University of Oxford

The University of Oxford is a collegiate research university in the city of Oxford, England. Rather than a single campus, Oxford is made up of more than 30 colleges and halls spread across the city, and every student belongs both to the University and to a college. Colleges are small academic communities where students live, eat and study, while lectures, laboratories and examinations are organised by the University's departments and faculties.

Teaching at Oxford is known for the tutorial system, in which undergraduates meet regularly in very small groups with a tutor to discuss essays and problems they have prepared. Graduate students work within departments and research groups, and Oxford offers taught master's degrees, research master's degrees and the DPhil, its doctoral degree.

Oxford is a genuinely international university. According to the University, one third of its students, including 20% of undergraduates, are international citizens and come from over 170 countries. For students from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal and the wider region, Oxford offers a large research community, extensive libraries and laboratories, and a college system that provides accommodation, welfare support and a ready-made social network from the first week.

Admission is highly competitive and based on academic achievement and potential. Undergraduate and graduate applicants should read the official course pages carefully, because entry requirements, admissions tests and deadlines differ by course. Fees for overseas students are significantly higher than UK home fees, so applicants should plan funding early and check the scholarships listed on Oxford's fees and funding pages.

Overseas undergraduate course fees for 2027/28 are between £39,620 and £66,580 per year depending on the course (a single figure covering both University and college services); clinical medicine fees are significantly higher. Graduate course fees vary by course — see the official course fees page on ox.ac.uk.

Undergraduate applications to Oxford are made through UCAS, and you must choose one course and either a college or an open application. The UCAS deadline for Oxford is in mid-October, much earlier than for most UK universities, and many courses require an admissions test and, for shortlisted applicants, interviews. You cannot apply to both Oxford and Cambridge in the same UCAS cycle.

Graduate applicants apply directly to Oxford using the University's online graduate application form, choosing a course and a college. Most graduate deadlines fall between December and March depending on the course, and applying by the relevant deadline is also how you are considered for most Oxford scholarships.

If English is not your first language, you must meet Oxford's English language requirements for your course, at standard or higher level. Check your course page and Oxford's official guidance before applying.

IELTS Academic 7.5 overall with at least 7.0 in each component (higher level, required for undergraduate courses). Some graduate courses accept the standard level of 7.0 overall with at least 6.5 in each component — check your course page.

Oxford teaches undergraduate degrees across the humanities, social sciences, mathematical, physical and life sciences, and medicine, including well-known courses such as PPE (Philosophy, Politics and Economics), Law, Computer Science, Engineering Science and Medicine. Most undergraduate degrees are three or four years long.

At graduate level, Oxford offers taught master's degrees (such as MSc, MPhil, MSt and MBA programmes), research master's degrees and the DPhil in almost every academic field. Courses are delivered by departments and faculties, while colleges provide membership, accommodation and pastoral support.

Because entry requirements and course structures vary widely, students should use Oxford's official course listings to compare subjects, check admissions tests and confirm the exact requirements for their qualification.

Oxford publishes a large range of scholarships for international students on its official fees and funding pages. For undergraduates from low-income countries who would otherwise be unable to study, the Reach Oxford Scholarship covers course fees and living costs for eligible students on most courses.

For graduate students, the Clarendon Fund is Oxford's largest scholarship scheme and is open to applicants of all nationalities applying for a new graduate course; candidates are considered automatically when they apply by their course's deadline. Many other awards are offered by individual colleges, departments and external trusts, and Oxford's online funding search is the official way to check which schemes a student is eligible for.

Because most Oxford scholarships use the graduate application itself as the scholarship application, South Asian applicants should apply as early as possible and always by the December or January deadline relevant to their course.