Oxford and Cambridge attract strong applicants from all over the world, including Türkiye. Both run admissions differently from most UK universities: the deadline is earlier, many courses involve an admissions test or assessment, and shortlisted applicants are interviewed. Preparation therefore starts well before the UCAS form.
The 2027 entry deadline for both universities passed on 15 October 2026. Most admissions tests for those applicants have already been taken, and interviews follow in December. If your child is thinking about 2028 entry, this is a good moment to understand how the process works. Our overview of UCAS deadlines shows how these dates fit into the wider calendar.
One university, one course
Students cannot apply to both Oxford and Cambridge in the same year, and at either university they can apply for only one course. Both universities are organised into colleges; at both, students can name a preferred college or make an open application, in which case they are allocated a college. In practice, the choice of course deserves far more thought than the choice of college.
Oxford says it typically receives over 23,000 applications for around 3,300 places, so a realistic plan includes four strong choices elsewhere.
Admissions tests for 2027 entry
Admissions tests have changed in recent years, and older guides can be misleading. Always check the current course page.
- Oxford now uses three tests delivered by UAT-UK: the ESAT (Engineering and Science Admissions Test), TARA (Test of Academic Reasoning for Admissions) and TMUA (Test of Mathematics for University Admission). Law applicants take the LNAT and medicine applicants the UCAT. The UAT-UK tests are computer-based and taken at Pearson test centres worldwide. For 2027 entry, booking closed on 28 September 2026 and the tests were sat between 12 and 16 October.
- Cambridge uses the ESAT for courses including engineering, natural sciences and veterinary medicine, the TMUA for computer science, economics and mathematics, the LNAT for law and the UCAT for medicine. Many other Cambridge courses use assessments arranged by the college, with no advance registration, and a few have no assessment.
Test fees, and bursaries for candidates in financial need, are published by the test providers, and bursary applications have their own deadlines.
Some courses also ask for written work. At Oxford, the deadline for 2027 entry applicants is 10 November 2026.
Cambridge's extra form
After submitting UCAS, Cambridge applicants complete My Cambridge Application, a separate online form. For 2027 entry it was due on 22 October 2026. It can ask for a transcript, English test scores and funding details, and includes an optional Cambridge-specific statement of up to 1,200 characters. Applicants from outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man pay a £60 application fee, although some are exempt. Getting a school transcript can take several weeks, so ask early.
Interviews
Oxford's shortlisted applicants for 2027 entry are invited to online interviews on Microsoft Teams in early to mid-December 2026. Oxford describes them as academic conversations, similar to a short tutorial: tutors want to see how the student reasons, not whether they already know the answer. Students are quite likely to have more than one interview, sometimes with more than one college. Decisions are released on 12 January 2027.
At Cambridge, most college interviews take place in the first three weeks of December, and the format is set by each college, so check the college's own page. Applicants interviewed in the main December round hear the outcome on 27 January 2027.
A preparation plan for 2028 entry
- Now to spring 2027: read well beyond the school syllabus, keep notes, and test whether the interest in the subject survives deeper study.
- Spring 2027: check each course page for its test, any written work and any changes announced for 2028 entry.
- Summer 2027: register for the test, practise with official materials, and draft the personal statement with this course in mind. Our guide to writing a strong personal statement can help.
- Autumn 2027: submit by the October deadline, sit the test, and practise thinking aloud about unfamiliar problems with a teacher.
It is also worth confirming early whether the student's school qualification is accepted on its own for the chosen course, or whether A-levels, the IB or another qualification will be expected.
How YES can help
Oxford and Cambridge are right for some students and not for others, and we will tell you honestly what we think. For students who decide to apply, we help plan the timeline, shape the personal statement and practise discussing ideas aloud. Learn more about our university application support or contact us.
Questions families ask
Can my child apply to both Oxford and Cambridge?
No. Students cannot apply to both in the same year, and at either university they can apply for only one course.
Are the interviews held in person?
For 2027 entry, Oxford's interviews are online, on Microsoft Teams. At Cambridge, each college sets its own arrangements, so check the college's page.
Which admissions test will my child need?
It depends on the course. For 2027 entry, Oxford uses the ESAT, TARA, TMUA, LNAT and UCAT, and Cambridge uses the ESAT, TMUA, LNAT, UCAT or college assessments. Always check the current course page.
Sources and further reading
This article is general guidance, not legal or immigration advice. Rules change; always check the official sources before you apply.
