Oxford University Acceptance Rates 2024

Have you ever wondered how hard it is to get into Oxford University? Every year, tens of thousands of hopeful students apply to one of the world’s most prestigious institutions, known for its competitive acceptance rates, but what are the odds of securing a place? Whether you’re aiming for undergraduate or postgraduate study, this article will break down the acceptance rates by subject, region, gender and socio-economic backgroun, and help you maximise your chances of success under the competitive application landscape.

Overview of Oxford University Acceptance Rate

Getting admitted to University of Oxford has long been and continues to be a sign of academic excellence. For prospective students, however, it means there is a fair bit of competition for a coveted spot there. Over the years, the overall acceptance rate has consistently hovered at around 15-16% with only minor fluctuations due to changes in application numbers and university policies during the pandemic, as shown in the table below.

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For an undergraduate candidate, the offer rate is about 1 in 6. Candidates typically need to achieve A*AA or better at A-levels to have a good chance at a place in one of the undergraduate programmes at Oxford. Graduate programmes, by contrast, has a much higher acceptance rate at 27%, which is 1 in 4, due to the specialised nature of these courses and the narrower applicant pool.

However, the acceptance rates can vary significantly depending on the programme and college. So students are advised to consult Online Oxbridge Tutors to obtain specific admission application advice. Read on for a snap shot of the most/least popular programmes and the most/least selective programmes at Oxford.

Acceptance Rates by Subject

Acceptance rates at Oxford vary significantly by subject. Here are the acceptance rates for the top-10 most popular programmes at Oxford in 2024:

Here are the top-10 hardest programmes to get into at Oxford:

Here are the top-10 easiest programmes to get into at Oxford, according to the 2024 admissions statistics:

As reflected from the statistics, the choice of subject and programme can hugely affect your chances of getting admitted into Oxford University. The humanities subjects are relatively less competitive than the more popular programmes such as law and medicine. Accordingly, students are advised to pick the former to maximise their chances. However, every student's circumstances are different and we advise you to speak to our Online Oxbridge Tutors to find out the best programme for you to apply to.

If students are determined to apply to the more competitive programmes, excelling in the Oxford admission tests is a must. These admission tests are unique to Oxford and the requirement to take these tests depends on the programme you apply for. For instance, MAT (Mathematics Admissions Test) are required for BA/MMath Mathematics and Statistics and LNAT (Law National Aptitude Test) for BA Law. These tests are designed to be rigorous to assess your academic aptitude for your selected programme. Each admission test entails different requirements and standards. For the specifics, you are advised to seek expert help such as Online MAT Tutors and Online LNAT Tutors.

Acceptance Rates by Ethnicity

At Oxford University, the majority of students remains white students. Here is a breakdown of the ethnicity groups in the 2023 intake at Oxford University:

In recent years, there is an increasing trend of admitted Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) students at Oxford. There is a marked increase of asian, particularly Bangladeshi and Paskistani, students, which is a welcoming development. Interestingly, BME students are also more likely to apply for competitive programmes such as Medicine and Law. The table below indicates the proportions of BME students out of total UK students admitted:

Here are several initiatives taken by Oxford University to promote ethnic diversity and inclusion in admissions:

• Target Oxbridge: A program aimed at increasing the number of Black African and Caribbean students applying to Oxford. It provides mentoring, admissions advice, and support to talented students.
• Opportunity Oxford: A bridging program for students from underrepresented backgrounds, providing academic support and preparation before starting their degree courses

Furthermore, the university provides the following bursaries and scholarships for BME students:

• Black Academic Futures Scholarships: These scholarships are available to UK-domiciled students of Black or Mixed-Black ethnicity applying for postgraduate courses. They offer full financial support, covering course fees and providing a grant for living expenses.
• Reach Oxford Scholarships: While not exclusively for BME students, these scholarships are aimed at students from low-income countries who, for political or financial reasons, are unable to study in their own countries. This can include BME students from these regions.
• The Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships and Leadership Programme: This program offers full scholarships to outstanding graduate students from developing and emerging economies, including many BME students. It covers tuition fees and living costs, along with leadership training.

