How to Prepare for an Oxbridge Application

Applications to the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge are notoriously difficult and the admission process can seem daunting. We have outlined five key steps to guide you through applying, from how to start thinking about an application, all the way through to submission. We have spoken to the Renewed Learning tutors (all of whom are Oxbridge-educated) to gather their own personal experiences and produce this summary.

1.     Reaching out

The single best way to start an Oxbridge application is to reach out and speak with anyone and everyone that may be able to help. Research is key, and hearing first-hand experiences can inspire you further on in the application process. Finding a range of sources can mean you speak to teachers, parents, and anyone else you can find who might be able to help. These conversations can also have different aims depending on who you’re speaking with. You might end up learning more about the application process, finding out which college you’re best suited to, or having a friendly debate about your subject! 

You never know where you might hear the advice that makes all the difference. For one of our tutors, the most memorable conversation they had was with someone sitting across from them on a train, who had studied the course they went on to study at Oxford. If you’re speaking to an Oxbridge graduate, ensure you’re asking about the full range of their experiences: good or bad, any information you can find should help at this early stage. Speaking to different people can also help when developing your general knowledge of the subject you’re considering - even if they didn’t go to Oxford, if you find someone interested in your course use the opportunity to expand your knowledge of the subject. 

2.     Accessible Content

Once you are set on a particular subject, you will want to do some initial research to validate your interest. This will not only help boost your application but should also hopefully be enjoyable and rewarding in itself. One challenge here can be finding the appropriate resources- at this stage steer clear from complex academic articles and seminal works (more on this later). Our advice is to start simple! Find an introductory book to judge which areas of your subject you find particularly interesting. Podcasts and short articles are also great ways to gain a broad understanding of your course. You can even try visiting a museum or attending a public lecture- these are also great places to discuss your subject with people who share your interests. A great avenue for resource recommendations can also be the people around you- so make sure to ask for advice on this as you’re reaching out to different people. 

3.     Longer Format Project

After establishing a basis for your interest in the subject, the next stage involves applying your knowledge and passion to a longer project. This is perfect for your personal statement and interviews, as it helps you link your passion for the subject to specific aspects of the course. It will also help you prove your interest in the subject to yourself, which is incredibly helpful when trying to build confidence. 

It’s important to find a project which offers tangible proof that you’ve spent a considerable amount of time and effort on the subject. You should also ensure your project requires evaluative thinking, as this is how you gain the benefits of applying your interest to a subject. Essentially, ensure you’re not just summarising a series of publications in your field of choice. One recommended route can be to undertake an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), as completing this will earn you a formal qualification worth up to 28 UCAS points. An EPQ consists of an independently researched and written 5000 word essay on a subject of your choosing. For example, one of our tutors who studied Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Oxford wrote an essay about ‘Torture – Its Ethics and Efficacy in the Modern Day World’, as this title combined core philosophical questions with an analysis of political outcomes. He received top marks which helped his application, but also boosted his confidence immensely which was especially helpful for interviews. 

4.     Academic Research

Having gained a deeper understanding of your subject through your initial reading and project, you’re now ready to read some more rigorous academic texts! 

Try to find some seminal works in your field, and choose some which relate to your previous reading or your project. This should hopefully make them more accessible, and should provide you with avenues of supplementary research if you get confused. It’s also helpful to know that for many major works in a field, complementary texts will be available which explain the main concepts of the books in more accessible terms. This stage of preparation can be difficult, but is always rewarding and gives you a great baseline of knowledge when you start university. 

5.     Preparing Your Application

At this stage, you will have completed a carefully planned process in which you have slowly acquired knowledge and skills on your desired subject.  The next step is to construct an application that highlights the time and effort that you have spent and most importantly, showcases your genuine interest.  For UK universities this entails writing a personal statement. Much like a Cover Letter for a job, this is a brilliant chance to tell your own personal story and make it as impressive and engaging as possible. Using the conversations you’ve had, the initial and further reading you’ve done, and any project you’ve undertaken should hopefully leave you with a wealth of resources to mention. Many applicants rush this, but we would always recommend taking your time and review, edit and rewrite your personal statement until it is something that makes you proud every time you read it. 

For more inspiration around personal statements, Renewed Learning have put together a guide for improving your personal statement (note: possibly link to ‘Renewed Learning’s Five Ways to Improve Your Personal Statement’). 

Interview with an Oxford PPE Student

Can you briefly summarise PPE in a couple of sentences?

The first word which comes to mind is definitely interdisciplinary! In line with this, it’s a very varied degree. You can go from completing mathematical problem sheets, to writing essays, to learning logical languages in a week. It’s also a flexible degree - there are a number of ways you can tailor your course. For example, for your finals candidates have the option to drop one discipline and specialise entirely on the other two subjects; and there are a wide range of options to choose from when picking your modules. Personally, I have dropped Philosophy and now focus solely on Politics and Economics.  My favourite optional module has definitely been Feminist Theory - I have loved reconsidering traditional political philosophy and their applications in modern society.

