Oxbridge applicants 2026??

[Justlurkingmostly]

Is there a thread for this year’s applicants - I can’t seem to find with a search. Thanks for signposting 🙏

https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/colleges/a-z-of-colleges

You can read all about the colleges here @justteanbiscuits

You might find this useful: apply.oxfordsu.org/colleges/

I think you probably have to actually go on the college websites and drill down a bit. It could be pretty longwinded. We did a day trip to Oxford and wandered around and looked around some of the colleges and then came up with a shortlist which was all pretty much negated when DD won stuff in this competition and then decided that was the best option. Fortunately, that offered the things she wanted such as being in the centre of town, being a larger college and being able to have college accommodation for all three years if desired.

I am sure if you have specific wants, you could email colleges and ask questions. Maybe not right now though, with all the admissions stuff going on. Jan/Feb might be a good time to do this, and then book some trips to see anywhere that sounds good. If you don't have specific wants, then maybe just go and see the place and see if anywhere particularly appeals if you can afford to do so.

Honestly, though, I don't think it matters that much apart from practicalities. And it is perfectly fine to put in an open application and let them allocate you to somewhere that maybe has fewer applications for that subject in that year.

https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/colleges/do-I-pay-to-live-in-my-college has prices for accommodation

That is a really brilliant link! Thank you.. Need to find one for Cambridge - and need to know why he has a stronger preference for Cambridge than Oxford!

The alternative prospectus is useful too @justteanbiscuits https://apply.oxfordsu.org/. I expect there’s one for Cambridge too.

Ds opted for Oxford over Cambridge as he’s applied for maths and wanted to get the MAT out of the way, rather than doing the STEP next summer.

Massive congratulations to those who have got interviews lined up. It is indeed sobering to hear of straight A⭐️ students not being offered interview. We only know of one other applying to Oxbridge this year and they have got an interview at Cambridge.

My DS started choosing his Cambridge college by looking at the league tables for his course as that was a priority for him and he had a short list when we went to the open day but when we started to look around them in person his list went out of the window and it was all about the feel of the college. He was lucky enough to get a place on a summer school at his now college which made his mind up for definite. From my very short experience though it was very much how the college felt, how friendly it was and where it was (he wanted to be central). As far as you not having any experience of university I'm not sure that it would help anyway when it comes to oxbridge everything is different to other uni's. As a parent I found the websites really helpful and also old oxbridge threads were invaluable. Good luck and feel free to drop me a DM if you want to chat through any of the process or have any specific questions 😊

Also it may help not to get too hung up on a specific college..DS was pooled to somewhere he hadn't even looked at but had been very happy where he now is!

As far as you not having any experience of university I'm not sure that it would help anyway when it comes to oxbridge everything is different to other uni's.

Tbh, it's all changed since I went to university in loads of ways, so even having Oxbridge experience isn't necessarily that helpful! I think we are all in more or less the same boat, though appreciate it must seem a lot more overwhelming for those who don't have any university experience behind them. All universities are aware of this now, though, and won't mind answering questions if there's stuff you can't find online. They want your son (and everyone else potentially good enough) to apply!

Not sure if someone's posted this already - and this isn't about the academics but it's a way to whittle down based on other preferences then he can look at the individual college sites - https://www.whichcambridgecollege.com/

There's also lots of info on forums like The Student Room and Reddit 6thform if you search around for the subjects you/he's interest in.

@girlwhowearsglasses my dc was rejected from cam for engineering today too.

Anyone’s DC got invited for an interview for Physics at Oxford? This waiting is very nerve wracking!

Sorry to hear about those who have had the rejection email. I hope your DC are feeling okay and not too downcast. I’m so impressed by the resilience of all the young people who go through this process, whether they get in or not. It’s so gruelling.

I reckon early next week for physics application updates (no experience, just looking at the dates).

www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/applying-to-oxford/guide/interviews/interview-timetable2

From experience last year (and going through the process again this year), Physics interview invites were sent out the first week in Dec.

Biology, Law, Music and Engineering have started to come out.

History and Chemistry and Cambridge both offered interviews today, dont know which colleges sorry

Ds was offered an interview for History and Politics at Cambridge. Got the offer last week and interviews are next week.

The "time ceremony" was called Toasting the Counter Revolution back in the 80s. A much better name.

DS2 waiting for news on interviews with Oxford for Physics. I noticed that the interviews start on the 10th of December which is the date he has been given for interview at Manchester. 😳

just found out this afternoon that DS has an interview with Oxford for Materials Science, he’s really pleased as thought the PAT didn’t go too well!

Well done to those who have also had interviews confirmed and sorry to those who have been unsuccessful.

@justteanbiscuits don't worry too much about college choice. It's easy to get fixated on it, because it is strange and different, and a lot of young people spend a lot of mental energy worrying about whether they should choose college x rather than college y. In practice, nearly all students end up loving the college they end up at. Colleges are really good at building community.

The main thing to do is check which colleges offer your DC's course - that may cut down on your options. Then there are practical considerations that may be important (e.g. would they rather be somewhere more central but with less green space vs somewhere further out but with bigger gardens; accommodation offer and type; location compared to their department buildings). There is nothing wrong with just picking a college based on gut vibe. I know people who picked a college because they saw the college tortoise on the open day, or they met a current student who seemed really nice - that's no less legitimate than any other reason. If you can, go to an open day and wander round a few (or go any time - if you say you are a prospective applicant, the porters will usually let you wander around).

Complete aside but I really think that if Oxbridge is serious about demystifying and widening participation then all applications should be centralised by subject. Having to apply to college just adds another layer of stress and gamification onto what's already an offputting process. It feels like yet more self-othering and pretentiousness.

From what I gather, Oxford seems to be better at putting all applications through a central faculty but I don't get that sense from Cambridge. DD's course/college last year had 12 applications and they made... no, yes NO, offers.

Meanwhile the other DD is still waiting for any news about Oxford (I've got two applying this year - they're not twins).

Still waiting for us. A friend’s DC was rejected from Oxford biochem with all As and all 9s gcse. Its crazy that all As students wasnt offered an interview.

@ClaireBlunderwood I think both Oxford and Cambridge bend over backwards to demystify and widen participation. The colleges are self-governing so it just wouldn’t work to impose students on them from a central committee. The collegiate system is an absolute treasure and one of the best things about Oxford and Cambridge IMO.