Oxford
University
Introduction and history
As the
oldest university in the English-speaking world, Oxford is a unique and
historic institution. There is no clear date of foundation, but teaching
existed at Oxford in some form in 1096 and developed rapidly from 1167, when
Henry II banned English students from attending the University of Paris.
In 1188, the
historian, Gerald of Wales, gave a public reading to the assembled Oxford dons
and in around 1190 the arrival of Emo of Friesland, the first known overseas
student, set in motion the University's tradition of international scholarly
links. By 1201, the University was headed by a magister scolarum Oxonie,
on whom the title of Chancellor was conferred in 1214, and in 1231 the masters
were recognised as a universitas or corporation.
In the 13th
century, rioting between town and gown (townspeople and students) hastened the
establishment of primitive halls of residence. These were succeeded by the
first of Oxford's colleges, which began as medieval 'halls of residence' or
endowed houses under the supervision of a Master. University, Balliol and
Merton Colleges, which were established between 1249 and 1264, are the oldest.
Less than a
century later, Oxford had achieved eminence above every other seat of learning,
and won the praises of popes, kings and sages by virtue of its antiquity,
curriculum, doctrine and privileges. In 1355, Edward III paid tribute to the
University for its invaluable contribution to learning; he also commented on
the services rendered to the state by distinguished Oxford graduates.
From its
early days, Oxford was a centre for lively controversy, with scholars involved
in religious and political disputes. John Wyclif, a 14th-century Master of
Balliol, campaigned for a Bible in the vernacular, against the wishes of the
papacy. In 1530, Henry VIII forced the University to accept his divorce from
Catherine of Aragon, and during the Reformation in the 16th century, the
Anglican churchmen Cranmer, Latimer and Ridley were tried for heresy and burnt
at the stake in Oxford.
The
University was Royalist in the Civil War, and Charles I held a
counter-Parliament in Convocation House. In the late 17th century, the Oxford
philosopher John Locke, suspected of treason, was forced to flee the country.
The 18th
century, when Oxford was said to have forsaken port for politics, was also an
era of scientific discovery and religious revival. Edmund Halley, Professor of
Geometry, predicted the return of the comet that bears his name; John and
Charles Wesley's prayer meetings laid the foundations of the Methodist Society.
The
University assumed a leading role in the Victorian era, especially in religious
controversy. From 1833 onwards The Oxford Movement sought to revitalise the
Catholic aspects of the Anglican Church. One of its leaders, John Henry Newman,
became a Roman Catholic in 1845 and was later made a Cardinal. In 1860 the new
University Museum was the scene of a famous debate between Thomas Huxley,
champion of evolution, and Bishop Wilberforce.
From 1878,
academic halls were established for women and they were admitted to full
membership of the University in 1920. Five all-male colleges first
admitted women in 1974 and, since then, all colleges have changed their
statutes to admit both women and men. St Hilda's College, which
was originally for women only, was the last of Oxford's single sex
colleges. It has admitted both men and women since 2008.
During the
20th and early 21st centuries, Oxford added to its humanistic core a major new
research capacity in the natural and applied sciences, including medicine. In
so doing, it has enhanced and strengthened its traditional role as an
international focus for learning and a forum for intellectual debate.
UCAS application
If you
want to study at Oxford, you need to apply a year before the start date of your
course. The deadline is 6pm UK time on 15 October every year, and the
application form is online at www.ucas.com.
You will
need to provide information about yourself, including a personal statement
where you talk about your interest in the subject you’re applying for. There is
also a place where a teacher or advisor needs to give you a reference. This is
all submitted through an online form – no additional references, transcripts,
or certificates are required or accepted.
Most people
apply to Oxford before they have finished their final year of school or
college. If this is the case for you, then your referee will need to provide
you with predicted grades – where they say what they expect you to achieve in
your A-levels (or equivalent qualifications).
You may also
need to register
for a test or
send in written work, depending on which course you are applying for.
