Your Oxbridge Engineering application process is difficult as you have to worry about your UCAS Application, Personal Statement and PAT or ESAT. However, after all this, there’s another step to be prepared for, the interviews.
Being prepared for your interviews is important because they are one of the biggest deciding factors as to who gets a place on the course. Success rates are low for Oxbridge Engineering (15.8% at Oxford and 13.8% at Cambridge), so you’ll need to be within the top 10% – 15% of applicants to stand a chance.
The point of these interviews is for admissions tutors to learn more about you. They focus on your motivations, academic abilities, and overall approach to education and problem-solving, which means you’ll need to be prepared for questions related to all of these factors. In this guide, we’ll explore the types of questions typically used to assess these areas and provide strategies for addressing them effectively.
Oxbridge Interview Format
If you aren’t already aware of how Oxbridge interviews work, here are some commonly asked questions that cover the essential information for attending your interviews. You can more information about them in our Oxford Interview Guide and Cambridge Interview Guide.
When Are Oxbridge Engineering Interviews?
Interviews take in the first three weeks of December at each university. A timetable is made available that shows when different courses hold interviews, but the information provided in your invitation (dates and times) will be more important to follow. Dates and times cannot be unadjusted, so you’ll need to be free for these appointments.
When Are Interview Invitations Sent Out?
Colleges will send their invitations around one to three weeks prior to your interview date, so this doesn’t give you much time to prepare. While an interview is never guaranteed, it’s still important to begin your preparation at least a month before your invitation is due, as you don’t want to be caught unprepared if you are invited.
How Many Applicants Do Oxford and Cambridge Interview?
Although both universities are highly competitive, it’s actually a lot easier to get an interview at Cambridge. Oxford is particularly selective in its shortlisting process, typically inviting only 20% – 30% of applicants for interviews, although it has interviewed 37% of its Engineering Sciences applicants between 2021 and 2023.
Despite this, Cambridge interviews far more applicants. It generally invites 70% of its applicants, although Engineering is one of the most applied for courses it teaches (over 2,400 applicants in 2023), so the percentage they interview may be less.
Where Are Oxbridge Interviews Held?
As a response to the pandemic in 2020, all Oxbridge interviews were changed to be remote, and the majority have remained this way since. This enables applicants to attend from home or school via Microsoft Teams or Zoom (the specific platform will be detailed in your invitation).
While Oxford has confirmed that all interviews will remain online for the foreseeable future, certain colleges at Cambridge have reintroduced in-person interviews, either as an option or a requirement. These take place on campus, with full instructions provided in your invitation.
How Many Interviews Will I Attend?
Typically, an Oxbridge applicant will attend at least two interviews during the December period. These interviews are sometimes based around different topics or themes, such as a Maths interview and a Physics interview.
Who Will Be Interviewing Me?
Your interviewers are typically admissions tutors and lecturers from the college you applied to, specialising in your subject areas. Each interview usually involves two interviewers, but it’s rare to encounter the same one more than once.
What Format Are The Interviews?
Oxbridge interviews follow a traditional panel format similar to a standard job interview. Here, you’ll have a back-and-forth conversation with your interviewers, answering their questions and working through Engineering-related problems, which may involve analysing reference images or data.
For in-person interviews, you may need to write or draw on paper (everything will be provided for this). In remote interviews, you’ll use a digital whiteboard available in the virtual meeting room. Try to get some practice using systems like this beforehand so you can work through question faster and more neatly.
How Long Are The Interviews?
Your interviews will last around 30 minutes each. There won’t be any extra time granted, so you’ll need to ensure you make the most of the time you have available.
What Happens After My Interviews?
After your final interview, the application process is essentially complete, and there’s nothing more to do but wait for your offer or further communication.
If your chosen college rejects your application, another college may review it, giving you a second chance at admission. This is more common at Cambridge, where it’s known as the Winter Pool. Some applicants in the pool might be invited for another interview in January, while others may receive offers without any additional interviews.
That covers the basics of Oxbridge interviews, although there are still plenty of finer details and elements that may be unique to your college or subject. For now, though, let’s focus on the kinds of questions you may encounter.
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Common Oxford and Cambridge Engineering Interview Questions
Although there are no official categories for the types of questions you might encounter in your interviews, most questions can generally be grouped into six broad themes or types:
- Generic Questions
- Subject-Related Questions
- Academic Questions
- Reading-Related Questions
- Personal Statement Questions
- Thinking Questions
Although all of these question types are useful to admissions tutors, Engineering interviews tend to prioritise certain types over others. Let’s break down each category to help you understand what to expect.
