If you intend to apply to Oxford University, the Oxford University acceptance rate is the crucial thing you should know. The University of Oxford is a world-renowned federal university, and has occupied one of the top five places in the world university rankings for many years. The University of Oxford has cultivated many big names, including 28 British Prime Ministers, 72 Nobel Prize winners, and other elites in many fields. Therefore, getting into Oxford is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Let’s look at the following part: Oxford University acceptance rates.
What is University Acceptance Rate?
University acceptance rate refers to the percentage of students admitted to a university to the number of applicants. Acceptance rates can be affected by a variety of factors, including the university itself, courses, the number of applicants, the quality of teachers, and the university’s location. Knowing the acceptance rate will help you make a better decision about whether or not you can apply to the university. Therefore, when choosing a university, the acceptance rate is one of the factors that cannot be ignored.
The Overview of Oxford Acceptance Rate
As one of the first-class universities in the world, the University of Oxford receives lots of applications every year, and the competition is extremely fierce. Generally, Oxford University acceptance rate fluctuates around 13%-17% for undergraduates and postgraduates. In 2025, the University of Oxford acceptance rate is around 14%.
However, these figures cannot exactly represent the difficulty of getting into Oxford. You should also consider the courses and colleges you will apply to. For example, courses like computer science, mathematics and statistics, economics and management, etc., are more competitive, with their acceptance rates as low as around 5%. Some colleges like Green Templeton College, Kellogg College, Linacre College, etc., have stricter requirements, with their acceptance rates as low as around 10%.
Historical trend of Oxford University acceptance rate
After learning the general Oxford University acceptance rate in 2025, let’s look at the historical trend of its acceptance rate. If you plan to apply to Oxford, getting more information about the acceptance rates in previous years will be helpful.
- Undergraduate
| Years | Applications | Offers | Acceptances | Acceptance Rates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 23,211 | 3,721 | 3,219 | 13.90% |
| 2021-22 | 23,819 | 3,645 | 3,271 | 13.70% |
| 2020-21 | 24,338 | 3,555 | 3,298 | 13.60% |
| 2019-20 | 23,414 | 3,932 | 3,695 | 15.80% |
| 2018-19 | 23,026 | 3,895 | 3,286 | 14.30% |
- Postgraduate
| Years | Applications | Offers | Acceptances | Acceptance Rates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 37,593 | 9,812 | 6,057 | 16.1% |
| 2021-22 | 40,498 | 9,993 | 6,270 | 15.5% |
| 2020-21 | 34,509 | 10,872 | 6,697 | 19.4% |
| 2019-20 | 30,861 | 9,213 | 5,715 | 18.5% |
| 2018-19 | 29,091 | 8,977 | 5,742 | 19.7% |
Oxford Acceptance Rate for Different Courses: Undergraduate
Different courses have different acceptance rates in Oxford. Some courses in Oxford are relatively easier to be accepted into, while others are really competitive. The following tables will list several courses’ acceptance rates for your reference.
Most competitive courses
| Courses | Applications | Offers | Acceptances | Acceptance Rates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics and Statistics | 142 | 5 | 3 | 2% |
| Economics and Management | 1,542 | 91 | 83 | 5% |
| Computer Science | 866 | 59 | 52 | 6% |
| Biomedical Sciences | 490 | 46 | 41 | 8% |
| Medicine | 1,712 | 162 | 149 | 9% |
| Physics and Philosophy | 139 | 15 | 12 | 9% |
| Mathematics and Computer Science | 593 | 65 | 51 | 9% |
| Computer Science and Philosophy | 129 | 15 | 12 | 9% |
| Mathematics | 1,807 | 193 | 179 | 10% |
| Law | 1,858 | 219 | 192 | 10% |
Least competitive courses
| Courses | Applications | Offers | Acceptances | Acceptance Rates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Music | 169 | 91 | 81 | 48% |
| Modern Languages | 309 | 171 | 145 | 47% |
| Modern Languages and Linguistics | 91 | 41 | 39 | 43% |
| Classics and Modern Languages | 23 | 10 | 10 | 43% |
| Theology and Religion | 116 | 54 | 46 | 40% |
| Philosophy and Modern Languages | 56 | 24 | 21 | 38% |
| English and Modern Languages | 91 | 37 | 35 | 38% |
| European and Middle Eastern Languages | 40 | 15 | 13 | 33% |
| Religion and Asian and Middle Eastern Studies | 3 | 1 | 1 | 33% |
| Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (AMES) | 109 | 46 | 35 | 32% |
Oxford Acceptance Rate for Different Courses: Postgraduate
Here are Oxford University acceptance rates for postgraduate’s courses.