There is no
separate Oxford application form, unless you are applying for:
Accelerated Medicine
If you have
a science degree and are applying for the four-year Accelerated Medicine
course, you must complete a supplementary
application form, in addition to the UCAS application, to be submitted by
15 October.
Choral and Organ Awards
If you want
to apply for a choral or organ award, you must complete an additional online
application form by 1 September.
Links for
2016/17 entry application forms will be published in spring 2015.
Tests
For many
courses, you need to take a test as part of your application – check your
course page. You will need to register separately for the test, by a set
date in October, and can normally sit the test in your school or college, or at
a centre near your home.
Tests in 2014
All Oxford
admissions tests (with the exception of the LNAT
for Law) are organised by the Admissions Testing Service. The registration
deadline was 15 October 2014 and tests took place on 5 November 2014. Please
see the links below for sample papers and further information about each test.
For student
applying to study Law, the deadline to take the LNAT was 20
October 2014.
Results
BMAT
A statement of results will be issued to each candidate on Wednesday 26 November 2014, on the ATS Results Online system. Candidates and centres can download their results online.
A statement of results will be issued to each candidate on Wednesday 26 November 2014, on the ATS Results Online system. Candidates and centres can download their results online.
ELAT
A statement of results will be issued to each Oxford applicant on Thursday 15 January 2015, on the ATS Results Online System. Candidates and centres can download their results online.
A statement of results will be issued to each Oxford applicant on Thursday 15 January 2015, on the ATS Results Online System. Candidates and centres can download their results online.
LNAT
Results will be emailed to candidates in early February 2015. See the LNAT website.
Results will be emailed to candidates in early February 2015. See the LNAT website.
TSA
A statement of results will be issued to each Oxford applicant on Thursday 15 January 2015, on the ATS Results Online System. Candidates and centres can download their results online.
A statement of results will be issued to each Oxford applicant on Thursday 15 January 2015, on the ATS Results Online System. Candidates and centres can download their results online.
CAT, HAT,
MAT, MLAT, OLAT, PAT and the Philosophy Test
Results for these tests are not routinely released but candidates can request their results as part of the usual feedback process.
Results for these tests are not routinely released but candidates can request their results as part of the usual feedback process.
Archaeology and Anthropology
You do not
need to take a written test when you apply for this course.
Biochemistry
You do not
need to take a written test when you apply for this course.
Biological Sciences
You do not
need to take a written test when you apply for this course.
Biomedical Sciences
Test:
All applicants must take the Biomedical Admissions Test. There is a reduced entrance fee if you register before 1 October.
All applicants must take the Biomedical Admissions Test. There is a reduced entrance fee if you register before 1 October.
How to
register and specimen papers:
www.bmat.org.uk.
www.bmat.org.uk.
Chemistry
You do not
need to take a written test when you apply for this course.
Classical Archaeology and Ancient History
You do not
need to take a written test when you apply for this course.
Classics
Tests:
All candidates must take the Classics Admissions Test. This test is in three parts: the Latin test, the Greek test and the Classics Language Aptitude Test.
All candidates must take the Classics Admissions Test. This test is in three parts: the Latin test, the Greek test and the Classics Language Aptitude Test.
Candidates
who are studying Latin or Greek to A-level or equivalent (those applying for
Course I) must take the test(s) in the language(s) you are studying.
Candidates who are studying neither Latin nor Greek to A-level or equivalent (those applying for Course II) must take the Classics Language Aptitude Test.
Candidates who are studying neither Latin nor Greek to A-level or equivalent (those applying for Course II) must take the Classics Language Aptitude Test.
How to
register:
www.catoxford.org.uk
Specimen paper:
www.catoxford.org.uk
Specimen paper:
Classics_Admissions_Test.pdf307.57
KB
Looking for
further specimen papers for Classics?
Our
considered practice is to make just one paper available. Each paper is intended
to be a specimen only, to give an example of the format of the test and (in the
case of the language aptitude test) an example of the sort of questions you
might expect.
