The University of Oxford is one of the leading universities in the world and it has a rich history which also makes it one of the prestigious universities. The University of Oxford is a dream university for millions of students around the world. Therefore, it is very difficult to get admitted to this university. Moreover, lots of students apply to this university so the acceptance rate of this university is also very low. Below you will find all the details of the University of Oxford including the acceptance rate, eligibility, fees, deadlines, the application process, etc. Let’s check them out!
The University of Oxford has an acceptance rate of 14%. More than 23,000 students applied for undergraduate study in 2021 while over 35,000 students applied for graduate study. The University of Oxford has accepted around 3,300 undergraduate students from the 23,000 applications. So, it is quite clear that the University of Oxford has an extremely selective admission policy.
Overview Of Oxford University
Oxford University is a renowned research university located in Oxford, England. It is the oldest university in England and it doesn’t have a known founding date. However, some evidence showed that this university started teaching in 1096. The reputation of this university started to grow rapidly from 1167 when Henry II forbade English students from visiting the University of Paris. The University of Oxford consists of a variety of institutions, including 38 constituent colleges and several university departments which are organized in four departments. All the colleges under this university are autonomous institutions and they control their own members. Moreover, these colleges have their own structures and activities. There are more than 30 universities and halls that offer a safe and supportive environment for all the students.
University Of Oxford Acceptance Rate
Day by the day the University of Oxford is becoming more selective when it comes to student admission. In 2015, the acceptance rate of this university was 17.5% and in 2021 the acceptance rate came down to 14%. However, unlike any other university in the world, Oxford University has the minimum requirements to allow you to submit an application and even to read your application. If you are not able to meet the requirements then your admission request will be returned. About 80% of undergraduates and 36% of graduate students are from the UK and the acceptance rate for international students varies slightly each year.
Most Competitive Undergraduate Programs Of University Of Oxford
| Program Name | Acceptance Rate |
| BA/MMath Mathematics and Statistics | 5.8% |
| BA Economics and Management | 6.7% |
| BA/MCompSci Computer Science | 7.6% |
| BMBCh Medicine | 9.5% |
| BA/MMathCompSci Mathematics and Computer Science | 10% |
| BA/MCompPhil Computer Science and Philosophy | 11% |
| MEng Engineering, Economics and Management (EEM) | 11% |
| BA/MPhysPhil Physics and Philosophy | 11% |
| BA History and Politics | 11% |
| BA History and Economics | 11% |
Least Competitive Undergraduate Programs Of University Of Oxford
| Program Name | Acceptance Rate |
| BA Theology and Religion | 47% |
| BA Classics | 46% |
| BA Music | 45% |
| BA Modern Languages and Linguistics | 45% |
| BA Modern Languages | 44% |
| BA Geology / MEarthSci Earth Sciences | 35% |
| BA European and Middle Eastern Languages | 35% |
| BA Classics and English | 35% |
| MChem Chemistry | 35% |
| BA Philosophy and Modern Languages | 35% |
Most Applications For Undergraduate Programs In University Of Oxford
| Program Name | Number of Applications |
| BA Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) | 2338 |
| BMBCh Medicine | 1795 |
| BA/MMath Mathematics | 1656 |
| BA Law | 1566 |
| BA Economics and Management | 1529 |
| BA/MPhys Physics | 1405 |
| BA History | 1127 |
| BA English Language and Literature | 1058 |
| MEng Engineering Science | 1040 |
| MBiochem Biochemistry | 752 |
Least Applications For Undergraduate Programs In University Of Oxford
| Program Name | Number of Applications |
| BA Classics and English | 40 |
| BA European and Middle Eastern Languages | 51 |
| BA Philosophy and Modern Languages | 78 |
| BA Theology and Religion | 92 |
| BA Ancient and Modern History | 94 |
| BA Physiological Sciences | 95 |
| BA Modern Languages and Linguistics | 96 |
| BA History and Modern Languages | 98 |
| MEng Engineering, Economics and Management (EEM) | 100 |
| BA Archaeology and Anthropology | 103 |
University Of Oxford Admission Requirements
The University of Oxford allows the students to choose which course (major) they want to study and apply only to that course via the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) application. Therefore, different courses in this university have different requirements including admissions exams, submission of written work, competition of required classes in high school, etc. Moreover, you will also need specific results on your A-Levels, other UK equivalent, or international equivalent. For example, if you’re a UK student and want to get admitted with a Physics major then you will need A*AA on your A-Levels, with an A* on Mathematics, Physics, or Further Mathematics. So, basically, you need three A-Levels on specific subjects to pick Physics as a major. Generally, your application requirements include the following –
