oxford personal statement requirements

Personal Statements for Further Study

A personal statement is your chance to explain your motivation for applying and why you are a great candidate for the course..

Guidelines given vary from the simple “Provide evidence in support of your application” to the more common “Tell us why you are interested in the course to which you have applied. Describe your academic interests and reasons for applying to XXX”. For some courses there may be a much more prescriptive and structured approach, requiring you to write a series of shorter responses to specific questions relating to your motivation, experience and suitability for the course. You may also come across some institutions that ask you to reflect on how you might add to the diversity of a cohort should your application be successful.

If you are applying to more than one university, each statement will need a different emphasis – do not use the same statement for all applications.

In your statement, you should demonstrate:

Motivation, enthusiasm, and a clear understanding of why you are making the application to this particular course, and to this particular institution.
How your academic background and other experiences have shaped your decision to apply and how the course contributes to your plans for the future.
Evidence that you have the ability, experience, skills and motivation to successfully contribute to the course, and to complete it.

Structure and Content

The opening paragraph sets the framework for the rest of the statement, think of it as your ‘trailer’. This is where you can grab the reader’s attention or lose it… You might start with a powerful anecdote, a brief narrative of your initial inspiration, or a thought-provoking statement linked to your academic interests.

Within the main body of the essay you should aim to cover:

Why you want to study this topic or field

Is it a natural extension of your current interests? How did you become interested in this area? Why does it continue to fascinate you? What have you done within your degree or outside of your study to fuel this interest? Would the course provide a step towards a longer-term goal?

Why you have chosen this specific course and institution

Are there particular options or modules that interest you? Is there particular expertise in that department? Has access to specific resources such as museum collections, libraries or laboratory equipment been a factor? Has the reputation (through recommendations or other means) of the course inspired you? Are you attracted by opportunities for collaboration or work placements? Have you attended any Open Days or other visits?

How your experience equips you for the course

Consider the subjects you studied at undergraduate level; your relevant skills (technical, language, computing, research methods); independent study or research; prior (relevant) experience; academic awards and other achievements. The focus here is likely to be on your academic suitability for the course, but if you have relevant work experience or extra-curricular activities that provide further evidence of your interest or ability then include them too. Your non-academic achievements might also provide evidence of project management, resilience, effective communication and so on.

Where the course might lead you

You don’t need to have a detailed career plan, but you do need to show how this course fits in with your general aspirations. Are you intending to continue on to a PhD? Do you have a broad interest in contributing to a particular issue or field, e.g. social enterprise, public policy, human rights, sustainability? Or do you have a more specific goal in mind? How will your chosen course help you to achieve your goals?

Closing paragraph

Use your closing paragraph to summarise your application, return to any themes you introduced at the beginning, and to restate your enthusiasm for the course.

Practical Advice

Writing effective personal statements takes time. Expect to go through several drafts and ask tutors, peers, careers advisers and others to review your statement before you submit it.
Good English, grammar and spelling are essential. Avoid jargon and make sure it can be understood by non-experts.
Keep the tone positive, fresh and lively in order to convey enthusiasm and make yourself stand out, but remember that this is a document introducing you in a professional capacity.
It’s a good idea to mention relevant individuals whose work has truly inspired you, but avoid name-dropping for the sake of it, and excessive and evidence-free flattery of the institution or the course.
If you refer to any papers or books then reference these correctly in a bibliography at the end of the statement.
Pay attention to any word limits. If none are stated then aim for no more than two sides of A4 or 1000-1500 words.
It is usually possible to apply for multiple courses at a single institution. Many (including Oxford) will require you to complete a separate application form for each course that you wish to apply for.

Research Proposals

For many PhD and some research Masters applications the personal statement is often accompanied by a research proposal – a document that sets out your research interests and proposed area of study. The detail required in this section varies hugely for different disciplines. For some science subjects it may simply be a list, in order of preference, of the named PhD projects you wish to be considered for. However, for most areas – and especially in the arts, humanities and social sciences – you will need to devote a considerable amount of time to developing your ideas, discussing them with potential supervisors and writing a proposal. Your academic tutors should be able to give you some guidance on writing research proposals, and there is some useful advice from Vitae and from Find a PhD .

Admission Essays for US Graduate Schools

The information in this handout applies also to applications to American universities. However, there are subtle differences in the style and approach to essays aimed at the US context. A statement written for the US is likely to feel more personal; think of it as your academic biography – setting out your inspiration for the academic path you have followed in the past, the present and into the future. The Careers Service runs a workshop on US applications early each Michaelmas Term. Education USA also publishes guidelines on completing US applications. US university career services often provide useful advice on writing graduate school admissions essays. See for example: MIT graduate school essay advice , UNC application essay advice and Yale advice on writing personal statements for graduate school.

Teacher Training Applications

The personal statement for postgraduate teacher training is the key part of your application. The question is quite prescriptive, and your focus should be on your motivation for becoming a teacher: particularly how your teaching and other experiences have contributed. Ideally you should also set out how these have helped you to understand the role, and the sort of teacher you aspire to be. The Careers Service runs a workshop on careers in teaching each Michaelmas Term, which includes advice about the application process. For more information, see the Careers Service information on Teaching in Schools .

Graduate Entry Medicine

Applications to graduate entry medicine courses are submitted via UCAS and include a personal statement. Much of the advice in this document also applies to medicine applications, but you are likely to need to place considerable emphasis on the relevant work experience you have gained prior to your application.

See Careers Service's information on Medicine as a Second Degree for further information.

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University of Oxford, Medical Sciences Division

Accessibility
Pre-clinical
Medicine: How to Apply

Medicine: Anatomy of a Personal Statement

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Below is a personal statement from a recent applicant for A100 Medicine at Oxford. It is not perfect and it may not be suited to every medical school. There is no single template for success in terms of an application to Oxford. Other styles can be equally effective: we encourage individuality and diversity in our students. This statement is however a good example for an Oxford application because it helps us see that the applicant is attempting to match our selection criteria .

An applicant's personal statement is likely to be discussed by tutors during interview.

A well-written statement will not in isolation gain you an interview or a place. It forms one part of an application from a gifted applicant that can be considered alongside other information - academic record, BMAT score, school reference, interview performance - in the selection process at Oxford.

Statement & comments

Choosing to study medicine is not a decision I have taken lightly. It isn't a career I have wanted to do since a particularly young age, nor did a life changing event prompt my choice. I have thought very long and hard before deciding to apply.

At first glance, this might seem like a down-beat opening paragraph. Although you may think that an arresting opening statement will impress, admissions tutors may be sceptical of exaggerated descriptions of a revelatory moment or lifelong desire to become a doctor. This introduction shows honesty and a degree of introspection. Throughout the statement, the applicant works hard to show that they have a realistic view of medicine. You won't prove that you have the motivation for medicine by simply saying that you do: it is what you have done to inform yourself about the career - and the views that you have formed - that will convince us that you really know what being a doctor is like and that this is what you want to do.

Various periods of work experience have taught me much about the career. A local hospital placement gave me the opportunity to visit A&E, Radiology and Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

You won't prove that you have the motivation for medicine by simply saying that you do.

Whilst fleeting, these visits to the departments highlighted the variety and diversity of the fascinating specialities medicine encompasses. A placement shadowing a clinic staff was hugely informative regarding daily life as a doctor. During the day I sat in on consultations ranging from routine post natal checkups to discussions of treatment for young people with diabetes and overactive thyroid glands.

