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Oxford interviews This booklet aims to explain Oxford interviews and the part they play in the selection procedure for undergraduate courses. Please remember that the interview is just one aspect of your application, as tutors will also consider your:

n examination results, n predicted grades,n personal statement, n academic reference, and n admissions tests and/or written work,

if they are required for your subject.

This booklet also gives advice on how you can prepare for your interview, so that you will be able to do your best.

oxford interviews

Purpose of the interviewThe interview is designed to assess your academic abilities and, most importantly, your academic potential. It provides tutors with a valuable opportunity to assess your potential

beyond your written record. The interview allows them to evaluate your understanding of and aptitude for your subject, and to give you the opportunity to explain why you are committed to studying it. Tutors make their decisions based on your academic abilities and potential, not your manners or etiquette, appearance or background.

Applicants with disabilitiesOxford University welcomes applications from disabled students, makes reasonable adjustments to facilitate their access to courses, and provides support and assistance throughout the interview process.

Details of any disabilities should be included in the UCAS application. Students with disabilities should also inform their Oxford college of any particular requirements well in advance of their interview, so that any appropriate arrangements can be made.

Please refer to www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/welfare for further information on sources of support available.

For details of how to apply to Oxford, please see www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/apply. Applications are made through UCAS* and must be submitted by 15 October. Please note that several subjects require you to take an admissions test as part of your application and/or to submit written work. To make sure that you can prepare in good time and register for any tests that may be required, please do check the details for your subject at www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/tests and www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/writtenwork.

ShortlistingMany excellent candidates apply each year, and most of them have a good personal statement, a glowing reference and are predicted top grades. With so many applications for each place at Oxford, it isn’t possible to interview everyone. Tutors review each UCAS application, along with any written test or written work required for the subject, and then decide on a shortlist of candidates who will be invited to interview.

For some courses, over 90% of candidates are shortlisted. In other subjects, particularly those that are most heavily oversubscribed, a smaller proportion of candidates will be shortlisted – in some cases, less than 50%. Sadly, this does mean that some candidates

Applying to Oxford International studentsFor details of interview arrangements for international students, please see page 4 of this guide, and check www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/int for further details.

Elli ThomasHistoryI had been on two open days before I came for the interviews, and my school had organised some mock interviews as well. In my first Oxford interview I was asked about things I mentioned in my personal statement, so I was very glad I had read everything I’d said I had! It also helped that I was comfortable talking about the books and events that I had mentioned.

In my other interview, the tutor was looking at my written work, and commented, “So, you wrote this essay on Fascist Italy, and you mention the Church…” Then the rest of the interview was spent following a tangent: I was encouraged to make intelligent guesses, and to think of examples from areas that I did know about to illustrate what I was saying.

Of my two interviews the first one was really nice and I thought the second was absolutely terrible. I came out thinking there’s absolutely no way I’d got in! However, I was delighted when I was offered a place.

will be disappointed as their applications will not be considered beyond the shortlisting stage. However, shortlisting means that those candidates who have been identified as having the strongest ability and potential may have more than one interview, increasingly at more than one college.

For more detailed information on the percentage of applicants shortlisted for each course please refer to the relevant course page at www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/courses.

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my first Oxford interview I was asked about things I mentioned in my personal statement, so I was very glad I had read everything I’d said I had! It also helped that I was comfortable talking about

work, and commented, “So, you wrote this essay on Fascist Italy,

* UCAS is the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, which processes all applications to UK institutions of Higher Education. www.ucas.com

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Before your interview

Towards the end of November or in early December you will receive an email or a letter indicating whether or not you have been invited for interview. If you have been invited, the letter will include practical details of your interview and further information. Please be aware that you may receive only a week’s notice that you have been shortlisted. The timetable for interviews is available in advance of shortlisting, generally from August, at www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/interviews.

Please note that you will probably be interviewed at the college to which you applied, or the college to which you were allocated, if you made an open application. However, in some cases your application may be referred to another college. This can happen if a college is significantly oversubscribed for your subject that year, and will be made clear in the letter inviting you to interview.

In some subjects all candidates will automatically

Have I been shortlisted?

Dina JubrailLaw A couple of hours before my interview I was given part of a House of Lords judgment on a homicide trial to read and analyse. The interview was focused on the text in hand, which then provided a springboard for wider discussion.