Generic Questions
Firstly, we have the kinds of questions you’d anticipate in a standard interview. While these questions are easy to anticipate, they can be difficult to answer effectively if you’re not prepared. Typically, they focus on your motivations and delve into why you’re attending the interview. Examples include:
- Why Engineering?
- Why this university?
- Why our college?
When responding to a question like this, it’s important to stay genuine and honest instead of simply trying to guess what the interviewer wants to hear. Providing generic motivations won’t help you stand out or convey enthusiasm for studying at Oxbridge, so trust your instincts, even if you’re unsure whether your reasoning is compelling enough.
Subject-related Questions
For STEM subjects like Engineering, questions related to the field are very common. These questions are often more general, with the interviewer asking about your understanding of a concept or your opinion on a specific issue, although can verge outside of this style (though these will tend to fit in other categories better).
In such cases, they do not expect you to have a thorough understanding of every concept and recognise that some applicants may be less familiar with certain topics. The tutors are interested in seeing how you apply your existing knowledge to discuss a topic or creatively solve a problem, even if you don’t have all the information at hand.
The key to approaching these questions is to articulate your thoughts as you work through them. Since you won’t have a pre-prepared answer, it’s crucial to take the time to consider the question carefully. A brief pause is acceptable, but the main goal is to understand your problem-solving approach. Sharing your thought process in real-time is the best way to showcase this.
Academic Questions
This is also an incredibly common type of question you’ll face during your interviews, as Engineering interviewers are particularly keen on assessing your ability to solve problems relating to Maths and Physics. Essentially, the interviewer will present you with a problem to solve that is similar (though not identical) to what you might encounter in an exam setting.
Depending on your grasp of the topic, these questions can be relatively straightforward to answer. However, keep in mind that the interviews are not solely focused on finding the correct answer; you must also articulate your thought process while you work through the problem, as this is of greater value to the interviewers. You will be given paper or a digital whiteboard (depending on the interview format), so make sure to visualise your steps as you progress.
Sometimes, these questions can take a more interesting form (which we’ll cover soon), but the principle is generally the same. We will delve deeper into these questions in the next section too, as there are various strategies for approaching them.
Reading-Related Questions
You should be engaging in wider reading related to Engineering during your application process, as interviewers may ask about the materials you’ve explored and your perspectives on them. They might also inquire about recent news stories or developments in the field of computing, so it’s important to stay updated on industry trends and significant events.
Possible questions in this category include:
- Tell me about something you’ve read recently.
- What do you think about X?
Bear in mind, wider reading doesn’t just mean books, so feel free to mention any articles, papers, news stories, or documentaries you’ve recently come across if they are relevant.
Personal Statement Questions
These questions are pretty simple; the interviews may ask about your Personal Statement. However, they tend to be less frequent since Oxbridge admissions tutors usually prioritise evaluating your relevant skills over your Personal Statement.
If an interviewer does want to talk about your statement, they will probably want some more details about a work experience placement you mentioned or a super-curricular activity you participated in. These questions are straightforward to address; just offer more context about what you wrote and respond honestly.
Thinking Questions
These are often called “weird” questions of your interview because they can appear abstract and disconnected from the subject matter. However, their purpose is to assess your general thinking abilities, including critical thinking and problem-solving in unusual scenarios. While they aren’t intended to surprise you, they might lead you to pause and think for a moment (just be mindful not to stay silent for too long).
In Engineering interviews specifically, you could also consider some of the questions from previous categories as a part of this one. We’ll explore some questions like this later, but you may sometimes be asked a question that seems strange at first. However, as you think about it, you’ll realise there is a very clear purpose behind it, typically to test your scientific understanding.
Now that we understand the types of questions typically asked in Oxbridge interviews, let’s examine some example Engineering interview questions.
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Example Cambridge And Oxford Engneering Interview Questions
Let’s look at a selection of questions that could be seen at an Oxbridge Engineering interview. These questions are all very specific and focus on subject-relevant problems, so don’t expect to see these exact questions in your interviews. However, look at the answers provided for each of these to help you in your preparation and consider how you would answer a question like it in your interviews.
Oxbridge Engineering Interview Question 1
How does a capacitor work?
