# University of Oxford > University of Oxford guide: campus culture, colleges and housing, international fees from £33,050, living costs, and UCAS admissions for Oxford. University of Oxford (Teaching since 1096, Oxford, England) ranks #3 in the QS World University Rankings 2026. The tutorial system, 39 colleges, and the October 15 UCAS deadline. ## Campus culture Oxford runs on the tutorial: weekly one-on-one or paired sessions where you defend an essay against a world expert. It is intense, traditional, and oddly intimate for a university of 26,000. College life dominates socially: formal hall dinners in gowns, rowing, and societies for everything. The workload is famously heavy, terms are short (8 weeks), and the city is beautiful and expensive. ## Colleges and housing 39 colleges plus 6 halls. You apply to a college (or make an open application and get assigned). Teaching is identical across colleges; differences are size, location, accommodation, and vibe. Check each college's admissions stats: some courses at some colleges are far less oversubscribed. Interviews are pooled, so a strong candidate at an oversubscribed college can be picked up by another. ## Costs International fees start around £33,050 a year depending on the course (science and medicine cost more). Living costs run £1,400 to £1,900 a month; colleges guarantee accommodation, usually for all years, which caps the biggest expense. Home students pay the capped fee (currently £9,535). Oxford's bursaries are generous for low-income UK students. ## Admissions UCAS by October 15, with written admissions tests for most courses (e.g. TMUA, ESAT depending on subject) and interviews in December. Typical offers: A*A*A to AAA at A-level. The personal statement matters less than at other UK universities; test scores and interview performance decide. You cannot apply to Oxford and Cambridge in the same cycle. ## Frequently asked questions ### What is Oxford known for? Oxford runs on the tutorial: weekly one-on-one or paired sessions where you defend an essay against a world expert. It is intense, traditional, and oddly intimate for a university of 26,000. College life dominates socially: formal hall dinners in gowns, rowing, and societies for everything. The workload is famously heavy, terms are short (8 weeks), and the city is beautiful and expensive. ### How much does Oxford cost for international students? International fees start around £33,050 a year depending on the course (science and medicine cost more). Living costs run £1,400 to £1,900 a month; colleges guarantee accommodation, usually for all years, which caps the biggest expense. Home students pay the capped fee (currently £9,535). Oxford's bursaries are generous for low-income UK students. ### How do I apply to Oxford? UCAS by October 15, with written admissions tests for most courses (e.g. TMUA, ESAT depending on subject) and interviews in December. Typical offers: A*A*A to AAA at A-level. The personal statement matters less than at other UK universities; test scores and interview performance decide. You cannot apply to Oxford and Cambridge in the same cycle. ### Is accommodation guaranteed at Oxford? 39 colleges plus 6 halls. You apply to a college (or make an open application and get assigned). Teaching is identical across colleges; differences are size, location, accommodation, and vibe. Check each college's admissions stats: some courses at some colleges are far less oversubscribed. Interviews are pooled, so a strong candidate at an oversubscribed college can be picked up by another. --- Interactive version: https://toollantern.win/uk-universities/oxford/