How to Apply to the University of Oxford for 2026 Entry

Apr 3

3 min read

Applying to the University of Oxford is a competitive and structured process, and students aiming for 2026 entry should begin preparing early. This guide outlines the key steps, deadlines, and essential details applicants need to understand in order to submit a successful application.

📌 Important Deadlines

UCAS Application Deadline: 6pm (UK time), Wednesday 15 October 2025
Written Work Submission: 10 November 2025
Interviews: Held online in December 2025
Decision Notification: 13 January 2026

1. 🔍 Choose Your Course

Before anything else, students must carefully research and choose the course they wish to apply for. Oxford offers a wide range of undergraduate courses, and each has its own specific entry requirements. Make sure to:

Check A-level/IB subject requirements and minimum grades.
Consider whether the course requires written work or admissions tests.
Read about the course content and teaching methods on the official Oxford website.

2. 🏛️ Choose a College or Submit an Open Application

Oxford is made up of over 30 colleges. Students may either:

Express a preference for a specific college.
Make an open application, where the system will allocate a college that has received fewer applications for the chosen course.

All applicants are treated equally regardless of their college choice.

3. 📝 Prepare for Admissions Tests

Most courses require an admissions test, which plays a crucial role in the selection process. In 2025, all tests will be conducted online via Pearson VUE test centers.

Test dates: Between 21–27 October 2025 (depending on the test)
Registration: To be confirmed (likely from late summer 2025)
Practice: Use past papers available on Oxford’s website

📌 Example tests:

MAT for Mathematics
TSA for PPE, Psychology, Human Sciences
LNAT for Law
MLAT for Modern Languages
PAT for Physics, Engineering

4. 🗂️ UCAS Application

Applications to Oxford are submitted through the UCAS system (www.ucas.com). Key components of the application include:

Personal statement
Predicted grades
Academic reference

Oxford's application deadline is much earlier than most UK universities, so applicants should aim to begin working on their application by June and be ready to submit by early September.

5. ✍️ Submit Written Work (if required)

Some courses—especially in Humanities—require applicants to submit written work as part of their application. The deadline is 10 November 2025.

Essays should ideally be school coursework, marked by a teacher.
Maximum 2,000 words per piece
Submit along with a cover sheet explaining the context
Translations are required if the original is not in English (except for language courses)

Extended essays (e.g. IB Extended Essay or EPQ) are not accepted in full but short extracts may be allowed.

6. 🎥 Prepare for Interviews

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to online interviews in December.

Interviews are academic in nature—more like a tutorial or discussion than a traditional interview.
Students may have interviews with more than one college.
They are assessed on critical thinking, problem solving, and subject enthusiasm—not appearance or background.

💡 Tip: Practice thinking aloud, discussing unfamiliar ideas, and explaining your reasoning. Oxford wants to see how you think, not just what you know.

7. 📩 Receive an Offer (or Not)

On 13 January 2026, Oxford will notify applicants of their admission decisions. There are three possibilities:

Offer: Usually conditional on final grades
Open offer: Conditional offer where the college is assigned after results
Rejection: Applicants not offered a place are encouraged to consider reapplying in the future

8. 🎓 After You Get Your Results

If you meet the conditions of your offer, your place at Oxford will be confirmed through UCAS Hub. Students who do not meet the required grades should contact their college immediately to discuss possible options or appeal.

Oxford does not participate in UCAS Clearing or Extra.

🌟 Special Programmes

Opportunity Oxford

A bridging program for UK offer-holders from underrepresented backgrounds, offering academic preparation and a two-week residential before term starts.

Astrophoria Foundation Year

A one-year, fully-funded foundation course for UK students who have experienced educational disruption. Designed to help them progress to a full Oxford degree course.