Complete Guide to Applying for Oxbridge Universities in 2025
What is meant by Oxbridge? Usually when discussing the world's leading educational institutions, the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge flash into many people's minds.
They are not only the highest representatives of the British education community, but also occupy a pivotal position in the global academic community.
They are often collectively referred to as Oxbridge, symbolizing their deep roots and reputation in academic research, teaching quality, knowledge innovation and outstanding achievements.
Is it difficult to get into Oxford and Cambridge? Is it really that far away? Contact a consultant now!
The University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge are not only treasures of British culture, but also known for their long history, rigorous academic standards and unique education systems.
Therefore, both universities attract outstanding students from all over the world.
Introduction to Oxford University
The University of Oxford, located in Oxford, England, is the oldest and most famous academic institution in the world.
Its history can be traced back to the 12th century, and its initial teaching activities began as early as 1096. It is currently ranked third in the 2025 QS World University Rankings, so the competition to enter the University of Oxford is very fierce.
The University of Oxford has a total of 44 colleges and four academic departments: humanities, mathematical physics and life sciences, medical sciences, and social sciences. Among them, medicine is world-famous and ranks first in the world.
There are many famous alumni in Oxford University, including 31 British Prime Ministers and many heads of state and government around the world.
As of October 2022, 73 Nobel Prize winners, 4 Fields Medal winners and 6 Turing Award winners are studying, working or serving as visiting scholars at the University of Oxford.
Oxford University tuition fees
Annual tuition fees for international students range from GBP$33,050 to GBP$48,620, depending on the subject. For details, please refer to the following link to check the tuition fees for your preferred subjects.
https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses/course-listing
Oxford University Admission Requirements
In order to obtain a conditional offer from the University of Oxford, students generally need to achieve A*A*A or AAA (depending on the subject) at A-level, or 38-40 at the International Baccalaureate (IB), Higher level Subjects require scores of 6 and 7 points.
Choosing professional GCSE and A-Level tutoring will be a shortcut for students to improve their personal abilities.
Ascent Prep's GCSE & A-Level tutoring courses can not only help students understand the course content in depth, but also provide targeted exercises to improve problem-solving skills. and test-taking ability.
Experienced tutors can help students identify and improve their weaknesses, and tailor learning plans for students to ensure that each student can maintain efficient and organized learning.
Whether it is A-Level subjects or GCSE subjects, GCSE & A-Level tutoring courses can provide students with strong support and help them stand out in highly competitive admission applications.
Oxford University Application Process
Students who plan to apply to the University of Oxford can apply through UCAS and submit an application. UCAS will begin accepting applications in September each year.
Students can submit their predicted grades , personal statement and reference letter on the UCAS platform. The application deadline is October 15th every year.
Before entering the interview stage, you must pass an entrance exam to get an interview opportunity. Different disciplines need to take designated admission tests:
Different subjects require specified entrance exams:
| AHCAAT | History and Archaeology |
| CAT | Classics Literae Humaniores |
| HAT | History |
| LNAT | Law |
| MAT | Mathematics and Computer Science |
| MLAT | Languages and literature |
| PAT | Engineering Science |
| PhilAT | Philosophy and Theology |
| TSA | Economics and Management Experimental Psychology History and Economics Humanities Psychology Philosophy and Linguistics |
| UCAT | Medicine |
It should be noted that there is no written test for applicants to the Department of Music, but there is a Music Performance Test.
If successfully shortlisted for an interview, you will be asked to email a 5 minute video of a continuous musical performance, performed on an instrument or voice of your choice.
There is also no written test for applicants to the Department of Fine Arts, but there is a Fine Art practical test.
Shortlisted candidates will be informed of the date and time of their interview by the University and students will be invited to submit a second pre-interview piece of work on a SlideRoom containing examples of some of their most recent work.
Introduction to University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge, which is as famous as Oxford and has always competed with each other, was founded in 1209 and is the second oldest university in the world.
It shares many characteristics with Oxford University and is often collectively called Oxbridge. Currently ranked fifth in the 2025 QS World University Rankings, it is the dream university of many students.
The University of Cambridge has 31 colleges. World experts in their respective fields host different classes, seminars and practical courses.
The school will also arrange personalized teaching, giving students many opportunities to interact with scholars at all levels to further broaden their horizons.
