University Of Oxford Acceptance Rate

In this article, we’ll break down the University of Oxford acceptance rate, rankings and much more. As such, by the end, you’ll learn the facts and figures behind the school’s reputation, what to expect as a student there, and what you’d have to do in order to increase your chances of getting in.

Even if you know nothing about Oxford, most likely you’ve heard of it. It’s one of the most difficult schools to get into. It is as rich in history as it is prolific in research output.

It is referenced often in other media to indicate a certain social and academic prestige. (One of its earliest references in fiction dates back to 1400, in Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales: “A clerk [student] … of Oxenforde,” who studied philosophy).

Its beautiful campus has also served as a backdrop in high-profile films such as X Men: First Class, The Golden Compass, and even a James Bond movie. Now let’s proceed with the University of Oxford acceptance rate.

Overview of University of Oxford Acceptance Rate

For almost a millennium, the University of Oxford has made a name for itself as the world’s foremost institution for higher education.

University of Oxford acceptance rate for undergraduates is approximately 17%. To put this number in context, roughly 80% of undergraduates and 36% of graduate students are from the UK. International student acceptance rates vary slightly, but we’ll get to those numbers as you continue reading.

At 17%, Oxford is highly competitive, but not nearly as rigorous as Harvard, Columbia, or Yale, whose acceptance rates hover around 5%. At the same time, Oxford’s acceptance rate is slightly lower than Cambridge’s 21%. You can see that the University of Oxford acceptance rate is relatively high.

Nevertheless, both Oxford and Cambridge receive upwards of 20,000 undergrad applications per year, domestically and internationally.

Unlike many top-tier U.S. schools, Oxford’s acceptance rate has steadily risen for the past five years. This trend is in part due to the school’s conscious effort to expand accessibility and inclusion to traditionally underrepresented groups, such as women, minorities, the socioeconomically disadvantaged, and the disabled.

Oxford University offers students more than 350 graduate courses across the disciplines, with newer additions in different streams each year. To secure admission at the prestigious university, students must possess exceptional skills that can help their application stand out.

Students also must have a GMAT score of 650 or above and an ACT score of at least 32 out of 36. Indian students must also possess 90% and above and A1 grades for the subject they have applied for in line with the University of Oxford acceptance rate.

University of Oxford acceptance rate: The admission at Oxford is highly selective but can be secured by composing a perfect statement of purpose and being ready for your interview. Apart from grades and scores, the admission department at Oxford University also focuses on extracurricular activities and interests.

The magnificent number of University of Oxford acceptance rate signifies the high competition that one has to overcome to secure a seat in the program of your choice in the university.

Now that you are aware of the jaw-dropping University of Oxford acceptance rate, it is time to pull up your sleeves and start working towards achieving higher scores in competitive exams. If you are dedicated to enhancing your chances of falling under this exceptionally high acceptance rate, start preparing for the exams like IELTS, GMAT, GRE, SAT exam, etc. as per your chosen program.

Generally when considering the University of Oxford acceptance rate, the accepted students in Oxford University have a GMAT score higher than 690. For GRE, students have at least 160 in both the Quant and Verbal sections, standard SAT and ACT scores are 1470 and 32, respectively.

The most popular undergraduate majors at Oxford are economics & management, medicine, maths & computer science, and biomedical sciences. If some of these undergrad majors — namely medicine — sound unfamiliar, that’s because of the UK’s different approach to higher education.

With the exception of professional or technical degrees, most U.S. undergraduate degrees focus on broad knowledge and skills. On the other hand, UK degrees expect students to go in-depth in their chosen field. As a result, there are usually no general education requirements. That’s why medicine and law are available as baccalaureate majors: students start learning the required courses for these disciplines right away instead of waiting until graduate school.

Like at most English universities, Oxford’s undergraduate degrees take three years to complete. In most cases, students can add a master’s degree for only one additional year.

University of Oxford Tuition

Despite being in the same caliber as the Ivy League and other top U.S. schools, Oxford doesn’t cost nearly as much. Currently, students from the UK or Ireland pay £9,250 ($13,027), while international students pay £26,770-37,510 ($37,700-52,825) per year. The price variability depends on major; some require students to go abroad for a year, for which there is an additional fee.

You can expect living costs to range from £10,575-15,390 ($14,893-21,673) per 9-month school year. This includes food, accommodation, textbooks, and other costs. Oxford guarantees undergraduate accommodations for the first year and at least one other year.

To help cover the costs, Oxford offers financial aid in various forms. For example, low-income UK or Ireland students receive annual bursaries (grants) scalable depending on household income. For students whose families make less than £16,000 ($22,533), the largest bursary is £3,200 ($4,507) per year.