- The Latin and Greek Translation Tests (sat by candidates studying one of both of those languages to A2 level or equivalent) consist each of a short passage in prose and verse in the classical language, to be translated into English. The passages, vetted by experienced teachers, are carefully chosen to be of a difficulty suitable to students at A2 level or equivalent.
- The Language Aptitude Test (sat by candidates studying neither Classical languages to A2 level or equivalent) is designed to assess your ability to analyse how languages work, in a way which doesn't depend on your knowledge of any particular language, in order to gauge your aptitude for learning a new language rapidly. As part of the selection process there will be a follow-up interview to this test, where problems in the test may be revisited. We strongly recommend that all candidates who sit the Classics Language Aptitude Test work their way through one sample paper. However, we do not recommend that candidates work through more than one sample paper (and we do not make more than one specimen available) as over-practising for the test can make candidates approach it in a more mechanical and consequently less effective way.
No special
preparation is expected for any component of the Classics Admissions Test,
other than diligent participation in your usual work at school or college.
Classics and English
Tests:
Candidates must take the Classics Admissions Test AND the English Literature Admissions Test (ELAT). Please note that separate registration is required for each of the two tests.
Candidates must take the Classics Admissions Test AND the English Literature Admissions Test (ELAT). Please note that separate registration is required for each of the two tests.
For further
information, please see the separate entries for Classics and for English.
Classics and Modern Languages
Tests:
Candidates must take the Classics Admissions Test AND the Modern Languages Admissions Tests. Please note that separate registration is required for each of the two tests.
Candidates must take the Classics Admissions Test AND the Modern Languages Admissions Tests. Please note that separate registration is required for each of the two tests.
For further
information, please see the separate entries for Classics and for Modern
Languages.
Classics and Oriental Studies (Classics with Oriental
Studies - Q8T9)
Test:
All candidates must take the Classics Admissions Test. For details please see the separate entry for Classics.
All candidates must take the Classics Admissions Test. For details please see the separate entry for Classics.
Candidates
intending to study Arabic, Turkish, Hebrew, or Persian must always take 'Part
B' of the CAT (in addition to any other parts required), which is a test of
language aptitude.
Classics and Oriental Studies (Oriental Studies with
Classics - T9Q8)
Test:
Candidates intending to study Arabic, Turkish, Hebrew, or Persian must take the Oriental Languages Aptitude Test (OLAT). For details please see the separate entry for Oriental Studies.
Candidates intending to study Arabic, Turkish, Hebrew, or Persian must take the Oriental Languages Aptitude Test (OLAT). For details please see the separate entry for Oriental Studies.
Computer Science
Test:
All candidates must take the Mathematics Admissions Test.
All candidates must take the Mathematics Admissions Test.
How to
register:
www.matoxford.org.uk
www.matoxford.org.uk
Specimen
paper:
Please see the Computer Science website.
Please see the Computer Science website.
Computer Science and Philosophy
Test:
All candidates must take the Mathematics Admissions Test.
All candidates must take the Mathematics Admissions Test.
How to
register:
www.matoxford.org.uk
www.matoxford.org.uk
Specimen
paper:
Please see the Computer Science website.
Please see the Computer Science website.
Earth Sciences (Geology)
You do not
need to take a written test when you apply for this course.
Economics and Management (E&M)
Test:
All candidates must take the Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA).
All candidates must take the Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA).
How to
register and specimen papers: www.tsaoxford.org.uk.
Engineering Science
Test:
All candidates for all Engineering courses must take the Physics Aptitude Test.
All candidates for all Engineering courses must take the Physics Aptitude Test.
How to
register:
www.patoxford.org.uk
www.patoxford.org.uk
Specimen
paper:
See Physics website.
See Physics website.
English and Modern Languages
Tests:
All candidates must take the Modern Languages Admissions Tests AND the English Literature Admissions Test (ELAT). Please note that separate registration is required for each of the two tests.
