read through what you've written, heed to their feedback and and so make whatever updates that they suggest. You may demand 2 or three tries to get it right and it can take longer than you think, particularly with the express number of characters. Information technology can be tricky to get in everything you desire to mention, but don't spend too much time trying to make your personal statement completely perfect - it'due south only ane of the things that the tutors volition consider.

Some dos and don'ts

Practise:

  • DO use for a course you really desire to report.
  • Do be yourself: tell the truth near your interests.
  • DO sell yourself: this is non the time for modesty.
  • Practice re-read your personal statement before an interview – the tutors may inquire y'all to talk about things you lot've mentioned
  • DO read the UCAS guidance on personal statements.

DON'T:

  • DON'T be tempted to make anything up, as you might exist asked about information technology at interview.
  • DON'T re-create anyone else'southward personal argument. UCAS uses plagiarism detection software.
  • DON'T list qualifications like your GCSE grades or anything else that's covered elsewhere on the application.
  • DON'T but list your other achievements: you demand to evaluate them.
  • DON'T experience the need to exist dramatic in order to exist 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 be incomplete without a reference and nosotros will not exist able to consider it.

UCAS take at present published guidance for how bookish references should explain the impact of COVID-xix. Delight refer to this guidance in improver to the information provided hither.

Advice for candidates

  • The process is different for those applying through a school/college/centre and those applying after they take left school or every bit an individual. See how to become a UCAS Undergraduate reference.
  • The reference must be in English. If your referee is not confident writing in English, they can inquire an English-speaking colleague to aid them. Alternatively, you tin have a certified translation made for them to upload. Please inquire them not to submit a reference in any linguistic communication other than English, and to make certain that they accept uploaded a reference in English to UCAS by the fifteen October deadline.
  • Your reference must be from someone who can write most your academic potential; it tin can't be from a family fellow member.

Communication for referees

  • Run into how to write UCAS Undergraduate references for general information most writing an academic reference for a student'due south UCAS application too as specific guidance for how to explicate the touch on of COVID-19 on this candidate.
  • We strongly recommend following the UCAS communication to publish relevant information about schoolhouse closures and disruption to whole cohorts on a specifically created spider web page on your school website. You can then link to this webpage in your academic references to ensure that near of the reference word count can still exist defended to the academic potential of your student.
  • In that location is more information about writing a UCAS reference for a student applying to Oxford on our Communication for Teachers folio.
  • If the candidate is currently studying or awaiting results yous will exist asked to include predicted grades for these qualifications. This is an important part of the application, then please do include predicted grades.
  • Information technology may be helpful outset for you to refer to the selection criteria and admission requirements for your candidate's chosen course.
  • Please also include information on any mitigating circumstances that you think nosotros should know about. Alternatively, if for whatsoever reason this is inappropriate, you may like to contact the college considering your candidate's application.

Education

This is the section of the UCAS form where you list all your qualifications along with the grades you have already achieved and any standardised test scores. You too need to listing whatever educational qualifications you are currently working towards.

Please listing everything as the admissions tutors demand to meet the whole picture of your bookish studies so far. Information technology doesn't matter if you take taken a lot of qualifications, a few, or none, we ask y'all to tell u.s.a. nigh them.

Annotation: do not send the states transcripts for the qualifications yous've already taken; yous will just need to produce certificates or transcripts if you are offered a place here. However, if you are applying for a second undergraduate degree, yous volition need to transport a transcript from your first degree separately, to the college that is considering your application. You practice non upload this as part of your UCAS form.

For whatsoever future exams, whoever writes your academic reference must tell us how they remember yous will perform in them. These predictions assist the admissions tutors understand your academic potential and will permit them know if you are going to meet the admission requirements for your course.

Nosotros appreciate that many educational systems around the globe do not usually predict a pupil's grades in this way; however without these predictions from your teacher we are unable to consider your application. At that place'southward lots of advice for teachers in the teachers' section of our website and on UCAS near writing references and predicting grades.

Why exercise nosotros enquire for predicted grades?

Using predicted grades ways you tin employ to study at Oxford earlier yous have finished school (or equivalent) and you don't have to wait until all your exams are consummate and your results are known. If you are made an offer of a place, it will exist conditional on your achieving the required grades (based on the entrance requirements for your course) in any outstanding exams.

