University of Oxford

1. Julia Richardson, Student Recruitment Officer Undergraduate Admissions Office University of Oxford

2. OxfordUniversity • Recognised world wide for contributions to learning and research for over 900 years. • Oldest English-speaking University in the world • A Collegiate University • Produced leaders in sciences, arts, medicine and politics who have helped shape modern world – 47 Nobel Prize winners • Offers very special system of tutorial teaching unsurpassed elsewhere today

3. Structure of Oxford • Central University • 39 colleges ( 30 UG and 9 PG only) • 7 private halls • over 11,000 undergraduate students • nearly 7,000 postgraduate students • 1,500 academic staff • 1,300 research staff • 2,900 support staff • 1,500 college staff • 14% of UG International

4. Oxford Explained • College life • Academic life • Social life • Application procedure • Finance

5. Academic life • Tutorials • Lectures • Classes • Laboratory work and fieldwork

6. Academic Life • Experienced Tutors • Focus on independent learning • Assessment largely through examination • Extensive resources

7. Colleges • As a student you are a member of the University, a Department AND a College • 30 Undergraduate Colleges • Primary social & academic community • Facilities include: • Accommodation • Student Union, Common Room and Bar • Computing facilities • Sports facilities • Academic and support staff • Clubs and Societies • Library • Dining Hall

8. SocialLife • College • Meet first friends • Cheap and extensive social activities • University • Over 11,000 undergraduate students • Over 600 student societies

11. OxfordCity • Over 25,000 students in a vibrant city of 130,000 • Well located on all travel networks • Beautiful city with lots of open green spaces • Outside Oxford – Beautiful countryside; 1hr to London • Clubs, bars, restaurants, theatres, cinemas

12. Welfare & Support • The college community ensures there is always help available if you run into any problems. • The subject tutor will be able to help or advise, as will other senior members of your college. • If you wish to talk to somebody outside college, the University Counselling Service is there to help with emotional or psychological problems. • Nightline is a listening, information and support service run by students, for students. It is open overnight, 8 pm–8 am, every night in term-time. • Disability Advisory Service – study related needs assessment, advice & guidance before applying and during the course.

13. Entrance Requirements • Typical offer • AAA at A Level • 38 – 40 IB with 6/7 in the HL subjects • SAT I scores of 2100+ • ACT score of 32+ • SAT II scores of 700+ in ¾ relevant subjects • AP scores of 4/5 in 2 or more relevant subjects • Entry criteria purely academic • Emphasis is on potential

14. Application–Collegechoice • Specify a College or make an open application • 20% of successful applicants are made offers by a different College to the one that they originally applied. • Colleges have more similarities than differences • Factors to consider • Check the college offers your subject • Size • Number of students • Location • Accommodation • Specific facilities

15. Application–UCAS UCAS Application - 15th October Deadline • 5 university choices • Blind application and non ordered • Personal Statement • 70% academic focussed • Reasons for choosing subject • NO OXFORD FORM (20th September Deadline for Singapore & Hong Kong Interviews only)

16. Application–whatisconsidered? • High School transcript • Examination grades / predicted grades • Personal Statement • Teacher’s reference • Pre-Interview tests • Written work • Written tests at Interview • Interview(s)

17. Application–testsandwritten work Pre interview tests • BMAT – Medicine & Physiological Sciences • LNAT – Law* • ELAT – English* • HAT – History * • PPE • Physics * • Mathematics & Computer Science * • Economics and Management • Experimental Psychology • Some subjects require written work to be submitted • Written tests at interview for other subjects * including joint subjects

18. Application– interviews(how & why) • Applicants invited to Oxford for 2 or 3 days - Interviews are not guaranteed - Candidates may be offered telephone or video interview • Often more than one interview, possibly at more than one College • Normally with 2 academic tutors • Usually 20 – 30 minutes • Interview style • Entirely academic focus • Discussion based • Intellectually challenging • Combining existing knowledge with new material

19. Application– What are tutors looking for? • Academic ability • Academic potential • Independent thought & engagement with new ideas • Enthusiasm for your subject • Commitment to study • NOT looking for sporting / musical ability • Selection criteria • www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/courses/criteria

20. Comparison with US Colleges • 3 year BA or 4 year MSc – cost efficient • Liberal Arts size Colleges in a Harvard size institution • No core curriculum in non-specified areas • Academic Interviews – not alumni • Little consideration for extra curricular activities • 2 : 1 teaching with academic staff on weekly basis

21. Finance– general • When thinking about how much it will cost you to study at Oxford you need to think about the following things each year: university fee, college fee, living costs & transport costs to & from Oxford. • University fees vary according to the subject you want to study. Current university fees can be found at www.admin.ox.ac.uk/studentfunding/fees/index.shtml • In 2008/9 most colleges charged US$8,550 per year. Both fees are payable annually & expect them to rise about 3-5% each year. • Oxford recommends overseas students should budget a minimum of $15,000 for living costs. (or $18,800 if staying in Oxford for the whole year)

22. Finance – Fees & Living Costs ($US) • $6,800 – UK and EU students – directed by residence not nationality • $20,000 – Humanities and Social Sciences • $18,975 – Mathematics and Statistics • $23,000 – Physical, Mathematical and Life Sciences – Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Engineering, Earth Sciences, Materials, Physics, Psychology, Philosophy and Physiology. • $40,000 – final 3 years of Medicine. • Course fees do vary for some subjects and you should check the exact fee at www.admin.ox.ac.uk/studentfunding/fees/ • College fees – these are in addition to University fees. Individual colleges can provide information about their fees for particular courses. Typically $9,000. • > $16,000 – 30 weeks living expenses (estimated)

23. Finance - Oxford • University owned accommodation • College scholarships, prizes and awards • Subsidised food and entertainment in College • Availability of course materials • Cheap transport

24. Finance– careers (post Oxford) • General employment skills • Connections with quality graduate employers • Huge range of employment opportunities • OU Careers Service • Lasting friendships with people from many different disciplines Median salary of Oxford graduates who go into paid work is 21% higher than for all UK graduates. 45% of Oxford University leavers started further study compared with 28% of leavers from Russell Group Universities and 24% for the UK in general.

25. FurtherInfo • www.admissions.ox.ac.uk • Undergraduate Prospectus and College Prospectuses • The Student Information and Advisory Service is responsible for providing international students with advice & guidance. • www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk/ information on visas and useful contacts. • Oxford University Student Union (www.ousu.org) • Ask questions now!!

26. Keeping in Contact Admissions Information Centre Little Clarendon Street, Oxford (Open Monday to Friday 9-5) www.admissions.ox.ac.uk +44 1865 288000 undergraduate.admissions@admin.ox.ac.uk