All candidates must take the Modern Languages Admissions Tests AND the English Literature Admissions Test (ELAT). Please note that separate registration is required for each of the two tests.
For further
information, please see the separate entries below for English and for Modern
Languages.
English Language and Literature
Test:
All candidates must take the English Literature Admissions Test (ELAT).
All candidates must take the English Literature Admissions Test (ELAT).
How to
register and specimen papers:
www.elat.org.uk.
www.elat.org.uk.
European and Middle Eastern Languages (EMEL)
Test:
All candidates will need to take both the Modern Languages Admissions Tests AND the Oriental Languages Aptitude Test (OLAT). Separate registration is required for each of the two tests.
All candidates will need to take both the Modern Languages Admissions Tests AND the Oriental Languages Aptitude Test (OLAT). Separate registration is required for each of the two tests.
How to
register and specimen papers:
Please see the separate entries for Modern Languages and for Oriental Studies.
Please see the separate entries for Modern Languages and for Oriental Studies.
Fine Art
Test:
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview, which will include a practical test. Candidates will be asked to complete two pieces in a variety of media from a number of possible subjects. Candidates themselves do not need to make any special arrangements for the test, as this will be organised for them by their college.
Specimen paper:
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview, which will include a practical test. Candidates will be asked to complete two pieces in a variety of media from a number of possible subjects. Candidates themselves do not need to make any special arrangements for the test, as this will be organised for them by their college.
Specimen paper:
Fine
Art Practical Test.pdf102.7 KB
Geography
Test:
All candidates must take the Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA).
All candidates must take the Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA).
How to
register and specimen papers: www.tsaoxford.org.uk.
History
Test:
All candidates must take the History Aptitude Test (HAT).
All candidates must take the History Aptitude Test (HAT).
How to
register:
www.hatoxford.org.uk
www.hatoxford.org.uk
Specimen
paper:
See History Faculty website
See History Faculty website
History (Ancient and Modern)
Test:
All candidates must take the History Aptitude Test (HAT). For further information, please see the separate entry for History.
All candidates must take the History Aptitude Test (HAT). For further information, please see the separate entry for History.
History and Economics
Tests:
All candidates must take the History Aptitude Test (HAT), as for History.
All candidates must take the History Aptitude Test (HAT), as for History.
AND
Candidates
shortlisted for interview will take an Economics test in December 2014. You
will not need to make any special arrangements to take the test. All the
arrangements will all be made for you by the college. If your application is
shortlisted but you do not come to Oxford for your interview then you will need
to find a suitable venue where you can take the test on the appropriate date in
December. This can be any venue with suitable facilities for taking a test,
where you can find someone in a suitable position of authority to act as the
contact person. This person will need to agree to receive the test papers for
you, arrange for invigilation of the test under examination conditions and
return the completed papers to Oxford. For example, a local school, college,
British Council office, other office or library may be suitable venues. When
you have found a suitable place to take the test, and a contact person at that
venue, you will need to submit a Test Centre Declaration Form to let us know
where you will be taking the test.
Specimen
paper for Economics:
Economics
Admissions Test.pdf10.81 KB
History and English
Test:
All candidates must take the History Aptitude Test (HAT), as for History.
All candidates must take the History Aptitude Test (HAT), as for History.
Please note
that candidates for History and English are NOT required to take the English
Literature Admissions Test (ELAT).
History and Modern Languages
Tests:
Candidates must take the History Aptitude Test AND the Modern Languages Admissions Tests. Separate registration is required for each of the two tests.
Candidates must take the History Aptitude Test AND the Modern Languages Admissions Tests. Separate registration is required for each of the two tests.
For further
information, please see the separate entries for History and for Modern
Languages.
History and Politics
Test:
All candidates must take the History Aptitude Test (HAT). For further information, please see the separate entry for History.
All candidates must take the History Aptitude Test (HAT). For further information, please see the separate entry for History.
