In the article below, Oxford alumnus and Keystone Tutor Florence outlines the best approach to take when applying to study English at Oxford. Florence is an experienced tutor who has worked across the age range, helping over 170 Keystone clients. While first completing a DPhil and then working as a research fellow at Oxford, Florence held several teaching and lecturing roles.
Start early
It is important to start researching your application as early as possible. From the beginning of Year 12 is a good time and certainly from the spring of that academic year. Find out when Oxford is holding open days, which you can attend in person or virtually. These usually take place in the summer and early autumn.
Be clear on the requirements
Before applying to study English at Oxford, you will need to be confident of attaining AAA at A-level (or 38 at IB, with 6-6-6 in your HL subjects), with English as one of your subjects, as a minimum. You will also need a personal statement to submit with your UCAS application by the mid-October deadline, and written work to demonstrate your skills on the page. There is no admissions test for English in 2025, though it will likely be brought back in the future. Go through the requirements as detailed on the university website with a fine toothcomb to make sure you are absolutely clear about the process.
Read more about the course requirements for English at Oxford University.
Selecting a college
Choosing a college is a tricky business. They can all seem very similar to begin with. The truth is that they are actually very different and run fairly independently. It might be helpful to think about the University as similar to the US political model (bear with me!). The University is one, just as the USA is one nation, but the colleges, like the different states of the US, are all quite diverse and governed by their own rules (up to a point). Each college has its own unique character and offering. What is more, though English is a widely-available subject across many colleges, the academics at each one will have their own individual research specialisations and approaches to teaching undergraduates.
Who you have as your main tutors, as largely determined by the college you select, tends to significantly impact your experience of university. Tutorial groups are small and work is intensive.
Try to pick a college which has a resident fellow in English whose research interests are in an area that you would like to know more about.
It is also really important to consider the atmosphere and character of a college. Visit a few and see where you feel comfortable. Christ Church and St Hilda’s are very different, for example.
Lastly, thoroughly research the student offering of the colleges you like. It can make a huge difference to student finances, for example, if you are provided with college accommodation for all three years of your course. Some colleges have a lot more resources for students in need than others, as some are far richer than others. Some colleges are more proactive when it comes to taking care of students. They also differ quite a lot in the facilities they have on site.
English writing sample
An important element of your application is the sample of written work. This should be marked by a teacher, unless you are a mature applicant. It is crucial to choose what you send carefully. There are detailed notes on what admissions tutors are looking for on the Faculty of English website and this includes a focus on language and form, precision when writing, and analytical skill. Broadly speaking, you should send a piece of writing that you know reflects your strongest skills in English in both interpretation and analysis. You can ask teachers and tutors to advise you on this, if you are unsure.
The English interview at Oxford
The interview is the most important event in the application process. You should hear whether or not you are invited before early December in the year you apply.
Oxford interviews used to be somewhat mythical. Certainly, in decades gone by, all sorts of eccentric and mildly terrifying tales used to circulate about the intellectual torture of candidates in the deep, squashy sofas of dons’ book-lined offices. You may be relieved to hear that such tales, which weren’t entirely fictional, do not now really reflect the norm. The university has modernised considerably as the entire application process has become much bigger, more competitive, and quite heavily scrutinised.
Depending on your course choice, you will likely sit at least two interviews and possibly a few more. If you are applying for joint-schools, you will naturally have double, and it is not uncommon for candidates to be sent to alternative colleges for further interviews. If the latter happens to you, try not to worry. There are many reasons why you might be sent to an alternative college and it does not necessarily mean that you won’t be offered a place at your college of choice. Every interview that you are invited to attend is another opportunity to show the university what you can offer and discuss your intellectual passion with world experts in their field. Even if, in the end, you don’t get a offered a place, you may well have had an exciting experience.
Interviews are usually conducted by at least two academics to allow for note-taking and proper management of the process. Don’t be alarmed if you are questioned by both/all or only one of the tutors. They will have their way of conducting the interview. All you need to do is follow their lead and listen very carefully.
English interview tips
Interviews in English tend to focus on your analysis of an unseen text that you will be given shortly before the interview takes place. For this process, it is important to stay as calm and open to the new as possible. The most likely scenario is that you will have never seen or heard of the text you are given. You are very unlikely to win points for context or prior knowledge. Tutors are looking for your understanding of literature as a craft, i.e. form, language, style, and structure; they also want to see that you can cope with the unknown and are curious about what you don’t know. The task is a detective exercise, if you like: try to piece together what you can about the text from the text itself and make no prior assumptions.
Past English interview questions
At first, you are likely to be asked somewhat general questions about the unseen text to get discussion started, such as, ‘What do you make of the poem?’, or ‘What do you think about the title of the extract?’. As discussion progresses, the tutors will aim to probe your formal and structural grasp of the text, along with your understanding of what it is actually about. Questions along these lines might be, ‘What do you make of the opening of the excerpt?’, or, ‘Can you tell me the significance of line 4 of the essay?’. Tutors will want to push you as far as they can—that’s the point—to test your capacity and resilience. Don’t be worried if questions get really difficult and you are struggling, as that’s usually a good sign. You can ask for clarification if a question seems obscure, or for some time to think about an answer.
Tips on how to get into English at Oxford
If you want to stand out as a candidate, it’s best to let go of the idea that there is a winning formula. The study of literature requires intensive personal engagement and the more authentic this is, i.e. the more it comes from you, the unique individual, the better. Also crucial to remember is that English is as much about your skills as a writer as it is your expertise as a reader. It is often the case that really gifted students of English have a genuine and broad passion for all sorts of literature, but struggle to articulate their thoughts on the page. The more practice you can get with different styles and approaches to academic writing, the more likely you are to shine in any admissions tests (not relevant for 2025, but very likely to be brought back in the future), your submitted written work, and the interview.
Oxbridge English Tuition
Keystone Tutors are able to provide subject specific support for those preparing for university applications including English at Oxford. Do get in touch if you would like further assistance with your personal statement or any other aspects of your university application including admissions tests, super curricular learning recommendations and interview preparation.
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