Suggested Subject Resources

Suggested reading for Archaeology and Anthropology.

You may also like to take a look at the website Discover Anthropology.

Oxford research: 

• Reconnecting Indigenous Nations with their Material Heritage
• Who Needs Migrant Workers
• Endangered Archaeology video  

Read the recommended reading list for Biochemistry. 

At present we do not produce a reading list for students applying for Biology but we encourage you to read New Scientist, National Geographic or any other Biology materials which you find interesting.

Oxford research: 

• Putting ticks on the map
• Poetry in motion
• Defeating dengue with GM mosquitoes
• The loneliness of the long-distance seabird
• Balancing conservation and commerce in the world’s forests

• The surprising uses of silk
• Bringing back the large blue butterfly - Jeremy Thomas
• Preserving Endangered Trees: A Chilean case study 
• Jatropha Curcas in the Global Race for Biofuels
• Peru's Data Collectors
• Researching the Reef: fish and coral of the Caribbean

Introductory Reading for Biomedical Sciences.

Oxford research: 

• Bringing together universities, industry and the NHS to benefit people in the Oxfordshire region and beyond
• Restoring Sight With Gene Therapy
• Cooling babies to save lives
• Innovative genomics
• Helping diabetes sufferers
• Transforming the diagnosis of Tuberculosis
• The million women study
• Helping the brain to control Parkinson’s
• Combining cultures
• Preventing strokes

Research videos: 

• The TOBY Trial - Cooling Babies  
• Tackling and tracking TB through DNA analysis
• "Bionic eye" trial in Oxford  
• Fighting Arthritis: the development of anti-TNF therapies  
• The Paternal Age Effect: Identifying reproductive risks 

Introductory reading for Chemistry.

You may also like to read Chemistry World magazine, and view other resources from the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Oxford research: 

• Turning orange into grapefruit
• Fuel cells inspired by nature video
• Chemistry in the garden video

There is no reading list for students applying for Classical Archaeology and Ancient History, as we encourage students to engage with whatever they find interesting about the ancient world. If you are interested in Classical Archaeology and Ancient History, this will include the historical and archaeological evidence through which we learn about that world.

As well as visiting your local museum, or other museums, you may wish to explore some websites which have excellent links to historical and archaeological materials, such as the British Museum or Oxford’s own Ashmolean Museum's collection highlights, or the BBC Radio 4 archives, for example for the programme ‘In Our Time’, covering material from Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome.

There are also many social media sites which you can join such as Classics Confidential, Classics Outreach and Classics International.

Oxford research: 

• Classics for the people
• Endangered archaeology video
• Conserving by copying: 3D Printing Tutankhamun's Tomb video

There is no reading list for students applying for Classics, as we encourage students to read as widely as possible about any Classics materials they find interesting (in literature, history, philosophy, archaeology, and/or philology), and to think critically about their reading. You may also wish to explore some websites which have excellent links to materials about the ancient world, such as the British Museum or the BBC Radio 4 archives, for example for the programme ‘In Our Time’, covering material from Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome.

There are also many social media sites which you can join such as Classics Confidential, Classics Outreach and Classics International.

Oxford research: 

• Classics for the people

There is no reading list for students applying for Classics, as we encourage students to read as widely as possible about any Classics materials they find interesting (in literature, history, philosophy, archaeology, and/or philology), and to think critically about their reading. You may also wish to explore some websites which have excellent links to materials about the ancient world, such as the British Museum or the BBC Radio 4 archives, for example for the programme ‘In Our Time’, covering material from Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome.

There are also many social media sites which you can join such as Classics Confidential, Classics Outreach and Classics International.

For the English Literature element of the course, we recommend that you read as widely as possible, and think critically about all the texts – literary or not – that you read. Read more about this in our examples of interview questions. You can find literary resources on our Great Writers Inspire site. You may also like to look at literary websites and listen to radio programs such as BBC Radio 4's 'In Our Time'.

Oxford research: 

• Classics for the people
• Dramatic research
• Making Britain
• Digitising Jane Austen's fiction manuscripts
• On the joy of not rehearsing Shakespeare video

There is no reading list for students applying for Classics, as we encourage students to read as widely as possible about any Classics materials they find interesting (in literature, history, philosophy, archaeology, and/or philology), and to think critically about their reading. You may also wish to explore some websites which have excellent links to materials about the ancient world, such as the British Museum or the BBC Radio 4 archives, for example for the programme ‘In Our Time’, covering material from Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. There are also many social media sites which you can join such as Classics Confidential, Classics Outreach and Classics International. 

