How to Get into Oxford University from India?

Oxford University has a history of remaining popular among Indian students. Students from India seeking to continue their higher education abroad start their journey by thinking about how to get into Oxford University or any other top university in the world.

Getting into one of the top universities in the world is a dream of many students which is why Indian students going to study abroad seek to get admitted to the prestigious Oxford University, UK. As much as 920+ years old, the University of Oxford has made its path through several revolutions and modernisation to get the title of one of the best universities in the world and gained the reputation that it has today. 

Even after getting such a good reputation, Oxford University embraces diversity among its students which is responsible for one-third of its total student population being from international backgrounds. If you too are wondering - “How to get into Oxford University” or “Can I even get into Oxford University as an Indian student” then, this article is for you. 

Also Read: 

• B.Tech Courses at University of Oxford
• Law Courses at University of Oxford
• MS Courses at University of Oxford

This article gives you a realistic picture of what you need to do to get into Oxford University and what the requirements are for getting into specific courses at this esteemed university. Here are some distinguished Oxford University’s highlights. 

Oxford University Highlights:

Why Study at Oxford University?

Studying at Oxford University gives you the taste of a perfect blend of traditional teaching practices amalgamated with best-in-class research and modern university practices. 

There are several reasons for choosing Oxford University as your higher studies destination, below are a few points listed about the same. 

1. Ranks at the top: Oxford University has been ranked as the world’s best for the eighth consecutive year in 2024 by the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings. 
2. Diverse Student body: The university is home to over 25,000+ students of which around one-third are international students. 
3. Innovative and best-in-the-world research facilities: Oxford University is known for its high level of research, cutting-edge laboratories and some outstanding researchers like Sir Robert Robinson, Erwin Schrödinger, Sir John Elliott and Sir Andrew Wiles. 
4. Support for Graduate Students: The University of Oxford takes extreme pride in boasting about their graduate students for they are the future of the university’s excellent research programs. For the same reason, the university provides a supportive and stimulating environment to its graduate students to help them realise their full potential.
5. Libraries with huge collections of books, manuscripts and more: The university has over 100 libraries housed in historic buildings which attract scholars from around the world. 
6. Financial Support: The university provides several non-repayable bursaries and scholarships to cover the expenses of deserving highly skilled students. 
7. Excellent career opportunities: The graduates from Oxford University, commonly called the “Oxonians”, are highly sought after by employers from various sectors around the world.
8. Student Clubs and Societies: Studies can be fun at the University of Oxford by choosing from over 400 clubs and societies curated to help you develop interest, old or new. 

This was all about the reasons to choose the University of Oxford. Now, let’s continue to learn how to get into Oxford University from India. 

Eligibility Requirements for International Students to Study at Oxford University

The University of Oxford receives around 20,000 international applications for 3250+ seats. This makes the university to be highly selective of the students it takes for its esteemed courses. And the university suggests that merely meeting the eligibility requirements may not confirm your admission to Oxford. Below are some basic requirements for international students to study at Oxford University. 

Requirements for UG Courses 

Below are the general eligibility requirements for Indian students willing to study at the University of Oxford. 

• Students whose qualifications do not match the eligibility requirements of the chosen course at Oxford University will have to undertake further studies. For the list of accepted courses to undertake, visit the requirements page of your chosen course. 

Note: The university suggests that taking one of the acceptable courses to meet the course requirements is better than undertaking the first year of the course you desire at another university and then aiming to transfer to Oxford University. This is because the University of Oxford does not accept transfer students (except medical students). Also, you must mention clearly in your UCAS application form in case you are currently studying at another university as, if found out later after receiving the offer, the university might withdraw its offer. 

• Students must have passed their class 12th examinations with either the CBSE (All-India SSC) or CISCE (ISC) board. The university does not accept the State board examinations or NIOS Year XII qualification.
• If passing from CBSE or CISCE, students must aim to get specific grades to get into Oxford University. Courses at Oxford University University typically require either A*A*A, A*AA or AAA and it can be difficult to understand what grades you have at the time of applying. CBSE students who receive their final class 12th scores as grades and CISCE students who receive percentages may check how to predict which grades they have achieved. Here’s the equivalence of your class 12th grades with the different AAA grades required at the University of Oxford:

Note:- The University of Oxford selects applications on a case-by-case basis. So, if you do not meet any of the above qualifications, you may be considered for the other exceptional qualifications mentioned in your application. 

Requirements for PG Courses 

Below are the general entry requirements for Indian students aiming to get a master’s from Oxford. Please note that these are not the complete requirements and the subject-specific requirements must be checked from the course page. Below is the table mentioning all the requirements for your master’s degree at Oxford University on a course-by-course basis.

How to Apply to Oxford University from India?

The application form and required documents are the same for the international students as for the UK applicants. Here is a quick guide to filling out the application form for the same. 

• Check the deadline for your particular course and apply before it ends. Usually, the application deadlines for Oxford University fall on a Friday.
• Fill out all the details in the application form including your personal details, your educational details or any other qualifications and your address. 
• Give 2-3 references as required for your course. 
• Check funding and language requirements and take any test, if needed. 
• Attach supporting documents for your application. Note that the supporting documents must be in either of the following formats - PDF, .jpg or .png format and below the size of 4 MB. 
• Lastly, make the payment for your application (£75 for PG courses and £28.5 for UG courses). 

Note: Students must note that they must not attach any form of transcripts or exam scores with their application. The demand for the transcripts will be generated later by the University of Oxford after shortlisting your application. However, students must self-mention all details of their qualifications and test scores under the “Education” section of the UCAS Application Form.

Oxford University Application Deadlines for 2025

The 2025 application timelines and the things to do during these timelines to get into Oxford University are given below.

This was all about how to get into Oxford University from India for a bachelor’s and master’s degree. If you wish to study abroad, then you can get assistance from Shiksha Counselling Services for free. You can also drop your queries in the comments section below.