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OMS Applications

Applications of OMS 2023 are now closed.

Application Information

Who should apply?

If you want to study at Oxford or Cambridge, but don’t know where to start with the application, are unsure what you should do to prepare, or are worried about your personal statement, admissions test or interviews, then the OMS is the place for you.

We want YOU to apply! 

We are looking for students at state-funded schools who are planning to apply to Oxbridge for entry in October 2024.

For more information about the OMS, check out our ‘About OMS’ section here.

Eligibility Criteria

The OMS is free for eligible students. By September 2022, eligible students must:

  • Be in year 12 
  • Attend a state-funded school or college in England or Wales
  • Have at least five 7-9 GCSE grades
  • Be studying A level subjects relevant to their intended course choice at Oxford or Cambridge
 

We encourage students from all backgrounds, communities and ethnicities to apply. In particular, we support candidates who are:

  • On free school meals, or in POLAR 1/2 quintiles, or in IMD 1/2 areas
  • From ethnic minority groups underrepresented at Oxford and Cambridge
  • First generation in their family to go to university
  • Care leavers or care givers

We accept students that would benefit most from the OMS and that don’t have significant support available for applying to Oxbridge already. For this reason, we are less likely to consider applications from students who:

  • Attend a selective state school
  • Have an immediate family member (sibling/parent) who went to Oxbridge

Please note that we do consider extenuating circumstances for the above categories. If you are unsure whether you can apply, please outline your reasons in the ‘extenuating circumstances’ box on the application form.

More information on local areas for POLAR is here and for IMD is here. 

 

Statement of Motivation

As part of your application, you will need to submit a Statement of Motivation answering this question:

Why should Insight Outreach give you a place on OMS 2022?

The Statement of Motivation is your opportunity to tell us why you believe you should be given a place on the OMS and what you believe makes you an outstanding candidate. We want to learn more about what motivates you to apply and why the OMS will make a difference for you. In short, we want to get to know you, and this is your chance to tell us more about yourself: your personality, your interests, your background, and your motivations.

Your Statement of Motivation should:

  • Be between 300 and 500 words in length
  • Have accurate in spelling and grammar
  • Have paragraphs between your ideas
  • Include lots of examples
 

And most importantly, your Statement of Motivation should demonstrate:

  • Your motivation for studying your chosen subject(s) at Oxbridge
  • Why the OMS will benefit you
  • Your potential to thrive on a rigorous academic programme
 

In your statement, make sure you don’t just reiterate what’s already included in your application form, such as your GCSE results—tell us something new! Here are some examples of what you might want to include in your statement of motivation:

  • Academic achievements beyond the information given in your application, such as how your results compared to your peers at school or any awards/competitions you’ve entered that demonstrate your potential or passion for your studies
  • Any specific areas of interest you have in your chosen subject(s) to study at university and how you’ve explored them beyond the school curriculum, such as through personal reading, listening to talks or podcasts, watching online videos or courses, visiting museums/exhibitions, or any other way you’ve tried to delve deeper into particular topics
  • Any extracurricular pursuits/hobbies/activities that show your proactivity, commitment, stamina, and passion either for your subject or more generally; this could be academic or in music, drama, sport, art, cooking, volunteering, or anything else!
  • Why the OMS would make a particular difference for you given your personal circumstances and ambitions.

Watch last year’s video below to learn more about what to include in your statement of motivation!

Final Information

Information Needed

For your application, you will need to provide:

  1. Your personal and school information (you can see our Privacy Policy on this link).
  2. Your Statement of Motivation as explained above.

We suggest taking a look at the courses offered by Oxford and Cambridge before answering the question about which subject(s) interest you.

You may need to talk to your teacher(s) to answer the question about how many students from your school received Oxford and Cambridge offers in the last 3 years.

Please note that the application form must be completed in one sitting. We recommend that you draft your Statement of Motivation and have all of your relevant personal and school information to hand before starting the application form.

2023 Deadline

Applications for OMS 2023 closed at 8pm on Friday 17th February 2023. Sorry if you’ve missed your chance to apply this year – but best of luck with your application!

We are reviewing all applications and all applicants will receive an email with the result of their application by 31st March 2023.