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Oxbridge & the Collegiate System

Oxbridge & the Collegiate System

How Oxford and Cambridge work — the collegiate system, choosing or being pooled to a college, the tutorial/supervision model, and the admissions-test and interview landscape.

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A historic honey-coloured stone collegiate quadrangle with pointed-arch cloisters and a square lawn.

Tests this hub covers

A-Levels

UK exam boards such as AQA, OCR, Pearson Edexcel, WJEC/Eduqas and CCEA; International A levels from Cambridge International, Pearson Edexcel and OxfordAQA · UK exam boards: once a year, in the May–June exam series. Cambridge International AS & A Levels: June and November series.

What this hub covers

  1. The Oxford and Cambridge Collegiate System ExplainedWhat "collegiate" actually means · What your college does · What the central university and departments do
  2. How to Choose a College at Oxford or CambridgeStart with subject availability · Weigh location, size and facilities · Consider accommodation and finances
  3. Open Application vs Choosing a College at OxbridgeTwo ways to apply: name a college or go open · When an open application makes sense · How the pool reallocates applicants
  4. The Oxbridge Tutorial and Supervision Teaching SystemSmall-group teaching at the heart of Oxbridge · How a tutorial or supervision usually works · What this teaching style asks of you
  5. Oxbridge Admissions Tests and Interviews: How They Fit TogetherThe Oxbridge route on top of UCAS · Subject-specific admissions tests · Written work and other submissions

Guides for United Kingdom & Ireland

5 of 5 guides in this hub are for the UK & Ireland.

Exam prep
United Kingdom & Ireland·8 min read

Oxbridge Admissions Tests and Interviews: How They Fit Together

Map the Oxbridge selection journey — admissions tests, written work and college interviews — and how it differs from a standard UCAS application.

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Admissions
United Kingdom & Ireland·7 min read

The Oxford and Cambridge Collegiate System Explained

Understand how colleges and the central university divide responsibilities at Oxford and Cambridge, and what your college actually does for you.

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United Kingdom & Ireland·7 min read

How to Choose a College at Oxford or Cambridge

A practical decision guide to picking an Oxford or Cambridge college — subject availability, location, size, accommodation and finances.

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United Kingdom & Ireland·6 min read

The Oxbridge Tutorial and Supervision Teaching System

How Oxford tutorials and Cambridge supervisions work — the small-group teaching model and what it means for applicants.

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Comparison
United Kingdom & Ireland·6 min read

Open Application vs Choosing a College at Oxbridge

Compare naming a college against an open application at Oxford and Cambridge, and learn how the pool reallocates applicants between colleges.

Read guide

Studying in the UK & Ireland

Continue exploring the UK & Ireland

Universities, entrance tests, costs and visa facts for the UK & Ireland — all in one place, each linked to its official source.

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Explore the UK & IrelandAsk GSB about the UK & Ireland

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