Updated October 9, 2026
University of 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.
FAQ
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.