In addition, undergraduates who are UK residents and have an annual household income of £27,500 ($38,728) or less will receive a Crankstart Scholarship worth up to £5,000 ($7,042) per year. There are additional bursaries and scholarships available to UK students with other extenuating circumstances or disadvantaged backgrounds.

UK students can also apply for loans from the UK government, but international students must seek loans from their home country. However, a few scholarships are available for students from select countries in Asia, eastern Europe, China, Russia, and more.

The Oxford website has a convenient tool you can use to search for scholarships you may be eligible for and estimate your total costs based on country of origin, major, starting year, and college.

University of Oxford Requirements

Unlike U.S. universities, Oxford requires you to choose which course (major) you want to study and apply only to that course using the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) application.

Different courses will have different requirements, which come in the form of admissions exams, submission of written work, and/or completing required classes in high school. However, every course will require specific results on your A-Levels, other UK equivalent, or international equivalent.

For instance, if you’re a UK student applying as a Physics major, you’ll need to receive A*AA on your A-Levels, with an A* on Mathematics, Physics, or Further Mathematics. An A* is a score of 90%+, and an A is a score of 80-89%. Therefore, you’ll need a total of three A-Levels, hence the three scores.

In terms of subject requirements, Oxford requires you to have Physics and Maths to A-Level or other equivalent, and recommends a Maths Mechanics class. Applicants must also take the Physics Aptitude Test (PAT), an entrance exam administered by the university.

If you’re an American student applying as a Physics major, you’ll need to earn equivalent test scores as part of your application. In this case, it’s scoring 5s on four APs (on subjects required for the Physics major) or scoring 5s on three APs plus at least a 32 on the ACT or 1470 on the SAT.

University of Oxford Acceptance Rate for International Students

Since Oxford has such a long and enduring legacy of educating international students, it’s no surprise that a fifth of undergraduates and two-thirds of graduate students come from over 150 countries around the world.

The University of Oxford acceptance rate is 17%, but it’s significantly more competitive for international undergraduate applicants: their international student acceptance rate last year was about 9%.

On the other hand, the postgraduate acceptance rate was about 26%. Based on numbers alone, you’d have a better chance of getting into Oxford as a graduate student than you would as an undergrad.

Of course, your research prospects, academic standing, and accomplishments still have to be impeccable regardless of which Oxford program you’re applying to.

Unlike many top U.S. universities, Oxford does not emphasize extracurriculars as heavily. Instead, they are more interested in seeing applicants demonstrate excellent academic performance and passion for their chosen field of study. If extracurriculars relate to this passion, it will only boost the applicant’s chances.

For instance, if you’re applying to study politics at Oxford, you should at least earn high marks on your politics, history, philosophy, sociology, and/or law A-Levels. In addition, if you’re involved in a local political party or government in your community, discussing these experiences can help distinguish your application from other politics applicants who perhaps don’t have relevant politics extracurriculars.

And of course, explain in your personal statement why you want to study politics at Oxford instead of a top university in another country.

The Oxford student body comprises of 32% international students. Candidates from over 155+ countries and territories contribute to the cultural diversity of the university. International applicants require the submission of a 75 GBP (~7,700 INR) application fee for any program in the university.

University of Oxford Admission Requirements for International Students

The Following are the basic requirements for international students to apply to the University of Oxford:

Details about previous qualifications and education submitted through UCAS application (for undergraduate admission)
Submission of University of Oxford Graduate application (for graduate admission)
Official transcripts along with certified English translation (for graduate admission)

Country-specific academic requirement
Evidence of financial support for at least a year
SOP to study in UK
Proof of proficiency in English

English Proficiency Requirements for International Students

For applying to University of Oxford, international applicants from a country where English is not the primary language should provide evidence of proficiency in English.

How To Get into Oxford University

Since the University of Oxford acceptance rate is high, inorder to get admitted to Oxford, you must be an expert in the subject you choose to study. You must begin the process well in advance since you will need to gain a thorough understanding of your chosen subject and supplement your academic knowledge with outside reading and hands-on experience.

You must also cultivate a strong set of personal abilities such as devotion and independent thinking. The better your application submissions will be, the more knowledgeable you are in your industry.

Majors in Oxford University

The University of Oxford is a symbol of higher education, well-known throughout the world for its outstanding students, courses, and faculty. Below are the top majors in the University:

1. Theology and philosophy
The University of Oxford has a fantastic philosophy major. This course will teach you how to critically analyze and reason with religion. The University of Oxford’s Philosophy department is one of the largest in the world

2. Modern Languages
The University of Oxford is well-known throughout the world for its modern languages program. A major in modern languages will prepare you to write and talk in another European language, as well as to study a wide range of literature.

3. Geography
A geography major will open many doors. A major in Geography will provide you with important insight into climate change, the economy, global disparities, and culture.