Please view the guidance on the FAQs section of the Modern Languages faculty website under the heading 'How best to prepare for the entrance procedure'. You can also find reading lists on the individual pages of the following languages: 

• Czech
• Italian
• Modern Greek
• Spanish

Oxford research: 

• Classics for the people
• Shedding new light on Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin
• Writing Brecht, living well

There is no reading list for students applying for Classics, as we encourage students to read as widely as possible about any Classics materials they find interesting (in literature, history, philosophy, archaeology, and/or philology), and to think critically about their reading.

You may also wish to explore some websites which have excellent links to materials about the ancient world, such as the British Museum or the BBC Radio 4 archives, for example for the programme ‘In Our Time’, covering material from Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome.

There are also many social media sites which you can join such as Classics Confidential, Classics Outreach and Classics International.

Suggested reading for Asian and Middle Eastern Studies can be found on the Asian and Middle Eastern Studies website by following the relevant links below:

• BA in Arabic
• BA in Sanskrit
• BA in Persian
• BA in Turkish

Oxford research: 

• Classics for the people
• Recreating an experience of ancient Egypt
• Helping the UK understand China
• Conserving by copying: 3D Printing Tutankhamun's Tomb video

Introductory reading for prospective applicants to Computer Science can be found on the departmental website.

You may also like to look at our GeomLab website which will introduce you to some of the most important ideas in computer programming in an interactive, visual way through a guided activity.

Oxford research: 

• Securing the internet of the future
• Putting out ‘Digital Wildfires’ before they take hold
• The friendly face of robots
• Safety by design
• Computers at the heart of the matter

Research videos: 

• 60 Years of Computer Science
• Oxford and Cybersecurity 1 – the Internet and Policy
• Oxford and Cybersecurity 2 – Trusted Computing
• Oxford and Cybersecurity 3 – The Academic Edge

Introductory reading for prospective applicants to Computer Science can be found on the departmental website.

You may also like to look at our GeomLab website which will introduce you to some of the most important ideas in computer programming in an interactive, visual way through a guided activity.

There are many introductions to philosophy: Myles Burnyeat and Ted Honderich’s ‘Philosophy’ as it is a very useful collection. Martin Hollis ‘An Invitation to Philosophy’ and Simon Blackburn’s ‘Think’ are also recommended but feel free to pick up any introductory or beginners’ text.

Oxford research: 

• Securing the internet of the future
• Putting out ‘Digital Wildfires’ before they take hold
• The friendly face of robots
• Safety by design
• Computers at the heart of the matter

Research videos: 

• 60 Years of Computer Science
• Oxford and Cybersecurity 1 – the Internet and Policy
• Oxford and Cybersecurity 2 – Trusted Computing
• Oxford and Cybersecurity 3 – The Academic Edge

At present we do not produce a reading list for students applying for Earth Sciences but we encourage you to read New Scientist, National Geographic or any other relevant materials which you find interesting.

Oxford research: 

• Preserving an exceptional fossil site for future generations
• Understanding oil-rich strata
• Influencing global policy on mercury
• Reducing toxic mercury emissions video
• Tracking Life 40 Degrees South video
• Volcano hunting, Italy to Peru video

An indispensable introduction to economic analysis, both for those who have not studied it at school and for those who have is ‘The Economist’ or the Economics pages of newspapers. Paul Krugman’s writings are highly recommended. Begg, Fischer and Dornbusch’s ‘Economics’ is one of the introductory textbooks widely used at Oxford.

You can find the Economics reading list and Management reading list online. 

Oxford research:

• The value of mutuality
• Geometry to the rescue
• Research led to Supreme Court ruling on removal of UK employment tribunal fees video
• The surprising uses of auctions video

At present we do not produce a reading list for students applying for Engineering Science but we encourage you to read any relevant materials which you find interesting. Here are some online resources you may like to use to test your knowledge:

• Isaac Physics: this website contains lots of maths and physics problem solving questions.
• British Physics Olympiad: this website contains lots of past papers and solutions of problem solving type questions.
• Next time, education centre: this website contains some quite fun questions designed to make you think about physical concepts.
• I want to study Engineering: this website is just as useful for all applicants not just those applying to engineering.
• Brilliant.org: this website has some resources to test your mathematical and physics knowledge.

