This guide was produced by Oxbridge Applications.
There are a few things that set Medicine courses at Oxford and Cambridge apart from other Med Schools, including:
You apply to Oxbridge Medicine via UCAS, if you’re considered a home student in the UK. However, you have to choose between studying Medicine in Oxford or Cambridge, because you can only apply to one.
You will also need to choose which college to apply to, since Oxford and Cambridge are both organised into colleges. This creates a mini campus where you will live (for at least your first year, if not longer) and study. The college community is a ready-made social group with its own traditions, events and clubs. And, since most colleges offer most subjects, the student body is academically diverse, which nurtures the intellectually stimulating environment of a college.
When it comes to choosing a college, we recommend establishing which factors are most important to you as an individual. Think about:
Once you’ve narrowed down your choices, we recommend visiting the college(s) you’re interested in, either as part of the university-wide open days or just by visiting under your own steam (most colleges are open to prospective students year-round). This should help you to figure out which college is best for you.
An alternative option is to make an Open Application to either university, which will automatically assign you a college based on how many applications said college has received.
Understanding how Oxford and Cambridge differ in their Medicine programmes is an important way to help you choose the right option. The key differences are:
It’s also important to find out more about each university – and their colleges – as well as the areas of Oxford and Cambridge, so you can make a well-informed choice about where to apply.
Oxbridge universities, as with all other courses, have very high entry requirements when it comes to the A-Level or equivalent grades they require from their applicants.
Both universities have a mandatory requirement of an A-Level or equivalent in Chemistry and either Maths, Biology or Chemistry. In terms of grades for 2023 entry, Oxford asks for A*AA whilst Cambridge asks for A*A*A.
The shortlisting process for Oxbridge Medicine is very rigorous. Both universities review your performance in your Personal Statement, predicted grades, UCAT scores (so far for Cambridge only), and interview. However, the way in which each element is considered will vary from college to college. This means that strategically applying to the college that will look the most favourably on your application is something of an art rather than a science.
Cambridge tends to interview more applicants than Oxford, which suggests Oxford has a more intensive shortlisting process before interviews take place.
You’ll face a few interviews when you apply for Oxbridge Medicine: one with the college you’ve applied for, and a few shorter ones with various groups of professors and admissions tutors. Oxford students are likely to undertake more individual interviews compared to Cambridge. You may find that the number of interviews will differ from applicant to applicant, but that does not reflect your chances of getting into Oxbridge Medicine.
Find out more in our guide to Oxbridge Medicine interviews.
Oxbridge Applications’ top tips for applying to Oxbridge Medicine are:
Oxbridge Applications speaks with young people and their families on a daily basis to discuss individual educational pathways. You can register with Oxbridge Applications to receive a wealth of resources, including a free e-book So You Want To Go To Oxbridge? Tell me about a banana. You can also call Oxbridge Applications on +44(0)20 7499 2394 or email at [email protected] to request a callback to discuss applying for Oxbridge.
Loading More Content