4. English language and literature
The University of Oxford is known for its outstanding scholarship in English Language and Literature. Oxford is the place to be if you want to major in English language and literature. It has one of the most diverse courses in the country, allowing you to study practically any sort of writing you can think of.

5. Human Sciences
At the University of Oxford, you can study all facets of human life. Oxford isn’t just fantastic for arts and humanities disciplines; it also features a genuinely impressive human science major. This allows you to study the social, cultural, and biological aspects of human life, which is a welcome break from traditional studies.

6. History
History at the University of Oxford allows you to be as specific or as broad as you want to be. Although the University provides a general overview of the history, it also provides much more detailed themes centered on smaller groups, smaller periods, and extremely specific concerns.

7. Fine Arts
Fine Arts provides creative students with the opportunity to study at a prominent university. All those creative students don’t have to miss out on the magic of Oxford. A Fine Arts degree would allow artists to find their potential, use their imagination, and follow their creative minds’ desires.

University Of Oxford Colleges

Oxford University is made up of over 30 distinct colleges. Colleges are academic communities where students attend tutorials. Each features its own dining hall, bar, common room, and library, as well as a plethora of college clubs and societies.

All undergraduate students at Oxford become members of a specific college as well as the University as a whole.

Below are the colleges at Oxford University:

Balliol College
Brasenose College

Christ Church
Corpus Christi College
Exeter College

Harris Manchester College
Hertford College
Jesus College

Keble College
Lady Margaret Hall
Lincoln College

Magdalen College
Mansfield College
Merton College

New College
Oriel College
Pembroke College

The Queen’s College
Regent’s Park College
St Anne’s College

St Benet’s Hall
St Catherine’s College
St Edmund Hall

St Hilda’s College
St Hugh’s College
St John’s College

St Peter’s College
Somerville College
Trinity College

University College
Wadham College
Worcester College

Wycliffe Hall

University of Oxford FAQs

What is the Oxford University acceptance rate?

Answer: In line with the official statistics released by Oxford University, the undergraduate courses recorded an acceptance rate of 16.79% for 2019-2020. The graduate programmes recorded an acceptance rate of 18.51% for the same year at the university.

How difficult is it to get admission to Oxford University?

Answer: Well, with an acceptance rate of 17% admission to the University of Oxford is tough and includes candidates having to go through multiple stringent admission rounds as part of the application process. Candidates can check out the University of Oxford Admission FAQs on our website.

How many colleges are there at Oxford University?

Answer: Oxford University is made up of more than 30 different colleges. Colleges are academic communities, where students usually have their tutorials. Each college has its own dining hall, common room and library, and lots of college groups and societies.

What is the cost of studying at the University of Oxford?

Answer: According to the official university website, the cost of studying at Oxford University at the undergraduate level is between £29,460 and £37,510 for a single year.

The cost of studying at the University of Oxford at the postgraduate level is between £24,450 and £29,160. Candidates can check out the Oxford University fee calculator on the official website and you also have to consider the University of Oxford acceptance rate.

Can a student study at Oxford University for free?

Answer: The University of Oxford has a range of scholarships, financial aid and support for students to help manage their finances during their studies at the university. However, studying at the University of Oxford for free is next to impossible. Candidates can also check out study abroad scholarships on our official website.

What is the cost of living at Oxford University?

The cost of living at Oxford University would require students to spend on, Food: £3,360 – £4,800, Accommodation: £7,860 – £9,480, Personal items: £1,560 – £3,000, Social activities: £540 – £1,380, Study costs: £540 – £1,200 and miscellaneous: £240 – £660 for an academic year (this is low range – high range of the rates of the activity.

What are the popular courses at the University of Oxford?

In line with the university statistics, at the undergraduate level maximum number of students enrolled in the following courses at the university, Economics & Management, Computer Science, Medicine, Maths & Computer Science and Biomedical Sciences (2018-2020). At the postgraduate level for 2019-2020, Social Sciences, Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences and Humanities received the maximum number of applications.

When was the University of Oxford established?

There is no clear date of foundation, but teaching existed at Oxford in some form in 1096 and developed rapidly from 1167. A unique and historic institution, Oxford University is the oldest university in the English-speaking world.

Who are the famous Oxford University Notable Alumni?

The famous Oxford University notable alumni include, Indira Gandhi, former Prime Minister of India; Dr Manmohan Singh, former Prime Minister of India; Chief Justice Mrs Sujata Vasant Manohar, former Judge of the Supreme Court of India; V S Naipaul, Nobel Prize-winning author, Mansoor Ali Khan (‘Tiger’) Pataudi, captain of the Indian cricket team and Vikram Seth, author among several others.

Now that you know the University of Oxford acceptance rate, it’s time for you to work hard inorder to secure your admission.