Home » Admissions » The Admissions Process

Choosing A University

Once you have begun to decide what course you wish to study, the next step is to make a decision about which Universities you want to apply to. The course search option on the UCAS website will allow you to see which institutions teach the course that you wish to study. The courses that you can apply for at Oxford University are listed here.

There is an incredible variety of Higher Education institutions in the UK. The UCAS Form allows you to apply to up to five of these institutions in any one year.

Some of the things you might want to consider are:

  • Courses and Institution Types - Choosing between two universities can often come down to how you feel about the courses that they offer. Looking at the prospectuses will reveal subtle differences in the way you are taught and you might spot options that particularly interest you in one of the courses. Information about the courses taught at Magdalen can be found in our Subject Guide. Bear in mind that there are different types of courses, such as Sandwich courses in vocational subjects, allowing you to take a year out in industry in the middle of your degree.
  • Home or Away? One of the big decisions you need to make is whether you want to go to a University near your home, or further afield. Each has certain advantages and drawbacks - going to University in your home area can make it cheaper as you may be able to live at home, but you may miss out on the greater freedom of living away from your parents and making new friends.
  • Go and visit! You are not just making a decision about education, you are choosing where you will be living for at least the next three years. It is always a good idea to go and visit the Universities you will be applying to, not only because it gives you a day off school, but because it helps you to see if you like the atmosphere of the place you will be studying. Universities differ not only in their age and appearance, but also with regard to important things like the provision of accommodation, books and teaching, and you can investigate all of these elements through their prospectuses and Open Days. The schedule of Open Days at Oxford University is here.

Why Oxford?

So what is it that makes Oxford University so special? Here's a small selection of reasons why Oxford remains a world-class institution and why you should definitely consider it:

  • The Tutorial System - This almost unique system adds a special depth to degree-level study. As well as having the lectures, seminars and classes that form the basis of teaching at other Universities, Oxford’s degrees centre around weekly tutorials. These are meetings between a tutor and 1-3 undergraduate students, in which the previous week's work is discussed. These meetings are a unique opportunity for students to come face-to-face with world experts in their field, allowing them to steer the direction of their own course and to learn at their ideal pace.
  • The College System - At most universities, you will become part of the University community of up to 25,000. At Oxford, as well as being a member of the University, you are also a member of a College of 400-600 people. This gives a far more intimate atmosphere, in which you will be able to make lasting friends from day one and in which all the facilities you need, from libraries to squash courts, are never more than a short walk away.
  • Resources - Oxford University has an amazing range of resources available to all of its students, from brand new science laboratories stocked with state-of-the-art equipment to the central Bodleain Library, entitled to a copy of every book published in the UK, and holding a total of more than 8 million volumes. You will never be short of the materials needed to achieve exactly what you want from your time at University, and this represents a financial saving, since you will not need to buy many books as they are readily available already.
  • The Courses - While Oxford offers quite a traditional range of courses, the range of options within these courses is absolutely immense. You will be able to tailor the content of your degree, focusing on those areas that most interest and inspire you most, and therefore making your time at University far more enjoyable and inspiring.
  • The City - Oxford is simply a beautiful city and therefore a wonderful place to live. With four student theatres running every night in term, concerts, restaurants, bars, museums and galleries, there is always too much to see, enjoy and do!