Do you want to apply for an undergraduate degree at the University of Oxford or the University of Cambridge? Across the Pond can help you apply to these universities.
WORLD-CLASS UK UNIVERSITIES
Oxford and Cambridge (Oxbridge) are among the world's most prestigious and highest-ranked universities, and the academic level is very high. Many famous and historic figures have been educated at these universities, including Theresa May, Margaret Thatcher, Indira Ghandi, King Harald V, Queen Margrethe II, King Charles III, Prince Edward, Stephen Hawking, Rupert Murdoch, Oscar Wilde, Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant and John Cleese.
IS IT HARD TO GET INTO OXFORD OR CAMBRIDGE
There are many people who want to study at these universities, and they receive thousands of applications each year from top students all over the world, so competition for places at Oxford and Cambridge is fierce. Oxford receives an estimated five applications for every available place and Cambridge receives around six applications per place each year. These are average figures for the universities so the chances of getting into a popular course are even lower. Receiving an offer to study at these universities is certainly not impossible for those with top grades, but we do want to advise students that it can be very difficult to obtain.
OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITIES
Located approximately 1.5 hours west of London, the University of Oxford is the oldest university in the English-speaking world. The University is home about 22,000 students, of which an estimated 40 per cent are international.
The University of Cambridge is located 1.5 hours north of London in the city of Cambridge, with a student population on 18,000. Both Oxford and Cambridge are divided into different colleges, and as a student you will belong to (and usually live in) one of these colleges during your studies.
APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR BACHELOR'S DEGREES AT OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE
The application process for undergraduate courses at Oxford and Cambridge is different from most other universities in the UK. There are a number of things you need to be aware of:
- You CANNOT apply to both universities - you must choose either Oxford or Cambridge (this is dictated by the universities and applies to all undergraduate applicants from all countries).
- The application deadline for Oxford and Cambridge is in October of the year before you wish to start. You will also need to submit a supplementary application after your main application. The extra application has the same October deadline, so it pays to be early!
- Applying to these universities requires extra time to prepare an application that is good enough to be considered. You should therefore start working on your application many weeks before the deadline.
- For some courses at Oxford and Cambridge, you may be asked to take an entrance test in different subjects within the course you are applying for.
When applying for an undergraduate course in the UK, you can choose from a total of five options through UCAS (UK Universities and Colleges Admissions Service,). As it is very difficult to get into Oxford and Cambridge, it is important to have options. We therefore recommend that you apply to other universities for the other four options. Our advisors have expert knowledge of studying in the UK and will be able to give you invaluable advice on which universities you should consider as options based on your ambitions, wishes, needs and academic background.
WHAT ARE THE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE
As mentioned above, both Oxford and Cambridge have high entry requirements. Ideally you should have top grades in all subjects, but they don't just look at your grades. All parts of the application are very important, and sometimes you may be asked to take entrance tests in addition to language tests. Students who score well enough will be invited for an interview. It is very important to be well prepared for this interview as it will determine whether or not you are accepted. Your advisor at Across the Pond will help you with all the components of the main application and can give you tips on how to prepare for a possible interview.
TUITION FEES, LOANS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
Tuition fees at Oxford and Cambridge are higher than most other UK universities.
ASSISTANCE WITH YOUR APPLICATION
Across the Pond will help you throughout the UK application process and will be happy to add Oxford or Cambridge to your main application. Remember, however, that you will still need to submit a supplementary application after you have submitted your main application, and you will receive instructions on how to do this from the university to which you have applied. If you apply through Across the Pond, you will be assigned a personal advisor who will follow up on everything related to your application (personal statement, letters of recommendation, deadlines, etc.) to ensure that your application is as strong as possible. Your advisor will also be able to answer any questions you may have about studying in the UK in general throughout the process, including helping you to find other courses and universities to apply to, as well as providing information about applying for accommodation and visas when the time comes. Remember that all our advisors have studied in the UK themselves and have been through exactly the same process as you.
OXFORD BROOKES UNIVERSITY
Did you know that there is another university in Oxford where the entry requirements are not so high? Oxford Brookes University is one of our partners and is a great alternative for those who want to study in Oxford but find the entry requirements and tuition fees at the University of Oxford a little high.