University Applications · Ages 16–18
Aiming high.
Students apply through UCAS. Applications to Oxford and Cambridge, and to most courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science, are due by 15 October in the year before entry. For most other courses the deadline is in January.
The personal statement
The UCAS personal statement now has three questions, with a limit of 4,000 characters in total:
Why do you want to study this course or subject?
How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?
What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?
We help students choose the right examples, plan their answers and redraft until every sentence earns its place. The words are always the student's own.
Admissions tests
Many competitive courses set an admissions test, and Oxford and Cambridge applicants usually sit theirs in October. Tests have changed a great deal in recent years: the BMAT has been replaced by the UCAT, and Oxford now uses shared tests in place of its own.
UCAT: for medicine and dentistry at most UK medical schools, including Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, UCL and King's College London. It is taken in the summer before applying.
TMUA: for mathematics, computer science and economics at universities including Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, LSE and UCL.
ESAT: for engineering, physics and other sciences at Cambridge, Oxford, Imperial and others. It replaced the ENGAA and NSAA.
TARA: a reasoning and writing test used by Oxford for several humanities and social science courses, and by UCL for Computer Science.
LNAT: for law at Oxford, Cambridge, King's College London, LSE, UCL and others.
STEP: usually part of a Cambridge offer for mathematics, sat in June of Year 13.
Oxford and Cambridge
Oxford and Cambridge shortlist applicants for interviews, which take place in December. Interviews are academic conversations: tutors want to see how a student thinks, not what they have memorised. Some courses also ask for written work, and Cambridge applicants complete My Cambridge Application shortly after the UCAS deadline.
We run mock interviews with tutors who studied the subject, building the confidence to think aloud, tackle unfamiliar problems and enjoy the conversation.
The Russell Group
The Russell Group is 24 leading research universities, including Oxford and Cambridge and five in London: Imperial College London, King's College London, LSE, Queen Mary University of London and UCL. We help students research courses and choose a balanced set of up to five UCAS choices.
How we help
Choosing courses and universities: finding the right fit and a balanced list.
Personal statement: planning and detailed feedback on drafts, never writing it for them.
Admissions tests: teaching, timed practice and technique for the test each course requires.
Super-curricular reading: reading and projects that deepen interest and give students plenty to talk about.
Interview practice: mock interviews with tutors from Oxford, Cambridge and leading London universities.
INSPIRE
LEARN
GROW
A tutor who recently won a place at a leading university shows what a strong application looks like.
A focused personal statement, admissions test technique and clear thinking at interview.
The confidence to aim high and to talk about their subject with real enthusiasm.