Programs: Applying to the University of Oxford
Overview
The University of Oxford Coat of Arms.
Please remember to read both the procedures for applying to the University of Oxford on this page and the information on the specific programming by following the links below. There is an internal Haverford application. The external applications to Oxford vary, so be sure you are following the correct procedures!
Haverford's Educational Policy Committee (EPC) requires that students attending any Oxford or Cambridge college attend for the full academic year. There are no exceptions to this policy. Because we have specified agreements with these partner colleges, if you apply, and are accepted, you are required to attend. The application itself is a binding contract. Students who are not 100% committed to spending a year at Oxford or Cambridge should apply to any of the other non-partner Colleges. For a list of these colleges, check the large Black Binders entitled "Oxford University" or "Cambridge University" on the shelves in Chase 213 or the Oxford or Cambridge websites. Be sure to look at the application procedures for Junior Year Visiting Students, as these vary from the general application procedure.
Eligibility
3.5-3.7 GPA in major; 3.5 GPA overall. Students must be in good academic and disciplinary standing. Most colleges require completion of at least two years of study at a college or university. Students applying to both partner and non-partner colleges must complete Haverford's preliminary application and have an interview with Dean Mancini before they receive the Oxford Visiting Student application form (this is the application for your specific college.) Nominations for the partner colleges must be made by the Haverford International Academic Programs Oxbridge Nominating Committee.
Application Fee
No application fee is required for Haverford's internal selection process. However, upon nomination, a non-refundable $500.00 deposit is required. If you are not accepted, this will be refunded. If you are accepted, it will be credited toward your tuition for second semester. There is an application fee of £10 when you apply to Oxford, whether you have been selected to apply to a partner college or whether you have chosen to apply to a non-partner college. Checks for £10 Sterling should be made payable to "The Oxford Colleges Admissions Office" and sent with the application form to your college of first choice. Checks for the dollar equivalent will not be accepted in England.
Application Options, Procedures & Deadlines for University of Oxford
University of Oxford Museum of Natural History. Photo by Michael Reeve, 2004.
It is important that the information given on the application should be as complete as possible, so that the College can make its decision promptly and in the best interests of the applicant. In particular, the colleges need to have full details of the applicant's academic career. It is also very helpful to know what area(s) within a subject the applicant would hope to study in Oxford (for example, "Nineteenth or Twentieth century English literature" rather than simply "English"). Tutors will naturally be pleased to give advice in such matters for those who are undecided.
The application will allow you to apply to four Oxford colleges. If you are not accepted to the college you ranked first, the Tutor will forward it to the second college on your list of preferences, and then, if necessary, on to your third and fourth selections. Note: Some colleges do not forward applications. In this case, see Donna Mancini for instructions.
Some colleges will respond within a few weeks (especially with rejections); others may not notify you at all but will pass your application on to the next college. If none of the colleges accept you, the last college you listed will send a letter of rejection. Please note that you will only be accepted for study at one college. If your second choice accepts you, it will not be forwarded to you third and fourth choices. The process may take several months.
You can apply to Oxford in two ways:
- Apply to a partner college (see below).
- Apply to a non-partner college. This is a non-binding application. Because the Colleges fill up quickly, applications to non-partner colleges should be sent as early as possible in the fall preceding the year of study. Deadlines for all colleges vary from October 15th to February 5th with a closing date of February 5th. Please check the JYA pages for the specific college and follow those instructions.
Non-Partner Colleges: If you are applying to a non-partner college, you should complete Haverford's application declaring your intent to study abroad 
no later than October 5th as is required of all students wishing to study abroad. To apply to a non-partner Oxford College please follow the procedures as indicated on the application or website for that particular college. Please note that application procedures vary widely from college to college. Once you have the application completed make a copy of all documents and submit it at least 2 weeks before the written deadline - mail to the UK can vary from 5-15 days. The earlier you submit your application the better. Oxford recommends that you send all the information in one mailing. Give a copy of your completed application to Dean Mancini as soon as possible. Oxford requires that she write a letter on your behalf for your application and she must have your completed application in order to do so. You should mail your completed application directly to the university and Dean Mancini will send the letter directly and separately from the application.
Application Procedures for Oxbridge Partner Institutions
Pembroke Chapel Quad, Oxford.
Haverford has agreements with several Colleges at Oxford (Pembroke, St. Peter's, Mansfield, St. Edmund's Hall (Teddy Hall), Lady Margaret Hall and Cambridge (Fitzwilliam, Pembroke*). Students may apply to one partner College at either Oxford or Cambridge.