Oxford research: 

• Providing the technology for ‘space refrigerators’
• Improving hospitals’ ‘early warning’ systems
• Data scientists to the rescue
• Driverless cars video
• Delivering drugs better - using sound video

For the English Literature element of the course, we recommend that you read as widely as possible, and think critically about all the texts – literary or not – that you read. Read more about this in our examples of interview questions. You can find literary resources on our Great Writers Inspire site. You may also like to look at literary websites and listen to radio programs such as BBC Radio 4's 'In Our Time'.

Oxford research: 

• Dramatic research
• Making Britain
• Digitising Jane Austen's fiction manuscripts
• On the joy of not rehearsing Shakespeare video

Please visit the guidance on the FAQs section of the Modern Languages faculty website under the heading 'How can I prepare myself for the entrance procedure?'. This advice can be applied to both the European and the Middle Eastern elements of the course. You can also find reading lists on the individual pages of the following languages:

• Czech
• Italian
• Modern Greek
• Spanish

Suggested reading for Asian and Middle Eastern Studies can be found on the Asian and Middle Eastern Studies website by following the relevant links below:

• BA in Arabic
• BA in Sanskrit
• BA in Persian
• BA in Turkish

Oxford research:

• Shedding new light on Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin
• Writing Brecht, living well

Please view the suggested reading for Experimental Psychology. This document also includes reading suggestions for those interested in the Psychology, Philosophy and Linguistics course.

Research videos:

• Improving Access to Psychological Therapies: Using evidence to change policy
• Spread the word
• How people with depression see faces
• From the Minds of Babes: New frontiers in paediatric pain

The following list is suggested as a starting point and is not exhaustive and nor does it mean that you must read these. 

• Barthes, Roland, Camera Lucida: Reflections on Photography (Vintage) 
• Crow, Thomas, The Rise of the Sixties: American and European Art in the Era of Dissent (Everyman )
• Stallabrass, Julian, Contemporary Art: A Very Short Introductions (Oxford University Press) 
• Smith, Terry, Contemporary Art: World Currents (Laurence King Publishing)

We strongly encourage all students to attend exhibitions and look at art works as much as possible. Public art galleries like Tate Modern, the Whitechapel, and the Serpentine in London, the Ikon in Birmingham, the Liverpool Tate, the Whitworth in Manchester, the Baltic in Gateshead, the Arnolfini in Bristol, and Tramway in Glasgow are all excellent places to see contemporary art and to find out more about it.

Other excellent resources include:

• the UK-wide exhibition listings
• the online edition of the US journal Artforum 
• the excellent repository of moving image and sound art, called UBU Web

It is also a good idea to look at journals such as:

• E-flux
• Frieze
• Art Rabbit

An indispensable introduction to contemporary issues in Geography is the Royal Geographical Society 'Geographical Magazine'. Reading 'The Economist' is also highly recommended.

Oxford research:

• Managing the risk of surface water flooding
• Smartphones become Smart Stones
• The value of a green and pleasant land
• Getting critical
• How changes to inland waters impact regional climates
• Calculating the risks of coastal flooding and cliff erosion
• How global warming is changing tropical forests

Research videos: 

• Climate Network
• Avoiding infrastructure failure
• Stopping floods on the cheap: A success story from Yorkshire

The best way to prepare for a History degree is to read the history books which interest you, either related to your school work or ranging beyond it – and be prepared to discuss your views of those books and their arguments.  To find such material, you might want to follow up on references made in your school or college text books, or your History teacher may also be able to recommend particular works for you to read on topics that you find most interesting.

One good way of broadening your historical horizons is to read one of the popular History magazines: History Today or BBC History, which has weekly podcasts. You may like to look at the books which are being reviewed in the quality press.

You may also like to explore the websites of public institutions which have excellent links to historical materials, such as the British Museum or BBC Radio 4 archives.

Lastly, delving into some historical sources can be a great way to develop your ideas and understanding. You could try exploring literature, art, music or even films produced by different societies, and consider what these can tell us about the people of that time.

Oxford research:

• Looking back to understand the recent economic crisis
• Helping the UK understand China

There is no reading list for students applying for Ancient and Modern History, as we encourage students to read as widely as possible about any period of history, ancient and/or modern, that they find interesting. (View 'History' above). For the ancient world, you may also wish to explore websites which have excellent links to historical materials, such as the British Museum or Oxford’s own Ashmolean Museum, the BBC Radio 4 archives, for example for the programme ‘In Our Time', covering material from Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome.

