Three MSc students working together in the common room.

Our Offer

A-levels

We generally expect students who have the opportunity to take Further Maths A-level to do so, although we understand that some students may only discover a love of mathematics in Year 12 and so only be able to take Further Maths to AS-level. We have some extension material for Single A-level Mathematicians, however we do strongly recommend that students intending to study Mathematics at the University of Oxford take Further Maths as a full A-level.

If your school schedules maths lessons such that you study a full Maths A-level in Year 12 and a full Further Maths A-level in Year 13, we will accept the grade obtained in the Maths A-level as part satisfying the offer.

The table below shows our standard A-level offers for Mathematics and joint honours courses.

  Standard offers for Mathematics, for Mathematics and Statistics, and for Mathematics and Philosophy Standard offers for Mathematics and Computer Science
If you're taking a full A-level in Further Maths A*A*A with A* in Maths and A* in Further Maths A*AA with A*A in Maths and Further Maths in either order
If you're taking Further Maths to AS-level only A*AAa with A* in Maths and a in Further Maths AS A*AAa with A* in Maths and a in Further Maths AS
If you're not taking Further Maths A*AA with A* in Maths A*AA with A* in Maths

International Baccalaureate

39 including core points with 7,6,6 at Higher Level and a 7 in Higher Level Maths. We will accept candidates who are taking either of the new IB Mathematics courses (HL Mathematics: applications and interpretation or HL Mathematics: analysis and approaches), without preference between the two courses.

Scottish Highers

AAAAB or AAAAA in Scottish Highers and at least two Advanced Highers. We would expect Mathematics to be taken to Advanced Higher level. Mathematics of Mechanics is useful but not essential. If both Mathematics and Mathematics of Mechanics are taken we would require A grades in both. Otherwise, depending on the number of Advanced Highers taken, the offer will be AA or AAB with A in Mathematics.

Deferred entry

Deferred entry applications in Mathematics, its Joint Schools, and Computer Science will be considered from applicants who have planned structured activities in their gap year; activities might include technical employment relevant to Mathematics, Statistics or Computer Science, teaching abroad or a gap year programme. If uncertain, applicants should raise any questions with the tutors at their chosen/allocated college; tutors may discuss details of the gap year during interviews. After discussion with the candidates, some deferred entry applicants may be offered an immediate place instead. There is no policy for making more demanding offers to candidates seeking a deferred offer. Tutors will typically set successful gap year applicants academic work to be completed during the year or the summer before their first term in Oxford. 

A-levels taken early, UMS, and resits

We would generally discourage schools and students from sitting A-levels early (earlier than Year 12) unless the student is very confident of achieving top grades. When applying with existing A-level grades that are lower than our offer, candidates should be aware that their application will be less competitive as a result of this. 

The University of Oxford does not require you to disclose UMS marks on your UCAS form. However, if the student or teacher wishes to include this information (perhaps due to exceptional achievement), tutors will consider this as part of the overall academic achievement of the student. 

We would prefer not to see resits in exams. The primary method of assessment at the University of Oxford is by examination, and there are very limited opportunities for resits. However, if there are contextual or extenuating circumstances for dropped grades please let us know in the teachers' reference.

American qualifications

Either

  • Four APs at grade 5 (including AP Calculus BC)

or

  • Three APs at grade 5 (including AP Calculus BC) and either
    • 33 or above in the ACT, or
    • 1480 or above (out of 1600) in the SAT. We do not require the optional essay for either the ACT or the SAT.

Please note that AP Calculus AB and AP Calculus BC cannot be counted as two separate subjects for the purposes of meeting your offer, whether taken as separate tests or by receiving the AB sub-score when taking Calculus BC. Similarly, candidates taking either AP Physics C course cannot count AP Physics 1 as a separate subject for the purposes of meeting an offer.
 

We are aware that AP Calculus BC is not available to all students in the US, and where an applicant is unable to take AP Calculus BC, we may be able to consider their application on their strength in Mathematics as demonstrated through courses that they are taking, as well as through the Mathematics Admissions Test and, if shortlisted, at interview.

    You do not have to have achieved these grades prior to applying. Since our application deadline is 15 October in the year before candidates intend to start the course, it is perfectly normal for students to apply midway through their school-leaving qualifications. In that case, it is normal for us to make offers in January that are "conditional" on candidates making the required grades in their remaining qualifications (you must make the grades to start the Oxford course). As part of our process, your UCAS referee (usually a teacher) will be asked to predict grades for you in any qualifications that you haven't completed, so that we have an idea of whether you are on track to meet the standard above.

    SAT subject tests were discontinued in 2021. The admissions round beginning in October 2021 is the last year SAT Subject Tests will be accepted. For candidates applying in 2021 with discontinued SAT subject tests we will accept:

    • three or more SAT subject tests (with a score of 700 or better in each) in appropriate subjects, provided you also achieve 33 or above in the ACT, or 1480 or above in the SAT.
    • a mixture of SAT subject tests and APs (taken as well as the ACT or SAT) will also be accepted, provided they are in different subjects (we consider the SAT subject test in Mathematics to be separate from AP Calculus BC)

    Other qualifications

    For advice on other UK qualifications, please see this page.

    For information on other international qualifications, please see the University of Oxford's list.

    All non-native English speakers must satisfy the University of Oxford's English language requirements. There is an exemption from this requirement for anyone who has been educated full-time in the medium of the English language throughout the two most recent years before the 15 October application deadline, and who will remain in full-time education conducted in the English language until the end of the school year in their home country.

    Please contact us with feedback and comments about this page. Last updated on 29 Apr 2022 12:07.