The questions were initially fairly subjective. I was asked to give my own definition of manslaughter (based on what I’d just read in the judgment) and examples of different situations in which the offence may be committed. We then moved on to the policy behind the charge in question: the justification of holding liable for manslaughter someone who had prepared a syringe of drugs for the victim, but had not administered it. I was encouraged to use analogies from everyday life to explain my reasoning, and I really felt the tutors were keen not only to assess how I thought but also to ensure I enjoyed the experience.

The interview was very well structured, which enabled me to organise my thoughts and evaluate to the best of my ability. The teaching style at Oxford is about exploring and testing ideas and theories: the best advice I can give is to think every thought out loud, which will show your analytical process, and allow you to benefit from a debate with leading academics.

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Law A couple of hours before my interview I was given part of a House of Lords judgment on a homicide trial to read and analyse. The interview was focused on the text in hand, which then provided a springboard for wider discussion.

my own definition of manslaughter (based on what I’d just read in the judgment) and examples of different situations in which the offence may be committed. We then moved on to the policy behind the charge in question: the justification of holding liable for manslaughter someone who had prepared a syringe of drugs for the victim, but had not administered it. I was encouraged to use analogies from everyday life to explain my reasoning, and I really felt the tutors were keen not only to assess how I thought but also to ensure I enjoyed the experience.

organise my thoughts and evaluate to the best of my ability. The teaching style at Oxford is about exploring and testing ideas and

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be interviewed at a second college. For other subjects, you may be offered the opportunity to have an interview at a second or even a third college. This does not necessarily mean that you will not be offered a place at the first college or that this college is no longer considering your application. This system is in place so that you are given the best possible chance of gaining a place.

What should I consider before my interview?We recommend that you:n think about some basic questions that may be

asked at the beginning of an interview and how you might answer them. For example, tutors may ask why you have chosen this particular subject, and why you want to study it at Oxford. Whether the tutors ask you these questions or not, it is still a good idea to bear in mind your motivation for studying your course.

n read widely around your chosen subject, including newspaper articles, websites, journals, magazines and other publications that relate to your subject.

n find examples of your subject in the wider world, such as taking an interest in the scientific or economic theories that underline news stories.

n take a critical view of ideas and arguments that you encounter at school or college, or in the media – think about all sides of any debate.

n be prepared to show some background knowledge of the subject, if you are applying for a course not normally studied at school or college, such as Medicine, Law, Biochemistry or Oriental Studies. However, you will not be expected to have a detailed understanding of specific or technical topics. For example, you may be asked what role your subject plays in society

and how you came to be interested in it. For these subjects, the topics for discussion are likely to allow you to demonstrate the skills needed by an Oxford undergraduate: the ability to use information to construct your own opinions, the willingness and ability to analyse and, in the sciences and mathematics, an aptitude for solving problems.

n be sure to revise material you have studied for your AS-levels (or equivalent qualification), particularly for science subjects.

n re-read any written work that you have submitted, and think about how you might expand on what you wrote.

n re-read your personal statement and ensure that you are confident about its content and familiar with texts and theories you mention.

n organise a practice interview for yourself. This could be with a teacher or someone else who is familiar with your subject, but preferably not someone you know very well. This will help you to get some more experience of talking about yourself and your work in an unfamiliar environment.

n remind yourself of the selection criteria for your chosen subject. These criteria can be found at www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/selectioncriteria.

Peter HicksGeographyFor my first interview I had to analyse an article on Easter Island, and give my opinions on some of the main arguments within it. I was then asked about the two pieces of work I had submitted before the interview, and finished with discussing an aerial photograph of a volcano.

In my second interview, I was grilled about my AS-level coursework, which led into a wider discussion about economics – I had to think on my feet; using my own knowledge as opposed to things I had learned in school.

Although I found the interviews daunting, I really enjoyed them; they definitely helped me to improve my confidence and my ability to express myself. Try to be as enthusiastic as possible, and never be afraid to take your time to think over the answer to a question.

and give my opinions on some of the main arguments within it. I was

they definitely helped me to improve my confidence and my ability

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International studentsOxford University aims to accept the brightest and best students from around the world. There are a number of ways you can be interviewed.

