Interviews

Much has been said about getting into Oxford. Competition is fierce, and myths about the application procedure abound. In general, it’s certainly true that Oxford interviews are more challenging than those at other universities. It’s also true that you may well be asked questions you didn’t expect. However, a lot of people prepare needlessly for questions that they’re definitely not going to be asked. The interview process is designed to assess your academic potential, giving the tutors a valuable opportunity to meet you in person, discover how you think and decide whether or not they’d enjoy teaching you over the coming years.

After you apply

The timetable for the interviews in your subject can be found here.  It is vital you keep this period free of other commitments. You’ll receive a letter towards the end of November indicating whether you have been invited to Oxford for an interview.  Not everyone gets to the interview stage, and if you don’t then try not to be disappointed. That you’re in a position to consider applying for Oxford is a fantastic achievement in itself.

If you’re invited to interview, the letter will explain which college you’ll be staying at.  This will tend to be at the college at which you applied, unless you made an open application or if the college at which you applied is significantly oversubscribed (this will be explained in the letter inviting you to interview).

Preparing for interview

Oxford tutors want students who display enthusiasm for their subject, along with a natural flair and ability. They’re not looking for applicants with an encyclopaedic knowledge of all the textbooks they’ve read, nor people who won’t be any fun to teach. One of the best ways to prepare for an interview, and demonstrate an interest in your subject, is to read widely from lots of sources. Wading through textbooks is not especially helpful, but interesting-looking newspapers, websites, journals, magazines, books and other publications in your chosen subject are worth spending some time on.

This is especially important if you are applying for a course not normally studied at school or college so that you can show a little bit of background knowledge (you won’t be expected to have a detailed understanding of specific or technical topics). It’s good practice to take a critical view of the ideas and arguments you encounter, not just when reading, but also in school, college and the media.

Though you can’t prepare for interviews as such, many students find it helpful to practise with someone willing. This gives you some experience in talking about yourself and your work, and constructing arguments in an unfamiliar setting. Good people to ask include a teacher or someone else familiar with your subject, but preferably not someone with whom you’re very friendly. 

Some schools and private companies offer interview crash courses to help you prepare.  While they probably won’t harm your chances, but there’s certainly no proof that they’ll help.  There is no "Oxford type" that you can learn how to become, and more often than not the information is already provided at no charge on the University website.
If you submitted any written work as part of your application, re-read it, thinking about how you could expand upon what you wrote. Look over your personal statement again.  Both of these may be discussed in your interviews, and you’ll do a lot better if you can remember what you originally said. Have a look at the admissions criteria for your course; it may serve as an indication of what your tutors will be looking for. Finally, think about obvious questions that are often asked at the beginning of an interview to help you settle, and how you might answer them (Why do you want to study at Oxford?  Why do you want to study your subject? Etc).

When you arrive

Oxford interviews generally happen over a couple of days, usually because you’ll have more than one interview (at more than one college). Not many people expect to enjoy their Oxford interviews, but in fact lots of applicants end up having a great time whether or not they get in.

When you arrive in Oxford, you’ll most likely be greeted by a team of interview shepherds (usually current undergraduates), who’ll show you where you’re staying, give you a tour of the college including where to get food and find other interviewees, and explain what activities are being arranged by way of entertainment. These are usually in the form of bar quizzes, film nights, trips to the cinema or tours of Oxford. However, only your interviews and official meetings or academic tests are compulsory, so if you’re not feeling social, it’s perfectly fine to spend time alone.

All your food and accommodation is provided for free. It’s worth bringing a copy of your written work and personal statement, as well as a book or some coursework to keep you occupied as most of your time will not be spent in interviews.  You don’t need to wear smart clothes to interview, and there’s no advantage to wearing a suit.  The best clothes are ones you feel comfortable in – after all, you’re being judged on your mind, not your fashion sense!

The interviews

Interviews differ from subject to subject and from college to college.  There are, however, some common themes.  Tutors will want you to be yourself and demonstrate your skills and abilities during the interview. They’re not trying to trick you or catch you out, but rather to see if you’re genuinely enthusiastic about your course (this is largely for your own good, as three years of hard work on a course you don't enjoy can be a miserable experience). 

They’ll ask you questions about your subject and questions that will help them assess you as a candidate.  In some subjects, especially the arts, you might be asked questions on a passage of text which is given to you before the interview.  In science subjects, you could be asked factual questions.  The tutors will tend to want to stretch your knowledge, and may focus on topics of which you have no experience to see how you respond to new ideas.
You probably won’t know the answer to everything you’re asked. If your mind draws a blank, allow the tutors to guide you if necessary.  There are rarely simple 'right' or 'wrong' answers; instead the questions are designed to encourage you to think for yourself and develop an argument.  Remember to be yourself and ask for help if you need it.

The tutors are assessing your ability to learn in an Oxford environment.  Teaching in Oxford is centred around small classes and tutorials, and tutors will want to make sure you respond effectively to this style of learning.  Clarity, along with concise and relevant arguments, is all-important in these situations, as is listening carefully to tutors’ questions.  Tutors are looking to see whether you can explain what you do know, and whether you can work your way through new problems or argue your position. 

Though you might be asked about extra-curricular activities, and tutors may be interested in how you currently balance your studies and other activities, they’re primarily interested in your academic potential.  Extra-curricular activities therefore don’t form any of the selection criteria in any subject.

Finally, the number of interviews you’re offered essentially means nothing – there are true stories of students who are interviewed at six different colleges, yet end up at a seventh that never interviewed them. Such interviews are often arranged before you arrive and may be so that colleges can compare the quality of students in other locations. Don't try to second-guess everything that happens, and it's best to ignore the people that do – you won’t find out how you've done until you get the letter from your tutors, and neither will they.

What next?

Whatever the result, you’ll be contacted in late December or January (usually by post). If you’re successful, the offer will usually be conditional, and may be for your first choice college, for another college, or an open offer, where you have a guaranteed place but will be allocated a college after A-level results are published in August.

Every year, 10,000 people are not lucky enough to be offered a place.  These inevitably include many talented and highly motivated candidates.  Many people consider reapplying to Oxford after a gap year, or applying for graduate studies after their undergraduate degree at a different University, and are successful.  If you don’t get into Oxford, do remember that there are many other fantastic universities where you’re just as likely to have a wonderful time.

More Information

Information provided by the University on interviews can be found here.