Report

Fairer for all: Towards a centralised model of admissions and access at Oxford and Cambridge

This report from UK think tank HEPI argues that while the current collegiate model is central to student life, it can create confusion and inequality at the point of entry.

A new HEPI Debate Paper argues that admissions to Oxford and Cambridge should be overhauled to make the system fairer, clearer and more consistent for applicants.

In Fairer for All: Towards a centralised model of admissions and access at Oxford and Cambridge (HEPI Debate Paper 47), Charlotte Armstrong argues that while the current collegiate model is central to student life, it can create confusion and inequality at the point of entry, with applicants facing different processes and levels of support depending on the college they engage with.

The report highlights significant variation between colleges in both admissions practices and outreach activity, from differing interview formats and offer levels, to stark disparities in widening participation funding. This fragmented approach, it argues, creates an uneven national landscape of support and makes the application process difficult for students and teachers to navigate – especially in schools with limited experience of Oxbridge admissions.

To address these issues, the paper proposes a phased move towards greater standardisation and, ultimately, a fully centralised admissions and outreach system. By pooling resources and assessing applicants at the departmental level, the aim is to create a more transparent, consistent and equitable process without losing the benefits of collegiate life.