If you are currently studying in the UK, the rest of the EU, Norway, Iceland,

Liechtenstein or Switzerland, then you will be expected to attend interviews in Oxford in December if your application is shortlisted.

If you are studying in another country, and your application is shortlisted*, you will still be invited to attend interviews in Oxford in December. Please be aware that it is unlikely to be possible

to give you more than a week’s notice that you have been shortlisted. We therefore anticipate that unfortunately there will be insufficient time for visa nationals to obtain a visitor visa to come to Oxford. However, if you are unable to come to Oxford for interview, the college which is considering your application may choose to interview you by telephone, video-link, or over the internet.

If you decide to book a flight in advance of hearing whether or not you have been shortlisted and are then unsuccessful, you might like to use this time to visit other higher education institutions in the UK. If you choose to wait to hear if you have been shortlisted, then you will need to factor in the cost of travel to Oxford at short notice. The interviews timetable is available ahead of shortlisting, generally from August, at www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/interviews.

Please see www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/int for further details.

Finding your wayPlease see www.ox.ac.uk/visitors_friends/maps_and_directions for details on how to travel to Oxford and how to find your college.

Interviews in Oxford take place in December, after the end of term, when many of our current students will have returned home for Christmas. However, each college makes sure that there are plenty of undergraduates around to provide information and to help candidates find their way around. These undergraduates will have recently experienced the interview process themselves and are very well placed to help and advise you.

What to wear and what to bringPlease wear whatever clothes you feel comfortable in – and remember that it can be cold in December, so bring something warm. Most tutors will not dress

formally, and it is not necessary for you to do so. Remember that your interview will be an assessment of your academic potential and you will not be judged on what you wear.

We recommend that you bring copies of any written work you have submitted, and a copy of your personal statement, as tutors may refer to these during your interview.

It’s a good idea to bring a book with you or some school or college work to do, as you will only spend a relatively small amount of your time in Oxford actually in interviews or taking tests. There will also be plenty of opportunity to spend time with other interview candidates as well as current undergraduates.

The college inviting you to interview will let you know what to bring. Your accommodation and meals will be provided free-of-charge by the college. It is advisable that you bring a mobile telephone, along with its charger, so that the college can contact you, if they need to.

* Please note that all shortlisted applicants for Medicine must attend interviews in Oxford.

Oxford University aims to accept the brightest and best students from around the world. There are a number of ways you can be interviewed.

currently studying

At your interviewWho will interview youInterviews will be conducted by experts in an aspect of the degree course for which you are applying. You may be interviewed by two or more tutors at a time. If you are applying for a joint course, with two or more subjects, you should expect to be interviewed by tutors representing each of the subjects. For some joint honours courses you may be interviewed separately for each course.

What to expect in the interview, or interviewsTutors want you to be yourself in the interview, and to allow you to demonstrate your skills and abilities. They will probably ask you a few simple questions to begin with to help you feel at ease.

They will then move on to questions about your subject, and questions that will help them to assess your suitability to study at Oxford. Depending on what is relevant for the course you are applying for, you may be given a piece of text, a poem, a graph, a diagram, or an object, and then asked to answer questions and comment on it. You may be given these before the

interview, and will be advised if there is anything in particular on which you need to focus.

You may be asked factual questions, especially in science subjects. The basis for this discussion will probably include the subjects you are currently studying at school or college; for courses that require written work, this may also be used. However, you may also be offered opportunities to show whether you have read around the subject and to demonstrate your interest beyond your school or college syllabus.

In many ways, your interview will be like a mini tutorial. If you don’t know the answer to a question, you may wish to explain that you haven’t covered that topic yet, but do try to work out the answer if you can. Allow the tutors to guide you, if necessary, and ask if you don’t understand a question. Many questions are designed to test your ability to apply logic and reason to an idea you may never have encountered before. The questions may seem difficult, but don’t worry: this does not necessarily mean that the interview is going badly. The tutor will be seeking to stretch you in order to assess your potential. Remember that tutors are not necessarily so concerned with what you know, but how you think.

Jack HaynesEarth Sciences (Geology)For Earth Sciences, all the interviews are held in the department instead of the college. I had one interview with the college I applied to and another interview with a second assigned college. I really enjoyed meeting the student helpers and the other candidates – the student helpers really made me feel welcome and I knew they’d be happy to help if I had any problems.

