Candidates must apply through the DfE Apply website. The completed application is then reviewed by a university tutor from the relevant subject area. If shortlisted you will be invited to attend a PGCE interview.
All applicants shortlisted for interview will be offered a clear choice: an in-person interview held in Oxford’s Department of Education, or an online interview held virtually on Microsoft Teams. Regardless of method the content and criteria of the interview will be identical and so the University of Oxford does not have a preference; but we do reserve the right to remove this choice in cases where there are demanding deadlines.
Group tasks will not feature in any of our interviews. It will not be possible to replicate this group dynamic during an online interview and so for consistency no candidate will be assessed in this manner, including during our in-person interviews.
You will be asked to complete at least one subject specific written tasks. The tasks may be set before your interview date, during your interview, or a combination of both. You will also have an individual interview with a university tutor from the relevant subject area and normally a mentor from one of our partnership schools.
Although not a condition for being invited to interview, observation experience in a non-selective, state funded UK secondary school is encouraged. If you are able to organise some school experience prior to making an application then we recommend you detail and reflect upon this in your application.
In addition to being offered a place on the PGCE course, all successful applicants are guaranteed a place at one of Oxford’s colleges. The college application process starts once you have accepted an offer to study the PGCE at the University of Oxford. At this point you can either select preferred colleges from a list of available institutions, or you can choose to not state a preference.
Please note:
- If you are interested in completing a Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE) course then you should briefly mention this in your application form. If invited to interview you will then be able to have a tailored conversation with the interviewing panel about your SKE options. For more SKE information please visit this website.
- From the date that you complete your application (including references) accredited providers have up to 40 working days to: review your application, invite you to any interview and process any offer. The 40 working day time-frame (sometimes called your Reject By Default date) is fixed and individual providers, including Oxford, cannot extend it. The 40 working day period is occasionally extended by DfE, for example at Christmas and Easter.
- On the application form candidates are able to state any dates that they would be unavailable for interview.
We hope that we have answered your questions. If you are still unsure then please contact the PGCE Office on 01865 274020 or email pgce.admissions@education.ox.ac.uk