What job opportunities and potential careers does PPE open up?

There are a huge range of job opportunities opened up by studying PPE! People tend to focus more on the politics and economics side of things, such as finance, corporate jobs, working with think tanks, social policy, or the civil service. But philosophy is equally useful, especially when thinking about working in social policy, or undertaking charity/NGO work. 

The degree provides such a range of skills there are definitely too many potential careers to list! Most jobs link to one or more of PPE, and so the degree leaves you well equipped to pursue a range of careers or post graduate courses.  And of course, there have (fortunately or unfortunately) been a plethora of Prime Ministers who studied PPE at Oxford!

What was the application process like?

It began in the same way as my other universities, by submitting a Personal Statement. I then signed up to take the Thinking Skills Assessment, an assessment which consists of a combination of critical thinking and problem solving questions as well as a writing task. I then waited for an invitation to interview at Oxford, and sat for 6 interviews as I was pooled to another college. 

I found taking the TSA manageable- it felt familiar as I had previous experience preparing for standardised tests. However, the period of time between receiving my offer to interview and going up to Oxford was extremely nerve-wracking! It’s very easy to get caught up in the stress of preparation, and forget to take time to relax. 

How did you prepare for it?

I first had to think about writing my Personal Statement, which I found tricky as I applied for Economics at all of my non-Oxford universities (and PPE at Oxford). This meant I had to write a general Personal Statement, while still demonstrating my interest in Politics and Philosophy. I approached this by researching areas of overlap between all the courses, as well as focusing on how Economics intersects with Politics and Philosophy. 

Preparation for the Thinking Skills assessment mainly involved going through quite a few practice tests, and getting familiar with the format and timings of the assessment. This was especially necessary for the essay portion, as it required a different approach from my typical A-Level essays. 

The final area of preparation came when I was invited to interview. For this stage, I asked anyone and everyone I thought could be marginally helpful for a mock interview, providing them with a question bank from which to test me. This involved asking teachers, Oxford students, and anyone I knew with an interest in Politics, Philosophy or Economics. I also reviewed my Personal Statement to ensure that I was fully prepared for any questions that might be asked about it in an interview.

What areas of your course did you most enjoy?

I definitely enjoyed comparing each branch of my degree. This became especially interesting when I spotted areas which overlapped between Politics, Philosophy and Economics. This really enabled me to identify how each subject approached topics differently, utilising different frameworks.

I also appreciated how PPE allowed me to use my options to extend my study - for example, I covered Feminist Theory for a week in my second year and then had the chance to take it for a whole term in third year. It was helpful to be able to have a taste of many subjects in my first year to gauge my interest and then have the option of further study. 

How about your life at Oxford more generally – what societies and other opportunities did you get involved with? 

There are so many ways to get involved with societies in Oxford, and I enjoyed attending as many events as possible! In terms of committee involvement, I worked with Oxford Women in Business - a supportive community of women, who also hosted great events with companies. As a Sponsorship Representative, I had the chance to meet with these companies, which really opened my eyes to the range of job opportunities available in the corporate world. I was also on the committee of Oxford Junior Lawyers Against Poverty, which was a great way to get involved with a legal organisation as a non-lawyer. One of the highlights here was definitely participating in a book drive, as I got to meet a huge number of people passionate about our cause. 

What were the biggest challenges you faced while at university? How did you overcome them? 

The biggest hurdle I faced was developing a way of working independently which suited me. It is such a change to arrive at university and have the chance to manage your time and study independently, after having a hugely structured school environment. It can be incredibly helpful- as you can choose to use only the techniques which help you. But it can be equally daunting and tough to figure out the methods you prefer. My advice would be to think back to school, and consider what worked and what didn’t. I would also recommend talking to the people around you, asking tutors and students for their tips. Above all, use your first year to try out lots of different methods! This helps a lot in second and third year, especially as you try new modules which may require new study methods. 

What advice would you give someone who is thinking about applying to Oxford, or to your course specifically? 

The biggest piece of advice I could give someone thinking about applying to Oxford is to develop a healthy level of confidence and self belief. Being able to picture yourself at an institution like Oxford is a huge step in applying, as it’s important to not limit yourself simply due to a lack of conviction. My advice would be to never reject or dismiss yourself- keep reminding yourself of your strengths as you go through the application process. Developing this self confidence will help you manage the stressful aspects of applying and will benefit you even if you don’t end up attending Oxford. 

In terms of PPE-specific advice, I would say to keep in mind how broad of a course it is, and see this as exciting instead of daunting. Tutors will not expect such a broad range of interests at the application stage so focus on what you’re truly interested in when preparing your application (instead of trying to cover everything!). 

What is the one thing you wish you knew when you were applying to universities? 

It would have been really reassuring to know different universities have different timelines for making offers! For universities other than Oxford I found the timelines for offers quite vague, and it was nerve-wracking seeing other people receive offers while waiting for my responses.