This student describes their experiences of healthcare that have helped them decide that they want to study and practise medicine. We understand that opportunities to obtain experience vary, so you won't be judged on what you've done: we want to know what you learned from doing it. The description of the placements here isn't over-exaggerated, and the applicant takes care to explain what they have seen and done and the insight each opportunity afforded them. The relatively detailed account of the infant's check-up conveys the impression of engagement during the placement and suggests an intellectual curiosity to understand the infant's condition and its treatment. The applicant also takes care to point out an example of the importance of good communication skills and argues how their sales position has helped them develop such skills.

Throughout my time there the doctor's genuine interest in his cases and unfaltering motivation highlighted to me the privilege of having such a stimulating profession. This, together with the ever advancing nature of a career in medicine, was brought to the fore by an infant who was having a check up as a result of her being put on an ECMO machine after her birth with Meconium Aspiration Syndrome. The ease with which the doctor broached and dealt with sensitive subject matter also emphasised the importance of a warm, approachable manner and an ability to communicate to a person on their level of understanding. I believe I have honed these skills and gained invaluable experience of the eccentricities of the general public myself in my job as a salesperson.

It is important to convey an impression of engagement and intellectual curiosity when talking about any work experience/placement/voluntary work.

Since February of this year I have volunteered in a care home for a couple of hours each week. I assist with serving meals to the residents as well as feeding one of the more infirm ladies. My time there has brought to my attention the more unpleasant side of medicine and has proved by far the most useful work experience I have had; preparing me for the stark realities of physical ageing and senility. In spite of this, I genuinely enjoy my time there; giving residents, some of whom go months without visitors, 10 minutes of my time to chat can be very rewarding in the obvious enjoyment they get from it. The experience has shown me very clearly the importance of caring for the emotional as well as the physical needs of patients.

This paragraph reaffirms the applicant's motivation for medicine. They admit that working in a nursing home is not glamorous but explain how rewarding it has been. There is evidence of analytical skills here and there is no doubt that the applicant has become well-informed about the realities of healthcare. Empathy comes across as well, with the applicant recognising that a brief interaction can have such a positive effect on the overlooked residents of the home.

Outside of my lessons I enjoy orienteering with a local club. As part of an expedition I took part in, we walked 80km over 4 days in torrential rain. The challenging conditions demanded teamwork and trust to maintain morale and perform effectively as a group; as well as calm rational thought in stressful situations. Also, through this activity and the people I met, I have become a member of the SJA which has enabled me to gain first aid qualifications and go out on duties.

Although the bulk of a personal statement should be academic-related, it is important to show a life outside of studying. The involvement in a club or association demonstrates wider spare time interests, and the description of the challenging walking expedition provides evidence that the student can work with others and can cope in an arduous situation, obliquely suggesting that they might have the capacity for sustained and intense work . The student also shows that they understand that taking time out to relax and manage any stress is important, and conveys the impression of good time management. The passing reference to the drama group reinforces the impression that this applicant is a team-player. It is useful to describe sporting or musical interests although, as, this applicant shows, these non-academic interests don't need to be particularly high-powered ones.

Other activities I enjoy include drama - I was a member of a local group for 6 years - cycling and playing the guitar and piano which allow me to relax.

Non-academic interests don't need to be particularly high-powered.

I know that medicine is not a "9 to 5" job and is by no means the glamorous source of easy money it is often perceived to be. I understand the hours are long and potentially antisocial and that the career can be physically exhausting and emotionally draining. It is apparent that becoming a medic will involve inherent sacrifice.

However medicine is also a deeply gratifying and fascinating career path. I want to be a medic because my passion and aptitude is foremost scientific and to me 5 or 6 years more of formal education followed by a lifetime of further learning sounds like a stimulating career option and, thankfully, a far cry from the monotony some jobs pose. Nevertheless, as an intrinsically social person, I would relish a career requiring the development of strong empathic relationships with patients too. Crucially, I know I have the enthusiasm, capacity for hard work and the open and enquiring mind needed to succeed in such a fulfilling vocation.

In the concluding paragraphs, the statement is emphasising that, although aware of the negative aspects associated with the practice of medicine, fact-finding placements have given the applicant the insight and motivation to be certain that it is the right career for them. The applicant ends by summarising the key personal attributes that they believe make them well-suited to medicine.

Verdict and advice for improvement

Of course, there is room for improvement with this statement. No reference is made to the scientific subjects that are being studied at school or to particular modules that the applicant has found particularly exciting: this could have helped convey enthusiasm and curiosity in science. Although the applicant asserts that they have an 'open and enquiring mind', there is no description of any extracurricular project or reading that the applicant might have undertaken, perhaps to help them understand a highly-charged ethical issue.

Despite those omissions, this is an effective personal statement. It is well constructed, connects with the reader, and the material flows in a logical sequence. It further conveys the impression that the applicant has done the research and knows exactly what is in store: they are not applying with a naive view or because that is what is expected of them. Writing a statement along these lines would provide a good foundation for a competitive applicant and offers lots of material that can be discussed at an interview.

Course Structure
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Selection Criteria
Health & Fitness to Practise
Application Checklist
Application Process
Introductory Reading
Writing your Personal Statement
Anatomy of a Personal Statement
Graduate Applicants
Mature Applicants
International Applicants
Mitigating circumstances
Shortlisting Process and Admissions Statistics
Fees and Funding

Front Quad of Lincoln College, the walls covered in bright green ivy

Undergraduate admissions: How to write a personal statement

Prospective Students

Andrew Miller

Access Officer

13 Oct 2021

What is a personal statement?

Let’s start with the basics. A personal statement is the supporting statement that you send along with your UCAS application. It is your chance to tell universities, in your own words, why you will be a great student in your chosen subject. Your personal statement should demonstrate your interest in, and suitability to, your subject. It is limited in length to 4000 characters, which translates to around 500-600 words.

What do Oxford look for in a good personal statement

At the University of Oxford we read every personal statement, multiple times, so it is definitely worth spending a good amount of time writing it. We are interested in your potential in your chosen subject, so we are very keen to hear about anything academic . This means that were interested in what you have done/are doing at school, but also in anything that you have done above and beyond your school curriculum that can be linked to your chosen subject of study. We refer to these as super-curricular activities .

Super-curricular is different to extra-curricular, as extra-curricular is not related to your academic interest. Super-curriculars can be things you’ve read, listened to, watched or visited, or any number of combinations. However, this should not just be a list of things. We also want to know how these things support you academic ambitions. Why did you choose these activities? What impact did it have on you? What did you do next? You can use all of this as specific evidence of your interest in, and commitment too, your subject.

For some ideas you could start with some suggestions from the University of Oxford here .

Basic structure

As a base line, around 80% of your personal statement should focus on your academic and super-curricular activities:

You should have an opening paragraph explaining why you want to study the course
Followed by 3 or 4 paragraphs analysing your academic and super-curricular activities
Finally, a short closing paragraph about your extra-curricular interest, focusing on transferable skills, and future aspirations/career plans

Pitfalls to avoid

An important thing to remember is that if we invite you to interview we could use your personal statement as the starting point of your interview. This means it is a good idea to re-read your personal statement beforehand. It also means that you should not be tempted to embellish your personal statement with things you haven’t read or done because you think they sound good. If we ask about those things in interview it can get very awkward very quickly!

Likewise it is important that the personal statement is in your own words and not copied from anywhere else. You also do not need to be entertaining or funny, you just need to get to the point about your academic interests and your evidence for why you will be a good scholar.

Finally, please take care with spell-checking and use whatever opportunity you can to have someone (teacher, parent, etc.) proofread for you. Most schools will want to do this for you, so please listen to your teachers.

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Where next?