What if y'all can't provide predicted grades?

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

If you tin't go predicted grades, then your just alternative is to wait until you have got the final results for all your exams and qualifications before applying to Oxford.

Please retrieve that you can merely utilize to Oxford between early on September and 15 Oct every yr.

How do I declare international qualifications in the UCAS form?

Yous should self-report all details of your qualifications, standardised test scores, and grades on the UCAS application course nether 'Pedagogy'. Information technology will need to exist articulate from your application that yous are on track to accomplish the admission requirements for your course. Please see our international qualifications page for the international qualifications we accept and the level of bookish attainment we would require.  For any exams you are all the same to accept, you will need to inquire your referee (normally the teacher supporting your application) to predict your results and submit these as part of your UCAS awarding. Please refer your referee to our advice on writing references and predicting grades.

You lot may choose to declare the results of any individual modules or internal exams in the 'Education' section of your UCAS awarding, but this is not essential. You lot may instead like to ask your academic referee to mention the results of any internal school exams in the reference, if you lot feel that these results will help to demonstrate your academic power and potential.

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

Special circumstances

If you lot take personal circumstances that yous'd similar to tell us nearly please include them in your personal argument, or ask your instructor to include the information in your reference. If for any reason this is not appropriate, then delight wait until you take had confirmation that your awarding has been received by a college and then contact them directly. This is likely to be around the terminate of Oct. You can contact our Admissions Office for further data and advice if y'all're not certain what to include. If you lot are applying for Medicine, please read the Medical School's guidance on submitting information well-nigh extenuating circumstances.

Usually special circumstances are something that you lot as an individual accept experienced, something that is unique to you. So we would not, for case, wait you to let us know about your school being airtight due to COVID-19. We are extremely aware of the widespread disruption to pedagogy during the pandemic and will be asking your bookish referee to tell us how this has affected your twelvemonth grouping.

Students with disabilities

Delight come across the tab Declaring your disability and read our Guidance for disabled applicants to observe out about the support we offer our students.

Other extenuating circumstances

We are sympathetic to the fact that sometimes candidates under-perform at schoolhouse or higher considering of extenuating circumstances. If you feel that your operation has been afflicted in this way please let u.s.a. know. Yous should let united states of america have this information in your UCAS awarding equally we need to receive this information earlier admissions decisions have been made.Information received after admissions decisions have been made volition only be considered in exceptional circumstances and if this was not available earlier.Examples would include disruption caused by change of school or organization, severe discontinuity of teachers (but not if this was due to nationwide school closures due to COVID-xix), bereavement, and debilitating disease. We take intendance to treat each awarding individually and would always accept such mitigating circumstances into account, if they are brought to our attending before admissions decisions have been made. You could include this information in your personal argument or your teacher could mention this in their reference. If for whatsoever reason this is non possible, then nosotros would propose you to contact the college you practical to (or are assigned to if making an open application) once yous accept had confirmation that your awarding has been received. This is likely to be around the end of October.

Teachers and other academic referees should follow the guidance provided by UCAS in order to explain the bear upon of COVID-19 on your educational activity.

Whatsoever your detail circumstances, the before we know almost your individual requirements, then the sooner we can brainstorm to encounter them. We are committed to making sure that all our students can benefit from the groovy opportunities at Oxford so please do tell us nearly any disability, whether seen or unseen, on your UCAS application. This should include any long-term illness, mental health condition, an autism spectrum status or specific learning difficulty.

Please be bodacious that admissions decisions are made on academic grounds lone.

By telling the states now, you will help us put in identify any agreed back up early and to make reasonable adjustments to facilitate your access to your course and our University. It volition likewise mean that we tin can provide appropriate arrangements during the admissions procedure, and then for any test or interview. While you practise non need to include this information at this stage, nosotros strongly recommend y'all do and then in order to give u.s.a. fourth dimension to prepare and conform suitable back up.

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

  • Click 'encounter list' to select the relevant category
  • Fill in the 2d box below Category to requite details of any facilities or special provisions required.
  • UCAS also has some adept advice virtually how to tell u.s.a. about your disability.

See also our farther Guidance for disabled applicants. This includes data on contacting our Disability Informational Service and how to put in identify any necessary arrangements for our admissions tests, if this is one of the admission requirements for your chosen course.