Oxford and Cambridge are two of the toughest institutions to get into in the world. Every year, more than 20,000 students from state and private schools in the UK, as well as from other countries apply to each institution.

This autumn, the number of public school pupils starting at the University of Cambridge will hit an all-time high. According to early estimates, 72 percent of UK undergraduates attended a public school, up from 70.6 percent last year. It comes after nearly half of all A-level entrants in the UK received top marks earlier this year.

How hard is it to get into Oxford or Cambridge?

Oxford and Cambridge are two of the world's most prestigious top educational institutions, so it's not going to be simple. Statistically, around one out of every seven applications gets accepted, but those seven students are all exceptional performers. Because you can only apply to five universities in the British university system, most people will only apply to Cambridge if they are genuine contenders.

A* A* A is the usual offer. Except for the finest pupils, this is out of reach. This is on purpose; the university only prefers to recruit the greatest scholars. 

However, before you can even be considered for an offer, you must first pass a rigorous interview, with around 4 out of every 5 candidates being rejected at this point. One of the most essential purposes of the interview is to see if a student would be able to fit in and prosper in this type of setting. 

Getting into these schools, however, is not impossible. We strongly advise you to apply if you are the suitable type of individual with good pre-university test scores. 

Which is harder to get into, Oxford or Cambridge?

It's impossible to compare how difficult it is to get admission to the universities of Oxford and Cambridge since there are so many variables to consider.

If you simply view the general acceptance rates, it looks that getting into Cambridge is simpler. The universities of Oxford and Cambridge are very competitive, and you may only apply to one per year. Cambridge looks to be the easiest to get into, based on the acceptance figures below. You must, however, be at the top of your class and demonstrate that you have mastered the topic in which you desire to pursue a degree. 

Acceptance Rate: Russell Group Universities

University Institution            Acceptance / Offer Rate

University of Oxford                        16.9%

University of Cambridge                  24.2%

University of Bristol                          74.9%

Durham University                           80.4%

Cardiff University                             81.7%

University of Birmingham                81.9%

University of Sheffield                      85.1%

Can I attend Oxford or Cambridge if I come from a state school?

Yes, historically, both top-ranked institutions have favoured state-educated students from the U.k, but this is changing. Both Oxford and Cambridge have increased their admission of state school graduates in recent years. Between 2015 and 2020, state school enrolment in Cambridge grew from 62.3 percent to 70 percent, while in Oxford, it increased from 55.6 percent to 68.7 percent. According to the Higher Education Student Statistics (HESA), there has been a decrease in UK student numbers at Oxford and Cambridge, as well as an increase in offers to foreign students, primarily from non-EU nations. At the moment, overseas citizens make up 21% of Oxford undergraduates and 25% of Cambridge undergraduates. Take a look at our list below of the top 50 schools accepted into Oxbridge (Oxford and Cambridge) based on 2020 results.