My interviews were remarkably similar to the tutorials I’m having now, and just as enjoyable. The tutors used a piece of evidence to start a discussion between us and asked me to comment on various things. At one stage they began to question what I thought on one point, and I explained it thoroughly so they could see how I came to that conclusion. The tutors are far more interested in how you think rather than in what you know, so they can see if the tutorial system is going to benefit you.

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What tutors are looking for? A good deal of the teaching in an Oxford college takes place in small classes or tutorials, and your interviewers – who may be your future tutors – are assessing your ability to study, think and learn. This depends both on how carefully you listen to questions and how sensibly you answer them. Clarity, and concise and relevant arguments are all-important.

Tutors are looking for your self-motivation and enthusiasm for your subject. They are looking for evidence that you are thinking independently, that you are willing to engage with new ideas, beyond the scope of your school or college syllabus, and that you are committed to your subject.

Are there right or wrong answers?Interviewers are not going to ask you trick questions, but many of the topics you will cover do not have simple ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ answers. The questions are designed to encourage you to think for yourself and develop an argument. Be yourself and ask for help if you need it.

Interviewers are not trying to make you feel nervous or catch you out. They are looking for evidence of how well you can explain what you do know, and whether you can think your way through a new problem or argue your position. If you don’t understand something, do just ask.

Jennie DaviesMathematicsI spent four days in Oxford and had four interviews in total. The second college that interviewed me invited me back for another interview, and subsequently made me an offer.

The problems I was given got progressively harder, but the tutors steered me through them. The content of the questions was from A-level, but I found myself applying my knowledge in different ways. I was also able to find out first-hand how tutorials work, because working through problems and justifying your ideas is exactly what you do on the course.

I also met a really nice group of people in my fellow applicants – and we went into Oxford together to explore, which was a great chance to get a feel for what it would be like living in the city! I very much enjoyed my interview experience, and when I received my offer I knew that Oxford was for me.

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Are extra-curricular activities taken into account?Please remember that tutors make their decisions based on your academic abilities and potential: extra-curricular activities do not form part of the selection criteria in any subject. However, they may ask a question or two about extra-curricular activities which you have mentioned in your personal statement, particularly at the start of the interview, as you are settling in. They may ask you why you enjoy a particular activity and what you have learnt from it. They may also be interested in how you have balanced your time between studies and other activities.

Your questionsAt the end of the interview you may be given the chance to ask your own questions. This is not the place for in-depth discussion of the course syllabus or other details, as you should have explored the course information before you applied. However, it is the time to ask about any points on your own academic work, or perhaps one of the questions you were asked in the interview. Please don’t feel as though you must pose a question: it is fine if you don’t have anything specific to ask. Greg

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Andreas KallinosBiochemistry (Molecular and Cellular)I had two interviews; the first was at the college that had originally invited me for interview and the second was at a different college, both taking place on the same day.

I was asked why I had chosen Biochemistry and not Medicine, because in my personal statement I said I wanted to work on the medicinal aspect of biochemistry, but all other questions were subject-orientated: I was asked to identify a few compounds and functional groups from a handout and we discussed their chemistry and purpose in metabolic processes.

I felt very comfortable during the interviews; they were more of a discussion than question-and-answer. The interviewers were friendly and I felt they wanted me to be comfortable while talking. There aren’t necessarily any right or wrong answers: you are essentially answering questions based on what you currently know. Some help and hints are given if you get something wrong and you are always asked to explain your thinking behind your answer.

Andreas KallinosBiochemistry (Molecular and Cellular)I had two interviews; the first was at the college that had originally invited me for interview and the second was at a different college, both taking place on the same day.

because in my personal statement I said I wanted to work on the medicinal aspect of biochemistry, but all other questions were subject-orientated: I was asked to identify a few compounds and functional groups from a handout and we discussed their chemistry and purpose in metabolic processes.

of a discussion than question-and-answer. The interviewers were friendly and I felt they wanted me to be comfortable while talking. There aren’t necessarily any right or wrong answers: you are essentially answering questions based on what you Some help and hints are given if you get something wrong and you are always asked to explain your thinking behind your answer.