How to choose your subject Read more
The application cycle Read more
UCAS and applying to Oxford Read more

Aug 12, 2018

How to write an Oxford personal statement

Make sure your personal statement conveys your interest in the subject – write down talks you’ve been to (and what they made you think), open days you’ve attended (and what you took away from them), and maybe even books you’ve read (and whether or not you agree with the author and why). Are you seeing a common thread? It’s less about what you’ve done and more about what you make of it! It’s best to only mention one book or one talk, but really go in to some critical analysis, rather than to just write a list of seven without any additional commentary.

Any extra-curricular activities should be ‘super-curricular’, i.e. related to your degree: for Maths, maybe the Maths Olympiad, for Science, maybe a Science EPQ or that time you entered a Lego competition (totally relevant to Engineering!). For Law, I talked about teaching and debating, and the self-discipline involved in teaching myself a language as an A Level. You can honestly make anything work – try to make yourself stand out a little by having something people don’t normally have! But don’t worry about not having twenty different hobbies – you don’t have space to mention more than one or two, and you won’t really be asked about your personal life at interview.

What I would reiterate, above all, is to not stress over the personal statement. If you’ve spelt everything correctly and you’ve got all your proof that you’re genuinely and voluntarily interested in your subject outside of school then you’re doing it right! And, to the year 12s going in to year 13 – for the love of all that’s holy, take a few weeks off this summer. Breathe. Let yourself detach from the intimidating university admissions process and the pressure of A Levels for a bit, because that will let you be so much more engaged when you jump back in.

#Oxford #OxfordUniversity #PersonalStatement #UCAS #College #Oxbridgeapplication #OxfordPersonalstatement

The Application Process
Personal Statements

Top Tips for an Oxford E&M Personal Statement

Table of Contents

Oxford Economics & Management Personal Statement – Top 10 Tips: Do’s and Don’ts

The Oxford E&M Personal Statement is a crucial component of your university application. It presents a unique opportunity for you to differentiate yourself from other applicants. You would be able to articulate your story and explain your interests beyond that of numbers on an admissions test. Furthermore, it gives the interviewer a chance to understand who you are. It also provides a platform to bounce off questions during your interview.

They can tailor questions to your personality, interests, and commitment to who you are as a person and your amalgamation of experiences before you. To guide you through the arduous university application process, our Oxbridge application experts have compiled a list of top 10 Oxford Economics & Management Personal Statement tips. This includes dos and don’ts– for your Oxford Economics & Management Personal Statement for the 2024/25 application cycle.

General Advice for Oxford E&M Personal Statement

The Economics and Management degree at Oxford is grossly concerned with how organisations and the economy operates. It also involves how the world’s scarce resources are allocated to achieve organisational objectives. The economics branch examines how this allocation is influenced and determined by governments, consumers, and firms. It goes further into how they influence each other and are intrinsically linked to one another. Management, on the other hand, examines how to coordinate and use labour and resources effectively within a firm, such that its desired objectives are met.

The knowledge from both economics and management are complementary, with the understanding of each intended to support and strengthen the other. Hence, when writing your Oxford Economics & Management personal statement, incorporate your interest and understanding of both fields. Furthermore, when planning out your Oxford personal statement, make sure you research Oxford’s achievements in their relevant fields. Use it as a guide to illustrate your interest in Economics and Management.

Top 5 Tips for Oxford Economics & Management Personal Statement

1. explain why you are a good fit for economics & management ..

Economics and management students would have vastly different personalities and interest profiles from that of students from other courses. For example, economics and management students should be particularly able to have flexibility. They should also demonstrate their ability in constructing and assessing arguments. You should be able to demonstrate that you display these desirable qualities in your Oxford Economics & Management personal statement. You can do so by referencing experiences that you have gone through that have caused you to be equipped with such traits. For example, you can show that you are flexible in constructing arguments through past debate competitions, or essay competitions that you have participated in or won. An experience might not be directly related to economics and management. However, the skills and qualities that you could have picked up from going through that experience are transferable. They could also be useful to you as an economics and management student.

2. Having a strong understanding of what the economics and management course entails .

Usually students’ understanding of a particular course of study is shaped by what they have witnessed in films or from their high school experience in related subjects. Some students may have taken economics in high school, which would definitely lay a good foundation for the course. However, definitely do not expect your university experience to be one and the same! Some students may consider the course to be too math-heavy as per their expectations, or they did not be expecting to write as many essays. Do ensure that you thoroughly research the course syllabus and have a realistic understanding of what the course entails. Demonstrating a pragmatic and sensible understanding of the course in your Oxford Economics & Management personal statement would also be favourable in your application. You can illustrate that you are a good fit for the course. Furthermore, it can display to Oxford tutors that you have a thought-through and reasonable motivation for wanting to study Economics and Management. For example, you can explain that you enjoy being able to study both essay-based and mathematics elements.

3. Being well-read in economics and management .

It is always recommended that you display that you are well-read in your Oxford personal statement. This is because it is a great way to display that you are interested and passionate about the subject. It also shows that you are a wide reader and are comfortable with perusing large volumes of text. This is a handy skill in any humanities or academically vigorous course. Some books that are relevant to the economics and management course include End this Depression Now by Paul Krugman. You can also read The Bottom Billion by Paul Collier. Do keep in mind that reading is not only restricted to books! This could also include news articles, magazine columns, or even podcasts, documentaries, or Youtube videos! Finding a medium or format that is more accessible or tailored to your style of learning would be a great way for you to incorporate more content into your everyday lifestyle. For example, you could listen to a podcast when you are travelling to school instead of listening to your usual playlist.

4. Allowing yourself sufficient time to write your Oxford Economics & Management personal statement .

Many people mistakenly think that they can leave their Oxford Economics & Management personal statement to the last minute as it is only a 4000-character count essay. However, remember that you need time to redraft your Oxford Economics & Management personal statement multiple times. You also need to buffer enough time for seniors, friends, or career guidance counsellors to take time out of their schedule to read your Oxford personal statement. They can provide feedback on your work, and you can refine it based on their comments!

5. Having a good structure .

Structure matters a lot when writing your Oxford Economics & Management personal statement. It enhances readability. It also allows you to communicate exactly what you intended to your admissions tutor without anything being lost in translation! A good structure would include a short introduction paragraph briefly introducing why you want to study economics and management. Next, your body paragraphs could highlight desirable qualities and traits. These could include those that an economics and management student should have. It could also include aspects of the course that aligns well with your interest or type of personality. You could lastly conclude by summarising key points that you would like your Oxford tutors to take away.

Top 5 things to AVOID for your Oxford Economics and Management Personal Statement

1. mentioning and listing every experience and achievement that you have done ..

Even though you would have done a variety of activities and experiences in high school, not all of them would be relevant in your application to be an economics and management student. Many students misunderstand the application process, thinking that Oxford is looking for the most decorated, well-rounded student. However, they are instead looking out for the student who is a good fit for the economics and management programme instead. You could be the perfect student, but that does not mean you are the perfect economics and management student. There may be a specific experience that you definitely want to include in your Oxford Economics & Management personal statement but it is not relevant to the course. You can include it by talking about relevant qualities or skills that you have picked up from the experience. For example, volunteering and mission trips might not seem directly relevant to economics and management. However, you could explain it by stating that they initiated your desire to study economics as you hope to seek a deeper understanding of economic policies that can help reduce inequality or poverty.

2. Focusing your Oxford Economics & Management personal statement on economics or management and not both.

Do not forget that the course that you are applying for includes both economics and management, and the course syllabus is roughly split equally between the two! If you only focus on economics or management and leave out the other, this could signal to your admissions tutor that you are not clear on the course you are applying to. However, understandably, you would be applying to five different schools and courses in your university admissions. If you are applying to four other economics courses and Oxford’s economics and management programme is the only choice you are applying to, you can still mention both by leaving a section of your Oxford Economics & Management personal statement on management to acknowledge and show it.

