Oxbridge Admissions Preparation

Targeted Preparation for Oxford & Cambridge Applicants

Applying to Oxford or Cambridge is fundamentally different from applying to other UK universities.

Beyond strong grades, you need to show academic depth, intellectual maturity and the ability to perform under pressure.

At First Class Education, we provide structured, strategic support for students aiming for Oxbridge.

All of our consultants and tutors are Oxford or Cambridge graduates who have personally experienced the admissions process themselves.

Admission to Oxbridge requires excellence across every stage of the admissions process

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Every student we work with receives a fully personalised programme.

From the first consultation, we design a strategic plan that aligns with your goals, subject interests and application timeline.

  • Student: Ming, Singapore

    🎓 Result: Offer from Oxford, Chemistry

    “When I first started thinking about applying to Oxford, I honestly didn’t think I stood a chance. I had no idea how to approach the personal statement, or what the process would be like. What really helped me was having someone walk me through the process step-by-step and really push me to think deeply about why I wanted to study science.

    When I got the offer email, my first thought was, I couldn’t have done this alone. First Class’s programme didn’t just improve my application, it transformed the way I think.”

  • Student: Jim, China

    🎓 Result: Offer from Cambridge, Physics

    “I’m keeping my promise to let you know that I received my conditional offer from Trinity College, Cambridge!

    Thank you so much for your tutoring, I appreciate all our pleasant talks!

    Thank you again for your support. I hope to see you in Britain!”

  • Student: Wayne, Singapore

    🎓 Result: Offer from Imperial College London, Chemistry

    “I’ve always wanted to study Chemistry, but the process is so competitive for top UK universities, and I wasn’t sure how to write a personal statement that would stand out. Working with my mentor changed everything. He helped me shape my experiences into a story that I was proud of.

    What made the difference was my mentor’s patience. He never rushed me or made me feel bad. Instead he helped me to understand what admissions officers look for and highlight my strengths.”

  • Student: Lydia, UK

    🎓 Result: Offer from Cambridge, Physics

    “I was really anxious about the Cambridge interview as I had heard about how challenging and nerve-wracking it could be. My mentor prepared me really well for this, creating a safe space in our mock interviews for me to make mistakes and learn. She gave me a lot of feedback on the way I was answering questions and insight into what the interviewers are looking for.

    Our sessions gave me the practice and confidence to perform well at the interviews, and I was offered a place at Cambridge! My mentor even introduced me to her friends at the college I’ll be going to.”

Our Oxbridge Admissions Framework

We provide end-to-end support for students across the full application cycle, including the following services:

Academic Positioning

  • Subject selection strategy

  • Academic profile assessment

  • Competitive benchmarking against typical offer holders

  • Long-term performance planning

Personal Statement Development

One-on-one support to craft a personal statement that shows evidence and reflection on your sustained subject interest, and highlights your unique strengths and passion.

Learn more

Admissions Test Preparation

Preparation for course-specific tests including TMUA, ESAT, TARA, UCAT, LNAT and others.

Learn more

Supercurricular Depth

  • Advanced reading programmes

  • Research projects

  • Subject exploration

  • Structured reflection

  • Intellectual engagement

Interview Coaching

Mock interviews that recreate Oxbridge-style tutorials or supervisions, training problem-solving under pressure and adaptability to unseen material.

Learn more

A historic stone building at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, with multiple windows and brick chimneys, surrounded by neatly trimmed hedges and lush green trees, under a bright blue sky.

Additional Requirements: My Cambridge Application

After submitting a UCAS application, all Cambridge applicants must complete an additional form, known as My Cambridge Application, which includes an optional Cambridge-specific personal statement.

This is a valuable opportunity to provide new, targeted insights that go beyond the UCAS statement, demonstrating genuine academic interest and alignment with the course.

At First Class, we help students make the most of this by:

  • Expanding on their motivation for choosing Cambridge

  • Showcasing academic interests and supercurriculars not fully covered in their UCAS statement

  • Highlighting specific features of the course or university

We also support international families with transcript uploads, funding details and English language requirements, ensuring everything is submitted correctly and on time.

