One of the differences in the ways which Oxford and Cambridge run their interview processes is in the number of interviews and when they take place.
This is because of the collegiate system and, more specifically, the “pooling” system. It operates differently between the two universities, and if candidates were interviewed at both, they would notice the distinction (although this is not possible due to application restrictions).
In this guide, we’ll explore how many interviews your child should expect to attend as an Oxford applicant and what they should be prepared for. Let’s begin.
How Many Interviews At Oxford?
Unfortunately, the exact number of interviews they will have is less certain because it is not fixed or decided in advance of the interview process. How many Oxford interviews one candidate has is variable based on multiple factors.
- Course
- College
- Applicant Pooling
Each course at Oxford has a unique interview structure based on the requirements of the subject. For example, a PPE application would generally attend three interviews, one for each of the subjects covered in the course.
In other cases, the college you apply for may wish to see you more times than others, leading to additional interviews. Lastly, and most uncommonly, applicants may be considered by different colleges. Unlike Cambridge, which has a dedicated pooling process for applicants, candidates applying to Oxford will most likely not be re-called back to attend any additional interviews. In most cases, applicants who are admitted into a different will do so without any additional interviews.
To gather more official information about the course’s interview process, we’d recommend looking at the course pages and the details of the application process on the Oxford website.
Also, be sure to ask questions about this at the Oxford open days if you have the chance. You’ll have a chance to speak with members of the subject department, although you may not be able to get any information on when the interviews will actually take place – mostly because they are arranged very close to the days themselves and won’t be fixed or available in advance.
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Important Information About Oxford Interviews
Let’s run through some of the most important aspects of the Oxford interview process to help you understand what your child will be going through to get their offer:
Oxford Interview Invites
After the shortlisting process is completed (based on grades, Personal Statements and admissions test results if applicable), interview invitations will be sent out about one to three weeks before the interview period, which takes place in the first three weeks of December.
Your child will receive an email inviting them to attend the college handling their application for an interview. In this email, your child will receive the times and dates of any interviews they will be required to attend. There will also be a video call meeting link, as all Oxford interviews are currently being held remotely.
Oxford Interview Format
Oxford interviews are held in a traditional Panel format. This means your child will be speaking with one or more interviewers from the college/subject department that they’re applying for. As stated before, the interviews will be held remotely, so be sure that your child has access to an appropriate computer, speaker and camera, either at home or at school.
Each interview should last roughly 30 minutes, during which applicants are asked questions about themselves, their motivations, their experiences and, very commonly, questions or problems relating to their subject. These can sometimes be very blunt and easy to understand (“Please solve this equation”), while others can be far more abstract and weird.
However, each question has a purpose and is designed to identify key qualities in applicants that will be required in Oxford students. It’s crucial that both you and your child are aware of what interviewers look out for in applicants, especially subject-specific skills and qualities.
After Oxford Interviews
After the final interview, what comes next? As stated before, being interviewed by a different college is very uncommon at Oxford, as there is no formal pooling system. Once interviews are complete, you will now have to wait to receive feedback and, hopefully, an offer from the univesity.
Thankfully, you won’t have to wait too long, as Oxford offers are typically sent in mid-January. Your child will first receive an email from the university confirming their offer, which will be followed by a separate offer from the college they were placed in. There are multiple things you and your child will need to do once these offers come in.
If your child doesn’t get an offer, they will still receive feedback from the university regarding the application. If they do get their offer, the next step will be to continue preparing for their final exams to ensure they get the grades they need to be admitted.
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Conclusion
That concludes our guide to Oxford interviews for parents. We hope that you’re now better prepared to support your child through this difficult period of work to ensure they enter their interviews with confidence.
We should emphasise that how many Oxford interviews a candidate has does not at all indicate their chances of success or what the outcome might be. The system is a bit mystifying and there isn’t much point worrying or trying to figure out what it means. Let it do its own thing – someone who has lots of interviews may or may not get a place. They might end up at their original college; they might not.
The same for the person who has the expected number of two. Often it is just a logistical case of the colleges disturbing candidates amongst the spaces they have, but also the tutors’ own thoughts about who they can fit where. It’s out of the candidates’ control however, so really don’t reflect too much on how many Oxford interviews you have other than to make sure you are prepared for the logistics.
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