Oxford research:

• Looking back to understand the recent economic crisis
• Helping the UK understand China
• Classics for the people
• Endangered archaeology video
• Conserving by copying: 3D Printing Tutankhamun's Tomb video

The best way to prepare for a History degree is to read the history books which interest you, either related to your school work or ranging beyond it – and be prepared to discuss your views of those books and their arguments.  To find such material, you might want to follow up on references made in your school or college text books, or your History teacher may also be able to recommend particular works for you to read on topics that you find most interesting.

One good way of broadening your historical horizons is to read one of the popular History magazines: History Today or BBC History, which has weekly podcasts. You may like to look at the books which are being reviewed in the quality press. You may also like to explore the websites of public institutions which have excellent links to historical materials, such as the British Museum or BBC Radio 4 archives. Lastly, delving into some historical sources can be a great way to develop your ideas and understanding. You could try exploring literature, art, music or even films produced by different societies, and consider what these can tell us about the people of that time.

For the English Literature element of the course, we recommend that you read as widely as possible, and think critically about all the texts – literary or not – that you read. Read more about this in our examples of interview questions. You can find literary resources on our Great Writers Inspire site. You may also like to look at literary websites and listen to radio programs such as BBC Radio 4's 'In Our Time'.

Oxford research:

• Looking back to understand the recent economic crisis
• Helping the UK understand China
• Dramatic research
• Making Britain
• Digitising Jane Austen's fiction manuscripts
• On the joy of not rehearsing Shakespeare video

The best way to prepare for a History degree is to read the history books which interest you, either related to your school work or ranging beyond it – and be prepared to discuss your views of those books and their arguments.  To find such material, you might want to follow up on references made in your school or college text books, or your History teacher may also be able to recommend particular works for you to read on topics that you find most interesting.

One good way of broadening your historical horizons is to read one of the popular History magazines: History Today or BBC History, which has weekly podcasts. You may like to look at the books which are being reviewed in the quality press. You may also like to explore the websites of public institutions which have excellent links to historical materials, such as the British Museum or BBC Radio 4 archives. Lastly, delving into some historical sources can be a great way to develop your ideas and understanding. You could try exploring literature, art, music or even films produced by different societies, and consider what these can tell us about the people of that time.

Please visit the guidance on the FAQs section of the Modern Languages faculty website under the heading 'How best to prepare for the entrance procedure'. You can also find reading lists on the individual pages of the following languages:

• Czech
• Italian
• Modern Greek
• Spanish

• Looking back to understand the recent economic crisis
• Helping the UK understand China
• Shedding new light on Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin
• Writing Brecht, living well

Politics is a very wide-ranging subject. In addition to newspapers and weeklies, Jonathan Wolff’s 'An Introduction to Political Philosophy' is recommended; and also, for interesting and up-to-date insights into recent political developments in a number of countries, the series of texts produced by Macmillan publishers at regular intervals called ‘Developments in British (French, German, East European etc.) Politics’.

The best way to prepare for a History degree is to read the history books which interest you, either related to your school work or ranging beyond it – and be prepared to discuss your views of those books and their arguments.  To find such material, you might want to follow up on references made in your school or college text books, or your History teacher may also be able to recommend particular works for you to read on topics that you find most interesting.

One good way of broadening your historical horizons is to read one of the popular History magazines: History Today or BBC History, which has weekly podcasts. You may like to look at the books which are being reviewed in the quality press.

You may also like to explore the websites of public institutions which have excellent links to historical materials, such as the British Museum or BBC Radio 4 archives.

Lastly, delving into some historical sources can be a great way to develop your ideas and understanding. You could try exploring literature, art, music or even films produced by different societies, and consider what these can tell us about the people of that time.

Oxford research:

• Looking back to understand the recent economic crisis
• Helping the UK understand China

A reading list for prospective applicants to History of Art can be found on the History of Art departmental website.

You may also find it interesting to explore the following resources:

• BBC Radio 4 'In Our Time' - Culture archive
• BBC Arts coverage

Introductory reading lists can be found on the Institute of Human Sciences website.

Oxford research: 

• Who needs migrant workers

We recommend that you start by reading the court reports in broad sheet newspapers.

As the reading lists for the degree course change each year it isn't always advisable to buy text books in advance, but you may find one or more of the books from this list useful when preparing your application Introductory reading for Law. It can be useful to look at the list of law academics on the departmental website and follow the links to their latest publications. All lecturers have their own lists, which change from year to year and include books and journal articles.

