Getting into Oxbridge is a dream for international students, but the application process can be daunting and stressful. Fortunately, it is much easier than you imagine, provided that you know your facts and wrap up things well in time. While outstanding academic achievements give you better chances, international students looking for admission to undergraduate courses need to get ahead with excellent scores in English language tests as well. But these are only the basics, and you need a complete checklist of steps to get closer to your Oxbridge aspirations. Here are the ones that you must follow to go ahead.
STEP #1- PICK THE COURSE YOU WANT TO PURSUE
It is a no-brainer as you need to pick the course before you start planning the entire study abroad journey. It is vital to choose a subject you are passionate about because you will probably need to show your enthusiasm for it to be accepted in the university. It makes sense to do some research and find your options in undergraduate courses available at the universities before you apply.
STEP #2- CHOOSE THE RIGHT COLLEGE
Once you are sure about the course you want to pursue, you must decide the college where you want to study. This one requires good research because you will spend a few years of your life here. Thankfully, you can access a lot of information on the internet and even see pictures and videos to help you with the decision. The University of Oxford has 39 colleges, while Cambridge University has 31 of them. You need to consider your choice of course, along with factors such as location, facilities, and cost while selecting a college.
STEP #3-CHECK THE ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS
After you shortlist the prospective courses and colleges, the next step is to check the entrance requirements for them. These will include your academic grades, entrance exams, and English language test scores. If you fall short of the required grades, there are hardly any chances that you will be considered for the interview.
STEP #4- GET YOUR PERSONAL STATEMENT READY
At this stage, you must get your Personal Statement ready. You will need to submit it along with your application. The major part should be academic, stating why you are passionate about the subject. The rest should cover facts about you, such as your interests and extra-curricular activities. It is important to choose your words wisely.
STEP #5- SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION FORMS
If you want to apply for admission to an undergraduate programme in Oxford and Cambridge (or any other UK university), you have to fill the UCAS form and submit it by early October. It has to include the academic reference from your school and a Personal Statement, so you have to make sure that they are ready well in time. It is to be noted that you can apply to either Oxford or Cambridge and not both. Additionally, you may also apply to four other UK universities (only three for Medicine). You cannot be too sure about getting into Oxbridge, so it makes sense to have back-up alternatives if you do not make it. So you must have a plan B by applying for at least one course that has lower entrance requirements.
STEP #6- SUBMIT SAQ AND COPA FOR CAMBRIDGE
Those applying to Cambridge have to fill out the SAQ (Supplementary Application Questionnaire) form, the deadline for which is normally the 22nd of October though it may vary by subject and college. You will also need to fill the COPA form (Cambridge Online Preliminary Application) if applying from outside of the EU. The deadlines differ for students from different countries. It is often the 9th of September for Indian students and the 20th of September for international students from China, Malaysia, and Singapore.
STEP #7- PREPARE FOR ADMISSION TESTS
Most courses at both Oxford and Cambridge require students to get through an Admissions Test, so make sure that you are ahead with the preparations. The test deadlines vary according to the course and college, and the information is available on the websites of the universities.
STEP #8- GET READY FOR THE INTERVIEW
The interview is perhaps the most dreaded part of the admission process, but good preparation generally makes you confident. Oxford and Cambridge prefer international students to come over for interviews, yet there are options to appear in your home country. Oxford conducts phone or Skype™ interviews for students who cannot travel due to financial or visa constraints, though it does not apply for Medicine applicants. Individuals hailing from the EU and Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, and Liechtenstein are also not granted an exception. Cambridge travels to Canada, China, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, India, and Pakistan every year to conduct interviews. Students looking for the option must mention it on the COPA form.
STEP #9- KNOW THE DEADLINES
A common tip for all Oxbridge aspirants is to know your deadlines and stay ahead of them. Missing a deadline can waste all your hard work, so it makes sense to be ahead of them. Visiting university websites often is a good idea as you will know all the updates and get ample time to prepare. It is recommended that you should start your application process in the 11th standard because the deadlines are usually one year ahead of the start date of the course.
STEP #10- LEARN ABOUT THE VISA NORMS
International students have an extra step to cover as it is equally vital to understand the visa norms if you want to come to the UK and live there as a student. Proper knowledge gives you a head start, and it will be easier to apply for a student visa once you get admission to the University.
Now that you have this checklist, applying to Oxbridge isn’t going to be a challenge anymore. All the best!
