Oxbridge to switch online for candidate interviews

‘Interviews are a key part of forming a nuanced understanding of a student’s potential to flourish’

OXFORD and Cambridge candidates will no longer take part in face-to-face interviews this year, as the universities move them online.

Prospective students will be interviewed remotely in December to limit the number of applicants travelling.

A spokesman for the University of Oxford said this decision was taken “in light of the ongoing concerns with the global Covid-19 pandemic”, adding that its priority was to protect students, staff and the wider community.

Each year, Oxford colleges usually invite about 10,000 applicants from around the world for interviews during a two-week period.

Meanwhile, Cambridge said that candidates would not be asked to travel to the university for interviews this year “in order to minimise Covidrelated risks”.

Many British universities interview potential students, although they do not usually require students to stay overnight as Oxford and Cambridge do.

An Oxford spokesman said: “Interviews are a key part of forming a nuanced understanding of a student’s potential to flourish at Oxford and online interviews are already used with applicants for whom it is difficult to travel to Oxford.

“We are mindful, though, that extra support might be needed for some students and are working hard to put this in place.”

Cambridge University said online interviews would be set up in a way that ensured the “best possible experience” for applicants.