3. Turning your Oxford personal statement into an economics essay instead of explaining your interest in the course .

Many applicants choose to mention an economic theory that got them first interested in economics, to use it as an opening to their Oxford Economics & Management personal statement or when they are explaining about a book or an article that they have read. However, do keep in mind that the focus of the Oxford Economics & Management personal statement should always be why you want to study economics and management and why the course would be a good fit for you. Do remember that Oxford tutors would already be extremely knowledgeable in their field. This means that regardless of how obscure or unconventional the theory that you are explaining is, you would not impress your Oxford tutors with it. They want to learn about you, and if they wanted to learn about a theory, they would read a textbook!

4. Not reflecting whenever you bring up a personal experience .

Whenever you mention an experience that you went through, always elaborate on it by linking it back to economics and management. For example, you could mention how the experience has caused you to pick up desirable traits that an admissions tutor would want in an economics and management student. You could also elaborate on how participating in such activities was due to your interest in economics and management, or how it grew your passion for it.

5. Exaggerating or lying about experiences in your Oxford Economics & Management personal statement .

If you are invited for an interview, the Oxford admissions tutors would be basing some of their interview questions on your Oxford Economics & Management personal statement. This means that they are likely to ask you to elaborate on some experiences or theories that you mentioned in your Oxford Economics & Management personal statement. If you exaggerated or lied about any experience that you have mentioned, it is likely that the Oxford tutor would catch you in the lie or realise that you were exaggerating. It is better for you to come off as authentic than deceitful, so be truthful when explaining your story!

→What is the Oxford E&M program?

The Oxford Economics and Management (E&M) program is an undergraduate degree program offered by the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School. The program combines economics and management to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of business, finance, and economics.

→What are some tips for writing a strong Oxford E&M personal statement?

Some tips for writing a strong Oxford E&M personal statement include researching the program and demonstrating an understanding of the subject, highlighting relevant academic achievements and extracurricular activities, showcasing leadership and teamwork skills, and demonstrating a genuine passion for economics and management.

→What should be included in an Oxford E&M personal statement?

An Oxford E&M personal statement should include information about the candidate’s academic achievements, extracurricular activities, work experience, and personal qualities that are relevant to the program. It should also include specific examples of how the candidate has demonstrated leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.

→How long should an Oxford E&M personal statement be?

The Oxford E&M personal statement should be no more than 4,000 characters or 47 lines, whichever comes first. Candidates should use this space wisely to showcase their strengths and demonstrate their suitability for the program.

→Is it important to tailor the personal statement to the Oxford E&M program specifically?

Yes, it is important to tailor the personal statement to the Oxford E&M program specifically. This includes researching the program and understanding its unique features and requirements, as well as demonstrating a genuine interest in the subject and a strong motivation to study at the University of Oxford.

→How important is the personal statement for the Oxford E&M program?

The personal statement is a crucial part of the Oxford E&M application process as it allows candidates to showcase their passion for the subject and their potential to succeed in the program. The personal statement also provides the admissions team with insight into a candidate’s motivation, academic background, and personal qualities.

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Shona Barrie – Director of Admissions, University of Stirling

UCAS asked admissions tutors – the people who read and score your personal statement – for their advice on what you should and shouldn’t do when writing your personal statement.

The most common piece of advice was not to worry about it – and don’t be tempted to copy anyone else’s.

Read our step-by-step guide to writing your personal statement

Then follow our simple tips below.

Do talk about why you’re a good candidate – talk about you, your motivations and what brings you to this course.
Do be enthusiastic – if you show you’re interested in the course, it may help you get a place.
Do make it relevant . Connect what you’re saying with the course and with your experiences.
Do outline your ideas clearly .
Do avoid the negatives – highlight the positives about you, and show you know your strengths.
Do expect to produce several drafts of your personal statement before being totally happy with it.
Do ask people you trust for their feedback.
Don’t be modest or shy . You want your passions to come across.
Don’t exaggerate – if you do, you may get caught out in an interview when asked to elaborate on an interesting achievement.
Don’t use quotes from someone else, or cliches.
Don’t leave it to the last minute – your statement will seem rushed and important information could be left out.
Don’t let spelling and grammatical errors spoil your statement , but don't just rely on a spellchecker. Proofread as many times as possible.
Don’t copy and paste – make yours original.
Don’t post your personal statement on the internet or on social media or share your personal statement with anyone including your friends and family, unless asking for feedback from people you trust.
Don’t worry about it – we have all the advice you need to help you stand out in your personal statement.

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Don’t be tempted to copy or share your statement.

UCAS scans all personal statements through a similarity detection system to compare them with previous statements.

Any similarity greater than 30% will be flagged and we'll inform the universities and colleges to which you have applied.

Find out more

Ana ghaffari moghaddam – third year law student and careers coach, university of liverpool.

You’ve got this. Follow those simple steps and use your personal statement as your chance to shine .Use the below as a checklist to make sure you've avoided all common pitfalls.

Want more tips on what to include in your personal statement? Use the links below.

Get started with our personal statement builder .
Five things all students should include in their personal statement.
See how you can turn your personal statement into a CV, apprenticeship application or covering letter.
Read How to start a personal statement: The attention grabber .

Successful Personal Statement For Psychology At Oxford

Last Updated: 6th April 2022

Author: Rob Needleman

Welcome to our popular Personal Statement series where we present a successful Personal Statement, and our Oxbridge Tutors provide their feedback on it.

Today, we are looking through a Psychology applicant’s Personal Statement that helped secure a place at Oxford University. The Psychology Course at Oxford is a scientific discipline, involving the rigorous formulation and testing of ideas. It works through experiments and systematic observation rather than introspection.

Read on to see how this candidate demonstrates their academic interests and initiative.

Here’s a breakdown of the Personal Statement (the applicant uses most of the 4,000 characters available):

SUCCESSFUL?

The universities this candidate applied to were the following:

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Psychology Personal Statement

How does the mind work? The mind is a mystery housed within the most complex mechanism known to man: the human brain. My innate curiosity compels me to find out more about such a mystery through the study of Psychology.

I have long been interested in how our minds differ: for example, why have I always been a strong mathematician while my brother finds it challenging? Being a musician, I found Kathryn Vaughn’s research supporting a correlation between musical and mathematical abilities particularly thought provoking, while I have also wondered whether my childhood obsession with jigsaws helped me develop problem-solving skills, which are particularly relevant in Geometry: the area with the biggest rift in our abilities. Ann Dowker’s argument, in ‘Individual Differences’, that educational methods influence such differences was also particularly compelling. Therefore, in my gap year, whilst helping struggling learners in KS3 Mathematics at a local school, and, when I help educate children in Tanzania as an International Citizen Service volunteer with the VSO charity, I will evaluate the success of different educational methods. This will give me experience of carrying out my own research, and, will develop skills such as empathy, which is important in the more sensitive areas of Psychology. Furthermore, I recently assisted a University of Oxford researcher conducting follow-up assessments with children in local primary schools. These measured reading-age, language comprehension and numeracy level, and are used to gauge and refine the Catch-Up charity’s numeracy intervention programme. As some of the children being assessed were from a control group, my involvement also enlightened me to ethical aspects of research.

Differences that occur in the criminal mind are also of great interest to me. As an elected Student Ambassador for the Holocaust Educational Trust, I visited Auschwitz-Birkenau earlier this year, where I learnt about Rudolf Hoess. Hoess exterminated thousands of families, yet lived with his own family just outside the camp. This ignited an interest in complex behaviour; therefore I read Stanley Milgram’s research into whether ‘the Germans are different’, and learnt about his Theory of Obedience. This developed an interest in Forensic Psychology, and I subsequently attended a Forensics course at Nottingham University, where I learnt about a Forensic Psychologist’s role, during Mental Health tribunals, for example.