History of Art
You do not
need to take a written test when you apply for this course.
Human Sciences
You do not
need to take a written test when you apply for this course.
Law (Jurisprudence) and Law with Law Studies in Europe
Test:
All candidates must take the Law National Admissions Test (LNAT).
All candidates must take the Law National Admissions Test (LNAT).
Candidates
for Law with Law Studies in Europe who are applying for the French, German,
Italian or Spanish Law options may be given an oral test in the relevant
European language in December if they are shortlisted for interview.
How to
register and specimen papers:
www.lnat.ac.uk
www.lnat.ac.uk
Materials Science
Test:
All candidates must take the Physics Aptitude Test.
All candidates must take the Physics Aptitude Test.
How to
register:
www.patoxford.org.uk
www.patoxford.org.uk
Specimen
paper:
See Physics website.
See Physics website.
Mathematics
Test:
All candidates must take the Mathematics Admissions Test.
All candidates must take the Mathematics Admissions Test.
How to
register:
www.matoxford.org.uk
www.matoxford.org.uk
Specimen
paper:
See Maths Department website.
See Maths Department website.
Mathematics and Computer Science
Test:
All candidates must take the Mathematics Admissions Test.
All candidates must take the Mathematics Admissions Test.
How to
register:
www.matoxford.org.uk
www.matoxford.org.uk
Specimen
paper:
See Maths Department website.
See Maths Department website.
Mathematics and Philosophy
Test:
All candidates must take the Mathematics Admissions Test.
All candidates must take the Mathematics Admissions Test.
How to
register:
www.matoxford.org.uk
www.matoxford.org.uk
Specimen
paper:
See Maths Department website.
See Maths Department website.
Mathematics and Statistics
Test:
All candidates must take the Mathematics Admissions Test.
All candidates must take the Mathematics Admissions Test.
How to
register:
www.matoxford.org.uk
Specimen paper:
See Maths Department website.
www.matoxford.org.uk
Specimen paper:
See Maths Department website.
Medicine (A100 and A101)
Test:
All applicants must take the Biomedical Admissions Test. There is a reduced entrance fee if you register before 1 October.
All applicants must take the Biomedical Admissions Test. There is a reduced entrance fee if you register before 1 October.
How to
register and specimen papers:
www.bmat.org.uk.
www.bmat.org.uk.
Modern Languages
Tests:
All candidates must take the Modern Languages Admissions Tests. This test is in several parts: please check to see which parts are required for your course.
All candidates must take the Modern Languages Admissions Tests. This test is in several parts: please check to see which parts are required for your course.
How to
register:
www.mlatoxford.org.uk
www.mlatoxford.org.uk
Specimen
paper:
Looking for
further MLAT specimen papers?
Our practice
is to make just one paper available for each part of the Modern Languages and
Linguistics Admissions Tests. Each paper is intended to be a specimen only, to
give an example of the format of the test, and the sort of questions you might
expect. There may be variations in the language tests from year to year, but
their objectives remain the same:
- The Modern Languages Admissions Tests (when applying for a language already experienced to A2 level or equivalent) are always designed to test knowledge of basic structures of the foreign language; they are not primarily a test of vocabulary.
- The Language Aptitude Test (when applying for certain languages from scratch) is designed to assess your ability to analyse how languages work, in a way which doesn't depend on your knowledge of any particular language, in order to gauge your aptitude for learning a new language rapidly.
- The Linguistics Test (when applying for a joint course with Linguistics or a single language where the first-year course includes the compulsory study of Linguistics) is designed to assess how you approach various kinds of unfamiliar linguistic data and set about analysing them. While there are 'right' and 'wrong' answers, how you go about finding the solution is as important to us as producing one which is completely correct. For questions carrying more marks, where more space is provided for your answer, try to make as many relevant points as you can think of.
Having
sampled the relevant test or tests for your language(s), the best preparation
would be for you to revisit the grammatical points you have covered thus far –
eg by working through a grammar book – to revise all the basic structures.
