Undergraduate Admissions

Our offers are guided by departmental norms, and are normally AAA at A-level (for most humanities and social sciences courses), A*AA or A*A*A (for most science courses).

These offers exclude A-levels in General Studies and, for some courses, Critical Thinking. While we recognise that study for Advanced Extension Awards can be a valuable experience, we do not normally make them part of a conditional offer. Full details of the standard offer made for each subject can be found on the University's Course Pages.

It is generally expected that candidates for admissions to the University will complete their A-level or equivalent qualifications within the standard two-year time frame, with the exception of those who take one or more school-leaving qualifications ahead of schedule (e.g. candidates who take Maths A-level a year early or alongside GCSEs), or of those who are adding a relevant subject (e.g. classical or modern languages) that they had not been able to take previously.

When you apply you can choose whether or not to state a college preference or make an Open Application.

Whilst the University ensures that any stated preference is taken into account, some candidates might find themselves reallocated to a different college during the selection process as part of the aim to ensure that the right students are selected irrespective of their choice of college. Whilst each college prides itself on its own unique heritage and character, and current students tend to promote the merits of their own college, we believe that such reallocation is in the interest of applicants, and that each college offers an excellent environment for a student’s studies and social life.

The College accepts undergraduate applicants in almost all subjects, but NOT in Archaeology & Anthropology; Biomedical Sciences (but does accept for Medicine); Computer Science (but does accept for Maths & Computer Science); Earth Sciences; Fine Art; Geography; Materials Science; Music; Philosophy & Theology; Physics & Philosophy (but does accept for Physics); Psychology, Philosophy & Linguistics (PPL), (but we do accept for Experimental Psychology); Theology & Religion; and Theology & Oriental Studies.

Admissions decisions are based on entrance requirements and on subject-specific selection criteria, agreed by faculties and departments.

Interviewed applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application in January following the interview round, via UCAS. A communication from the College should be received on the same day.

Successful applicants will receive an offer conditional either on achieving certain grades in the qualifications they are due to complete or, if they are applying post-qualification, on providing original or certified copies of their qualification certificates to the College Admissions Office by 1st March.

We will also ask applicants who do not have English as their first language to provide evidence of their proficiency in English, in line with the University’s English language requirements.

We accept applications for deferred entry, after a gap year, in the majority of subjects. However, you must selected deferred entry at the point of UCAS application, as it is unlikely that you will be granted a deferral if requested after having received a standard offer.

Find out more

We welcome mature applicants. When considering mature student applications, tutors take into account formal academic qualifications, together with details of employment since leaving school and professional qualifications.

Given the strong competition for places at Oxford, tutors will look for evidence of suitability for the chosen course and that applicants have appreciated the demands of a full-time undergraduate degree in Oxford, which involves three eight-week terms. Applicants who lack formal qualifications may be advised to consider taking one or two A-levels or to take one of the Access courses specifically designed as preparation for degree work, offered by institutions of further and higher education throughout the country (including that at Oxford University's Department for Continuing Education); or to take an Open University Foundation course. Further details

The application procedure is the same, you'll just have to submit a transcript of your fist degree. Any 2nd BA applicants who are applying for Senior Status (direct entry into the second year) are also advised to contact admissions@wadham.ox.ac.uk at the time of application to confirm if places in that subject are available at the College. Please note that the College regrets that it cannot accept applications for Senior Status in Law, PPE or Medicine.