Deterioration of the mind, and methods to counteract this, also interest me. Reading the Psychologist has given me an insight into how the effectiveness of such methods could be analysed using a high-resolution 3D brain atlas; while a presentation from Claire Rytina enlightened me to useful cognitive treatment designed to rebuild and retrieve memory following her Viral Encephalitis. I have also voluntarily worked at a Nursing Home with some Dementia sufferers, and noticed that many sufferers enjoyed me playing music from their past, and sometimes, this triggered some of their memories. This made me wonder whether the music stimulated neurones which had lain dormant for years, similarly to when neurones are used for the first time, as Hubel and Weisel’s nature/nurture research has shown. Studying this in A level Biology gave me an interest in neuroscience, while Biology also stressed the importance of controls and fair tests, which are invaluable during Psychology experiments too. My mathematical skills in statistics will also be beneficial when analysing empirical evidence; and, the deep level of analysis and evaluation used for varying sources in A level History will be useful when studying case studies, while my essay techniques will help me when writing reports, and when considering issues from different perspectives.

Overall, I feel that my broad interests and skills will enable me to thrive as a Psychology student at a demanding University, where I would also make a positive contribution to University life.

For more inspiration, take a look through our other successful Personal Statement a nalysis articles:

Successful Personal Statement For Law At Cambridge

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Download our Free Personal Statement Starter Guide

Good Points Of The Personal Statement

This statement is powered by a broad range of academic interests — all of which the candidate has explored to a deep and commendable level. They are able to articulate how these interests came about, why they are important and how they intersect. In so doing, the candidate clearly demonstrates their ability to think independently, undertake independent projects and foster a wide-ranging curiosity. Furthermore, they clearly illustrate how their academic interests have had a bearing on their actions outside of the classroom; activities that require a substantial amount of initiative and endeavour.

Bad Points Of The Personal Statement

While the consideration of a range of different areas of psychology is illustrative of a consistently curious individual, this statement would have benefited from greater cohesion as an overall piece. The candidate could have also found a less rhetorical way of opening their statement; their tone at this point is not a mode of speech that they return to elsewhere, and as such, it seems somewhat like a non-sequitur. Their prose thereafter is much more engaging, and it seems unfulfilling and irrelevant to include such mystifying text at the start.

UniAdmissions Overall Score:

This candidate maturely presents their academic interests and particular areas of personal pursuit. As a result of this, they are able to demonstrate moments at which they have taken impressive amounts of initiative, and have really gone out of their way in order to experience their academic interests outside of the classroom. They are thereby able to fashion themselves as a curious, energetic, academic individual, who is able to think independently and develop their own work. There are potential areas for stylistic improvement within the statement, but they do not hinder the overall impression given of a capable and committed candidate.

This Personal Statement for Psychology is a great example of demonstrating academic interest and initiative. The candidate’s interest and passion are clearly shown which is vital to Admissions Tutors.

Remember, at Oxford, these Admissions Tutors are often the people who will be teaching you for the next few years, so you need to appeal directly to them.

Go to our Free Personal Statement Resources page for even more successful personal statements and expert guides.

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Personal statements

Your personal statement is an important part of the application process. It is how you show a university that you are right for their course. Writing a good one can take a lot of work, but don’t worry. This isn’t a test, but an opportunity to show yourself off in the best possible light. You need to show them what would make you a good student. Be clear, be honest, and be enthusiastic about your course.

Your course

The university is interested in you as a student. Show them that you are interested in your subject and will work hard at it during your studies. Look in detail at what studying this subject will involve and try to apply your existing knowledge or experience.

Why are you interested?
What sparked your interest?
What specific topics do you enjoy?
What have you done to learn about these topics?
What have you read about your subject?
What projects have you done to do with your subject?
If the subject is one you study at school - how have you gone beyond school requirements to learn more about it?
If you have an idea of a career path you’d like to follow - how does the course fit into it?

What if I’m applying for a combined course?

Make sure you include why you’re interested in both subjects and talk about them both equally.

Work experience

Relevant work experience can look great in your personal statement. Make sure you’re specific about what you have learnt and how it relates to your course. If it isn’t directly relevant, include the transferable skills you’ve gained.


“I spent two weeks working at a department store. I enjoyed speaking to customers and helping them with their enquiries”	“I spent two weeks managing customer enquiries at a department store. I learned how to interact with customers and handle complaints. The experience highlighted the importance of positive communication between a business and its customers, and taught me how to manage difficult enquiries effectively. I would like to develop this skill further by studying a degree in public relations.”

The example here relates the work experience to the course. Even the most basic work experience looks good if you write about it well. It will also show the admissions team your critical and reflective thinking skills, and that you can write creatively.

Extracurricular activities and volunteering

Include activities that support your course choice. For example, going to galleries and museums for art or history courses. If you’re writing about your clubs and teams, be specific about the skills you’ve learnt from them. This could include teamwork, perseverance and time management.

Include any personal achievements and what they demonstrate. For example, taking part in a fundraising event could show your commitment and organisational skills. If you have any positions of responsibility like being a club leader or student mentor, describe those.

What if I want to take a gap year?

You’ll need to include it in your personal statement. Describe how you plan to use it constructively. Pushing yourself out of your comfort zone, learning new skills, volunteering and experiencing new cultures (if you choose to travel) all look great on personal statements.

Things to remember

Don’t leave it to the last minute - you’ll need to write several drafts.
You only write one personal statement and this is used for all your course choices.
Don’t mention things specific to only one of the courses you’re applying for.
Focus on themes present in all your choices.
Your course is the most important thing to write about.
Write positively in a style you feel comfortable with.
Use clear sentence structures.
Be analytical (not descriptive) about yourself and the subject.
Don’t try to be funny or controversial - not everyone will share your sense of humour!
Be honest - if you go to interview you will probably be asked about things you’ve written.
Write it in word processing software first, then copy and paste it into UCAS.
Proofread as many times as possible, don’t just rely on a spell checker.
Leave a few days between writing and proofreading (you’ll be more likely to spot mistakes).
Make sure your statement is your own and not copied (plagiarised) from anywhere.
Ask your parents/guardians, teachers and friends to help make final checks.
You are limited to 4000 characters - including spaces!

Useful links

UCAS has online advice on how to write an undergraduate personal statement where you can find out more about what to write and how to structure it.
Check out these example personal statements from Studential . Use them as inspiration - do not copy them! You will get caught by UCAS’ plagiarism system.
Browse these Which University? articles all about personal statements .

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Oxford University Personal Statements

We hope our collection of oxford university personal statements provides inspiration for writing your own. please do not plagiarise them in any way, or ucas will penalise your application. our personal statement editing & review services are availble if you feel you need a little extra help..

History Personal Statement Example 3 Recently, I found out that my grandma was gambled into slavery for seven years. She escaped her prison and made her way back to Hong Kong, 300 miles south. I was amazed at how courageous she was. This personal discovery led me to read Jung Chang's 'Wild Swans' which made me both proud and ashamed of my heritage...

Computer Science Personal Statement Example 4 I find it amazing to watch as the digital revolution sculpts society at a rate that has never before been seen; there is so much to still be discovered. Quantum computing is a topic that particularly interests me, stemming from my studies and keen interest in physics...

Economics and PPE Personal Statement Example My aspiration to study economics at both advanced and degree level has stemmed from my lasting interest in current affairs and world development. These issues require an application of economics in real-life situations and can be related to many diverse subjects such as politics, philosophy and psychology...

English Literature Personal Statement Example 1 When I saw Gatz, John Collin's eight hour interpretation of The Great Gatsby, I noticed that Fitzgerald changes the colour of Daisy's hair every time he describes it. It is "like a dash of blue paint", "yellowy" like her daughters and then "dark, shining"...