You may also like to read the BBC's website Law in Action, and download their podcasts. Other recommendation are the Guardian's law pages and the Counsel magazine.

Research videos: 

• Research led to Supreme Court ruling on removal of UK employment tribunal fees
• Tackling Adolescent to Parent Violence
• Research in Westminster: Human Rights law and the treatment of rape victims

There is no set text and students should read widely around the subject. Introductory reading for prospective applicants to Materials Science can be found on the departmental website.

Students may also wish to read the New Scientist magazine which may be available in your school or local library.

Running an internet search on Nanoscience or Nanotechnology will give useful background information in the sciences. Here are some further resources to test your knowledge:

• Isaac Physics: This website contains lots of maths and physics problem solving questions.
• British Physics Olympiad: This website contains lots of past papers and solutions of problem solving type questions.
• Next time: This website contains some quite fun questions designed to make you think about physical concepts.
• I want to study Engineering: This website is just as useful for all applicants not just those applying to engineering.
• Brilliant.org: This website has some resources to test your mathematical and physics knowledge.

Oxford research: 

• A new material for reconstructive surgery

Reading lists for prospective Mathematics applicants can be found on page 12 of the departmental prospectus, available to download from the Maths Department website.

Oxford research: 

• Influencing HIV/AIDS policy in India through mathematical modelling
• Helping the ‘Greeks’ to run faster
• Mathematics in the design and manufacture of novel glass products
• Mathematical solutions for industry
• Sharing the beauty of networks video
• A computer model of the heart video

Reading lists for prospective Mathematics applicants can be found on page 12 of the departmental prospectus, available to download from the Maths Department website.

Introductory reading for prospective applicants to Computer Science can be found on the departmental website. You may also like to look at our GeomLab website which will introduce you to some of the most important ideas in computer programming in an interactive, visual way through a guided activity.

Oxford research: 

• Influencing HIV/AIDS policy in India through mathematical modelling
• Helping the ‘Greeks’ to run faster
• Mathematics in the design and manufacture of novel glass products
• Mathematical solutions for industry
• Securing the internet of the future
• Putting out ‘Digital Wildfires’ before they take hold
• The friendly face of robots
• Safety by design
• Computers at the heart of the matter
• Sharing the beauty of networks video
• A computer model of the heart video

Reading lists for prospective Mathematics and Philosophy applicants can be found on page 18 of the departmental prospectus, available to download from the Maths Department website.

Oxford research: 

• Influencing HIV/AIDS policy in India through mathematical modelling
• Helping the ‘Greeks’ to run faster
• Mathematics in the design and manufacture of novel glass products
• Mathematical solutions for industry
• Sharing the beauty of networks video
• A computer model of the heart video

Reading lists for prospective Mathematics and Statistics applicants can be found on page 12 of the departmental prospectus, available to download from the Maths Department website.

Oxford research: 

• Influencing HIV/AIDS policy in India through mathematical modelling
• Helping the ‘Greeks’ to run faster
• Mathematics in the design and manufacture of novel glass products
• Mathematical solutions for industry
• Sharing the beauty of networks video
• A computer model of the heart video
• Statistical expertise in drug discovery

Prospective students for Medicine may like to start by looking at the introductory reading list below. You may also be interested in the Oxford Medical School Gazette, for more information about the Gazette and subscription offers for Sixth Form students please visit the Medicine website.

Introductory Reading for Medicine

Oxford research: 

• Bringing together universities, industry and the NHS to benefit people in the Oxfordshire region and beyond
• Restoring Sight With Gene Therapy
• Cooling babies to save lives
• Innovative genomics
• Helping diabetes sufferers
• Transforming the diagnosis of Tuberculosis
• The million women study
• Helping the brain to control Parkinson’s
• Combining cultures
• Preventing strokes

Research videos: 

• The TOBY Trial - cooling babies
• Tackling and tracking TB through DNA analysis
• "Bionic eye" trial in Oxford
• Fighting Arthritis: the development of anti-TNF therapies
• The Paternal Age Effect: Identifying reproductive risks

Please view the guidance on the FAQs section of the Modern Languages faculty website under the heading 'How best to prepare for the entrance procedure'. You can find reading lists on the individual pages for of following languages: 

• Czech
• Italian
• Modern Greek
• Spanish

Oxford research: 

• Shedding new light on Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin
• Writing Brecht, living well

Please visit the guidance on the FAQs section of the Modern Languages faculty website under the heading 'How best to prepare for the entrance procedure'. You can also find reading lists on the individual pages of the following languages: 

• Czech
• Italian
• Modern Greek
• Spanish

You can also download the Introductory reading list for Linguistics.

