Interview and Offers

You should also check the excellent information available on the University Admissions Website.

Interviews

All undergraduate admissions interviews will be held online. You will not need any special equipment except for a computer with a microphone, speakers and a webcam.

Interviews are held in early December. Because we try to find places for as many good candidates as possible, you may well find that you are called for interview by several colleges. In the interviews tutors will be trying to bring out your merits, not to trip you up. They are, above all, looking for potential and an enquiring mind.

Language interviews

As one of their interviews, shortlisted candidates who are not studying either Latin or Greek to A-level or equivalent will have an interview designed to assess their aptitude for learning a classical language at Oxford. The interviewers will not expect candidates to know any language other than English, nor to be familiar with any grammatical terminology. Candidates will be invited to recognise nuances of meaning in English sentences and to identify patterns within familiar English usage.

Shortlisted candidates who are studying Latin and/or Greek to A-level or equivalent will have their ability and potential in the language(s) they are studying tested as part of their interviews. Candidates will be asked to translate written sentences from Latin and/or Greek into English and to discuss their grammar and syntax. Interviewers will be assessing linguistic potential in Latin and/or Greek, rather than simply the level already achieved. This means that the ability to grapple with constructions, and to recognize the idiomatic characteristics of the languages, is more important than knowledge of uncommon vocabulary. Candidates will be able to approach this interview exercise using the knowledge and skills they have learned in preparation for translating unseen passages at A-level or equivalent.

What are Classics Tutors looking for at interview?

https://www.youtube.com/embed/TFCCporpM3Q

What should I read?

Tips and advice on reading around the subject for prospective applicants 

Offers

If you are successful at this stage, you will receive an offer of a place. This will be conditional on your achieving specified grades in your school-leaving exams, unless you have already left school. The standard offer is, for candidates taking A levels, AAA (with As in Latin and Greek, if taken); for Advanced Highers AA/AAB (with A in Latin, if taken); for the IB 39 (including core points) with 666 at HL, including 6s at HL in Latin and Greek if taken; or an equivalent standard in other qualifications.