Postgraduate taught programs
Most competitive
Least competitive
| Courses | Acceptance Rates |
|---|---|
| MSc Sustainability, Enterprise and the Environment | 5.8% |
| MSc Neuroscience | 6.3% |
| MSc Global Health Science and Epidemiology | 7.1% |
| MSc Psychological Research | 8.9% |
| MSt Creative Writing | 9.9% |
| MSt Film Aesthetics | 11% |
| MSc Global Governance and Diplomacy | 11% |
| MSc Environmental Change and Management | 11% |
| MPhil Socio-Legal Research | 11% |
| MSt English | 12% |
| Courses | Acceptance Rates |
|---|---|
| PgDip Paediatric Infectious Diseases | 95% |
| MSc Evidence-Based Health Care | 94% |
| MSt Psychodynamic Practice | 89% |
| PgCert Ecological Survey Techniques | 88% |
| MSc English Local History | 88% |
| MSc Learning and Teaching | 87% |
| MSc Major Programme Management | 84% |
| PgDip Health Research | 83% |
| MSt Greek and/or Latin Languages and Literature | 81% |
| MSc Sleep Medicine | 81% |
Postgraduate research programs
Most competitive
Least competitive
| Courses | Acceptance Rates |
|---|---|
| MPhil + DPhil Economics | 3.5% |
| DPhil (PhD) Infection, Immunology and Translationa… | 4.8% |
| DPhil (PhD) Theoretical Physics | 5% |
| CDT Autonomous Intelligent Machines and Systems | 6.6% |
| DPhil (PhD) Cancer Science | 6.7% |
| DPhil (PhD) Public Policy | 6.8% |
| DPhil (PhD) Genomic Medicine and Statistics | 7.1% |
| DPhil (PhD) Cardiovascular Science | 7.6% |
| CDT Modern Statistics and Statistical Machine Lear… | 7.9% |
| DPhil (PhD) Chemistry in Cells: New Technologies t… | 9.1% |
| Courses | Acceptance Rates |
|---|---|
| DPhil (PhD) Classical Languages and Literature | 89% |
| DPhil (PhD) Ancient History | 88% |
| DPhil (PhD) Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics | 78% |
| DPhil (PhD) Physical and Theoretical Chemistry | 75% |
| DPhil (PhD) Medieval and Modern Languages | 71% |
| DPhil (PhD) Archaeology | 67% |
| DPhil (PhD) Classical Archaeology | 63% |
| DPhil (PhD) Women’s and Reproductive Health | 59% |
| DPhil (PhD) Inorganic Chemistry | 56% |
| DPhil (PhD) History | 54% |
Oxford Acceptance Rate for International Students
The University of Oxford is one of the most famous and excellent universities in the world, with a long history and a beautiful campus environment. Therefore, Oxford is also a dream place for students from all over the world to study. However, Oxford is very difficult to apply to, and its acceptance rate is very low. As an international student, do you want to know the admission rate for international students at Oxford University?
According to statistics, the University of Oxford’s acceptance rate for international students in 2025 is estimated to be between 15%-17%, which is slightly lower than that of domestic applicants at about 13%. Fees for international students are even higher, ranging from £27,730 to £47,170. But Oxford has been working to increase its global influence and encourage international students to study here.
| Country | Headcount of Students |
|---|---|
| China | 2,035 |
| USA | 2,025 |
| Germany | 665 |
| India | 550 |
| Canada | 530 |
| Australia | 425 |
| Singapore | 405 |
| Hong Kong (SAR) | 395 |
| France | 280 |
| Italy | 250 |
How to Apply to University of Oxford?
After knowing the above Oxford acceptance rates, have you made up your mind? If you are determined to apply to the University of Oxford, what do you need to do? As one of the best universities in the world, Oxford receives countless applications, leading to fierce competition. On average, Oxford can receive over 20,000 applications for approximately 3,250 places each year.
Admission process
If you want to apply for 2026 entry, please look at the following admission entry timeline.
- UCAS applications usually start from June, and the final deadline is in October. Please choose your college and course.
- Tests are registered between August to October.
- Check if written work is needed for your course, and submit it by November.
- Interviews take place in December, if you are shortlisted.
- Find out if you have an offer in January 2026.
Entry requirements
Here are some courses’ entry requirements. If you want to know more, please visit the University of Oxford’s official website.
