For mature students

Oxford is looking for the candidates with the most academic potential, irrespective of their age or background. Just like everyone else who applies, mature students need to demonstrate academic ability and commitment to study.

Life experience and study skills 

We know that mature applicants are likely to have a wide range of experiences beyond formal education, including work experience and volunteering.

Mature applicants are required to meet standard formal entry criteria (though they may meet this in a wide variety of ways), and we will therefore still need to see academic qualifications completed in the past 3 years.

Where relevant, tutors at Oxford will take your work experience and life skills into account when you apply. These are most helpful when they relate to the course you are applying for, and help to demonstrate independent motivation and academic curiosity.

While showing these skills can add to your application, work experience will not replace direct evidence of your ability to succeed in a formal learning environment. There is no disadvantage to applying in the absence of relevant work and life experience.

Qualifications 

To make a competitive application, you will need to show that you have the necessary skills to tackle intensive, independently-driven academic study in your subject. This means that we will be looking for recent evidence of success in formal education, typically within the three years before you apply.

This might be A-levels, or it could be an Access to Higher Education qualification, Open University course, foundation degree, or equivalent. If you haven't done any formal study for longer than three years, it's a good idea to take another qualification to refresh your study skills.

Bear in mind, you may need to have A-levels or equivalent qualifications in particular subjects, depending on your chosen course. 

Don’t worry if your school results don’t reflect your best work. We understand that education is an ongoing journey, and that a lot may have changed from when you left school. We are most interested in your academic potential to pursue a degree now, not your abilities at age 18.

Read more about our admission requirements.

The application procedure for mature students is the same as for other students, and you can find further step-by-step guidance in our Guide for applicants. 

College Choice

When you apply, you will be asked to choose a particular Oxford college, or else to make an ‘open application’. As a mature applicant, you can choose any Oxford college which offers your course. You can also choose to preference either Harris Manchester College (which admits for a range of courses) or Wycliffe Hall (where you can study Theology and Religion or Philosophy and Theology), both of which are only open to mature students.

Whether you choose a mature college or apply to a college with a mix of students is a matter of personal choice. Regardless of which college you attend, you will have access to personalised academic support and a wide array of college and University events and societies, including the opportunity to join a mature student society.

Read more about college life.

References

The UCAS application form requires an academic reference, which is usually completed by a school or college teacher. Depending on your educational background, we understand that mature applicants may find it difficult to find a teacher who can speak to their academic potential.

While we encourage you to ask a teacher who is familiar with your recent work in a formal education setting, where this is not possible, you should ask someone who knows you from an educational setting, work context or volunteering, can give specific details of your academic potential and is not a friend or relative.

Admissions Testing

Admission to some courses at the University of Oxford require applicants to sit an admissions test. Read more about admissions tests and other requirements for your course. 

Written Work

Many subjects require you to submit written work as part of your application. Mature applicants do not always have suitable written work, and we do understand this. Please contact the college you’re considering to discuss your options.

If you have completed a degree at undergraduate level before, you may still apply to Oxford for a second undergraduate degree. Before considering a second undergraduate degree, you should review your finance options, as you may not be eligible for the funding typically available for first undergraduate degrees.

If you already have an undergraduate degree in another subject, you may choose to apply for 'Senior Status'. This option allows you to start your second undergraduate degree directly in year two of the degree.

While the application process for a second undergraduate degree (with or without the Senior Status option) is generally the same as the standard application process, you may wish to note that not all colleges offer the Senior Status option, and that this status is at the discretion of the college.

Read more about second undergraduate degrees.

The University of Oxford does not offer part-time or distance learning options for our undergraduate degree courses. All of our undergraduate courses are offered full-time, and require students to live in Oxford during term time in order to participate fully in the short, intensive teaching periods of the degree.

If you are interested in part-time or distance learning options, you may wish to consider one of the many certificates, diplomas and graduate courses offered by Oxford Lifelong Learning.

We do understand that people often develop their academic interests and skills later in life. Having lower grades from school will not prevent you from making a successful application, as long as you are able to demonstrate recent academic achievement and exceptional academic ability. 

Please visit our Fees and Funding pages for more details on the financial support Oxford can offer.

The Crankstart Scholarship is available to all UK residents with a household income of £32,500 per year or less, who will be studying for their first undergraduate degree. This scholarship offers an annual bursary of up to £6,090, as well as extensive personalised careers support and internship and volunteer opportunities. If you have spent time in care or are estranged from your family, you may be eligible for additional bursary support.

If you are not eligible for, or choose not to take up the Crankstart Scholarship, you may be eligible to receive an Oxford Bursary, an annual, non-repayable bursary to support your living costs available to first-degree UK students with a household income of up to £50,000.

Those wo are offered a place at Harris Manchester (Oxford's college exclusively for mature students) for a Second Undergraduate Degrees (excluding those reading Graduate Entry Medicine) are eligible to apply for a scholarship. Awards will be made primarily on the basis of academic merit but applicants’ financial situation will also be taken into consideration. Offer holders will be forwarded the relevant application form in January and all those reading for a second BA are eligible, including overseas students from outside the UK or Republic of Ireland.

Mature students from the UK may also be eligible for further assistance from the Government to support them during their studies, including:

• The Childcare Grant, a non-repayable grant for students in full time higher education with children under the age of 15 (or under the age of 17 if they have special needs)
• The Adult Dependants’ Grant, a non-repayable grant for students in full time higher education with an adult that is financially dependent on them
• The Parents’ Learning Allowance, a non-repayable grant for student parents who are in full time higher education or initial teacher training
• Disabled Students’ Allowance, a non-repayable grant to help cover some of the extra costs that may result from a mental health problem, long term illness or any other disability.

Given the short, intensive nature of the teaching terms at Oxford, there are constraints around students working during term time. However, many students pursue internship or work experience opportunities between terms.

Support in securing internships and placements is available through the Careers Service.

Yes, all Oxford students must live in or near Oxford city during term time. All our undergraduate degrees involve intense study and high levels of commitment.

The amount of time you will spend studying in a week is approximately the same as a full-time job. Most students study around 40 hours a week. All undergraduate students are therefore required to be resident in the city during term time, either in college accommodation, in other accommodation within six miles of the city centre, or within 25 miles if it is your family home.

All first year undergraduate students are provided accommodation by their college and in the first instance you should discuss your accommodation with your assigned college. You can also seek guidance from our Accommodation Office.

The University aims to assist wherever possible in the provision of childcare.

Read more about childcare at Oxford.