A view of historic European city buildings in Oxford with stone architecture, narrow street, and pedestrians.

Oxford Written Work Requirements

While Oxford does not require a supplementary questionnaire, many Oxford courses (especially in the Humanities and Social Sciences) require applicants to submit samples of written work after UCAS submission.

These essays are used to assess critical thinking, subject understanding and writing ability.

We guide students through:

  • Selecting appropriate essays that showcase academic potential

  • Refining and editing work to meet Oxford’s quality standards

  • Writing commentary or context where required.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Our consultants are all graduates of Oxford or Cambridge (sometimes both) with first-hand experience of the admissions process. Many achieved top academic results in their own applications and have since supported students across a wide range of competitive courses including Medicine, Engineering, Law, Natural Sciences, Economics and PPE.

    Our consultants have years of experience guiding students through admissions tests, personal statements and interviews. We have a deep understanding of how admissions decisions are made.

  • Our admissions consulting services include structured guidance across the entire admissions process, including:

    • Course and college selection strategy

    • Supercurricular planning

    • Personal statement development

    • Admissions test preparation (e.g. ESAT, TMUA, TARA, UCAT, LNAT)

    • Interview preparation

    Applying to Oxbridge is distinct from applying to any other UK university. The process is more rigorous, demanding and competitive. Many strong students are rejected not due to lack of ability but because they lack the targeted preparation, strategy and insight that an Oxbridge admission consultant provides.

  • We work with students globally across time zones via online sessions. International applicants often face additional complexities such as unfamiliar qualification systems, different school structures, multiple applications to different countries or visa considerations.

    We have worked with students across the world, including from Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Japan, China, Korea, the UAE, Switzerland, France, Italy, India, Brazil, the US and the UK.

    We tailor preparation according to each student’s curriculum (A level, IB, AP, Singapore A levels, etc.) and ensure that applications are positioned appropriately within the UK admissions framework. We also guide students on admissions tests, timelines and interview preparation specific to their circumstances.

  • We support a wide range of subjects across STEM and humanities, including but not limited to:

    • Medicine

    • Engineering

    • Natural Sciences (Biology, Physics, Chemistry)

    • Mathematics

    • Computer Science

    • Economics

    • PPE

    • Law

    • History

    • Geography

    • English

    Where admissions tests are required, we provide targeted preparation aligned to the relevant course requirements.

  • Yes. Oxbridge admissions is one of our core areas of expertise. All our tutors are graduates from Oxford or Cambridge.

    Oxford and Cambridge have distinct processes compared to other UK universities. The emphasis on admissions tests, academic interviews and subject depth requires a specialised approach. Our guidance is structured specifically around these unique requirements rather than using a generic UK admissions framework.

  • The earlier students begin, the stronger their strategic position.

    Ideally, preparation begins 12–18 months before application, allowing time for:

    • Strategic supercurricular development

    • Admissions test preparation

    • Personal statement writing

    • Interview training

    That said, we also work with students closer to the deadline, particularly for focused admissions test, personal statement and interview preparation.

  • Yes, there are differences between applying to Oxford and Cambridge. Although both are top universities with academically rigorous curriculums, they differ in admissions test requirements, exact course structure, and college systems.

    For example, a student interested in reading biology at Cambridge would be applying to the Natural Sciences course, starting with a broad science base including mathematics and chemistry, and specialising only in third year. However, if they were to apply to Oxford, they would need to choose between the courses: Biology, Biomedical Sciences, and Biochemistry (Molecular and Cellular) during application, and commit to that course for three years. Thus, a student who is already clear about their interest within Biology may opt to apply for Oxford, while a student interested in gaining a broader base or who has multiple interests may apply to Cambridge.

Ready to Begin? Let’s Build Your Plan.

Get in touch to discuss a bespoke programme tailored to your goals.

enquiries@firstclasseducation.org.uk