Vampire or zombie? The question that opens doors to Oxford’s most elite college

OXFORD University’s All Souls College is one of the most elite institutions in the country, and each year chooses just two applicants to join its ranks and study for seven years.

To decide on its students, the college sets what has been called “the most difficult exam in the world”, made up of dozens of questions on a variety of subjects and which involves 12 hours of essay writing across two days.

The questions on this year’s exam – released this week – suggest that knowing whether you would rather be a vampire or a zombie might be as useful as knowing the finer points of En-

lightenment thought or the work of the Old Masters.

The questions included “Does Google know us better than we do?”, “Is Shakespeare too good for actors?” and a nod to recent policymaking: “Should sugar be taxed?”

More traditional questions asked students to com-

ment on a quote from Ludwig Wittgenstein, “Music came to a full stop with Brahms”; and on TS Eliot’s tirade against television.

In the general exam paper, however, students were asked: “Would you rather be a vampire or a zombie?”

In previous years, in response to the protests in Ox-

ford over its colonial legacy, examiners asked whether the statue of Cecil Rhodes on Oriel College should “fall”. Another said: “‘All lives matter.’ Do they?”

The college, which will pay successful applicants’ living expenses for seven years. In that time, the “examination fellows” are able to study any subject at Oxford and research their own academic interests.

Edward Howell, a doctorate student who sat this year’s exam, told The Sunday Telegraph: “Would I rather be a vampire than a zombie? The thought never crossed my mind before that Thursday afternoon. And at the end of the day, does that really test one’s abilities to think critically?”

Previous examination fellows include John Redwood, the Tory MP; Sir Keith Joseph, a minister in Margaret Thatcher’s cabinet; and journalist Matthew d’Ancona.

All Souls College has an endowment of £390million, but just eight students. This year’s examination fellows will be chosen this month.