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What Will My 2024 Oxbridge Interview Look Like?

We will take you through the various formats for 2024 Oxbridge interviews so that you can be confident that you are preparing in the most accurate way possible.

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Following several years of disruption and format changes to Oxford and Cambridge interviews as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, applicants eagerly await notification from the universities to confirm in what format their interviews will be. Will they be in person or online; what equipment will be required; and how many interviews will there be?

The format of your 2024 interview will depend on the course to which you are applying, to which college you apply, and where you are based as an applicant. In this article, we will take you through the Oxbridge interview process for 2024, as confirmed by the universities, so that you can be confident that you are preparing in the most accurate way possible.

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Oxford 2024 Interviews

All interviews for applicants to Oxford, irrespective of college or course, will be held online via Microsoft Teams.

Applicants will find out between mid-November and early December if they have been shortlisted for interview. You will receive an email or letter from the college at which you will be interviewing. All interviews take place between early- and mid-December, and applicants are likely to have more than one interview (an interview with the department, and an interview with at least one college). For some subjects, you will receive invitations to multiple interviews before the interview period begins, whilst for other subjects you may have an initial interview at the first college, and then be invited back for additional interviews at other colleges after. Oxford Colleges will aim to give you 24 hours’ notice before an additional interview takes place. The details for joining the online meeting for each interview will be detailed in the communication you receive from the college.

Oxford interviews for different courses do differ, however, in terms of which additional technologies interviewees will need to use. To make this simple, Oxford split subjects into Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3:

Tier 1 

Tier 1 subject only require video conferencing software (Microsoft Teams).

Interviewees for Tier1 subjects should have with them a computer with Microsoft Teams enabled (either installed in advanced or used in browser) as well as a webcam, speaker, and microphone either attached or inbuilt.

Interviewees should also have some plain paper and pens in case you wish to make notes, a copy of your personal statement and any written work you submitted, and any pre-reading or materials that you may have been asked to look at ahead of the interview.

Tier 2 

Tier 2 subjects require video conferencing software (Microsoft Teams) and the use of an interactive virtual whiteboard.

Interviewees should have a computer with Microsoft Teams enabled (either installed in advance or used in browser) as well as a webcam, speaker, and microphone either attached or inbuilt. Applicants will also need to use a virtual whiteboard software called Miro; Oxford recommends that you make an account with Miro and practice with the software briefly before the interview itself. Either before or during your interview, you will receive an email link from which you may join the Oxford college Miro whiteboard for use in the interview. You may be asked to use Miro in order to add basic markings using a ‘draw’ tool, or add text using the ‘text’ tool.

Interviewees should also have some plain paper and pens in case you wish to make notes, a copy of your personal statement and any written work you submitted, and any pre-reading or materials that you may have been asked to look at ahead of the interview.

Tier 3 

Tier 3 subjects require video conferencing software (Microsoft Teams), an interactive virtual whiteboard, and natural handwriting capture using a stylus.

Interviewees should have a computer with Microsoft Teams enabled (either installed in advance or used in browser) as well as a webcam, speaker, and microphone either attached or inbuilt. Applicants will also need to use a virtual whiteboard software called Miro; Oxford recommends that you make an account with Miro and practice with the software briefly before the interview itself. Either before or during your interview, you will receive an email link from which you may join the Oxford college Miro whiteboard for use in the interview. Applicants will also need either to use a stylus and a second screen, or use the touchscreen function if the device on which they have joined the Teams meeting and Miro whiteboard is touchscreen enabled and larger than 11”.

Tier 3 Interviewees may be asked to use their touchscreen device and Miro whiteboard to do the following: add markings using the ‘draw’ tool, add text using the ‘text’ tool, write out mathematical notation using the ‘draw’ tool, or sketch a diagram using the ‘draw’ tool. We strongly recommend practicing this before your interview to avoid surprises or panic in the interview itself.

Interviewees should also have some plain paper and pens in case you wish to make notes, a copy of your personal statement and any written work you submitted, and any pre-reading or materials that you may have been asked to look at ahead of the interview.

 

Head to the Oxford University interviews webpage here to check which Tier your subject is in, and for further details on registering for the relevant accounts and  setting up the required technology. Please note that no applicant or their school will be required to purchase a touchscreen device if you need it for your interview; colleges will discuss Tier 3 technology requirements with applicants and their schools to find a practical solution.

Cambridge 2024 Interviews

The University of Cambridge have confirmed that most interviews will be held online. Applicants with online interviews will need a computer equipped with a webcam, microphone, and speaker, and a strong internet connection. You should also have with you a pen and paper for taking down any notes, as well as copies of your personal statement and any written work you submitted. We recommend also have the contact details of the college with which you are interviewing to hand, in case your internet connection drops out or you suffer some other kind of technological problem.

Applicants to the following colleges/courses will be interviewed in person:

Corpus Christi College: UK-based candidates for Engineering.

Emmanuel College: All candidates (those with exceptional reasons for requiring an online interview may request this).

Gonville & Caius College: UK- and Ireland-based candidates (applicants may opt for an online-interview if they prefer).

King's College: All candidates (those with exceptional reasons for requiring an online interview may request this).

Pembroke College: UK-based candidates will be interviewed in person. Candidates based outside the UK may also opt for an in-person interview if they prefer.

Peterhouse College: UK-based candidates will normally be asked to interview in person.

Selwyn College: UK-based candidates will be interviewed in person.

Trinity College: UK-based candidates will be interviewed in person. Candidates based outside the UK may also opt for an in-person interview if they prefer.

 

For those interviewing in person, accommodation and meals at college will be provided for free. Colleges are also able to provide assistance with travel expenses; this is for all students eligible for free school meals, although some colleges may be able to offer additional assistance.

Applicants will be notified of their shortlisting to interview in November, with most interviews held in December. The timing (and location, if in-person) details of your interview will be included in communication from the college at the point of your shortlisting. Most applicants will have either 1 or 2 interviews, although some are interviewed 3 or 4 times. You will always be told how many December interviews you will sit in advance of the interview period. If you are shortlisted for the Winter Pool after your first interview(s), then you may be invited back for additional interviews in mid-late January. The further details of these interviews will also be communicated in the correspondence you receive from the college.

As with everything, make sure to check the Oxford or Cambridge website to double check their current information on interview formats, timings, and all other necessary information you will need for your preparation.

For more free resources for interview preparation, such as our subject-specific interview guides. check out our Interview Resource hub here.

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For specialist Oxbridge advice or any aspect of your application, get in touch with our expert consultants on + 44 (0) 20 7499 2394 or send us your query at [email protected]

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