applying to oxbridge

Applying to OxbridgeApplying to Oxbridge

Gareth DuxburyGareth Duxbury

Student Recruitment OfficerStudent Recruitment Officer

undergraduate.admissions@admin.ox.ac.ukundergraduate.admissions@admin.ox.ac.uk

ContentsContents Learning at Oxbridge

Life at Oxbridge – College?

Application

Finance

Academic LifeAcademic Life• Tutorials / Supervisions

• Lectures

• Classes

• Laboratory work and fieldwork

• Experienced Tutors

• Independent learning

• Provision of world-class resources

College LifeCollege Life• 29 at Oxford - 25 at Cambridge

• College is primarily where students live

Student rooms Tutors’ studies

Library Computer Facilities

Dining Hall Common room

Sports facilities Music facilities

College Students’ Union

• Base for the core tutorial teaching

• Most colleges offer places for most subjects

•Specify a College or make an ‘Open’ application

•Colleges have more similarities than differences

• Roughly 24% of successful applicants are made offers by a different College to the one that they originally applied (Ox).

•Factors to consider:

•Check the college offers your subject•Size•Style•Location•Accommodation•Specific facilities

Choosing a CollegeChoosing a College

Entrance RequirementsEntrance Requirements

•Typical offer:

•A-level – AAA (Ox) A*AA (Cam) (2010 TBC)

•IB 38-40 (7s & 6s at HL)

•Entry criteria are purely academic

•Emphasis is on potential

•Between 1/5 and 1/6 success rate

Tutors ConsiderTutors Consider

•Predicted A level grades

•UMS Scores (Cam only)

•GCSE results

•UCAS personal statement

•UCAS reference

•Written tests (where required)

•Written work (where required)

•Interviews

An Oxbridge Personal StatementAn Oxbridge Personal Statement

Content:

•Two-thirds – academic•One-third – all other aspects of student

Style:

•Concise•Honest•Clear•Simple

Pre interview tests

• BMAT – Medicine & Biomedical Sciences(Ox) Medicine and Veterinary Science (Cam)

•LNAT – Law (Ox)

•Examples of Oxford specific tests

ELAT – English

HAT – History

PPE and Economics and Management

Physics

Mathematics & Computer Science

Experimental Psychology / PPP

•Some subjects require written work to be submitted

•Written tests at interview for other subjects (Ox & Cam)

Admissions TestsAdmissions Tests

InterviewsInterviews•Last between 20-40 minutes normally

•2-3 tutors can be present

•More than one interview

•May have interviews at other Colleges (Ox)

•Nearly entirely academic in focus

•Students should be prepared to:

Engage with new and challenging ideas

Display intellectual flexibility and curiosity

Be pushed to the edge of their ‘comfort zone’

What Are Tutors Looking For?What Are Tutors Looking For?

•Academic ability

•Academic potential

•Independent thought

•Interest in your subject

•Commitment to study

•Selection criteria on the web

www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/courses/criteria

How to ApplyHow to Apply

•Complete a UCAS form 15 October

•Admissions Tests By 4 November

•Written work Mid - November

(Written tests at interview for other subjects)

•Interviews Early - Mid December

•Decisions and Offers Late Dec - Early Jan

Residual Household Income Bursary Start-up (First year only)

£0 – £17,999 £3,225£3,225 £875

£18,00 – £25,000 £3,225£3,225 £0

£25,001 - £49,999 £3,225 - £200£3,225 - £200

£0

Oxford Opportunity BursaryOxford Opportunity Bursary

That’s up to £13,675 for a 4 year course

• University-owned accommodation

• College scholarships, prizes and awards

• Subsidised College meals

• Cheap College entertainment

• Availability of course materials

• Cheap transport

Financial benefits of studying at OxbridgeFinancial benefits of studying at Oxbridge

• Don’t have to pay university fees upfront

• Tuition Fee and Maintenance Student Loans combined

• Repay 9% of your salary over £15,000

Salary per annum Repay per week

£15,000 £ 0.00

£20,000 £ 8.65

£25,000 £17.30

• Loans cancelled after 25 years

• Part-time work during term time

Repaying the Student LoanRepaying the Student Loan

Want to know more?Want to know more?

Check our websites

www.admissions.ox.ac.uk

www.cam.ac.uk

Oxbridge Regional Conferences

March 2010

Open Days

June & September 2010

Any Questions?Any Questions?