How to Answer
This first question is split into multiple parts that will get progressively harder as you carry on. Interviewers often like to expand upon topics that the applicant is performing well in, although they’re unlikely to continue if you can’t answer the first part.
This is a pretty simple question, provided you know how they work.
Model Answer
A capacitor stores charge on its plates. The opposite signs of the charge create a potential difference in storing energy, which can be discharged.
What is the relationship between C, Q, V and can you derive the relationship between I and V for a capacitor?
Model Answer
The relationship between C, Q, V is as follows:
C = Q/V – capacitance is charge per voltage
For the second part of the question, I will consider the definition of current – I = dQ/dt. Therefore
I = dQ/dt = d/dt(CV) = C(dV)/dt
From the circuit below can you derive the discharge equation? Consider Kirchhoff’s Law.
Model Answer
When discharging it starts from at t = 0; Vc = Vs
Kirchkoff’s current law is: current in = current out i.e. IC = IR.
Kirchkoff’s voltage law is the total voltage around the loop = 0. The capacitor supplies energy and the resistor consumes it so VC = -VR.
C(dVC/dt) = VR/R = -(VC/R)
dVC/dt + (1/RC)VC = 0
So I can solve with integrating factor IF = e∫(1/RC)dt = e t/RC
d/dt(VCe(1/RC)) = 0
VC = Ke -(1/RC)
At t = 0, VC = VS = K
VC = VSe-(1/RC)
Your responses don’t need to be drawn out if they don’t need to be. Concise answers that get the point across allow the interviewers more time to ask more interesting questions.
How does a capacitor work?
Oxbridge Engineering Interview Question 2
Draw the graph of y = sin(lnx)
How to Answer
Another simple one, anyone who is moderately familiar with graphs in Mathematics shouldn’t have much difficulty here. However, rather than just drawing it, you need to be sure to explain your process; act like the interviewers don’t know how to draw this graph (but don’t come off as condescending!).
Model Answer
Firstly, here is sin(x) and ln(x)
Then, I need to consider the following key features:
Sin(lnx) is only possible for positive x (x > 0). Due to the outer function being sine, there are limits -1 < y < 1.
For small values of x, ln(x) gets infinity negative. This means a small change in x at low values covers a wide range of values of ln(x). So sin(lnx) will oscillate a lot/ undergo multiple cycles within the small space of x. As it approaches 0, the wavelength gets infinitely thinner.
For large values of x, ln(x) slowly increases, and hence will mean sin(lnx) has a long wavelength. As x increases it will stretch the sine wave.
(From this, you should produce (small scale – above, large scale – below))
Can you find a turning point? Is it a maximum or a minimum?
Model Answer
As the second derivative is negative, it is a maxima.
Oxbridge Engineering Interview Question 3
Would you run or walk in the rain?
How to Answer
Here’s a more abstract question. There’s not a lot to work with here, so you’ll have to do much if the work yourself. Before you start, you may be given some additional context, such as the following:
Assume n drops land per second per unit area, falling vertically at a speed s, with mass m. You move at speed v so is it better to walk or run to avoid getting wet when covering distance D?
Since there’s not much information as to why you would run or walk, you should first clarify that you are trying to stay as dry as possible when getting from one covering got the other. From there, some things to consider include:
- Your own dimensions, presented as a cuboid w x d x h.
- The water landing directly down onto the person, and the water they move into as they go forward.
Model Answer
To remain as dry as possible, I would first need to consider my own dimensions and how the water is landing on me, both from overhead and as I’m walking into it.
For the mass landing on them:
- My top area = wd
- The time to cover distance (D) = t = D/y
- The mass of water landing on top therefore is Wt = nm(wd)t = nmwdD/v
For the mass I walk into:
- Since the rain is constant, we can imagine it is frozen in time and we will walk into all water in front of us – this creates a volume of water we get wet by. It is independent of time in the rain.
- The volume of water we move into = frontal area x distance moved = hwD
- The mass concentration of water in the air is nm/s at any point in time (e.g. imagine v = 10 m/s, n = 10,000 m-2 s-1 , m = 0.1 g. In 1 second the water within 10m of the ground will land, which is drops 10,000 of 0.1 g. So in 1 m3 of air at any point there are 1,000 drops.
- Hence, the mass of water in front = Wf = hwDnm/s.
To minimise W, I must go as fast as possible (increase v), so I would run.
