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Last modified: 2026-09-24

# University of Oxford

International students can enter Oxford as undergraduates only with A-levels, the IB or another qualification on the university's list; the Russian and Kazakh school-leaving certificate (Attestat) is not accepted. You apply through UCAS, and for autumn 2027 entry the deadline is 6pm UK time on 15 October 2026. Most courses add an admissions test in October and online interviews in December. Overseas course fees for 2027/28 are $52,480–88,200 (£39,620–66,580) a year depending on the course, plus $17,550–25,880 for living costs. Competition is intense: Oxford reports more than 23,000 applicants a year for around 3,200 places.

The Radcliffe Camera on Radcliffe Square, one of the landmarks of the University of Oxford, Oxford, England. Photo: Julian Herzog / [source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Radcliffe_Camera_Oxford_2018_02.jpg), [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0).

| At a glance | Details |
| --- | --- |
| Location | Oxford, England, about 90 km north-west of London |
| Rankings | QS 2027: 4th; THE 2026: 1st; ARWU 2026: 7th |
| Competition | more than 23,000 applicants a year for about 3,200 places; one course per applicant |
| Structure | more than 30 colleges and halls; courses run by four academic divisions |
| UCAS deadline for 2027 entry | 15 October 2026, 6pm UK time |
| Admissions tests | TMUA, ESAT, TARA, LNAT or UCAT depending on the course; UAT-UK tests for 2027 entry run on 12–16 October 2026 |
| Interviews and decisions | online in December 2026; decisions on 12 January 2027 |
| Russian and Kazakh Attestat | not accepted for first-year entry |
| English | IELTS Academic 7.5 with at least 7.0 in each component, for every undergraduate course |
| Overseas course fee, 2027/28 | $52,480–88,200 (£39,620–66,580) a year; the clinical years of medicine are charged at a separate, higher rate |
| Living costs, 2027/28 | $17,590–25,930 (£13,275–19,575) for nine months, university estimate |

## Entry with a national school certificate from Russia or Kazakhstan {#section-1}

Oxford's international qualifications page lists the Russian Attestat o Srednem Obrazovanii and the Kazakh Attestat as "not accepted". The university advises applicants whose qualification is not accepted to take one that is, such as A-levels, the International Baccalaureate or another school-leaving qualification on its list.

Realistic routes:

1. A-levels at a British or international school. Offers range from AAA to A\*A\*A: PPE asks for AAA, Computer Science for A\*AA including A\*A in Mathematics and Further Mathematics.
2. The IB Diploma. Computer Science, PPE and Medicine ask for 39 points including core, with 7, 6, 6 at Higher Level.
3. US Advanced Placement (AP). For courses asking for A\*AA, Oxford wants four APs at grade 5, or three APs at grade 5 plus an SAT of 1470+ or ACT of 32+, including any subjects the course requires.

A Foundation year, which many UK universities accept, is considered by Oxford only in certain circumstances: it must cover the same content as the A-levels your course requires, and even then the university recommends a different qualification. Completing a first year at a university at home does not help either; Oxford explicitly advises taking an accepted school qualification instead. If Oxford is on your UCAS list, A-levels are the safer choice; our guide to the [Foundation year in the UK](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-foundation-year-in-the-uk) compares the routes.

## How Oxford is organised {#section-2}

Every Oxford student belongs to the university, a college and a department. The university sets the syllabus, runs lectures, laboratories and exams and awards the degree. The college is where you live, eat, get a personal tutor and take tutorials, the weekly sessions in which a tutor works through your essays or problem sheets with you and one or two other students.

There are more than 30 colleges and halls. They do not specialise by subject, but not every college teaches every course, so check the course page before choosing. You can name a college or make an open application, in which case the university allocates one for you.

Courses sit in four academic divisions:

- Humanities: history, languages, literature, philosophy, music, theology;
- Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences (MPLS): mathematics, physics, chemistry, computer science, engineering, earth sciences;
- Medical Sciences: medicine, biomedical sciences, psychology;
- Social Sciences: law, economics and management, PPE, geography, human sciences.

The Department for Continuing Education runs part-time, online and summer courses for adults; these are separate from degree admissions.

Oxford says there is evidence of teaching there as early as 1096, which makes it the oldest university in the English-speaking world. Most undergraduate degrees take three years. Several science courses take four and end with an integrated master's (MMath, MPhys, MEng and similar). The year has three eight-week terms: Michaelmas (autumn), Hilary (winter) and Trinity (spring and early summer).

