UK University Application Resources

A collection of resources, from Crimson and other sources, to help you begin preparing for
your UCAS application.

Crimson podcasts
● Our podcast on personal statements
● Our podcast on Oxbridge interviews
● All podcasts

Crimson blog
● The Crimson blog with advice on all things admissions!
● UK admissions FAQs (from a former Oxford Admissions Officer):
○ Admissions FAQs part 1
○ Admissions FAQs part 2
○ Admissions FAQs part 3
○ Admissions FAQs part 4

Crimson Youtube Channel

● Youtube channel, E.g.
○ A day in the life of students at different universities
○ Videos about students, courses, campuses, and applications in the UK

Extracurricular & supercurricular opportunities

● Cambridge supercurricular suggestions and Subject Masterclasses
● Oxford supercurricular suggestions
● HE+ Cambridge - academic taster activities - helps you find out what studying
different courses might be like, and develop academic skills and knowledge.
Also similar to what you might do in an interview, so great preparation!
● Oxplore - a website from Oxford, helping you explore ‘big questions’
● Crimson's Extracurricular Opportunities database - opportunities you can use
to explore & develop your subject interests, and/or develop skills and qualities
that universities will be looking for. See UK and remote options.
Course & university choices
● UCAS search
● Cambridge course list and Oxford course list
● Informed choices - suggestions of courses based on your A level choices
● No Major Drama - help developing course ideas based on your interests
● Russell Group Universities
● University rankings, e.g. Complete University Guide and QS
● Cambridge colleges and virtual tour
● Oxford colleges and virtual tours
● UK uni virtual open days and virtual tours

Selection Criteria
Selection criteria are what universities are ‘looking for’ and therefore what you’re
trying to demonstrate in your application.
● Oxford
● Cambridge
These will also be similar at other universities.

Personal Statements
● UCAS guidance on personal statements

Sample personal statements from Crimson students

● Oxford - English
● Cambridge - Modern Languages
● Oxford - Law
● Exeter - Medicine
● Cambridge - Economics
● LSE/Kings - Economics/ Management/Business
● Oxford - Philosophy & Linguistics

Admissions tests
● Oxford and Cambridge
● LNAT - for some Law courses
● UCAT and BMAT - for Medicine courses
Interviews
● Oxford sample questions and interview videos
● Cambridge interviews video 1 and 2

Subject interview videos

N.B. this is not an exhaustive list, although extensive - if your subject isn’t listed, look at one with similar
content or skills, this will still give you a good idea of what it would be like (e.g. for Economics, watch
the Maths and PPE interviews)

Physical Sciences & Maths

● Engineering
● Physics (Oxford)
● Physics (Cambridge)
● Science/ Physics/Engineering
● Computer Science
● Maths

Biological & Chemical Sciences

● Chemistry
● Biology
● Medicine 1 and 2

Arts subjects

● Geography
● History
● History & Politics
● PPE
● Law
● English
● Modern Languages
● Modern Languages - discussing a text
● Classics

Further guidance
● Oxford application guide and Cambridge application guide
● InsideUni guidance on the application process from Oxbridge students