Geography Personal Statement Example 2 In a dynamic world, the study of geography is increasingly important. The diversity of the subject and the interaction between the physical environment and human population is becoming even more evident with climate change and globalisation influencing our everyday lives...

Psychology Personal Statement Example 11 “If she’s smart she will study Medicine.” This is an unwritten rule in my culture - all Nigerian parents want their children to become doctors. What becomes of the aspiring psychologist in the family? I met a junior doctor, at an educational conference, who wanted to specialise in psychiatry...

History Personal Statement Example 13 Until I began my A-levels last September, I had never been to school or followed a formal syllabus. My parents homeschooled me. They guided, encouraged, and fed my interests with books, documentaries and discussions...

Natural and Biological Sciences Personal Statement Example Experiencing first-hand life as a human in the natural world, I have the authority to confirm that regardless of previous knowledge, unexplained phenomena still exist. As a scientist, I adore observing the unknown, analysing the known and making decisions accordingly...

English Personal Statement Example 22 What I enjoy above all else in a piece of literature is the feeling that it has brought about change, either in me or in some wider context. Literature which offers the opportunity for an adapted way of living or thinking, however slight, is I think a thing to be kept and treasured in our intellects...

English Literature and Creative Writing Personal Statement Example 1 I once aspired to be a visual artist, a photographer or painter. However, I later discovered the unique ability of poetry and the written word to maintain its power and resonance in a world saturated with images and messages...

Computer Science Personal Statement Example 45 Advances in computer and information technology over the past few decades have brought about revolution in science, medicine, education, business, and entertainment. I wish to be part of the future revolution and that is why I want to study computer science...

English Literature Personal Statement Example 16 I believe that to read English is to read the human being itself: after all, we are all writers. Even in the very act of choosing our words - thinking them, speaking them, physically writing them down - we create something meaningful...

Human Sciences Personal Statement Example Perhaps what makes me different from other University applicants is that I have ambition to understand multidimensional human life. It is not the appeal of a top qualification or the zesty student lifestyle that attracts me to this course; but it is the long-term knowledge and answers to interdisciplinary human problems, and the enigmas that I will commit a lifetime investigating with perhaps no solution, that inspires me to apply...

Engineering Personal Statement Example 19 Physics is that branch of science without which science is just like a beautiful lamp with no light. For centuries, mathematicians and physicists have made plenty of scientific contributions thus helping the world make a better place to live...

History (Ancient and Modern) Personal Statement Example 1 It is those things we don’t yet know or understand that make history a fascinating, intellectual puzzle. We know a remarkable amount about history and the development of society but new archaeological discoveries, the dedicated efforts of historians, translators and other academics and advancements in areas such as archaeometry mean that the body of historical information is still expanding...

Archaeology and Anthropology Personal Statement Example 2 As an immigrant living in Spain, I am constantly reminded of the importance social and cultural factors have on my daily life, the language I speak, and the difference between the relationships I maintain with people from my own country and those I encounter here on a daily basis...

Computer Science Personal Statement Example 49 My views about computing changed considerably when I heard about Linux. In the late nineties it was a newer operating system and tasks like installing and configuring were considered to be quite challenging in India...

Law Personal Statement Example 70 Law is ever changing, whether parliament is passing new legislation, existing legislation is being rewritten or the courts are interpreting laws in different ways. In the case of Anthony Bland the distinguishing of earlier precedents was vital...

History and English Personal Statement Example Studying history and English concurrently has appealed to me ever since I recognised the inseparability of the two disciplines closest to my heart. Personally, I believe that the literary style of a piece of writing is as important as scholarly research and I try to make my essays as lively as possible whilst still grounded in solid historical or literary method, dulce et utile, following the example of writers such as Richard J Evans...

Economics and Management Personal Statement Example 2 My interest in Economics goes beyond an appreciation of statistics and profit margins. In my mind, economics represents the relationship between people and their money – a relationship that dates back to the history of mankind...

German Personal Statement Example 7 The study of language has always been appealing and is the focus of much of my time and energy, but the study of the German language is what mesmerises me most. Before understanding German I was first intrigued by its sound, and as I began to learn it, I became fascinated by its complexity...

Economics Personal Statement Example 30 The ever-changing nature of the human science intrigues me. Newton’s laws of motion will never change, from wherever ‘the ball is dropped’. However, different strategies and policies have to be framed and implemented for each economic problem...

Mathematics & Computer Science Personal Statement Example I have found mathematics a fascinating subject since my early years. I enjoy it as it is challenging and logical. I am particularly interested in decision mathematics as it is a field that is directly related to real-life applications of mathematics and can be used to solve problems, such as finding the optimal solution for transporting materials from one place to another while minimising the cost...

Physics Personal Statement Example 15 I have always been intrigued by the world of physics. From everyday experiences to the most extreme boundaries of today's knowledge, I have always voraciously searched for answers to my questions. As I grew up, the elegance of mathematical demonstrations and of physical theorems fascinated me, and I have often dreamt of making contributions to the unification theory and of improving and simplifying the Navier-Stokes equations...

Electrical Engineering Personal Statement Example 2 The defining wonder of today’s age is electricity. In just two centuries, we have come from Faraday’s crude but prophetic experiments to devices just a square inch that can calculate in seconds what the most gifted of human minds might take days...

Medicine Personal Statement Example 70 The challenge of spending my working life immersed in the fascinating, ever-evolving world of the medical sciences, and the opportunity to use this knowledge to benefit others, has drawn me to seek a career in medicine...

Politics, Philosophy & Economics (PPE) Personal Statement Example 3 In this day and age virtually every aspect of our lives may be considered political. My passion to study Politics stems from this tenet and a belief that a comprehension of Politics is integral to understanding the current state of humanity...

Chemistry Personal Statement Example 18 Chemistry explores the properties of all matter and energy in our universe, which eventually leads to breakthroughs that benefit mankind, ranging from how to prevent food from decomposing to understanding what chemicals can help or harm you...

Philosophy Personal Statement Example (Mature Student) Since leaving education in 2006 I have always wanted to return; a great love of learning, desire for knowledge and natural curiosity throughout my life resulted in an ambition to teach. It was with this ambition in my heart that I took the plunge and returned to education, beginning my Access course last year with the intention of applying to study for a primary education degree...

Civil Engineering Personal Statement Example 17 My decision to study engineering stems from a desire to contribute to the evolution of society through a process that does not just define our environment but our era. My personal inspiration is the Segovia aqueduct, an 800m long, 30 metre high Roman marvel which still stands today...

Ancient and Modern History Personal Statement Example 1 What makes history engaging and interesting to me is its interdisciplinary nature and its ability to take you on a journey to the discovery of humanity's past. History has been a constant source of captivation for me, from studying the mythology of Ancient Greece in primary school through to the study of the Russian Revolution at A Level...

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UK qualifications

In order to take up the offer of a place to study here, all applicants must meet the qualification requirements of their course.

Most students who apply to Oxford are taking A-levels but we also accept other equivalent UK qualifications, and international qualifications .

Specific subject requirements

In some subjects, particularly sciences, candidates are required to have studied certain subjects to at least A-level standard. If a candidate has studied an alternative course, tutors will require evidence that the course covers the same content as A-level to the appropriate standard.

Please read the specific subject requirements on the individual course pages or in this summary table of admission requirements . Wherever possible, your grades are considered in the context in which they have been achieved . The UCAS Search tool now enables applicants to view historic grades on entry for particular undergraduate courses. We would not advise that UCAS’s entry grades data is used to predict the likelihood of being admitted to Oxford. Oxford’s admissions processes use a range of evidence about applicant performance and potential, including information from UCAS forms, the personal statement and reference, prior achievement and predicted grades. Oxford also considers the results of any admissions tests where relevant, and interview performance for those shortlisted. A very small number of students are admitted to Oxford who don’t meet their offer conditions and this is often as a result of personal exceptional circumstances.