## Applying for 2027 entry, step by step {#section-3}

You apply through UCAS, the UK's central system, which allows up to five course choices. Oxford takes one of them, and you can apply for only one course at Oxford. Cambridge cannot be added in the same UCAS cycle. The personal statement is shared by all five choices, so it works best when all of them are in the same subject. Our guide to [applying to UK universities](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-applying-to-uk-universities) covers UCAS in detail.

### Admissions tests

For 2027 entry Oxford uses three tests from UAT-UK, a consortium set up by Cambridge and Imperial College London, plus the national LNAT and UCAT.

| Test | Oxford courses | Booking and dates for 2027 entry |
| --- | --- | --- |
| TMUA (mathematics) | Computer Science, Mathematics and its joint courses with Philosophy, Statistics and Computer Science | account from 1 June, booking 20 July to 28 September 2026 (6pm); test 12–16 October 2026 |
| ESAT (science and engineering) | Biomedical Sciences, Engineering Science, Physics, Physics and Philosophy | same as TMUA |
| TARA (academic reasoning) | Economics and Management, PPE, History and Economics, History and Politics, Human Sciences, Experimental Psychology and PPL | same as TMUA |
| UCAT (clinical aptitude) | Medicine, including graduate-entry Medicine | booking 23 June to 16 September, testing 13 July to 24 September 2026 |
| LNAT (law) | Law (Jurisprudence), Law with Foundation Year | register 1 August to 15 September 2026, sit by 15 October 2026 (Law with Foundation Year: by 13 January 2027) |

Tests are taken on computer at Pearson VUE centres worldwide. Centres are not available in every city, so book as soon as registration opens. If your course requires a test and you do not take it, your application will not be considered.

All dates in this section apply to 2027 entry. If you are reading this after 15 October 2026, your realistic cycle is 2028 entry: the sequence is the same, but Oxford publishes new dates on its test and course pages, and those are the ones to follow.

### Written work, shortlisting and interviews

Some humanities courses ask for a piece of written work by 10 November 2026. Shortlisting results arrive between late November and early December, and interviews take place online in December 2026. Tutors typically give you an unseen text, graph or problem and listen to how you reason. Decisions are released on 12 January 2027. Most offers are conditional on final grades and English results.

### Timeline

| When | What to do |
| --- | --- |
| By summer 2026 | Choose a course, check A-level or IB and English requirements, decide between a named college and an open application |
| June – September 2026 | Create a UAT-UK account from 1 June and book TMUA, ESAT or TARA by 28 September; for Medicine sit UCAT by 24 September; for Law register for LNAT by 15 September |
| September – 15 October 2026 | Finish the personal statement, get your school reference with predicted grades, submit UCAS by 6pm |
| 12–16 October 2026 | Take the test |
| By 10 November 2026 | Submit written work if your course requires it |
| December 2026 | Online interviews |
| 12 January 2027 | Decision |
| Spring – summer 2027 | Final exams, English test, CAS for the visa |

## Grades and English {#section-4}

Oxford publishes requirements course by course. As a guide, A-level offers range from AAA to A\*A\*A and IB offers from 38 to 40 points with 7, 6, 6 or higher at Higher Level. Medicine requires A\*AA including Chemistry and at least one of Biology, Physics or Mathematics. Your school's predicted grades form the basis for a conditional offer.

For 2027 entry every undergraduate course uses the same, higher English requirement. If English is not your first language and you have not been educated in English, you will need one of these:

| Test | Overall | Minimum per component |
| --- | --- | --- |
| IELTS Academic (test centre) | 7.5 | 7.0 |
| C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency | 191 | 185 |
| PTE Academic (test centre) | 76 | 66 |
| Oxford Test of English (Advanced) | 165 | 155 |

Oxford does not accept IELTS Online or PTE Academic Online. After TOEFL iBT changed format on 21 January 2026, the university said it would not accept tests taken from that date until it had reviewed the new version, so check the current position before booking TOEFL. You do not need a score to apply; it becomes an offer condition. IELTS for UKVI is not needed for a degree course because the university confirms your English for the visa. Our guide to [English tests for a UK student visa](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-english-tests-for-uk-student-visa) compares the options.

## What Oxford costs international students {#section-5}

Since 2019/20 Oxford has charged one course fee covering both the university and the college. The amount depends on the course and usually rises in later years.

| Course, 2027/28 entry | Overseas fee per year |
| --- | --- |
| Lowest-priced courses | $52,480 (£39,620) |
| Philosophy, Politics and Economics | $61,210 (£46,210) |
| Computer Science and other top-band courses | $88,200 (£66,580) |
| Medicine, pre-clinical years 1–3 | $69,360 (£52,360) |
| Medicine, clinical years 4–6 | rate for 2027 entrants not yet set; students moving to the clinical stage in 2027/28 pay $91,620 (£69,160) |

A government cap limits Oxford to 14 international-fee medical students a year across its standard and graduate-entry medicine courses.