These initiatives and financial assistance aim to create a more diverse and inclusive student body by supporting and encouraging applications from underrepresented groups.

Acceptance Rates by Gender

Overall, Oxford University admits slightly more female students than male students. While the female and male offer rates have both fallen in the past few years likely due to increasing competition, there is a trend where the proportion of female students is slightly dipping, as indicated in the official statistical report:

Turning to gender disparity in specific programmes, there has been a welcoming trend where female admissions are more than male admissions in certain STEM programmes, such as Biomedical Science and Biochemistry. Nonetheless, subjects like Computer Science still consistently admit more males than females due to the sheer volume of applications from male students.

However, the female proportion of students admitted are consistently lower than the female proportion of applicants with the only exception of computer science. This indicates that it is harder for female applicants than male applicants to secure a place at their desired programme.

To address these gender issues, here are several initiatives taken by Oxford University to promote diversity and inclusion in admissions:

• Oxford Women in Computer Science Scholarships: These scholarships are designed to encourage more female students to pursue studies in Computer Science at Oxford. They offer financial support and aim to promote gender diversity in a field traditionally underrepresented by women.
• Women in STEM Scholarships: Various departments at Oxford, especially within STEM fields, offer scholarships to female students. For example, the Department of Physics and the Department of Engineering Science provide awards and funding opportunities specifically to encourage and support women in science and engineering disciplines.
• Clare Burton Scholarship: Offered by St. Anne’s College, this scholarship is specifically for female students studying subjects in which women are underrepresented, like Economics, Engineering, or Computer Science.
• Mathematics Scholarships for Women: The Mathematical Institute offers scholarships aimed at encouraging more women to pursue postgraduate study in Mathematics.
• Oxford Saïd MBA Scholarships for Women: The Saïd Business School offers scholarships specifically for female MBA students to promote gender balance in the business and finance sectors.
• The Women in Humanities Scholarships: These scholarships aim to encourage female postgraduate students to pursue research in humanities subjects, fostering gender diversity in academic research fields.

Acceptance Rates for International Students

Turning to admissions of international students versus domestic UK students, Oxford University adopts largely the same admissions process for both groups. However, international students face additional requirements such as English proficiency tests like IELTS or TOEFL. While Oxford University does not generally operate a quota system based on natioanlity for most programmes, there are some exceptions, like Medicine, where the government places a cap on the number of international students the university can admit. Furthermore, international students often face more competition due to the large volume of applications from around the world.

Here are the top countries or regions of student applicants from 2021-2023, as well as their admission rates. The top 5 overseas student bodies are PR China, Singapore, USA, Hong Kong and India:

Once we dive deeper, however, we can see that international students, whether from the EU or outside of EU, has about half the chance of getting into Oxford and face roughly twice as much competition as domestic UK students when vying for a place at the university.

For more about Applying to UK Universities as an International Student, you can check out TutorChase's blogpost.

Given the intense competition, it is all the more important for international students to seek professional advice on how to excel in their application strategies, personal statement and admissions tests. Contact our Online Oxbridge Tutors to find out more.

Acceptance Rates by Socioeconomic Background

Socioeconomic status plays a significant role in admissions at Oxford, and the university has taken various measures to ensure that talented students from all backgrounds have a fair chance of admission as much as possible. For instance, Oxford uses contextual data to provide a fuller picture of an applicant’s background. This includes information about the school’s performance, the applicant’s postcode, and whether the student comes from an area with low progression to higher education. This data helps admissions tutors understand the context in which an applicant achieved their academic results.

According to the official report, there has been a worrying trend of reduced admissions of students from more disadvantaged backgrounds in the UK. This is reflected below from the proportion of students admitted from the two most socio-economically disadvantaged groups in the UK (ACORN categories 4-5). The available data are collected from UK-domiciled students only. Therefore, there is not clear how the socio-economic disadvantages would impact international students' chances of getting into Oxford University:

Here are several initiatives taken by Oxford University to promote socio-economic diversity and inclusion in admissions:

• Foundation Oxford: A new initiative offering an additional foundation year for students from disadvantaged backgrounds who have faced significant educational disruption.
• UNIQ Summer Schools: A free program for UK state school students from underrepresented backgrounds, offering academic sessions, university life experiences, and guidance on the admissions process.
• Pathways to Law: A partnership program providing students from non-privileged backgrounds with work experience, mentoring, and academic sessions to explore a career in law.
• Bursaries and Scholarships: The university offers financial support, such as the Crankstart Scholarship, to students from lower-income backgrounds to alleviate the financial barriers to higher education.