England and Northern Ireland qualifications

Offers for students studying A-levels range between A*A*A and AAA depending on the course. If a practical component forms part of any of your science A‐levels used to meet your offer, we expect you to pass it.

Each course page gives details of specific subject and grade requirements.

Providing that any specific subject requirements have been met, all A-levels are approved for admissions purposes, with the exception of:

General Studies - not accepted by any course
Critical Thinking and Thinking Skills - not accepted by Biomedical Sciences or Medicine
Global Perspectives and Research - not accepted by any course

For the avoidance of doubt, Maths and Further Maths are viewed as separate A-Levels. We are aware that General Studies and Critical Thinking have now been withdrawn.

AS-levels and unit grades

We are aware that A-levels in England are no longer modular and that the majority of applicants with A-levels will therefore not have UMS marks or unit grades. If you have taken A-levels in Wales or Northern Ireland, or international A-levels, you can choose to disclose any unit grades you have achieved by the time you are making your application; however, these will not be taken into account during the admissions process.

If you have completed (and cashed in) any standalone AS-levels by the time you are making your application, these can be listed as separate qualifications. However, conditional offers will be made on the basis of final A-level grades.

A-levels taken in or before Year 13

Where there are specific requirements for any course – including any requirement for A-levels to be taken together or at particular times – these will be clearly stated in the entrance requirements listed on the relevant course page.

The usual expectation is that candidates will complete the A-levels specified in their applications within a two year period. Where a candidate completes a relevant A-level before they apply, this will be taken into account; however, it is likely that offers will be made on the basis of three A-levels completed in Year 13.

The Maths department and the Computer Science department have each published advice for students wishing to take Maths A-level early. There are also specific requirements which relate to students applying for Medicine and applicants are recommended to consult the Medical Sciences website for the latest information.

Age and Stage

The University supports the general principles of Age and Stage, whereby students are allowed to progress through their educational development and qualifications at an appropriate rate according to their ability. However, if students are entered early for examinations, the University would still expect students to achieve at the highest level. Poor performance could potentially have a negative effect on a future application.

GCSEs will be taken into account when we consider your application but they are just one aspect that we look at. GCSE results will be considered alongside your personal statement, academic reference, predicted grades and performance in any written work or written test required for your course.

If you are shortlisted, your performance in interviews will also be taken into account. Higher grades at GCSE can help to make your application more competitive, and successful applicants typically have a high proportion of 7,8 and 9 grades. However, we do look at GCSE grades in context .

If you feel that you did less well in your GCSEs than you might otherwise have done because of extenuating circumstances, you may still be able to make a competitive application. Examples would include disruption caused by change of school or system, severe discontinuity of teachers, bereavement, and debilitating illness.

We take care to treat each application individually and would always take such extenuating circumstances into account, if they are brought to our attention. You may like to mention any such circumstances in your personal statement, and your referee should make sure to mention them clearly in their reference.

If for any reason this is not possible, then we would advise you to contact the college you applied to (or are assigned to if making an open application) once they are likely to have received your application. This is likely to be around the end of October.

For those who were due to take GCSEs in 2020 and 2021, we will take into account the difficult circumstances in which these grades were issued when we assess your application. Please follow our advice about personal statements and academic references which we update for each year of entry.

Tutors will want to see how you improve your academic performance after your GCSEs and that you do well in your A-levels or other equivalent qualifications.

We recommend that candidates take those GCSE subjects that they enjoy the most and are confident in achieving good grades in.

Extended Project Qualifications (EPQ)

Where applicants have undertaken the EPQ, this will not be a condition of any offer but the University recognises that the EPQ will provide an applicant with the opportunity to develop research and academic skills relevant for study at Oxford. Candidates are encouraged to draw upon relevant EPQ experience when writing their personal statement.

Oxford University will continue to accept the Pre-U as a valid qualification for admissions purposes up to and beyond its withdrawal by Cambridge Assessment International Examinations*. Conditional offers are likely, as now, to vary between D2, D2, D3 and D3, D3, D3 depending on the subject. Each course page will detail the requirements necessary. For admission purposes D2 is considered to be equivalent to an A* grade at A-level and D3 to an A grade. Students may also take Pre-U principal subjects in place of A-levels. *June 2022 was be the final examination for Latin, Classical Greek, Psychology, Russian and Italian. All other Cambridge Pre-U subjects will had a final examination in June 2023.

Scottish qualifications

Highers and advanced highers.

We welcome the valuable skills developed by students studying within the Curriculum for Excellence and would usually expect AAAAB or AAAAA in Scottish Highers, supplemented by two or more Advanced Highers.

Conditional offers will usually be for AAB if a student is able to take three Advanced Highers; where this is not possible then a student would be expected to achieve AA in two Advanced Highers, as well as an A grade in an additional Higher course taken in Year 6.

Oxford University welcomes Young Applicants in Schools Scheme (YASS) modules as extra qualifications that applicants may study to develop their knowledge of a particular subject, or to try something new. These YASS modules are offered by the Open University in Scotland, and students may find them useful in preparing for university study.

Students who take these modules may wish to refer to them in their personal statements, to discuss what they have gained from this extra study.

However, as most students who are taking YASS modules are also studying for Advanced Highers or Scottish Highers (or other equivalent qualifications), offers will usually be made on the basis of those qualifications alone.

Welsh qualifications

The University is aware that framework for the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate has now been withdrawn, but that students are still able to take the Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate as a standalone qualification.

The University recognises that this qualification will provide students with the opportunity to develop research and academic skills relevant for study at Oxford, particularly through the independent research project, and applicants are encouraged to draw upon their experiences when writing the personal statement. However, the Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate will not form the basis of any offers, and conditional offers are likely to range between A*A*A and AAA at A-level, depending on the course.

International Baccalaureate

Students with the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma are our second largest group of applicants and students, after those with A-levels, and we welcome applicants with this qualification.

We would expect students to achieve a total score of 38, 39 or 40 points, depending on the course, including core points, with 6s and 7s in the higher-level subjects. Each course page gives details of the specific requirements.

IB students are able to choose from:

Analysis and Approaches (SL or HL)
Applications and Interpretation (SL or HL)

All Oxford courses that state that they require Maths accept both courses at HL, apart from Chemistry, which requires applicants to have taken either of the courses at HL, or the Analysis and Approaches course at SL, depending on what other subjects they are taking; please see the Chemistry course page for further information.

If courses state that they recommend Maths, either course will be acceptable.

The University does not accept the IB Career-related Programme.

Vocational, technical and applied general qualifications

Vocational and technical qualifications.

Candidates with vocational or technical qualifications equivalent to A-levels are welcome to apply, although candidates may need to take additional academic qualifications to make a competitive application.

If you would like to discuss whether your qualification is suitable for entry to Oxford University, please contact the subject department that you'd like to apply to for further information.

T-Levels are not considered appropriate preparation for courses at Oxford and are therefore not accepted for entry. Candidates with a mix of qualifications should contact the department or faculty for the course they are interested in applying for.

Applied General qualifications

Because of the academic nature of the undergraduate courses at Oxford, most Applied General qualifications (such as BTECs, Cambridge Technical Diplomas or UAL Diplomas) are unlikely to be suitable for making a competitive application by themselves, though they could be considered if taken alongside A-Levels, depending on the course applied for. Examples of the requirements of some courses that accept Applied General qualifications can be found on this page.

