University of Oxford Admissions: Applications & Acceptance rate

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Updated on - Apr 16th, 2022 | 12:31 PM By Venushree Agarwal

The University of Oxford, also called OU, is one of the oldest universities in the English-speaking world and was established around 1096. Located in Oxford, England, OU is known for its unique teaching methodologies. Over 24,000 students pursue studies at Oxford, with 11,955 undergraduates and 12,010 postgraduates. Being one of the best universities in the world, it has a highly competitive acceptance rate. Studying at University of Oxford is undoubtedly a dream of millions of students all over the world. Let us now understand their admission requirements and important deadlines.

University of Oxford Admission Requirement 

Admission to the University of Oxford is offered to international students from more than 155 nations across the globe. The student body of Oxford consists of 32% international students. There are different requirements for admission at OU for domestic and international students. International applicants need to submit an application fee of 75 GBP (7,700 INR) to pursue any university program. In addition, GMAT/GRE scores are mandatory for some of the business-related courses.

Undergraduate Admission at the University of Oxford 

More than 50 undergraduate programs are offered at the University of Oxford in various divisions like mathematics, medical sciences, life sciences, social sciences, humanities, and continuing education, among many others. The eligibility criteria for undergraduate admissions are given below:

 Eligibility Criteria for International Students

  1. Details of previous academic qualifications to be submitted through UCAS application.
  2. Country-specific academic requirements
  3. A valid passport
  4. Letter of Recommendation
  5. Statement of Purpose to study in the UK
  6. Proof of financial support for at least one year
  7. English proficiency proof through IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, etc.

Postgraduate Admission at the University of Oxford 

The University of Oxford offers more than 350 different courses programs to students every year. More than 26,500 applications are received for graduate courses from all over the world. Around 37% of students at OU are from the UK, while 63% of students are international students. There are minor differences between the admission requirements of different graduate courses. The eligibility criteria for graduate students at the University of Oxford are as follows:

 Eligibility Criteria for International Students

  1. Submission of University of Oxford Graduate application
  2. Official transcripts with certified English translation
  3. A valid passport
  4. Country specific academic requirements
  5. Statement of Purpose 
  6. An updated CV
  7. Proof of financial support for at least one year
  8. English proficiency proof through IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, etc.
  9. GRE/GMAT Scores for MBA only
  10. Two years of work experience required for an MBA

Students need to apply through Graduate Application for the graduate courses. The shortlisted candidates will be required to give an interview.

University of Oxford Application Process for International Students 

Students have to apply on the official website of OU along with all the required documents. It is a lengthy procedure, so ensure that all the documents are ready at least a week before the deadline to avoid last-minute delays. Given below are the required documents for admissions to the University of Oxford. 

Required Documents

  • Details of previous academic qualifications to be submitted through UCAS application (for undergraduate programs)
  • Submission of University of Oxford Graduate application (for graduate programs)
  • Official transcripts with certified English translation (for graduate programs)
  • Country-specific academic requirements
  • A valid passport
  • An updated CV
  • Letter of recommendation
  • Statement of Purpose to study in the UK
  • Proof of financial support for at least one year
  • English proficiency proof through IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, etc.

How to Apply?

  • For UG courses, students need to apply through the UCAS portal by paying a non-refundable fee of 75 pounds.
  • For PG courses, students need to apply on the official website of the university by visiting the course page of the selected course.
  • The next step is to create an account and complete the registration form by filling in the necessary details.
  • It is required to pay an application fee of 75 pounds for all the graduate courses. For an MBA program, students need to pay a non-refundable fee of 150 pounds.
  • Post that, students need to upload all the documents that are required to support their application.
  • Once you have submitted your application, the admissions committee will review your application and respond in a few weeks.

University of Oxford Application Deadlines

The UCAS application deadline for all the undergraduate courses is October 15. The portfolio and the written works need to be submitted by November 2 and November 10, respectively. As far as graduate programs are concerned, the deadlines are variable and program-specific. Let us look at the application deadlines for some of the graduate courses at the University of Oxford.

Courses Deadlines
M.Sc in Advanced Computer Science September 1, 2022
M.B.A September 1, 2022
M.Sc in Financial Economics August 1, 2022
M.Sc in Software Engineering January 8, 2022 (Closed)
M.Sc in Social Data Science November 13
M.Phil in International Relations January 8, 2022 (Closed)

Admission Procedure of University of Oxford

International students would require a student visa, so it is advisable to apply for the visa at least three months before the commencement of the course. If you are an offer holder at the University of Oxford, then you need to have the following documents: 

  • A UK student visa is required, for which the application fee is 348 GBP
  • CAS number
  • Biometric details
  • Proof of parent/guardian consent if the applicant is under 18
  • ATAS certificate (if applicable)
  • TB certificate

Acceptance Rate at the University of Oxford

In 2020, out of 23,000 undergraduate applicants, only 3,300 students were selected at the University of Oxford. They have an extremely competitive and selective admission policy with an acceptance rate of 14% for undergraduate courses. When it comes to graduate courses, around 5500 students were selected from more than 34,000 applicants. Hence, the acceptance rate for graduate programs is 16%.