For a course priced at $61,210 (£46,210) plus the upper end of the university's living-cost estimate, the first year comes to about $87,160 (£65,800), before flights, the visa and the health surcharge. On the most expensive courses, the total exceeds $113,000.

## College accommodation and living costs {#section-6}

All colleges house undergraduates during term in their first year and in at least one other year. Rents and room types vary, so compare colleges before applying. Private lets usually run for 12 months, including vacations.

The university's 2027/28 estimate for a single student:

| Item | Per month | For nine months |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Accommodation | $1,170–1,360 (£880–1,025) | $10,490–12,220 (£7,920–9,225) |
| Food | $430–740 (£325–560) | $3,870–6,680 (£2,925–5,040) |
| Personal, social, study and other | $360–780 (£270–590) | $3,220–7,030 (£2,430–5,310) |
| Total | $1,950–2,880 (£1,475–2,175) | $17,590–25,930 (£13,275–19,575) |

For the visa, UK Visas and Immigration asks for a different figure: on applications from 30 November 2026, $1,590 (£1,203) a month for nine months outside London, or $14,340 (£10,827), plus any unpaid first-year fees. That is the legal minimum for the visa check; the university's estimate is closer to what students actually spend.

## Scholarships for international students {#section-7}

Undergraduate. Most Oxford support, including Crankstart and the Oxford Bursary, is for students with UK fee status. For international undergraduates the university offers the Reach Oxford Scholarship, which covers course fees, a living grant and one return flight a year. It is open to nationals of countries on the OECD list of official development assistance recipients. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia and Moldova are on the list; Russia is not. You can apply only after receiving an offer, Medicine is excluded, and the 2027-entry deadline is 12 noon UK time on 26 January 2027.

For Russian nationals living in Russia who already hold a Russian first degree, Oxford administers the Hill Foundation Scholarship for a second undergraduate degree and for graduate study. It covers 100% of course fees plus a living grant, and scholars are expected to leave the UK after their studies. The deadline for a second BA starting in 2027 is 12 noon on 26 January 2027.

Graduate.

- Clarendon Fund: over 200 new fully funded scholarships a year covering fees and a living grant. There are no nationality restrictions, and there is no separate application: you are considered automatically if you apply to your course by the December or January deadline.
- Rhodes Scholarship: full funding for two or three years, awarded through constituencies. Russia, Kazakhstan and the other CIS countries are not constituencies, and the Global constituency is suspended, so a Russian or Kazakh citizen without citizenship or residence in a constituency country cannot apply.
- Chevening: UK government funding for one-year master's degrees. For 2027/28, Russian citizens could apply only if they lived outside Russia; Kazakh citizens apply under the standard rules. This cycle closes on 6 October 2026, so later applicants should prepare for the next window on chevening.org.

Funding bodies and the university make scholarship decisions. See our guide to [scholarships in the UK](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-scholarships-in-the-uk) for other options.

## Should you build your application plan around Oxford? {#section-8}

| Strengths | Limits and risks |
| --- | --- |
| Tutorials with one to three students throughout the degree | National school certificates from Russia and Kazakhstan are not accepted, so one or two extra years of study are needed |
| College accommodation for at least the first year and one other year | You cannot apply to Oxford and Cambridge in the same UCAS cycle |
| A single course fee since 2019/20, with no separate college fee | Overseas fees usually rise each year of the course |
| Graduate scholarships with no nationality restrictions (Clarendon) | Almost no full funding for international undergraduates |
| Top-tier teaching and research across humanities, social sciences, sciences and medicine | Short, intensive eight-week terms leave little room for paid work |

Oxford makes sense if you can switch to A-levels or the IB two years before applying, sit a subject test and handle an academic interview, and if your family can fund three or four years without relying on a scholarship. If you need a route straight from a national school certificate, an industry-focused degree or a budget under $50,000 a year, build your list around other UK universities. Our [study in the UK](https://www.studyu.org/en/country-great_britain) page gives the national overview, and the guide to [Oxbridge admissions](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-oxbridge-admissions) compares the two ancient universities.

