Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply?
For detailed information please refer to the University's Undergraduate Prospectus and the University of Oxford web-site: www.admissions.ox.ac.uk. Teachers will find a useful section on the University web-site about Oxford's work with schools and colleges.
What qualifications do I need?
We are happy to consider UK applicants who offer such qualifications as the International Baccalaureate, Scottish Highers, Advanced Highers, Cambridge Pre-U, and Access Courses. If you have not yet completed your full A-level course, our offer will usually be conditional on your obtaining grades which will range from A*A*A to AAA in three A2s (or the equivalent qualifications) depending on the course you have applied for. If you are a post-A-level candidate who has already achieved at least AAA, our offer, if we make one, will be unconditional. But please note that we do not accept General Studies as one of the three A-level subjects.
We welcome applications from EU and overseas candidates who may not be studying for A-levels. The University has produced a table which shows which qualifications are equivalent to the A2 entry requirements. We use this table when considering applications from EU and overseas candidates and it can be viewed at: International Qualifications.
All undergraduates should be able to understand, read, write and speak English well, according to criteria defined by the University. Therefore, all non-native English-speaking applicants (other than those who have been educated full-time in the medium of English language throughout the two most recent years of study before the 15 October application deadline and who remain in full-time education conducted in the English language until the start of their course) will be required to satisfy the English language requirements laid down by the University.
What should I do if I have a disability?
Magdalen welcomes applications from people with disabilities. We recommend that you contact us before you submit your application, and either come to an Open Day or arrange an individual visit by contacting our Tutor for Admissions. We also recommend that you tell us as much as you can about your disability when you apply so that we can provide you with the appropriate advance information and discuss your needs when you come for interview. For the same reasons, we advise you to arrange a pre-application visit to the relevant University department. The more the College and University know in advance, the better they can support you once you arrive.
Please note that we have only a limited amount of accommodation that is suitable for wheelchair users. More information about the accommodation and facilities available to students with a disability is available from the Accommodation page.
My school/family says that I'm not 'Oxford material' - what should I do?
Don't be put off. Get in touch with our undergraduate admissions representative (via admissions@magdjcr.co.uk), or better still, come and see us on an Open Day. We regularly accept candidates who have been assured that Oxford and/or Magdalen is not for them. If you do apply, you will get full and fair consideration
Does Magdalen favour applicants from certain kinds of school?
No. We believe in Access and use our resources vigorously to encourage applications from all quarters. We select students only on the basis of their academic merit and aptitude for their chosen subject, irrespective of educational or social background.
If I apply, will I be interviewed?
Whether we short-list you for interview depends on your GCSE grades, your A-level predictions, the results of an aptitude test (where applicable), the quality of written work that you have submitted (where applicable), your school's report on your progress, and your personal statement. Although you should be predicted to achieve or have already achieved grades AAA at A2 (or equivalent), such a prediction will not guarantee you an interview. If your school does not make such a prediction or if you do not possess such grades, it is very unlikely that you will be interviewed unless special considerations apply.
What will the interviews be like?
The interview is only one part of our selection process, but it is important because it is the time when you meet us and we meet you. Because of the nature of Oxford's tutorial system, the interview is a good way of seeing whether you would benefit from it. So we may conduct part of the interview in a tutorial style to see how well you can respond to probing questions. The interview also enables us to gauge your enthusiasm for your chosen subject, to assess your ability to think clearly about it, and to make sure that you understand what your intended course involves.
How can I prepare for interviews?
The University publishes information about interviews at Oxford on its web-site, see: Interviews at Oxford. This contains much helpful advice and information about interviews. But if, having read this, you are still unsure about how to prepare yourself for the interview in your particular subject, write to Magdalen's Tutor for Admissions, who may fo
rward your enquiry to the relevant subject tutor(s).
Certain subjects will require you to take a written test of your aptitude for the subject(s) that you wish to study, either when you come for interview or beforehand (see the subject guides). Specimen test papers can be obtained from the University of Oxford web site (in the section 'How to apply').
Because of the keen competition for places at Magdalen, we would normally expect you either to have explored outside the basic A-level syllabus of the subject you wish to study at university, or, in the case of a subject that you wish to start from scratch, to be able to show evidence of a genuine interest in the subject.
Comment on interviews - Ben Williams, Physics, 3rd year
Before coming to Oxford for my interviews I had little idea of what to expect. What I found was a friendly team of students who were welcoming and made sure that I was in the right places at the right times. When I got to my first interview, the tutors started by asking me about things that I had mentioned in my personal statement. The interview turned out to be a conversation about interesting topics in my chosen subject, and not an interrogation at all. Once I had got over my initial nerves, it was really quite enjoyable!
When people ask me about admissions now, I offer a few pieces of advice. Firstly, put things in your personal statement that you are happy to talk about and that interest you. If you mention books that you have read, refresh your memory of them before your interviews. Secondly, the interviewers are trying to give you the opportunity to demonstrate your interest in and aptitude for your chosen subject. They are not interested in leaving you a nervous wreck. So, thirdly, try to relax and enjoy the experience. Most people are surprised that, whatever the outcome of their interviews, they have a really enjoyable few days in Oxford.
If I apply to Magdalen but don't get in, what are my chances of being accepted by another college?
Every year at Magdalen there are many more excellent candidates than places. We always seek to ensure that the systems for guaranteeing consideration by other colleges work optimally, and the overall success rate of Magdalen applicants is above the University average.
If I apply now, can I take a gap year before starting my studies at Magdalen?
Some subjects are happy to consider deferred entry for strong applicants provided that the gap year is used relevantly and/or constructively. Other subjects do not permit deferred entry under any circumstances. More details are given under the subject guide, but if you need more particular information, please contact our Tutor for Admissions.