The Oxbridge History Degree is, to quote Shrek, like an onion – it has layers. The first layer is long, caffeine-fuelled nights sifting through weighty tomes; the second layer is racing to finish your weekly 3,000-word essay before your 6 o’clock deadline; but the third layer is where you finally get to the flavour. This is the chance to sit with leading academics, dissect your ideas, and receive personal feedback on the essays you have poured your soul into. While initiall

When asked why they love Psychology, many aspiring Psychology students will cite its breadth. Psychology is a vast discipline, made up of many different areas. From Social Psychology to Biopsychology, pretty much any aspect of the human experience falls under its remit. While there are many reading lists out there, some fail to appreciate all areas of Psychology, often focusing on Clinical Psychology, or featuring the same books time and time again (I think we all know Sacks’

Environment, Law, and Economics (formerly Land Economy) is a unique course because it sits at the intersection of economics, law, politics, geography, planning, development and the environment. For students thinking about applying to Environment, Law and Economics at Cambridge, Oxford-adjacent courses, or similar subjects at other top UK universities, the best reading is not always about memorising technical content. It is about developing curiosity, learning how to connect i

As an aspiring Oxbridge Classicist, reading texts in your own first language (probably, although not necessarily English, if you're reading this!) as well as in Latin and possibly Greek (depending on which languages you already know or want to start) is a must. The Classics courses are marvellously wide-ranging, covering a plethora of Arts, Humanities and Languages strands, so having some idea of exactly where your passions lie is something that can be discovered by reading d

Studying Linguistics at university can be extremely rewarding, because it encompasses so many different subjects, and offers the chance to study topics which could be considered part of both the sciences and humanities. However, it can be really difficult to know where to start when preparing to make an application to study Linguistics at university, because it’s not really a subject that’s readily available or taught in schools beyond something like English Language. This re

So you’re thinking about studying biochemistry at Oxford. If you’re looking for a place to start exploring the subject beyond the classroom, this is the reading list for you. Unlike other degrees, Biochemistry is not a subject most students encounter at school. As a result, many applicants find themselves wondering what exactly Biochemistry is and how it differs from similar-sounding degrees such as biotechnology and biomedical science. Traditionally defined as the study of c

In the matter of undergraduate admissions – case no. 07-05-2026-01 The High Court of University Selection The University of Oxford (Law) v. The University of Cambridge (Law) – the court's full verdict & judicial reasoning for aspiring applicants Claimant Oxford Law Respondent Cambridge Law A preliminary note from the bench There is an irony in adjudicating this case. Both institutions train the very class of people who might one day appeal this decision. The court proceeds no

Each year, Cambridge receives applications from students from all over the world. However, disproportionately high numbers of applications come from certain countries, while others are barely represented. Consequently, some countries get large numbers of students into Cambridge, and others very few. We have analysed the data from 2024 to identify which countries send the most applications to Cambridge, and which countries have the most students admitted. Countries with the hi

Each year, Oxford receives applications from students from all over the world. However, disproportionately high numbers of applications come from certain countries, while others are barely represented. Consequently, some countries get large numbers of students into Oxford, and others very few. We have aggregated data from 2022-2024 to analyse which countries send the most applications to Oxford, and which countries have the most students admitted. Countries with the highest n

A common question we receive from students is, 'Which Cambridge college is the easiest to get into?' Colleges 'pull' students at interview stage in order to ensure an equal number of interview candidates per place at each college, and if, after interviewing their candidates, a college feels like they interviewed a surplus or deficit of capable candidates, they will send candidates to or request candidates from other colleges for a further round of interviews, in order to ensu

A common question we receive from students is, 'Which Oxford college is the easiest to get into?' Colleges 'pull' students at interview stage in order to ensure an equal number of interview candidates per place at each college, and if, after interviewing their candidates, a college feels like they interviewed a surplus or deficit of capable candidates, they will send candidates to or request candidates from other colleges for a further round of interviews, in order to ensure

If you're drawn to questions about how power works, why economies behave the way they do, or what makes societies tick, there's a good chance you've found yourself weighing up Oxford's PPE (Politics, Philosophy and Economics) and Cambridge's HSPS (Human, Social, and Political Sciences). Both are intellectually broad, both are extremely competitive, and both have a reputation for producing people who go on to do rather remarkable things. So how do you choose between them? What

It is famously challenging to get accepted at Cambridge, no matter the course, but some are more difficult than others. We analysed the latest data (from the 2024 application cycle) to find out which courses are the most competitive, and which are the least. Number of applications and offers with offer rates by Cambridge course, 2024 Course Applications Offers Offer Rate Anglo-Saxon, Norse, & Celtic 65 42 64.6% Archaeology 79 41 51.9% Architecture 526 88 16.7% Asian & Middle

It is notoriously difficult to get accepted at Oxford, no matter the course, but some are more difficult than others. We analysed the latest data (aggregated from 2022-2024) to find out which courses are the most competitive, and which are the least. Number of applications and offers with offer rates by Oxford course, 2022-2024 Course Applications Offers Offer Rate Archaeology & Anthropology 104 27 26.0% Asian and Middle Eastern Studies 252 114 45.2% Biochemistry 1403 285 20.

Most guides comparing the University of Oxford and University of Cambridge drown you in statistics, rankings, and vague stereotypes about “vibes" (we're guilty of that last one ourselves). But when you’re actually deciding where to apply, the choice is deeply personal: it’s about how you learn, what excites you academically, and where you’ll thrive for 3+ intense years. We thought we'd turns the decision into a quiz, written by an Oxford graduate and with direct opinion from

Consider this blog your holy grail : it's our master hub linking out to nearly every relevant blog we've put out, plus a helpfully neat timeline of how to prepare for your Oxford or Cambridge application. We know not everyone comes to the journey at the start of Year 12. In fact, lots of people only decide they want to apply in the summer before Year 13... Which is late to the party, but we make it work, eh? For that reason, we've made this an evergreen Oxbridge timeline . We

Should you apply to Oxford or Cambridge? Given you can only apply to one at undergraduate level, the first big decision you'll need to make is which one to go for. We'll be writing a series of blogs aiming at helping you choose which university to apply for (look out for blogs covering everything from the differences of the cities to subject courses). But first, we're beginning with the very first difference between the two: the application process. St John's College, Cambrid

It's the dream, the end goal, the reason you put in all that work last autumn. And yet, if you received an offer letter last month, you may have felt a sliver of anxiety. Here's how to deal with the pressures of holding an offer from some of the world's most academically demanding universities. Receiving an offer from Oxford or Cambridge is obviously an incredible achievement and one that thousands of students dream of each year. But after the initial excitement wears off, it

How to allow yourself to process your emotions and stay positive for the future. Now that both Oxford and Cambridge have released their decisions, there will inevitably be applicants who have been given an offer, and those who haven't. If you've found yourself in the latter, it's natural to feel disappointed, hurt, and even angry. Getting into Oxford or Cambridge is a big goal and a dream for many. It's important to remember, though, that all rejection is simply redirection,

In the first half of December, interview season descends upon hundreds of Oxford and Cambridge applicants. Unfortunately, it's also a busy time in the academic year. If you've left it quite late, here's a last-minute Oxbridge interview preparation guide, to help you make the most of your time. Stressed? We've got you. Think of it like a crash course in cramming. Even late preparation, while not ideal, can be effective when done strategically. We'll take you through all the cr