Acceptance Rates by UK Region

Finally, regional disparities persist in the Oxford admissions process. In the UK, London and the South East made up almost half of the total admissions to Oxford. While this is generally aligned with the trend of application numbers, it also reveals the concentration of high-performing schools and better access to resources in London and South East.

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Here are several initiatives taken by Oxford University to promote regional diversity and inclusion in admissions:

• Regional Outreach: Oxford engages in outreach activities across the UK, targeting regions with lower application rates and working with schools or tutoring institutions like TutorChase to encourage students to consider applying.
• OxNet: This initiative focuses on providing academic enrichment and outreach to students from underrepresented regions. OxNet collaborates with schools in areas like the North East and North West of England to offer study days, summer schools, and mentoring programs to help students engage with higher education.
• UNIQ Summer Schools: While open to students nationwide, UNIQ gives particular attention to applicants from regions with lower progression rates to higher education. This free program provides academic sessions, admissions advice, and a taste of university life, aiming to inspire students from underrepresented areas.
• Opportunity Oxford: This bridging program is designed for students from underrepresented backgrounds, including those from regions with lower participation in higher education. It offers additional academic support and preparation before they begin their degree courses, helping to level the playing field.
• Foundation Oxford: A new initiative offering an extra foundation year to students from disadvantaged backgrounds or regions with lower progression rates to university. It provides a structured introduction to university-level study, supporting students in making a successful transition.
• Crankstart Scholarships: While based on financial need, these scholarships also support students from regions with lower household incomes. Recipients receive financial aid as well as access to internships and mentoring opportunities, which can be particularly beneficial for students from underrepresented regions.

Future Admissions Trends and Factors

Oxford's future acceptance trends are expected to shift due to changes in course popularity and potential admissions adjustments. The high demand for STEM programmes like Computer Science is anticipated to continue as interest in the STEM field and in particular AI grows. This raises critical issues such as the gender disparity as highlighted above. Meanwhile, as students increasingly focus on fields with strong career prospects, Oxford may continue see a rise in applications for established programmes such as Medicine and Law, as well as a new-found interest in interdisciplinary programmes like Mathematics and Computer Science.

The admissions process itself might adapt to these trends. Admissions tests like the LNAT or MAT, emphasising critical thinking and problem-solving skills, is expected to be adjusted to the align with the increased level of competition. Additionally, Oxford may continue to refine its interview process, possibly integrating more virtual interviews to accommodate international candidates, ensuring a fair and comprehensive evaluation for all applicants.

How to Increase Chances of Acceptance into Oxford University

• Plan Ahead: Study admission guides such as How to Get Into Oxford University to get the big picture and understand the admissions process. Early planning is critical to success.
• Prepare Thoroughly: Start preparing early for Oxford's admissions tests like LNAT, ELAT, HAT, MLAT, BMAT, MAT, and PAT. Know which test you have to prepare for and read dedicated guides on how to prepare for them, such as Oxford Physics Aptitude Test (PAT): A Complete Guide and Oxford Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA): A Complete Guide.
• Engage in Relevant Activities: Show a genuine passion for your chosen subject through extracurricular activities, such as academic competitions, research projects, or relevant work experience.
• Seek Guidance: Consider utilising resources and specialised admissions services for tailored support in preparing your application, including personal statement guidance and mock interviews.
• Demonstrate Academic Excellence: Maintain a strong academic record, particularly in subjects relevant to your intended course of study.
• Practice Interview Skills: Oxford's interviews are designed to assess your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. Practice discussing your subject with clarity and confidence.

Conclusion

Oxford University's acceptance rates reflect its status as one of the world's most prestigious and competitive institutions. Understanding these rates can help prospective students navigate the application process more effectively. By preparing thoroughly and making the most of available resources, applicants can improve their chances of securing a place at this esteemed university.