Alumni, scholars and affiliated institutions of the University of Cambridge have won 121 Nobel Prizes. The most familiar alumni include Stephen Hawking, Isaac Newton, Emma Thompson, etc.
Cambridge University tuition fees
The annual tuition fee for international students is approximately £25,734 to £67,194, depending on the subject. For details, please refer to the following link to check the tuition fee for your preferred subject.
Cambridge University admission requirements
In order to obtain a conditional offer from the University of Cambridge, students generally need to achieve AAA or A*AA (depending on the subject) at A-level, or 40-42 points in the International Baccalaureate (IB), Higher level subjects need to reach 7 7 6 points.
Depending on individual circumstances, students may be required to achieve a score of 7 in specific subjects.
Choosing professional GCSE and A-Level tutoring will be a shortcut for students to improve their personal abilities.
Ascent Prep's GCSE & A-Level tutoring courses can not only help students understand the course content in depth, but also provide targeted exercises to improve problem-solving skills. and test-taking ability.
Experienced tutors can help students identify and improve their weaknesses, and tailor learning plans for students to ensure that each student can maintain efficient and organized learning.
Whether it is A-Level subjects or GCSE subjects, GCSE & A-Level tutoring courses can provide students with strong support and help them stand out in highly competitive admission applications.
Cambridge University Application Process
Students who plan to apply to the University of Cambridge can apply through UCAS and submit an application. UCAS will begin accepting applications in September each year.
Students can submit their predicted grades, personal statement and reference letter on the UCAS platform. The application deadline is October 22nd every year.
In addition to meeting academic requirements, nearly 70% of Cambridge undergraduate programs require students to pass the admission tests.
Nearly half of the subjects also require students to submit a portfolio or admission paper. After 90% of the applicants are screened out, the remaining candidates will receive the final interview opportunities.
Clinical aptitude test（UCAT）- Medicine
Law test (LNAT) - Law
Engineering and Science test (ESAT) - Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Engineering, Natural Sciences, Vetscience
Mathematics test（TMUA）- Computer Science, Economics
Ascent Prep provides training for Oxbridge admission tests
Ascent Prep provides professional training for Oxbridge admission tests. Our tutors are all from Oxford and Cambridge.
Not only do they know the Oxbridge admission tests well, they can also provide you with the most professional and considerate guidance, covering examination key points, problem-solving skills and test-taking psychology.
Through small class teaching and personalized guidance, we help students better cope with exams and improve their chances of admission.
Our Knowledge Building courses are also key to increasing your chances of gaining admission to Oxford, Cambridge and G5 universities
Through Ascent Prep's Knowledge Building, students will receive thinking model training from Oxford, Cambridge and G5 universities, etc., thereby increasing their chances of successfully enrolling in Oxford, Cambridge and other British G5 universities.
Ascent Prep can provide Knowledge Building courses for any university discipline. Popular choices include medicine, law, engineering, mathematics, etc., suitable for students in Year 10 or Form 4 and above.
If you need more relevant information, you can learn more from our Ascent Prep consultants.
If you want to learn more about Ascent Prep's Knowledge Building course, or have other questions about the Oxbridge admission tests, you can always consult with our Ascent Prep's consultants. They will provide you with the most suitable study plan based on your needs.
You can ask your advisor the following questions:
- Course details and schedule
- Appropriate grade and subject
- Course fees and registration methods
- Past student success stories
- How to choose a course that suits you
Hope this information is helpful to you!
Further Readings
Comprehensive Guide to UK Medical Schools
Complete Guide to Applying for HKU and CUHK Medical Schools via Non-JUPAS
Introduction to Oxford University: 2025 Admission Guidelines and Popular Subjects
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Ready to Hear Success Stories? See Why Ascent Prep is a Student Favourite!
Michelle has excelled in academics since she was young and has been determined to apply to medical school since her third year of junior high school. She attends a local traditional girls' school that offers British A-Level courses. To lay a solid foundation for her dream of studying medicine, Michelle chose challenging subjects such as physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics. In the summer vacation after completing the IGCSE exam, Michelle interned in a cardiologist's clinic for five days through our arrangement. During her internship, she deeply realized the busy schedule of doctors and their sense of mission for the recovery of patients, which made her more determined to become a doctor.