1. Personal Statement about the subject that you want to study
2. References from your recommenders – teachers, etc.
3. Standardized Test Scores – English fluency and other subject-based entrance tests
4. High grades/GPA in high school with special course grade requirements as per department you are interested
5. Examples of written work (as per various department requirements)
6. Application fee
The basic requirements for international students to apply to the University of Oxford are –
1. Details about previous qualifications and education submitted through UCAS application (for undergraduate admission)
2. Submission of University of Oxford Graduate application (for graduate admission)
3. Official transcripts along with certified English translation (for graduate admission)
4. Country-specific academic requirement
5. Evidence of financial support for at least a year
6. SOP to study in the UK
7. Proof of proficiency in English
University Of Oxford Tuition Fees
The tuition fees of Oxford University are low despite being one of the best universities in the world. If you are a student from UK or Ireland then you have to pay £9,250 per academic year. On the other hand, if you are an international student then you have to pay £26,770 – £37,510 per year. Students outside the EU are also classed as Overseas and you won’t be able to get a tuition fee loan from the UK government. The exact tuition fees vary depending on the major you choose. Apart from the tuition fees, the living cost can be around £10,575 – £15,390 per 9-month school year. The leaving cost includes food, accommodation, textbooks, and other costs.
The University Of Oxford Admission To Top Programs
| Program Name | Fees Per Annum (USD) | Deadlines | Scores Accepted |
| M.Sc in Advanced Computer Science | 33,000 | September 1 | Undergraduate honors in computer science or mathematics No Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or GMAT scores are sought. |
| M.B.A | 65,489 | September 1 | 2 Years Full-Time Work ExperienceMedian GMAT score of 690 Median GRE score of 160 verbal & quantitative |
| M.Sc Financial Economics | 56,200 | Starting on August 2021 | GMAT/GRE: 85th Percentile & Verbal Scores in 80th Percentile |
| MSc Software Engineering | Registration: 20,515Per Module: 2,900 | January 8 | Undergraduate in computer science, informatics, or engineering No GMAT or GRE Scores Required |
| MSc Social Data Science | 35,246 | November 13 and January 22 | First-class undergraduate degree with honors in any subject No GMAT or GRE Scores RequiredProgramming Skills in Python |
| M.Phil International Relations | 37,651 | January 8 | Research or working experience Peer-Reviewed Publication |
| BA English Language and Literature | 40,480 | October 15 | English Literature ELAT |
| B.Sc Medicine | 45,411 | October 15 | BMATChemistry with either Maths, Further Maths, Biology or Physics |
| Bachelor Engineering Science | 48,155 | October 15 | Physics and MathematicsPAT |
| BA Biological Sciences | 38,211 | October 15 | Two from Biology, Chemistry, Maths or PhysicsBMAT |
| BA Human Sciences | 38,020 | October 15 | Biology or MathematicsTSA |
English Proficiency Requirements For International Students
| Test Name | Standard Level Score | Higher Level Score | ||
| Overall | Per Section | Overall | Per Section | |
| IELTS | 7.0 | 6.5 | 7.5 | 7.0 |
| TOEFL | 100 | Listening: 22Reading: 24Speaking: 25Writing: 24 | 110 | Listening: 22Reading: 24Speaking: 25Writing: 24 |
| Cambridge Certificate (CAE and CPE) | 185 | 176 | 191 | 185 |
| Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English | 185 | 176 | 191 | 185 |
| PTE | 66 | 56 | 76 | 66 |
English Language Test Score Exemptions
| Program | Minimum Score Required |
| English level GCSE | Grade B or Grade 6 |
| English level O-level | Grade B |
