Interviews
Many excellent candidates apply each year, and most of them have a good personal statement and a glowing reference and are predicted top grades. With so many applications for each place at Oxford, it isn’t possible to interview everyone. Tutors review each UCAS application, along with any written test or written work required for the subject, and then decide on a shortlist of candidates who will be invited to interview.
For some courses, over 90% of candidates are shortlisted. In other subjects, particularly those that are most heavily oversubscribed, a smaller proportion of candidates will be shortlisted. Sadly, this does mean that some candidates will be disappointed. However, shortlisting means that those candidates who have been identified as having the strongest ability and potential may have more than one interview.
Please make sure that you keep a clear diary for the days when the interviews for your subject are to be held. Also, please note that in some heavily oversubscribed subjects, interviewees are required to attend on additional days.
Booklet about interviews
The University produces a useful booklet about interviews at Oxford. Take a look at this and other admissions-related publications.
You will normally have one or two interviews, lasting at least 20 minutes or so each, and you may also be interviewed by one or more other colleges while you are in Oxford.
Interviews are designed to explore your intellectual potential and enthusiasm for the subject, and also how you suit our system of one-to-one or small group teaching. They are not a specific test of what you have already learned, and you should not worry about preparing for them. Interviews are based on your academic aptitude, and you will not be judged on your extra-curricular activities, although you may be asked about them if they relate to your subject.