What happens if there is wind?
How to Answer
Here’s an additional piece of information to consider after giving your initial answer. Take what you said previously and add this new context to see if running is still the best option.
Model Answer
Wind will tilt/slant the rain’s direction. This means rather than a cuboid/ vertical column falling onto me, a parallelepiped will. This will have the same volume, hence wind will not affect the rain from above. For the frontal rain, you can still imagine the rain as a stationary volume that you walk into, the same situation as before. Hence, the direction of rain does not affect W.
Oxbridge Engineering Interview Question 4
Proxima b is the closest potentially habitable planet at 4.22 light years away. What issues do we face getting to distant planets to colonise?
How to Answer
This question is designed to be an open-ended discussion, so the interviewers should bounce off of your responses. However, additional prompts to include or situations considered may include:
Distance
- Our fastest object in space is currently 0.006% of the speed of light. It will take thousands of years to reach, so speed must be increased for this to be possible.
- People would either be put into cryofreeze (currently impossible), or the descendants of the original crew would be the ones to arrive.
Fuel/Power
- A heavy ship will require huge amounts of fuel for launch, manoeuvring and landing. Material developments to reduce weight are required.
- You should be aware that fuel will not be needed in deep space – no drag means the ship will continue to ‘drift’ at its original speed.
- However, you will need an energy source to help sustain life the entire journey. Solar power will not be suitable in deep space.
- Solar sails – using the momentum of photons to push the rocket when near stars. For deep space travel, it has been proposed we use high-powered lasers in orbit around the earth to push rockets when they are in deep space – laser sails.
The extreme environment of 2.7 K deep space vs heat on re-entry
- We may need to protect against meteorites, radiation exposure, high heat upon re-entry and more.
- We would need heat shields to dissipate heat well, whilst inside is very well insulated
Supporting life for the entire journey
- Imitation of gravity – rotating living quarters?
- Self-sustaining, fully closed system – all waste must be reused or else we will run out of resources before journey is done.
- If the crew is awake during the journey, population balance is essential.
- Adapt the environment of the ship to imitate the target planet's environment (such as gravity and air) so people can function upon arrival.
- What if an illness breaks out on the ship?
Building of civilisation upon arrival
- You can re-use the ship as buildings, but we will probably need to mine resources
It would be hard to provide a model answer for this question, as it really comes down to the points you find most interesting and how the interview engages with you from there.
Oxbridge Engineering Interview Question 5
Can a squirrel survive being dropped from the Empire State Building? Assume it can survive a force of 20 N.
How to Answer
Ignoring how cruel this sounds in reality, this is a fairly standard question about momentum and forces. You’ll likely be given some additional information, such as:
Drag equation given by D = (CdρAv2t)/2 where vt is terminal velocity. Assume Cd = 1.
Approach this as a standard problem and then consider the actual question (would it survive) afterwards.
Model Answer
I will assume it reaches terminal velocity, so drag = weight:
mg = (CdρAv2t)/2
V2t = (2mg)/(CdρA)
The force when it hits the ground = rate of change in momentum = Δmv/Δt = (m(vt – 1))/t = mvt/t
Assume m = 0.2 kg or other appropriate number, A = 0.02 m2, ρ = 1 kg/m3 hence approximately:
Hence, if the impact time is 0.2 seconds, F = 0.2 × 14/0.2 = 14N, so the squirrel survives.
Oxbridge Engineering Interview Question 6
If you stand in a boat on a lake, with a cannonball and drop it in the water, does the water level of the lake rise or fall?
How to Answer
This is another fairly simple question in principle, as long as you understand the science behind what’s being asked. Your response doesn’t need to be too long here as you can get the point across in just a few sentences.
However, if it requires a bit more thought for you to work it out, remember to explain your thought process as you go.
Model Answer
Following the Archimede principle for something to float it must displace an equal weight of water, e.g. mg = pfVgg
When in the boat, the boat floats, meaning the water displaced is enough for both the boat and cannonball. However when in the water, the cannonball will not displace enough water to float (i.e. it sinks). This means it is not displacing less water than when in the boat. Therefore the level of the lake will lower.
Oxbridge Engineering Interview Question 7
You are sitting in a car with a constant velocity, and a helium ballon is next to you floating freely. The car makes a fast left turn. Which direction does your body and the helium ballon move?
Model Answer
A person sitting in a car that is turning left will lean the right due to the inertia of the person (their mass), and therefore resist the direction of turning.
