How to Apply

Admissions is based solely upon academic merit, and our aim is to attract and recruit from those who we think will benefit most from the unique opportunities offered by the very rigorous academic life of the University.

Brasenose admits around one hundred undergraduates every year. Our applicants come from every kind of school, from the UK, Continental Europe, and beyond. Nobody should be deterred from applying by the myth that Oxford is socially elitist, or by claims that Brasenose is biased in favour of (or against) either independent or state schools. We fully realize that there will be wide differences of educational background among those seeking admission, and every effort is made by the Tutors in selecting their undergraduates to recognize potential as well as present achievement.

The College has a Schools Officer, and has an active programme of visits to schools as part of its policy of making itself known to the widest possible circle of schools and further education institutions. Undergraduates are actively involved in this programme.

If you are still at school, there are two routes into the College: pre and post ‘A' level. With both routes you may be asked to submit recent written work and/or to sit a test before being invited for interview. The interview may, in some subjects, be coupled with a short written test. Read about the admissions requirements for each course at Oxford.

The purpose of the interview is to supplement the information provided by your UCAS form, and any written work and test results, and to help with the difficult task of choosing between excellent people. In interviews, Tutors are looking for passion and enthusiasm, signs of intellectual commitment, the ability to see more than one side of a problem and the capacity to assess and develop arguments. We try to keep the interviews as relaxed and informal as possible. Some of our undergraduates stay up to welcome the candidates and to look after them during their stay.

On the results of any submitted written work, interviews, test results and your UCAS reference, we decide whether to offer a place. The standard conditional offer Oxford makes to all successful pre 'A' level candidates is AAA, (although some science courses now also require at least one A*). We do not, however, significantly ‘over offer' places and we expect most of those to whom we make offers to come into residence. Successful Post ‘A' level candidates are given an unconditional offer. Whichever sort of candidate you are, you should read the University admissions pages for more information about the admissions procedures.

The College welcomes applications from candidates who are taking equivalent examinations, such as the International Baccalaureate, as well as from mature candidates.

Applicants should note that the College does not admit undergraduates to read: 

• Archaeology and Anthropology;
• Biomedical Science;
• Computer Science with any combination;
• Earth Sciences;
• Graduate Entry Medicine
• History of Art
• Human Sciences;
• the joint schools of Materials, Economics and Management (MEM) and Engineering, Economics and Management (EEM);
• Materials Science;
• the joint school of History and English;
• Oriental Studies (except with Classics);
• the joint school of Philosophy and Theology; and Theology.

For any more information please contact:

The Admissions Officer

Brasenose College

Oxford OX1 4AJ

Tel: 01865 277510

Email: admissions@bnc.ox.ac.uk