Interviews for those candidates who have been shortlisted take place in December. Please be aware that not all candidates are invited for interview; the number of candidates shortlisted varies depending on the subject. For most courses at Oxford over 75% of our applicants are invited for interview, although some courses, including Medicine and Law, interview a smaller proportion of candidates. The dates for interviews in each subject are set far in advance and it is not normally possible for tutors to interview outside the specified dates.

The structure of interviews varies from subject to subject. They are not intended to expose gaps in applicants’ knowledge, but to give them the opportunity to show their abilities and interests, and to give tutors a chance to find out more about the individuals they are assessing. The interviewers try to create a friendly atmosphere and it is not necessary to dress formally (for example, to wear a suit). A short introduction to the interview process is available from the Oxford University website.

During the interview period some subjects may set a short written test for candidates.  The Oxford University website provides specimen tests for all subjects that require candidates to take written tests (both before or at interview).