However, the helium balloon is less dense than air. Whilst the person and the air in the car are pushed to the right, due to the buoyancy of the balloon it will move in the opposite direction to the air: the air will have a slightly higher density on the right-hand side so can imagine it pushing the lighter ballon to the left. Therefore, the balloon will move to the left-hand side of the car.
Again, another fairly simple question that interviewers will use to determine your competence in essential knowledge and skills for the course.
These are just a few examples of questions that could come up in your interviews. Since Engineering is such a vast subject, the likelihood of encountering these specific questions is low, but the purpose of these examples is to illustrate how you can effectively tackle any maths-based interview question to provide a thorough and insightful response.
In these interviews, admissions tutors are looking to stretch your abilities as far as they can go, so don’t be discouraged if you’re less confident in the topics covered in these examples. All of the questions in your interview will be based upon concepts that you should have learnt during your A-Levels, so everything you’re asked will be achievable at your level of knowledge, provided you prepare effectively and give yourself time to work through the question carefully.
Oxbridge Engineering Interview Tips
The last thing to cover in this guide is some general tips to help you with your interview on the day.
Be Early
You would aim to be a bit early at most important appointments you have in life, so be sure to give yourself extra time before your Oxbridge interview to ensure you’re able to get there on time. We would recommend arriving 10 to 20 minutes early for either type of interview, as this will also give you some time to prepare your thoughts.
For remote interviews, make sure your computer is set up correctly and that your camera and microphone are functioning properly. Additionally, confirm that you won’t be interrupted during the interview, as any disruptions could disrupt the flow. If your interview is in person, allow yourself ample time to reach the college, as navigating the campus can be challenging if you haven’t been there before.
Remain Calm
You’ll hear this from everyone offering advice, but it’s important to remember. Interviews can be stressful, and it’s perfectly normal to feel that pressure. However, as an Oxbridge applicant, you must learn to manage your nerves and demonstrate that you have what it takes to thrive as an Oxbridge student.
Interviewers understand that applicants are likely to be nervous, but their demeanour can vary—some may be warm and reassuring, while others might be more stern and unsympathetic. Regardless of their approach, it’s up to you to assert yourself and show that you deserve an offer.
Think Out Loud
We’ve already highlighted this, but it’s extremely important. The primary purpose of the interview is for the college to assess how you function as an academic. Keeping your thoughts to yourself and leaving the interviewers in silence for extended periods is likely to lead to failure.
When thinking aloud, your comments don’t need to be brilliant or even accurate; the goal is to articulate your thought process, which might include some errors in your methodology. As long as you approach the problem logically and reasonably, you’ll be providing the interviewers with exactly what they’re looking for.
Opinions Don’t Matter
Subjective questions that require you to express your opinion are less common in Engineering interviews but don’t hesitate to defend your opinions when appropriate. When expressing your thoughts on a topic, the emphasis should be on supporting your reasoning with logic and facts, rather than on your personal feelings, especially when dealing with more subjective issues. Thus, it’s better to be honest and articulate the reasoning you genuinely hold, rather than altering your beliefs to justify something you don’t truly believe.
Use Visuals
This is essential for an Engineering interview and something you should practice regularly. Engineering is a very visual subject, so many components found in equations and diagrams cannot be conveyed effectively through words alone. To thoroughly explain your thought process, writing and drawing while you work is the best way to showcase your understanding to the admissions tutors.
As you prepare for your interviews, concentrate on the speed of your work while ensuring everything is still legible. It doesn’t need to be flawless, as you can also explain things verbally, but it’s good practice to keep your drawings and written explanations neat and clear.
That ends our guide on Engineering interview questions at Oxford and Cambridge. While everything we’ve discussed provides a solid foundation, it’s just the starting point for your research and preparation. Your next steps should be to continue to revise the necessary subject knowledge for Engineering and begin to practice through mock interviews. Participating in multiple mock interviews, preferably with someone unfamiliar to you, will help enhance your technique and reduce any nerves leading up to the actual interview.
Remember to begin your preparation well before receiving your invitation – waiting until three weeks or less before the interview will place you at a significant disadvantage compared to other candidates. Although there are many tasks to manage in the months leading up to December, it’s essential to effectively balance your time and ensure every aspect of your application (including your schoolwork) is strong enough to compete with the top 10% of Oxbridge applicants.
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