Academically, Michelle took a UCAT preparation course during her first Christmas in the A-Level course, and learned various exam techniques under the guidance of the tutor, mastering how to quickly understand questions. She eventually scored an excellent 2830 in the UCAT exam and obtained a level 1 in the situational judgement test, which led to an interview invitation from the University of Nottingham Medical School. During the Easter period, she attended a personal statement guidance course. With the advice of her tutor, Michelle chose appropriate extracurricular activities and revised the content of her personal statement to make it more clearly express her passion and motivation for medicine. In addition, Michelle also took the BMAT exam (note that the BMAT has now been cancelled) and obtained a good score of 12.7, which exceeded the qualifying score and increased her chances of entering medical school.
To ensure that Michelle can fully express herself in the interview, we recommend arranging three targeted mock interviews to ensure that the areas that need improvement can be accurately improved. Finally, Michelle received an interview invitation from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong through the Non-JUPAS application. Her efforts finally paid off and she successfully received admission notices from the University of Nottingham and the University of Hong Kong.
After sharing Michelle's case, for students who aspire to enter the medical school, starting preparation one to two years in advance can indeed significantly increase the chances of success. Michelle's story not only inspires other students, but also proves that with planning and hard work, pursuing your dreams is achievable.
David attends a top secondary school in the UK and has excellent academic performance, with all 9s in GCSE and all A* predicted A-level grades. His dream has always been to become a doctor, and he has worked hard to achieve this goal. However, David unfortunately encountered a setback in the interview for a British medical school in January. The failure of the interview for his first application to a medical school made him depressed and anxious, and he began to doubt his abilities and future. At this time, his father contacted us at Ascent Prep for advice and suggestions.
We first comforted David and encouraged him not to give up his dream. Although he missed the chance to apply for medical school at a British university, the start date of medical school in Australia is half a year later than that in the UK, so he still has a chance to enroll. We suggested that he consider switching to medical school in Australia. In order to help David overcome the difficulties in the interview, we analyzed the reasons for his failure and found that although he was knowledgeable, he was flustered in the interview, especially lacking logic in judgment and problem-solving questions. We developed a personalized coaching program for him, including mock interview training and various coping skills, such as the STAR rule, responding to open-ended questions, and demonstrating passion for medicine and personal traits.
Through these intensive trainings, David's interview skills and confidence have been significantly improved. He also used the summer vacation when he returned to Hong Kong to retake the ISAT and UCAT exams and continued to practice under our guidance. At the same time, he continued to work as a research assistant at HKU, enhancing his medical experience and understanding of medical biology. Eventually, David successfully obtained admission notices from three Australian medical schools, including the University of New South Wales (UNSW). This proves that as long as you persevere, you can overcome challenges. His experience inspires other students pursuing their medical dreams, demonstrating to them the importance of persistence and hard work.
Brian is a student with a passion for medicine and his goal is to attend one of the top medical schools in the world. In order to realize this dream, he not only worked hard in his studies and achieved excellent results, but also actively participated in various extracurricular activities to comprehensively improve his abilities. Brian observed in the hospital’s cardiology department for a week and participated in the BSMS Virtual Work Experience, which allowed him to gain an in-depth understanding of the medical field through technological simulation. He not only learned the skills and qualities required to be a competent doctor, but also experienced the close relationship between doctors and patients.
After learning about Brian's goals, we encouraged him to set his sights on the University of Cambridge Medical School, whose outstanding reputation in medical research and teaching quality are impeccable. We also advised him to apply to other G5 medical schools such as Imperial, UCL and KCL. In order to improve his BMAT score and interview skills, we arranged a 15-hour BMAT preparation course ((Note that BMAT has been cancelled), which provided systematic training by experienced tutors, including problem-solving skills, test-taking strategies and time management. We also conducted several mock interviews for him, specifically targeting the interview style of Cambridge University, and designed relevant questions to help him prepare and better deal with academic and ethical issues.
Brian submitted his UCAS application in mid-October, took the BMAT in November, and received an interview invitation from Cambridge University in December. He was successfully accepted by Cambridge in January and also successfully obtained interview invitations from ICL and UCL. In order to reduce his financial burden, we encouraged him to apply for the Hong Kong Excellence Scholarship Scheme, which offers a scholarship of up to HK$300,000 and can support outstanding students to study in well-known overseas universities. In the end, Brian not only achieved high scores in the BMAT exam, but also was admitted to Cambridge University Medical School and KCL. He finally chose to go to Dowling College, Cambridge, England to pursue higher academic goals and realize his dream.
