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Selection is competitive and is based on merit. Applications are considered from suitably qualified candidates from any part of the world and neither the University nor any college imposes any restrictions as to race, colour, creed or sex. There is however a Government-imposed quota of fourteen overseas students per year for entry to medicine as a whole (graduate, undergraduate and clinical courses) at Oxford. In practice, this means that only one or two places are likely to be available for overseas students on this course; though so far the quota has not in practice been a limiting factor in selection.

Selection will be by an appraisal of how far you meet the selection criteria, as evidenced by a combination of:

  • the information on your application form
  • an appraisal of your referees' statements
  • interview or interviews
  • a short aptitude test (the BMAT).

All applicants must take the BMAT test before applying to Oxford. Registration for this test is a separate process, and is managed by Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing. There are testing facilities available in most countries, so it is possible to take the test overseas. However, the test must be taken on the prescribed date. Overseas candidates should also note that they must be prepared to come to Oxford for interview at the prescribed time, if required.

The test is an assessment of your ability to think and to interpret data: it is not designed to test factual knowledge at an advanced level, though some knowledge of basic science is necessary. The results of the test will be used (with information from other documents in your application) to help us to decide whether you will be called for interview.

Shortlisting for interview will be performed by a group of medical tutors, including some medical tutors from those colleges that offer places on the course. Interviews and selection decisions will involve tutors from your chosen (or allotted) college as well as clinical tutors. There will be more than one interview; typically two at each college, and every candidate will be interviewed at two colleges. Interviews will be held online on Thursday 14 and Friday 15 December; decisions will then be communicated to applicants (by colleges) on or around Tuesday 9 January.