FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
What subject combinations should I take?
Do you ask for Extended Projects, Key Skills or Critical Thinking?
Do I have to choose a college?
Are copies of written tests available?
Can I afford to study at Jesus College?
Do you guarantee accommodation?
Is Jesus College only for Christians?
If you have a question that is not listed here, or would like a more personal response, please email the Schools Liaison Officer.
What subject combinations should I take?
The University publishes a Table of Entrance Requirements which lists essential and recommended subjects at A level or equivalent for each of the degree courses offered at Oxford. Beyond these requirements, applicants may offer either complementary or contrasting additional subjects at AS and A2 level or equivalent. All A level subjects, with the exception of General Studies, may be counted towards a conditional offer. If you have any doubts as to whether your current or proposed subject combination would be appropriate for your degree course, please email the Schools Liaison Officer.
What offers do you make?
We will expect most of our applicants to have completed four AS levels before they apply. Offers for pre-A level students will usually be for three subjects at A2 level with required grades AAA. Note that, in common with all other Oxford colleges, we will NOT be making offers for entry in 2010 or 2011 based on the new A* grade at A2 level.
Sometimes we will ask for A grades in certain key subjects. For example, if you wish to study Modern Languages (French and German) we will ask for grades AAA at A2 level including A grades in French and German. Please check the University Prospectus for details for individual subjects, or email the Schools Liaison Officer if you are taking other examinations such as Scottish Advanced Highers, the International Baccalaureate or the Cambridge Pre-U to find out our entry requirements.
Do you ask for Extended Projects, or qualifications in Key Skills or Critical Thinking?
No! If you are taking extra papers, we are of course pleased to see your dedication, but offers will not be conditional upon these extra papers. The same applies if you offer four or more subjects at A2 level - a conditional offer would still require A grades in THREE subjects only.
Can I take a gap year?
Applications for deferred entry to Jesus College are welcomed. You must apply for deferred entry at the time of application to Oxford: you cannot change your mind after an offer has been made. Please refer to departmental web sites for subject-specific advice. You should be aware that applicants who are offered places for deferred entry will generally be among the strongest of the cohort for their subject. We would not usually offer more than one or two deferred places per subject in order not to disadvantage the following year's candidates. In some cases, an applicant for deferred entry may be offered a place for non-deferred entry instead. If you require any further advice, please contact the Admissions Officer.
Is there an age limit?
The University of Oxford's policy on the age of applicants for undergraduate courses is as follows:
"The University, mindful of its legal obligations, does not set any age requirements, but applicants for all undergraduate courses will be expected to demonstrate an approach to the study of their subject, which includes demonstrable skills of critical analysis, wide contextual knowledge and the ability to manage their own time without the external imposition of a full daily timetable."
Applicants who would be aged 21 or over at the start of the course ('mature students') or graduates wishing to read for a second undergraduate degree are considered each year alongside all other applications for undergraduate courses. Prior education and/or employment are taken into consideration in such cases. Please contact the Senior Tutor for advice.
Do I have to choose a college?
Although we would like you to make Jesus your college of preference, we would not object if you were to leave your application open. Your college of preference will be selected for you by a computer based in the University's Undergraduate Admissions Office. Tutors will not know when they interview you whether you chose Jesus College as your college of preference, or whether you submitted an Open Application. We recognise that it is unfair to ask candidates questions about their choice of college. You will have plenty of time during the interview period to get a feel for the place and see if it is right for you.
Do I need work experience?
Work experience placements are a good way of demonstrating commitment and interest to your subject, particularly for courses such as Medicine or Law. However, if you do not have the opportunity to undertake a placement, this will not place you at a disadvantage. What we do look for is that, if you undertake a placement, you can demonstrate positive benefits from your experience.
What happens in an interview?
This varies according to which subject you wish to study. Candidates can obtain a Guide to Interviews from the Undergraduate Admissions Office. Students who apply to Jesus College are sent an information sheet with details of the interview procedures in their subject.
Are copies of written tests available?
Candidates in some subjects will have to do written tests when they come for interviews. Printed copies of previous tests are available from the central Admissions Office and from the College, or you can download copies of Written Tests from the Oxford website.
Can I afford to study at Jesus College?
Student charges and meals are subsidised, so living here might not be as expensive as you think. We offer book grants to help you buy textbooks that you need for your course. If you need Financial Support there are a range of bursaries and hardship loans available. Each case is considered on merit, and we recognise that circumstances can change during your time here. We certainly don't think that money worries should stop anyone from applying and being successful.
Do you guarantee accommodation?
Yes! We guarantee accommodation for all our undergraduates for the whole of their course, and for most postgraduates who want it. In the first year, our undergraduates live on the central, historic site in Turl Street. In the second and later years, most undergraduates move out into College flats. These are situated in North Oxford, about a mile from the central site, and in South-East Oxford, about two miles away. These flats are purpose-built with three or four study bedrooms, and a shared living area, bathroom and kitchen. You choose who you want to share with. You can self-cater, but you are welcome to dine in College (even if only to escape your flatmates' cooking).
Is Jesus College only for Christians?
Sometimes people wonder if the name 'Jesus College' means that the College is only for Christians. This is not the case. Jesus College today welcomes those of any faith or none. The name is a historic one from the date of our foundation in 1571 at the instigation of the Treasurer of St David's Cathedral in Wales. A good number of Oxford colleges have historic names of this sort (such as Christ Church, Corpus Christi, Magdalen, Trinity etc). For those who are interested in the College Chapel or other centres of worship in Oxford for a range of religions, please see the Chapel pages.