Oxford research: 

• Shedding new light on Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin
• Writing Brecht, living well
• Improving treatment of speech disorders
• Saving the world’s threatened languages
• Voice analysis for everyone: health monitoring by phone video

Please refer to this recommended reading list for Music.

Oxford research: 

• Shedding new light on Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin
• Medieval plainsong gets a contemporary makeover
• Composing Opera for Children
• Searching for Schumann video

Suggested reading for Asian and Middle Eastern Studies can be found on the Asian and Middle Eastern Studies website by following the relevant links below:

• BA in Arabic
• BA in Chinese
• BA in Japanese
• BA in Sanskrit
• BA in Persian
• BA in Turkish

Suggested reading lists for BA Egyptology and Near Eastern Studies, BA Hebrew Studies and BA Jewish Studies are currently in development and will hopefully be available in the near future.

Oxford research: 

• Recreating an experience of ancient Egypt
• Helping the UK understand China
• Conserving by copying: 3D Printing Tutankhamun's Tomb video

There are many introductions to philosophy: Myles Burnyeat and Ted Honderich’s ‘Philosophy’ as it is a very useful collection. Martin Hollis ‘An Invitation to Philosophy’ and Simon Blackburn’s ‘Think’ are also recommended but feel free to pick up any introductory or beginners’ text.

Please visit the guidance on the FAQs section of the Modern Languages faculty website under the heading 'How best to prepare for the entrance procedure' for the Modern Languages element of this course. You of also find reading lists on the individual pages for the following languages: 

• Czech
• Italian
• Modern Greek
• Spanish

Oxford research: 

• Shedding new light on Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin
• Writing Brecht, living well

We always recommend that students read widely around their subject, deepening their knowledge and understanding, to help prepare for their application. Tutors will be looking for evidence of students' academic potential, as well as their commitment and motivation for their course, so will certainly be looking for evidence that a student has really engaged with their subject, and has a passion for studying it. This is particularly important for courses like PPE, as many students will not have studied any of these three subjects at their school or college.

The very best preparation is a reasonable grasp of the workings of the social and political world in which we live. For PPEists, reading newspapers, watching TV and listening to radio news and current affairs programmes are not optional activities – they are crucial to success at the subject. Students should read a good quality daily newspaper, and ‘The Economist’ weekly is also highly recommended – this offers unparalleled quantity and quality analysis of current events.

There are many introductions to philosophy: Myles Burnyeat and Ted Honderich’s ‘Philosophy’ as it is a very useful collection. Martin Hollis ‘An Invitation to Philosophy’ and Simon Blackburn’s ‘Think’ are also recommended but feel free to pick up any introductory or beginners’ text.

Politics is a very wide-ranging subject. In addition to newspapers and weeklies, Jonathan Wolff’s 'An Introduction to Political Philosophy' is recommended; and also, for interesting and up-to-date insights into recent political developments in a number of countries, the series of texts produced by Macmillan publishers at regular intervals called ‘Developments in British (French, German, East European etc.) Politics’.

An indispensable introduction to economic analysis in use both for those who have not studied it at school and for those who have is ‘The Economist’ or the Economics pages of newspapers. Paul Krugman’s writings are highly recommended. Begg, Fischer and Dornbusch’s ‘Economics’ is one of the introductory textbooks widely used at Oxford.

Oxford research:  

• The value of mutuality
• Geometry to the rescue
• The surprising uses of auctions video

There are many introductions to philosophy: Myles Burnyeat and Ted Honderich’s ‘Philosophy’ as it is a very useful collection. Martin Hollis ‘An Invitation to Philosophy’ and Simon Blackburn’s ‘Think’ are also recommended but feel free to pick up any introductory or beginners’ text.

At present we do not produce a specific Theology reading list for people who are considering making an application, though we always advise prospective candidates to read beyond what they are reading in school and to explore areas that interest them.

Oxford research: 

• Empires of Faith video

There are many suitable sources for reading. Popular science books are normally readily available at your local library, as are copies of the New Scientist or other scientific periodicals. Anything that takes your interest will be valuable; we have no set reading list.

