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 🙏

Thanks so much, thats much reassured that we werent the only one. In the initial email Oxford said that there might be 2nd Philosophy interview so it was much anticipated. It was Philosophy that made her choose Oxford over Cambridge so she was really gutted especially the first interview was a mixed feeling.

DS has just received an email requesting further information relating to fee status. I can only think he has ticked a box incorrectly somewhere. Has anyone else had this? DS is a British citizen, as am I and his Dad and he has never lived outside of the UK.

Is this request from UCAS or Oxford?
My DC’s friend had a similar request from UCAS-and yes he’d ticked the wrong box.

DS had 4 interviews for physics and philosophy, there were 2 for each subject.

Final update from me til Jan! DS has had his 3 Oxford maths based interviews, 2 at chosen college, one at allocated alternative. All went “ok” according to him i. e. tricky maths discussions, but all interviewers were friendly and encouraging-he came out of the one at the alternative college really positive as that was more from the CompSci perspective. To summarise, he’s given it his best shot and doesn’t have any lingering angst about any of it. Has got TMUA to look fwd to 9th Jan ( I think), MAT results also early Jan ( if it matters anymore!), then decision day for Oxford on 13th, although DS tells me some hear before this? Anyway, he’s done his best, as I’m sure have all other DCs mentioned here, so going to put out of mind for a few weeks and try and enjoy Christmas, best wishes to all🎄

Same here, first maths interview was good, couple of problem solving questions which were her strength. Philosophy wasnt great with the first interviewer and better with the 2nd half. 2nd math interview with 2nd college was hard, the questions were both very “niche”(her words), she needed hints for both to get the right answers. Its US application for her during the holiday and TMUA in Jan too. I thought MAT was after the results. She missed 4 points in MAT and didnt have time to check the rest of 96 points.

WOW that’s good going in the MAT, well done to her for coming so close to finishing it.
Good luck for the TMUA. My DC said the questions are quite different to those from past papers.

Everyone at Oxford hears on the same day. Even if you have already been accepted as a choral or organ scholar, you still only find out if you have an offer on the same day as everyone else.

It was from Cambridge. I assume we just provide all of the documentation requested - and it is quite a lot!

I’ve not heard of this before. I hope you get it sorted out quickly.

I wonder if Oxbridge tailor interviews to take into account neurodivergence? I just wonder if for some the interview style of the interviewer will not align with day someone with higher functioning autism and autistic traits will be highlighted cruelly by an unsympathetic interviewer?

I don't have the stats, but given that such a high proportion of students with ALN are studying at Oxbridge, it doesn't seem to hold them back. The interviews are designed to see if the students are a good fit for the tutorial system.

I thought the same - plenty of the interviewers also likely to be neurodivergent, and from my experience, a lot of the students were too. My son was worried that the interviews would much prefer the socially capable confident people, and I said that while that’s always good, from my experience of the mathematicians, scientists and engineers there, they were fully on board with the shy and awkward as well, as long as they were super smart.

College support can be excellent. DD received financial help with a ed psych report & pastoral support. They are very used to helping diagnosed and undiagnosed students who need all sorts of support.

My DS, who has autism of what you could call the higher functioning variety, was way happier chatting through hard maths problems than he would be in a 'normal' interview talking about himself, so I'd say the interview style - for STEM especially - is well-suited to ND students who want to talk about the subject. Can't speak for everyone ofc and an unsympathetic interviewer is never a good thing for any candidate so there will be some negative experiences no doubt, but I'd agree with PPs that there doesn't seem to be a lack of ND people among the students and staff, which would indicate that it's not been a barrier for them.

All applicants who declare a disability/medical need/neurodivergence are contacted to ask about their accessibility needs and whether there are reasonable adjustments that they need to the interview process.

A lot of applicants are ND. So are lot of admitted students. If you are interested there are stats here: https://www.ox.ac.uk/about/facts-and-figures/admissions-statistics/undergraduate-students/current/disability

Obviously the figures only reflect the proportion of candidates who declare their neurodiversity at interview stage. There are bound to be a lot of applicants who decide not to (which is a shame as they then can’t get any adjustments) or who are not yet diagnosed.

It was purely academic questions after a hello so it works well/better for neurodivergence in my view.

My dd has asd and was contacted about adjustments but didn't require any.
I'm a bit concerned she takes questions very literally and can think quite narrowly initially (humanities subject) but we shall see what happens!

I hope everyone and their DCs has a relaxing and stress-free time off until decisions are made. DS will be in the middle of mocks when he hears from C. I hope that whatever the result, he isn’t put off his stride

Happy Christmas to all and wishing all of you and your young people a stress-free time until the results come out.

DD had this when she applied. Home student but she had ticked self funding (no student loan) and they wanted to check it was correct (which it was due to savings) and then we needed to provide evidence we could pay. Just mention that in case it is relevant. DD now in final year at Cambridge so it was a couple of years ago now.

I just want Oxford outcome day to arrive so it’s over with one way or the other ! Only just over a week to go

Oh, me too!

Me too, time is dragging and not sure how much this is distracting my DS from TMUA on Friday.. Roll on next Tuesday and a decision one way or the other..

My DS has mocks all next week as well - stress levels high here!