Modern Languages and Linguistics
Tests:
All candidates must take the Modern Languages Admissions Tests. This test is in several parts: please check to see which parts are required for your course.
How to register and specimen papers:
Please see Modern Languages above.
All candidates must take the Modern Languages Admissions Tests. This test is in several parts: please check to see which parts are required for your course.
How to register and specimen papers:
Please see Modern Languages above.
Music
Test:
Shortlisted candidates will be asked to take a practical test in December.
Shortlisted candidates will be asked to take a practical test in December.
For further
details:
Music test.
Music test.
Oriental Studies
Test:
Candidates for course combinations which include Arabic, Turkish, Hebrew and Persian will need to take the Oriental Languages Aptitude Test (OLAT).
Candidates for course combinations which include Arabic, Turkish, Hebrew and Persian will need to take the Oriental Languages Aptitude Test (OLAT).
How to
register:
www.olatoxford.org.uk
www.olatoxford.org.uk
Specimen of
written test:
Philosophy and Modern Languages
Test:
All candidates must take the Modern Languages Admissions Tests. Please see the separate entry for Modern Languages for further details. This test is in several parts, including language papers and a philosophy paper: please check to see which parts are required for your course.
All candidates must take the Modern Languages Admissions Tests. Please see the separate entry for Modern Languages for further details. This test is in several parts, including language papers and a philosophy paper: please check to see which parts are required for your course.
Specimen of
written test:
Please see
the separate entry for Modern Languages for the languages papers.
Philosophy
test.pdf12.81 KB
Philosophy and Theology
Test:
All candidates must take the Philosophy Test.
All candidates must take the Philosophy Test.
How to
register: www.admissionstestingservice.org/phil.
Specimen of
written test:
Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE)
Test:
All candidates must take the Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA).
All candidates must take the Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA).
How to
register and specimen papers: www.tsaoxford.org.uk.
Physics
Test:
All candidates must take the Physics Aptitude Test.
All candidates must take the Physics Aptitude Test.
How to
register:
www.patoxford.org.uk
www.patoxford.org.uk
Specimen
paper:
See Physics website.
See Physics website.
Physics and Philosophy
Test:
All candidates must take the Physics Aptitude Test.
All candidates must take the Physics Aptitude Test.
How to
register:
www.patoxford.org.uk
www.patoxford.org.uk
Specimen
paper:
See Physics website.
See Physics website.
Psychology (Experimental)
Test:
All candidates must take the Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA).
All candidates must take the Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA).
How to
register and specimen papers: www.tsaoxford.org.uk.
Psychology, Philosophy and Linguistics
Test:
All candidates must take the Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA). See www.tsaoxford.org.uk for further details.
All candidates must take the Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA). See www.tsaoxford.org.uk for further details.
Candidates
for courses including Linguistics (Psychology and Linguistics,
Philosophy and Linguistics) must also take the Linguistics Test. This is
part of the Modern Languages and Linguistics Admissions Test - see www.mlatoxford.org.uk for further
details.
Please note
that separate registration is required for each of the two tests.
Specimen
papers:
See Psychology website.
See Psychology website.
Theology and Religion
You do not
need to take a written test when you apply for this course.
Theology and Oriental Studies
Test:
Candidates applying to the Judaism and Islam strands, intending to study Hebrew, Arabic, Persian or Turkish, are required to take the Oriental Languages Aptitude Test (OLAT); candidates for the Buddhism, Hinduism and Eastern Christianity strands do not have to sit a written test.
Candidates applying to the Judaism and Islam strands, intending to study Hebrew, Arabic, Persian or Turkish, are required to take the Oriental Languages Aptitude Test (OLAT); candidates for the Buddhism, Hinduism and Eastern Christianity strands do not have to sit a written test.
How to
register and specimen papers:
www.olatoxford.org.uk
www.olatoxford.org.uk
For more Information You
can see at http://www.ox.ac.uk/.