When considering applications, tutors would want to see evidence of learning and assessment that would provide the skills and knowledge the candidate would need for the course they are applying for. Candidates are therefore advised to include in their UCAS personal statement information on how their qualification has prepared them for the course they are applying to.

A D grade (distinction) in an Applied General qualification would be considered equivalent to an A at A-level, and a D* in a BTEC National would be considered equivalent to an A* at A-level.

Applicants interested in applying for Fine Art who are studying for a BTEC National Extended Diploma will be required to achieve DDD grades. As the Fine Art degree also includes a substantial history and theory component, BTEC applicants will be expected to have successfully completed a range of modules that include art history.

Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

Please visit the Medical Sciences website for details.

Engineering Science

BTEC National Extended Diploma with grades D*D*D or BTEC National Foundation Diploma with Grade D* and A-level grades A*A in Maths and Physics

Computer Science and Joint Schools

Please visit the Computer Science website for the latest information on our standard offers for students taking BTECs .

Foundation and access courses and Foundation degrees

Foundation courses.

Competition is very strong for places at Oxford. Although a foundation year course may be accepted in certain circumstances, we recommend taking different qualifications in order to make the strongest application. This is especially true if your chosen course has specific subject requirements. You can check these requirements on the course page .

For a foundation year course to be accepted, you would need to make sure that the course covers the same content as any required A-levels to the appropriate standard. If it does not, you will need to take alternative qualifications. If you would like further advice regarding your particular circumstances, please contact the relevant department.

Contact details can be found on the course pages .

University of Oxford Foundation Certificates

The University of Oxford offers Foundation Certificates in English Literature, and History, through its Department for Continuing Education. Students on these courses can apply to study a complete degree at any university, including here at Oxford University. If students do apply here to Oxford, they may apply for direct entry to year two of the relevant undergraduate course.

Visit the Continuing Education Department website for further details, or email [email protected] .

Art Foundation courses

An Art Foundation course is not a prerequisite for applying to study Fine Art at Oxford, but is highly recommended as a good preparation for taking Fine Art at degree level as it enables candidates to prepare a comprehensive portfolio of work which is a requirement for the admissions process. Most successful applicants to Oxford have completed an Art Foundation course.

Foundation degrees

Foundation degrees are usually two years of full-time study and would be acceptable in lieu of A-levels, provided that the degree covered the same content as any A-levels which are specifically required.

Access courses

Some Access courses allow students to take one or two A-levels as part of the course. This option is strongly recommended for students who wish to apply to Oxford, especially for those courses which have specific subject requirements. You can check the requirements on our course pages and in this summary table .

Conditional offers are likely to be for completion of the Access to HE diploma with all the level 3 credits at Distinction, and A or A* grades in any A-levels taken.

If you would like to discuss whether to use your Access course for entry to Oxford University, please contact the subject department that you’d like to apply to for further information. Contact details are on the course pages .

Open University

Open University courses are usually studied by distance learning, with course work and examination elements. Students are awarded points according to the content of each course, and the points may count towards different qualifications from diplomas to complete degrees. A full degree would usually require 360 points: 120 at stage 1 (equivalent to the first year of a degree at a conventional university), 120 at stage 2 and 120 at stage 3.

To apply to Oxford, students would need to have completed, or be studying for, at least 120 points at stage 1 or above, in appropriate subjects. We would expect students to be performing at the highest level, with at least pass grade 2.

Mature students' qualifications and second degrees

Mature students’ qualifications.

We are aware that students, particularly mature students , may hold qualifications which are no longer available or where grading systems have changed. These qualifications will be assessed on a case by case basis by the college considering your application.

Applying as a graduate for a second undergraduate degree

Please refer to our Second Undergraduate Degree webpage. You may be able to apply for Senior Status which would mean you can start directly in the second year of the degree. You should also note that your eligibility for government support or loans will be affected by any study you have already undertaken.

Transfers and applying while at another UK university

Applying to transfer whilst on an undergraduate course at another university.

Oxford University does not accept transfer students. If you wish to follow an undergraduate course here, then you would need to start the course from the beginning. However, this option is not available if you are currently enrolled on a Medicine course elsewhere and wish to apply to study Medicine at Oxford.

Applying to start the first year of an Oxford undergraduate course whilst at another university

If you are currently studying at a UK university and are thinking of applying to Oxford to start the first year of an undergraduate course, please note that normally we will only consider such applications in exceptional circumstances and you should make very clear in your application why you do not wish to continue on your current course. Please note we are not able to give examples of these exceptional circumstances as applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

If you do decide to apply whilst at another university and you do not have A-level or equivalent qualifications at the grades required for the standard offer for the course you are interested in applying for, you will need to demonstrate how your subsequent study has prepared you for studying at Oxford, including any evidence of your performance on your current course, as well as a reference from your current tutor or equivalent.

Please note that you must declare on your UCAS form whether you are currently studying at another university, and that failure to do so could result in Oxford withdrawing any offer made to you.

Please also remember that not only will you incur a year of additional costs but your eligibility for government support or loans may be affected by any study you have already undertaken, whether or not you have completed your course.

Professional qualifications and Higher National Diploma or Certificate (HND or HNC)

Professional qualifications.

Professional qualifications will be taken in to account as part of an application, particularly where these provide evidence of recent academic study.

Higher National Diploma or Certificate (HND or HNC)

Applicants who are applying with HND or HNC qualifications will only be considered for entry to the first year of an Oxford degree. Candidates should ensure that their reference is given by a tutor from the HND or HNC course, and that they provide details of all their modules and grades in the UCAS application. The University will expect a candidate to be achieving at the Distinction level (grade A in Scotland).

Bespoke school qualifications

We recognise that some schools feel their students’ needs are best fulfilled by alternatives to GCSEs, and the school is best placed to assess what is in the interest of their students. At Oxford we are accustomed to considering applications with a range of qualifications, alongside other additional evidence to assess academic potential including admissions tests and interviews.

None of our courses have a specific GCSE requirement; however, there are some parts of our admissions process that use GCSE grades to contextualise applicants’ performance, and we are not able to use other Level 2 qualifications (or equivalent) to replicate those measures for students not taking GCSEs.

Find out more about our use of contextual data .

Please contact us if your qualification is not listed here.

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Make a start. When it comes to writing your personal statement, just getting started can be the hardest part. One good way to get around writer's block is to just put it all down on the page, like Mayur. First - write down anything and everything. In the first round, I was just dumping everything - whatever I've done, anything close to ...
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How to write an Oxford personal statement. Make sure your personal statement conveys your interest in the subject - write down talks you've been to (and what they made you think), open days you've attended (and what you took away from them), and maybe even books you've read (and whether or not you agree with the author and why).
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Good Points Of The Personal Statement. This is an excellent statement. The student begins with personal reasons as to why they are interested in engineering, and by the end of the introduction, the reader is left in no doubt that the student is absolutely sure they want to pursue engineering at a higher level. The student successfully describes ...
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Don'ts. Don't be modest or shy. You want your passions to come across. Don't exaggerate - if you do, you may get caught out in an interview when asked to elaborate on an interesting achievement. Don't use quotes from someone else, or cliches. Don't leave it to the last minute - your statement will seem rushed and important ...
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Your personal statement is an important part of the application process. It is how you show a university that you are right for their course. Writing a good one can take a lot of work, but don't worry. This isn't a test, but an opportunity to show yourself off in the best possible light. You need to show them what would make you a good student. Be clear, be honest, and be enthusiastic ...
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UK qualifications
Oxford's admissions processes use a range of evidence about applicant performance and potential, including information from UCAS forms, the personal statement and reference, prior achievement and predicted grades. Oxford also considers the results of any admissions tests where relevant, and interview performance for those shortlisted.