| International Baccalaureate Standard Level | Score of 5 in English (as Language A or B) |
| European Baccalaureate | Score of 70% in English |
University Of Oxford Undergraduate Admission Tests
| Test | Question Type | Time | Section | Required for |
| Thinking Skill Assessment (TSA) | MCQ, Long Answer | 90 minutes30 minutes | Thinking Skill Assessment Writing test | Economics and Management, Experimental Psychology, Human Sciences, Philosophy, Politics and Economics, and Psychology, Philosophy and Linguistics, Chemistry, History, and Economics |
| Physics Aptitude Test (PAT) | MCQ | 2hrs. | Physics, Math | Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, Physics and Philosophy |
| Classics Admission Test (CAT) | Long Answer | 1 hr./section | Latin Translation, Greek Translation,Classics Language Aptitude Test | Classics, Classics and English, Classics and Modern Languages, Classics, and Oriental Studies. |
| Mathematics Admission Test (MAT) | MCQ, Long Answer | 2 hrs. 30 minutes | Mathematics | Computer Science, Computer Science, and Philosophy, Mathematics, Mathematics and Computer Science, Mathematics and Philosophy, Mathematics and Statistics |
| History Aptitude Test (HAT) | Long Answer | 1 hr. | Based on a paragraph | History, History (Ancient and Modern), History and Economics, History and English, History and Modern Languages, History, and Politics |
| Modern Language Admission Test (MLAT) | MCQ, Long Answer | 30 minutes60 minutes | Czech, French, German, Italian, Modern Greek, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish, Linguistics, Language Aptitude Test, Philosophy | European and Middle Eastern Languages, Classics and Modern Languages, English and Modern Languages, History and Modern Languages, Philosophy and Modern Languages |
| English Literature Admission Test (ELAT) | Long Answer | 90 minutes | English | English Language and Literature, Classics and English, English and Modern Languages |
FAQs About University Of Oxford Acceptance Rate, Eligibility, Fees, Deadlines, Application Process, etc.
What GPA Do You Need To Get Into Oxford University As A US Student?
If you are a US student then the minimum GPA requirement is 3.7. Moreover, if you want to enroll in more competitive courses then you will need a higher GPA than the 3.7.
Is Oxford University Better Than Harvard University?
Oxford university has a better world ranking than Harvard university. According to the “Times Higher Education” website, Oxford University ranked 1st overall while Harvard ranked 3rd in that list. So, according to the world ranking, Oxford University is better than Harvard University.
Is Oxford An Ivy League?
Oxford University is not an Ivy league because this university is located in England and not a part of the Ivy League athletic conference. But Oxford University is of the same caliber as Harvard, Princeton, or Yale.
Is Oxford Prestigious?
Yes, Oxford University is prestigious. In fact, it is the highest-ranked UK university. At least 30 world leaders, 28 British prime ministers, 55 Nobel prize winners, and more than 120 Olympic medalists have studied in this University.
When Can I Apply For Graduate Courses Starting In The Academic Year 2022/23?
The new admissions cycle for Oxford’s graduate courses, for 2022/23 entry, opens on 1 September.
References:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Oxford
2. https://www.topuniversities.com/universities/university-oxford
3. https://www.ox.ac.uk/about/facts-and-figures/admissions-statistics
4. https://www.admissionreport.com/university-of-oxford
Last Updated on February 8, 2022 by
Magalie D. is a Diploma holder in Public Administration & Management from McGill University of Canada. She shares management tips here in MGTBlog when she has nothing to do and gets some free time after working in a multinational company at Toronto.
