Supporting a student in their application to Oxbridge is an exciting but also challenging experience. Your role might be to inspire and build aspiration, it might be to inform and support through the detailed stages of an application form, or it might be to reassure and help tackle fears before an interview. Whether this is the first time you've supported a candidate or the fiftieth, at Fitz we are grateful for your hard work and will do everything we can to keep you informed and prepared.

If you aren't familiar with the Oxbridge application process, a great place to start is here. The University has a wealth of information and opportunities to participate in webinars and subject-specific events, and it is well worth taking advantage of the collective resource. Through these materials you will be guided through the application timeline, the elements that need to be submitted, along with advice about subject choice and interview preparation. There are specific events online and and in-person throughout the year.

Finances

It's likely that your student(s) may be concerned about financing their studies. The best way to address these worries is with clear information and a detailed breakdown about how student finance (and bursaries, if applicable) work. For many, this will be the first time they are responsible for their finances, and teachers and supporters can play a really important role in offering solid, practical advice in this area.  

Good sources of information are listed here.

Visiting

Once a student has decided to apply - or at least has an idea - then we would encourage you to make arrangements for a visit. This can happen at any time of the year, by appointment, but the key Open Days (when the whole University is 'open' and actively offering information stands / fairs etc) are in July and September. This can be quite an overwhelming experience, so you can support by helping the student to make a plan for their visit, focusing on key colleges to visit and a tour of the departments offering the subjects they might study. Rather than a mad dash between many places, we would recommend leaving enough time to talk to specialists and student helpers in these key sites - at Fitz, for example, we always have a large team of student volunteers to show prospective students around the site, and a range of subject specialists and representatives from the admissions team to talk to anyone who wants an informal chat. 

University Open Days

The application

Supporting a student with their application and interview preparation will require different approaches depending on the candidate. For subject-specific guidance, please consult both the University pages for the relevant subject and the Fitzwilliam pages. You will also want to read through all the information on the application process, along with a timeline, here. 

Specific guidance on the role schools play during the application process is available here.

As you'll see from the above, there is a lot of information available on the University and college website, and it may well be that this answers any questions that you or the student may have. Sometimes, though, you may want to get in touch with our Admissions team directly. You can do this by emailing admissions@fitz.cam.ac.uk. While there may be a delay in response during peak times - Dec-Feb, and Aug-Sept - this is the quickest way to contact us.

Once the student's application is underway, please note that it is our policy to speak only with the candidate on all matters relating to their application.