√ Essential
+ Recommended
▲ Helpful – may be useful in the course
| Course | Entrance requirements (at A-level or equivalent) | Subject choices | Test | Written work |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asian and Middle Eastern Studies | AAA | ▲ A language Mastering the ability to handwrite is a mandatory core element for Japanese, Chinese and Korean. | None | Two pieces |
| Biomedical Sciences | A*AA excluding Critical Thinking and Thinking Skills | √ Two from Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics | BMSAT | None |
| Chemistry | A*A*A (with both A*s in science subjects and/or Maths) | √ Chemistry and Maths + Another science or Further Maths |
None | None |
| Classics and Asian and Middle Eastern Studies | AAA (with As in Latin and Greek if taken) | ▲ Latin, Ancient Greek, Classical Civilisation, Ancient History or a modern language | CAT | Two pieces |
| Computer Science | A*AA including Maths, with the A* in Maths, Further Maths or Computer Science | √ Maths + Further Maths |
MAT | None |
| Computer Science and Philosophy | A*AA, including Maths, with the A* in Maths, Further Maths or Computer Science | √ Maths + Further Maths |
MAT | None |
| Economics and Management | A*AA (with Maths at A or A*) | √ Maths | TSA (Section 1) | None |
| Engineering Science | A*A*A (with the A*s in Maths, Further Maths or Physics) | √ Maths and Physics + Maths Mechanics modules ▲ Further Maths |
PAT | None |
| English Language and Literature | AAA | √ English Literature or English Language and Literature ▲ A language, History |
None | One piece |
| European and Middle Eastern Languages | AAA | √A modern language (depending on course choice) | MLAT | Two pieces |
| History and Modern Languages | AAA | √ A modern language (depending on course choice) + History |
HAT MLAT |
One/three pieces |
| Mathematics and Computer Science | A*AA (with A*A in Maths and Further Maths (FM) or A* in Maths if FM is not taken) | √ Maths + Further Maths |
MAT | None |
| Mathematics and Philosophy | A*A*A with the A*s in Maths and Further Maths if taken | √ Maths + Further Maths |
MAT | None |
| Mathematics and Statistics | A*A*A with the A*s in Maths and Further Maths if taken | √ Maths + Further Maths |
MAT | None |
| Modern Languages and Linguistics | AAA | ● A modern language (depending on course choice) ▲ English Language, Maths, a science or any other language |
MLAT | One to three pieces |
| Psychology, Philosophy and Linguistics | A*AA | + For Psychology: one or more science subjects (including Psychology) or Maths ▲ For Linguistics: English Language, Maths, a science or any other language |
TSA | None |
| Religion and Asian and Middle Eastern Studies | AAA | ▲ A subject involving essay writing, a language | None | One piece |
Comparing University of Oxford Acceptance Rate with Other Universities in UK
Britain has many world-class universities. So what are the acceptance rates at these schools compared to Oxford? Are they easier or harder to get into than the University of Oxford? Below is a list of the 2025 acceptance rates for some of the UK’s leading universities.
| Universities | QS world college ranking | Acceptance rate |
|---|---|---|
| Imperial College London | 2 | 10%-15% |
| University of Cambridge | 6 | 16-18% |
| UCL | 9 | 10.2% |
| University of Edinburgh | 34 | 11% |
| University of Manchester | 35 | 40% |
| King’s College London | 31 | 13% |
| London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) | 56 | 9% |
| University of Bristol | 51 | 12.5% |
| University of Warwick | 74 | 14% |
| University of Glasgow | 79 | 70% |
| University of Birmingham | 76 | 13%-15% |
| University of Southampton | 87 | 13% |
| University of Leeds | 86 | 11.2% |
| Durham University | 94 | 41% |
Final thoughts on Oxford University Acceptance Rate
As we conclude our discussion of the highly competitive Oxford University acceptance rate, which is around 13%-17%, we must applaud every aspiring student who dares to pursue their dreams. Although the road is full of obstacles, it is these challenges that shape the extraordinary character of Oxford scholars. While the Oxford acceptance rate is low, getting into Oxford is not impossible. If you’ve already received an offer from Oxford University, well, congratulations! Then you need to find student accommodation. Please click on uhomes.com and find a cosy home to start your new life in Oxford.
FAQ
Generally, Oxford University acceptance rate hovers around 13-17%, with the official 2025 admissions report showing a 14% rate.
Oxford is harder to get into than Cambridge if we just compare their acceptance rates. Cambridge has a slightly higher overall acceptance rate (20%) compared to Oxford (13%-17%).
University of St. Andrews has the lowest acceptance rate of just 8%.
