Oxford and Cambridge Success Rates

One of the most frequently asked questions we receive from Oxbridge applicants is “what are my chances of making a successful application to Oxford or Cambridge?” Our first response is always this: the answer varies depending on course choice, as well as your grades and personal strengths and weaknesses; there is no certain statistic that can tell you whether or not you will be accepted to a certain course or university. This being said, looking at the cold hard facts (i.e. admissions statistics) can be helpful when used as just one part of the decision-making process.

In this article we have compiled the success rates for all undergraduate courses at Oxford and Cambridge Universities in 2023. We recommend looking through the metrics for the course(s) you are interested in and weighing them up alongside your personal reasons for/against each course. We have also included whether a given course uses an admissions test and/or written work, since these may also impact your decision when it comes to picking a course. 

Introduction to the Metrics:

• Applications is the number of applications made to the course. 
• Shortlisted is the number of people invited to interview. 
• Shortlisting Rate is the percentage of applicants who were shortlisted for interview. 
• Offers is the number of people given an offer for the course. 
• Offer Rate is the percentage of applicants who were given an offer. 
• Acceptances is the number of people who were accepted onto the course (i.e. who fulfilled the terms of their offer and formally accepted their place on the course). 
• Acceptance Rate is the percentage of applicants who fulfilled their offers and accepted their place.
• Pre-Interview Admissions Test is an admissions test for which applicants must pre-register and sit prior to shortlisting for interview (other than STEP for Cambridge Mathematics, which is sat in the summer after application).
• College Admissions Assessment is an admissions assessment sat by shortlisted applicants, usually just before or on the day of the interview, for which applicants do not need to pre-register.
• Written Work refers to short- or medium-length samples of writing that applicants are required to submit as part of their application. Some courses require alternative forms of work to essays, such as musical notation or drawing portfolios. 

For more advice on how to use these statistics to your advantage, our expert consultants are available 9am-5pm every weekday to discuss your individual situation. Call them on +44 (0) 20 7499 2394 or email [email protected].

Oxford 2023 Success Rates

Register for free and login to see full Oxford University admissions statistics.

Cambridge 2023 Success Rates

Register for free and login to see full Cambridge University admissions statistics.