## Master's degrees and the DPhil {#section-9}

Graduate applications, including the DPhil (Oxford's PhD), go directly to the university rather than through UCAS. Each course has its own deadline, mostly in December or early January, and only applications made by that deadline are considered for scholarships. For example, the MSc in Advanced Computer Science closes at 12 noon on 6 January 2027 for 2027/28 entry, costs international students $61,400 (£46,350) and asks for a first-class degree and IELTS 7.5.

The application fee is $99 (£75) for taught courses (MSc, MPhil, MSt) and $30 (£20) for research courses (DPhil, MSc by Research), with waiver schemes available. You will usually need three references, transcripts, a CV, a statement of purpose or research proposal and an English test. Russian degrees are considered, but the bar is high. Where a course asks for a strong UK upper second, Oxford usually expects a bachelor's degree from a highly ranked institution or a Specialist Diploma with an overall grade of 4.5/5 (4.8/5 for a bachelor's from other institutions). Courses asking for a first expect 4.8/5 or above.

## Visa and post-study work {#section-10}

Once you accept an unconditional offer, Oxford issues a CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies), which you need for the Student visa. Key facts:

- visa fee: $740 (£558);
- Immigration Health Surcharge: $1,030 (£776) per year of the visa;
- first-year fees and living funds must be held for 28 consecutive days, ending no more than 31 days before you apply;
- applicants resident in Russia or Kazakhstan need a TB certificate from an approved clinic;
- a decision on an application from outside the UK usually takes about three weeks.

After graduating you can apply for the Graduate visa. Applications made on or after 1 January 2027 give 18 months (three years after a PhD), so students starting in 2027 fall under the new rule. UK Visas and Immigration, not the university, decides visa applications. See our guides to the [UK Student visa](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-uk-student-visa) and to [working while studying and the Graduate Route](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-working-while-studying-and-graduate-route-uk).

## Advantages and obstacles for applicants from Russia and the CIS {#section-11}

What helps:

- Interviews are online, so there is no December trip to the UK.
- Grade and test requirements are the same for UK and international applicants.
- Olympiad training in mathematics, physics or computer science is useful preparation for TMUA and ESAT.

What makes it harder:

- At least two extra years of study for A-levels or the IB, which means deciding early.
- The nearest Pearson VUE centre may be in another city or country; book as soon as you can.
- Russian bank cards cannot be used for UCAS, test or tuition payments. Our guide on [how to pay for studies abroad from Russia](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-how-to-pay-for-studies-abroad-from-russia) lists legal options.
- Graduate funding for Russian citizens is narrower: Rhodes is unavailable and Chevening is open only to those living outside Russia, leaving Clarendon, the Hill Foundation for Russia residents, and department or college awards.

## Common mistakes {#section-12}

- Applying with a national certificate alone. Oxford does not consider it without A-levels, the IB or another listed qualification.
- Mixing up the UCAS and test deadlines. Booking for TMUA, ESAT and TARA closes about two and a half weeks before the UCAS deadline (28 September in the 2027-entry cycle).
- Taking IELTS Online. Oxford needs a test-centre result.
- Writing a generic personal statement. Oxford reads it for academic interest in the subject.
- Budgeting for tuition only. Fees rise each year, and living in Oxford adds $17,550–25,880 per academic year.

## Rankings {#section-13}

| Ranking | Position |
| --- | --- |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | 4 |
| THE World University Rankings 2026 | 1 |
| ARWU (Shanghai Ranking) 2026 | 7 |

Rankings mainly reflect research strength and reputation. For your decision, what matters more is whether the course exists, whether you can reach the required A-level or IB grades and whether the budget allows for rising fees. Compare Oxford with [Cambridge](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-cambridge), [Imperial College London](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-imperial) and [the University of Edinburgh](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-edinburgh).

## FAQ {#section-14}

### Can I apply to Oxford straight after finishing school in Russia or Kazakhstan?

No. Oxford does not accept the Russian or Kazakh Attestat. You need A-levels, the IB or another qualification on Oxford's list, which usually means starting preparation around Year 10. A year at a university at home does not replace it.

### What are the deadlines for 2027 entry?

For 2027 entry, UCAS closes at 6pm UK time on 15 October 2026. Booking for TMUA, ESAT and TARA was open until 28 September, the tests run on 12–16 October, interviews are in December and decisions arrive on 12 January 2027. The 2028-entry cycle follows the same pattern with newly published dates.

### How much does a year at Oxford cost an international student?

In 2027/28 the course fee is $52,480–88,200 (£39,620–66,580) depending on the course; the clinical years of medicine cost more. The university suggests budgeting $17,590–25,930 (£13,275–19,575) for nine months of living costs.

