If you wish to secure a place at the University of Cambridge or University of Oxford, you will need to meet tough entry requirements, answer famously difficult interview questions and pass admissions tests. The deadline to apply to Oxbridge universities is always much earlier than that of other universities across the UK, and for 2025 entry, it is October 15th.
- Learn more: Oxbridge Application Service
Learn more about what is required to submit a high-quality Oxbridge application below. If you wish to apply, arrange a free consultation with SI-UK London today.
Applying to an Oxbridge University
Studying at Cambridge or Oxford is equally exciting, exhausting, and demanding. Both universities have famously high standards of teaching and assessment. Still, the payoff is that once enrolled and then graduated, you will forever have Oxbridge approval on your CV.
Tough entry requirements, tricky interview questions, and standardised tests are all required to apply to Oxbridge universities successfully, and before applying, it is important to take your time to consider if studying at Oxford or Cambridge is for you. Only the most dedicated students are accepted, and applications must be faultless to make it through each step of the process.
- Choosing a Course and College
Applying to a specific college is recommended, but open applications can also be submitted. When picking a college, students should consider whether it teaches the subject they wish to study, its academic history and whether it is close to their interests and hobbies. Not all colleges offer undergraduate or postgraduate courses, so research is vital.
Colleges are also where you will live, where tutorials will take place, and each college has its library and social activities.
- Admissions Tests
Admissions tests at Cambridge and Oxford are much more than a further examination of your subject knowledge. In many cases, they are designed to test aptitude. They will require students to think deeply about a subject, focusing on the candidates ability to think outside the box. Not all Oxbridge courses require taking a set test, and those that do often depend upon the staff’s preference.
- Interview Phase
If you have made it through the initial application and passed the subsequent admissions test, the final part of an Oxbridge application is passing an interview. Oxbridge interviews vary from one college to the next and students will be expected to analyse unseen materials while answering questions on inventive and unorthodox topics.
Ensure you read and re-read your personal statement, essays and anything referenced in your submitted work, as the interviewer will likely wish to hear you expand upon many different aspects of your application and what interests you.
Study at Oxford or Cambridge
If you are interested in applying to study at either Oxford or Cambridge for September 2025 entry, the deadline is October 15th. The Oxbridge Service can maximise your chances of submitting a successful application with personal statement editing and interview practice. Arrange a free consultation today to find out if you are eligible to apply.