Advice on Oxford application when already at another uni

[UniversityChallenged]

I wonder if anyone with experience of the university of Oxford could give me some advice?

DS had planned to defer uni until 2021 because he had a great gap year placement arranged. COVID put paid to that so his plan is now to go in 2020.

He didn’t apply to Oxford for 2020 because at the time he wanted to do a joint degree which Oxford didn’t offer. He now just wants to do one of the subjects which Oxford does offer. He got A level grades which meet the Oxford entry requirements for this course.

He’s been offered a place at another uni to study the original joint degree.

The question is: could he start the joint degree in September and apply for Oxford for 2021? Clearly there is no guarantee he would get an interview or a place, so he wouldn’t want to turn down the place he already has. If he got a place, he would accept it to start in 2021 (to do the full three-year course). If he didn’t, he would stay where he was.

It says on the Oxford website that moving from another university is possible but I wondered how it would be viewed by the admissions department and if it actually happens in practice?

If he really really wants to go to oxford I would probably just wait, just from the point of view of using up a year’s funding already before you start another degree and the possibility of repeating material being a bit dull

There are going to be fewer places available at Oxford next year due to the deferments from students who have got a place this year but can't attend (too many places being honoured for the number of places actually available). It's also really difficult - despite what they say - to transfer in from another university, particularly if it is from a different course. I would suggest either taking the gap year and planned and perhaps working during it, then applying to join next year (and if possible get some tuition to pass any admissions tests, depending on the subject), or just doing the course he was accepted on, make the most of it, and then apply to Oxford to do a postgrad course afterwards! Either way, good luck (from an Oxford grad)!

Thanks for your comments. It's a very fraught time! He's waiting to hear if he can change his course at his current uni before he decides what to do...