Because we have agreements with these colleges, if you apply and are accepted, you are required to attend. The application itself is a binding contract. If you do not fulfill your contract for any reason, your return to Haverford is not automatic. You may be asked to take a leave of absence for the remainder of the year and you will be responsible for any unrecoverable fees. Students who are not 100% committed to spending a year at Oxford or Cambridge should apply to any of the other non-partner Colleges. For a list of these colleges, check the large Black Binders entitled “Oxford University” in Chase 213 or the Oxford website, http://www.ox.ac.uk/colleges/. For Cambridge: http://www.cam.ac.uk/colleges/
There is an internal application for nomination to our partner colleges.
Nominations for Partner Colleges must be made by the Haverford Faculty Oxbridge Committee. The Deadline is November 5th.
The Faculty Oxbridge Nominating Committee, comprised of several members of the faculty and Dean Mancini, will select students for nomination and will inform students of their decision in mid-November. An interview may also be required. Once nominated, students will be invited to complete the specific program application for one of these partner Colleges. Nomination by the Oxbridge Committee does not guarantee acceptance. Students must apply to and be accepted by a partner College.
Prior to Applying:
- Students must attend the Mandatory Oxbridge Information Session.
- Set up a one hour interview with Dean Mancini.
- Read the Black Binder in Chase 213 and the Oxbridge pages on the IAP website.
- Submit the Declaration of Intent to Study Abroad
Application Procedures:
- Step I
- Complete the online internal application for your first choice partner college.
- References from two members of the faculty who know you and have taught you in the subject(s) you wish to study, should be forwarded directly to Lori Roth via email.
- Email the following to Lori Roth (roth1@haverford.edu)
- your transcript---does not have to be official
- Best sample of your written academic work, preferably in the area you wish to study. In some subjects e.g. math and science, this may not always be necessary. Sample should be less than 3,000 words.
- Step 2
- Once the application is submitted online, print 5 hard copies.
- Print 5 copies of your unofficial transcript, your essay and sample of written work.
- Prepare 5 collated paper copies--one packet for each member of the Committee. Label each envelope with your name and Partner College.
- Deliver the 5 packets (in separate manila envelopes) to Lori Roth in Chase 213 by the November 5th deadline.
Nota Bene:
*There is a new semester program available at Pembroke College, Cambridge. This is the only semester study option for colleges at either Oxford or Cambridge. The same application process above applies.
In addition, students who apply to the Spring Semester at Pembroke, Cambridge must:- Submit a proposal (3 pages plus bibliography) outlining the intended research project
- Include the proposal with the application material submitted to Dean Mancini
- Send this proposal via email to Professor Judy Owen prior to scheduling an appointment with her to discuss the project.
- Submit a sample of your best written academic work with the professors comments and/or grade.
- Schedule an interview with the Oxbridge Nominating Committee.
Selection Process
The International Academic Programs Oxbridge Nominating Committee, comprised of three members of the faculty and Dean Mancini, will select students for nomination and will inform students of their decision in mid-November. Once nominated, students will be invited to complete the official program application for one of these partner Colleges. When completing applications or looking at College websites, please be sure that the information is for JYA or Visiting students and not prospective students. You do not want to accidentally apply for a 3-year program rather than a year-long exchange!
Note: Nomination by the Oxbridge Committee does not guarantee acceptance. You still must apply to and be accepted by the College to which you applied.
Once the Committee writes a letter of nomination to Oxford or Cambridge, students are bound to attend if accepted. A deposit of $500, payable to Haverford College, will also be required at this time. The money will be credited to the second semester tuition costs if accepted and refunded directly to the student if not accepted by the program.
Upon acceptance, the individual colleges require the following tuition deposit fees:
- Mansfield College: $450.00
- Pembroke College: $0
- St. Edmund Hall: 10% of tuition (approximately $4000)
- Lady Margaret Hall: £600
- St. Peter's College: $0
Note: Although the student must pay these fees in advance, they are deducted from the overall tuition amount paid to Haverford in the first semester.
Dean Mancini will prepare the application packet with a letter of nomination from one of the faculty members and forward it to the partner Oxbridge college by December 1st. In January, Dean Mancini will forward an updated transcript. Decisions are made in February and students have only ten days to return their letter of acceptance to the College.
Questions? Ask now. E-mail Donna Mancini or call x1230 to schedule an appointment.
Applications
Haverford requires that students wanting to attend an Oxford or Cambridge partner college complete Haverford's internal, application first. This application will be reviewed by Haverford's Oxbridge Committee which reviews and nominates students. Once nominated, students will be invited to complete the official program application for one of these partner Colleges.