However, for general preparation prospective candidates can view the suggestions on the Physics department website. We also recommend maths preparation.

There is also lots of information on the internet, on sites such as www.physics.org or through some of the excellent science blogs. The University of Oxford publishes a science blog and our department also runs a project called Galaxy Zoo which is part of the Zooniverse community of projects , which allows members of the public to contribute to astrophysics research. Large scientific organisations such as CERN and NASA publish a lot of good material online, for example the Astronomy Picture of the Day website. Here are some further resources to test your Physics knowledge:

• Isaac Physics: This website contains lots of maths and physics problem solving questions.
• British Physics Olympiad: This website contains lots of past papers and solutions of problem solving type questions.
• Next time: This website contains some quite fun questions designed to make you think about physical concepts.
• I want to study Engineering: This website is just as useful for all applicants not just those applying to engineering.
• Brilliant.org: This website has some resources to test your mathematical and physics knowledge.

iTunesU can also be a very useful resource, as it has a range of physics content, from public talks to undergraduate lectures, from a variety of reputable sources.

Oxford research: 

• Near-perfect distance measurement
• Cheaper, smaller, super-resolution
• To the Zooniverse and beyond
• Particle accelerator physics for the masses
• A revolution in solar power technology
• How to be certain of uncertainty in climate and weather forecasts
• How do quantum physicists affect industry? video

There are many introductions to philosophy: Myles Burnyeat and Ted Honderich’s ‘Philosophy’ as it is a very useful collection. Martin Hollis ‘An Invitation to Philosophy’ and Simon Blackburn’s ‘Think’ are also recommended but feel free to pick up any introductory or beginners’ text.

There are many suitable sources for reading. Popular science books are normally readily available at your local library, as are copies of the New Scientist or other scientific periodicals. Anything that takes your interest will be valuable; we have no set reading list.

However, for general preparation prospective candidates can view the suggestions on the Physics department website. We also recommend maths preparation.

There is also lots of information on the internet, on sites such as www.physics.org. or through some of the excellent science blogs. The University of Oxford publishes a science blog and our department also runs a project called Galaxy Zoo which is part of the Zooniverse community of projects , which allows members of the public to contribute to astrophysics research. Large scientific organisations such as CERN and NASA publish a lot of good material online, for example the Astronomy Picture of the Day website. Here are some further resources to test your Physics knowledge:

• Isaac Physics: This website contains lots of maths and physics problem solving questions.
• British Physics Olympiad: This website contains lots of past papers and solutions of problem solving type questions.
• Next time: This website contains some quite fun questions designed to make you think about physical concepts.
• I want to study Engineering: This website is just as useful for all applicants not just those applying to engineering.
• Brilliant.org: This website has some resources to test your mathematical and physics knowledge.

iTunesU can also be a very useful resource, as it has a range of physics content, from public talks to undergraduate lectures, from a variety of reputable sources.

Oxford research: 

• Near-perfect distance measurement
• Cheaper, smaller, super-resolution
• To the Zooniverse and beyond
• Particle accelerator physics for the masses
• A revolution in solar power technology
• How to be certain of uncertainty in climate and weather forecasts
• How do quantum physicists affect industry? video

Please follow this link for the suggested reading list for Psychology, Philosophy and Linguistics. This document also includes suggested reading for Experimental Psychology.

Oxford research: 

• Improving treatment of speech disorders
• Saving the world’s threatened languages

Research videos: 

• Spread the word
• Building consensus on Developmental Language Disorder
• Improving Access to Psychological Therapies: Using evidence to change policy
• How people with depression see faces
• From the Minds of Babes: New frontiers in paediatric pain
• Voice analysis for everyone: health monitoring by phone

At present we do not produce a specific Religion and Asian and Middle Eastern Studies reading list for people who are considering making an application, though we always advise prospective candidates to read beyond what they are reading in school and to explore areas that interest them.

Oxford research: 

• Recreating an experience of ancient Egypt
• Helping the UK understand China
• Conserving by copying: 3D Printing Tutankhamun's Tomb video
• Empires of Faith video

At present we do not produce a specific Theology reading list for people who are considering making an application, though we always advise prospective candidates to read beyond what they are reading in school and to explore areas that interest them.

You may also find it interesting to explore the BBC Radio 4 archives of the 'In Our Time' program, especially the Religion and Philosophy archives.

Oxford research: 

• Empires of Faith