### What IELTS score does Oxford require?

IELTS Academic 7.5 overall with at least 7.0 in each component, taken at a test centre; IELTS Online is not accepted. Alternatives include C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with 191 overall and PTE Academic at 76. TOEFL tests taken from 21 January 2026 are currently not accepted.

### Can I apply to Oxford and Cambridge in the same year?

No. You can choose only one of them in a UCAS cycle, and only one course at Oxford, but you can use your other four choices for other universities.

### Is there free tuition at Oxford for international students?

No. For a first degree, international students can apply mainly for the Reach Oxford Scholarship, open to nationals of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and several other CIS countries but not Russia. Russian nationals living in Russia can apply to the Hill Foundation for a second BA or graduate study. Graduate students are also considered for Clarendon, which covers fees and living costs with no nationality restrictions.

### Does StudyU help with Oxford applications?

Under a service agreement we help you choose a course and an A-level or IB route, plan admissions tests, prepare your personal statement, UCAS application and visa documents. Oxford colleges decide on admission, funding bodies on scholarships and UK Visas and Immigration on visas; no one can guarantee these outcomes.

## Sources {#section-15}

- [University of Oxford: International qualifications (Attestat, Foundation, AP)](https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses/admissions-requirements/international-qualifications)
- [University of Oxford: Admissions tests for 2027 entry](https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/applying-to-oxford/guide/admissions-tests), [LNAT: dates and deadlines](https://lnat.ac.uk/registration/dates-and-deadlines/)
- [University of Oxford: Application guide and key dates](https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/applying-to-oxford/guide)
- [University of Oxford: English language requirements](https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/applying/for-international-students/english-language-requirements-visas)
- [University of Oxford: Course fees 2027/28](https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/fees-and-funding/course-fees)
- [University of Oxford: Living costs 2027/28](https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/fees-and-funding/living-costs)
- [University of Oxford: course pages for Computer Science, PPE and Medicine](https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses/course-listing)
- [University of Oxford: Bursaries and scholarships](https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/fees-and-funding/oxford-bursaries-and-scholarships), [Reach Oxford](https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/fees-and-funding/oxford-bursaries-and-scholarships/reach-oxford), [Hill Foundation](https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/fees-and-funding/oxford-bursaries-and-scholarships/hill-foundation)
- [Clarendon Fund](https://www.ox.ac.uk/clarendon)
- [University of Oxford: Graduate international qualifications (Russia)](https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate/international-applicants/international-qualifications)
- [University of Oxford: Graduate application fee](https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate/application-guide/declaration-and-payment/application-fee) and [MSc in Advanced Computer Science](https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate/courses/msc-advanced-computer-science)
- [Rhodes Trust: Constituency information](https://www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk/scholarships/constituency-information/)
- [Chevening: Russia](https://www.chevening.org/scholarship/russia/)
- [GOV.UK: Student visa money](https://www.gov.uk/student-visa/money), [Immigration Health Surcharge](https://www.gov.uk/healthcare-immigration-application/how-much-pay), [TB test countries](https://www.gov.uk/tb-test-visa/countries-where-you-need-a-tb-test-to-enter-the-uk), [Graduate visa](https://www.gov.uk/graduate-visa)
- [QS: University of Oxford](https://www.topuniversities.com/universities/university-oxford), [THE: University of Oxford](https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/university-oxford), [ARWU 2026](https://www.shanghairanking.com/rankings/arwu/2026)

Dollar amounts are converted at the ECB reference rate of 29 September 2026 (£1 = $1.3247) and rounded.

If you want to know whether an A-level or IB route to Oxford is realistic for you and which universities to add to your UCAS list, [send us a request](https://www.studyu.org/en/apply).

During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.

## Next steps

- [Foundation Year in the UK: Types, Entry Requirements, Costs and Progression](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-foundation-year-in-the-uk)
- [English Tests for the UK Student Visa in 2026: When You Need IELTS for UKVI, Which SELTs Count and Where to Take Them](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-english-tests-for-uk-student-visa)
- [Oxford and Cambridge Admissions 2027: Requirements, Tests, Interviews and Costs](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-oxbridge-admissions)
- [Working While Studying in the UK and the Graduate Route: 20 Hours a Week, Tax, and Two Years or 18 Months After Graduation](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-working-while-studying-and-graduate-route-uk)
- [How to Pay for Studies Abroad from Russia: What Works in 2026](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-how-to-pay-for-studies-abroad-from-russia)
- [Studying in the UK for international applicants](https://www.studyu.org/en/country-great_britain)

Updated: September 2026