Colleges will inform candidates of their decision by the middle of January. The letter you receive will explain one of three things:

n You have been made an offer of a place to study your subject at a particular college. If you have already completed your examinations, this offer will probably be unconditional. If you have not yet finished your final examinations, the offer will be conditional upon your achieving certain grades, between AAA and A*A*A at A-level, or equivalent qualifications. The offer may specify that you need to achieve certain grades in particular subjects. It may also include a requirement for evidence of proficiency in the English language, if English is not your first language or if you have not been educated in the medium of English language during your two most recent years of study.

n You have been made an ‘open offer’, which means that you have an offer from Oxford and are guaranteed a place if you meet the

conditions. However, the college you will go to has not yet been specified, and will not be decided until some point after your final examination results have been published.

n Your application has, unfortunately, not been successful.

While one in five applicants to Oxford gain a place, encouragingly, almost all applicants who do not get an offer will go on to study at other excellent universities if they have made their UCAS choices wisely. Many students then opt to apply to Oxford for further study after completing their first degree elsewhere. We often see candidates who were unsuccessful in their undergraduate applications making successful applications for graduate study here.

The result

Hannah PhillipsChemistryI had two interviews – one based on inorganic chemistry, physical chemistry and maths, and the other on organic chemistry. They were both at the same college and all of the interviewers were from the Chemistry department.

I did not expect the first interview to comprise of mainly maths, but now I realise that maths is a large part of the course in the first year. It was only in my second interview that I was asked non subject specific questions; one was about my personal statement, so make sure to take a copy with you! During my second interview I also worked through a sheet of questions, with help from the interviewer.

The interviews were very similar to my tutorials now, so they give you an idea of how you will be taught. I was more relaxed in my second interview which is probably why I enjoyed it much more, leaving with a smile on my face! By then I was glad of the experience whatever the outcome.

Hannah PhillipsChemistryI had two interviews – one based on inorganic chemistry, physical chemistry and maths, and the other on organic chemistry. They were both at the same college and all of the interviewers were from the Chemistry department.

maths, but now I realise that maths is a large part of the course in the first year. It was only in my second interview that I was asked non subject specific questions; one was about my personal statement, so make sure to take a copy with you! During my second interview I also worked through a sheet of questions, with help from the interviewer.

they give you an idea of how you will be taught. I was more

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examination results have

Finding out more

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Feedback In January, you can request feedback on your interviews. If you wish to do so, please contact the college which considered your application. This may be the college that you applied to, or the college to which you were assigned, if you made an open application or if your application was reallocated. If you were interviewed at more than one college, please contact the first college which interviewed you. College contact details can be found at www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/colleges.

Admissions Information Centre The , on Little Clarendon Street, is usually open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. You can pick up copies of the prospectus, subject brochures and other leaflets relating to undergraduate. There are also staff on hand to provide advice and answer any questions. If you are not able to visit us, you can call, email or write to us. Contact details can be found on the back cover of this booklet. www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/admissionsi

PodcastsBe a fly on the wall when Mike Nicholson, Oxford’s Director of Undergraduate Admissions, chats with students and staff from around the University about how best to prepare for the Oxford interview, as well as about courses, colleges, student finance, and what to include in your application. Download and listen to whole episodes, or select taster clips from each episode. www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/podcasts

Tell us what you think about this guide.svy.mk/interviewsguide➲

Audio ToursIf you are visiting Oxford you may be interested in our admissions audio tours. They are designed to provide you with information about Oxford from a student perspective and guidance on the application process, including interviews. Download the tours and accompanying guides. www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/tours

iTunes UOur podcasts are also available on the University’s site on iTunes U, along with lectures, interviews and short films about life at Oxford. They can be listened to online or downloaded to a mobile device. http://itunes.ox.ac.uk

Sample interviewsYou can find example questions from interviews, including video clips of academic discussions with our tutors, on our website.www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/interviewsVideo clips of sample interviews, with current students who have volunteered to take part in the project, can be viewed online.www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/interviewvideos

Produced by the University of Oxford Public Affairs Directorate, University of Oxford 2012Photographs (inside pages): Rob Judges (except where indicated); cover and back: Rob Judges, Greg Smolonski, Matt Stuart.

Undergraduate Admissions Office University Offices Wellington Square Oxford OX1 2JD

Tel: 01865 288000 Email: undergraduate.admissions@admin.ox.ac.uk Web: www.admissions.ox.ac.uk

Contact details