Key Facts · Oxford
Philosophy and Theology at the University of Oxford is a 3-year BA with UCAS code VV56 and a typical AAA offer. It combines close argument with theological and religious study, requires one written-work submission, and has no admissions test for 2027 entry.
Section 01
Philosophy and Theology at Oxford is distinctive because it asks you to handle abstract argument and religious interpretation together, rather than treating them as separate interests. The course suits applicants who want to test claims about knowledge, ethics, God, scripture and religious practice with careful definitions and evidence.
Oxford’s primary ranking display for this page is #1, but the caveat matters: this is a Philosophy subject-table proxy, not a dedicated Philosophy and Theology joint-course ranking. The peer table compares Oxford with LSE, Cambridge and St Andrews using the available proxy rows.
Oxford’s course structure gives you both breadth and choice: Year 1 covers General philosophy, Logic and moral philosophy, The figure of Jesus through the centuries, and one introductory theology, religion or language paper. In Years 2 and 3, you choose either five Philosophy and three Theology papers, five Theology and three Philosophy papers, or four papers in each subject.
This course suits applicants who are interested in the border between argument, interpretation and belief. It helps to enjoy disagreement, because interview and tutorial-style work reward clear revision of an argument when a counterexample appears.
How It Ranks Against Peers
| University | Guardian UK | CUG UK | Times UK |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Oxford | #1 | #3 | — |
| London School of Economics and Political Science | #4 | #1 | #1 |
| University of Cambridge | — | #2 | — |
| University of St Andrews | — | #5 | — |
University of Oxford
London School of Economics and Political Science
University of Cambridge
University of St Andrews
Ranks shown are UK subject-table positions from the three major UK guides. World rankings are not included — UK applicants compare using UK-focused sources.
Section 02
International Applicants
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Select a highlighted country to see the admissions-test, score, and English-language requirements that apply specifically to applicants from that country.
Section 03
| Qualification | Typical Offer | Key Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| A-Level | AAA | |
| IB Diploma | 39 (including core points) with 666 at HL | |
| Advanced Placement (AP) | Either four APs at grade 5 (including any subjects required for the course) or three APs at grade 5 plus ACT 31+ or SAT 1460+. |
Section 04
SEP — MAY (Yr 12)
Read in both philosophy and theology, practise clear argument, and identify a recent essay that could demonstrate structured reasoning.
Tip:Keep one strong essay under 2,000 words in reserve.
MAY — SEP
For 2027 entry, applicants can start working on UCAS from May 2026 and submit completed applications from early September.
Tip:Make the personal statement academic.
15 OCT
Submit the UCAS application by 6pm UK time on 15 October 2026.
Tip:Do not leave the school reference or payment to the final day.
10 NOV
Submit one piece of written work in English by 10 November 2026.
Tip:Choose the work that best shows argument quality.
MID NOV — EARLY DEC
Interview invitations are usually sent between mid-November and early December, with about a week’s notice possible.
Tip:Check email frequently and test your Microsoft Teams setup.
8 — 11 DEC
Philosophy and Theology first and second college interviews are scheduled for Monday 8 to Thursday 11 December 2026.
Tip:Practise thinking aloud and revising an argument when challenged.
12 JAN
Shortlisted candidates for 2027 entry are due to receive the outcome of their application via UCAS on 12 January 2027.
Tip:Read both UCAS and any college email.
5 MAY
UCAS states that applicants who receive all decisions by 31 March 2027 must reply by 5 May 2027, except where Extra applies.
Tip:Check UCAS Hub for the personal reply deadline.
AUG
Conditional offer holders should check results and UCAS confirmation when qualification results are released. Exact 2027 results day remains unverified here.
Tip:Have college contact details and UCAS login ready.
SEP — MAY (Yr 12)
Read in both philosophy and theology, practise clear argument, and identify a recent essay that could demonstrate structured reasoning.
Tip:Keep one strong essay under 2,000 words in reserve.
MAY — SEP
For 2027 entry, applicants can start working on UCAS from May 2026 and submit completed applications from early September.
Tip:Make the personal statement academic.
15 OCT
Submit the UCAS application by 6pm UK time on 15 October 2026.
Tip:Do not leave the school reference or payment to the final day.
10 NOV
Submit one piece of written work in English by 10 November 2026.
Tip:Choose the work that best shows argument quality.
MID NOV — EARLY DEC
Interview invitations are usually sent between mid-November and early December, with about a week’s notice possible.
Tip:Check email frequently and test your Microsoft Teams setup.
8 — 11 DEC
Philosophy and Theology first and second college interviews are scheduled for Monday 8 to Thursday 11 December 2026.
Tip:Practise thinking aloud and revising an argument when challenged.
12 JAN
Shortlisted candidates for 2027 entry are due to receive the outcome of their application via UCAS on 12 January 2027.
Tip:Read both UCAS and any college email.
5 MAY
UCAS states that applicants who receive all decisions by 31 March 2027 must reply by 5 May 2027, except where Extra applies.
Tip:Check UCAS Hub for the personal reply deadline.
AUG
Conditional offer holders should check results and UCAS confirmation when qualification results are released. Exact 2027 results day remains unverified here.
Tip:Have college contact details and UCAS login ready.
Section 05
There is no written admissions test for Oxford Philosophy and Theology for 2026 entry. Applicants should therefore focus on the UCAS application, academic record, teacher reference, submitted written work and interview preparation rather than preparing for a separate test.
Section 06
Interview Invitation
Late Nov
Arrival to Interview
Early Dec
Technical Question
Mid Dec
Decision
Early Jan
Interview Invitation
Late Nov
Arrival to Interview
Early Dec
Technical Question
Mid Dec
Decision
Early Jan
Question Types You’ll See
Oxford’s interview guidance describes interviews as academic conversations modelled on tutorial-style teaching. For Philosophy and Theology, discussion may use submitted written work, unfamiliar ideas, a religious, philosophical or ethical issue, or a brief text.
The interview is testing interest and motivation, critical and analytical approach, reasoned defence of a viewpoint, response to counterarguments, close reading and independent thinking. Current official sources verify online interviews, panel norm, December timing, course-specific dates and assessment style, but not exact duration.
We recommend practising aloud with short texts and problems rather than memorising answers. A useful answer shows what you think, why you think it, what might weaken it and how you would revise it.
Practise with realistic questions from our free Philosophy and Theology mock interview bank.
Free Mock Questions →Section 07
Weighting of Admission Factors
100%
Indicative — exact balance varies by college and year.
Oxford does not publish numerical admissions weights for Philosophy and Theology, and the percentage weights used in the visual criteria are editorial estimates only. The retained criteria are interview performance, academic record, written work, personal statement and reference/contextual evidence.
The course does not use an admissions test, and no portfolio requirement is listed for Philosophy and Theology. That makes the written work and interview especially important as direct evidence of how you handle argument and interpretation.
In reality, decisions are not made from a single impressive sentence in the personal statement. Tutors are looking for a consistent academic pattern: good grades, serious reading, clear writing and the ability to think under pressure.
Section 08
Start with the problems that made you think harder. For this course, a strong paragraph might compare a philosophical argument with a theological interpretation, then explain where the tension lies.
Avoid writing a general statement about loving big questions. It is better to show one precise question, one text or lecture you used, one objection you considered and one way your view changed.
Because no required school subject is specified, the statement can help connect your academic route to the course. We recommend showing evidence of essay-based thinking, since Oxford notes that an essay-writing subject can be helpful even though it is not required.
See a full annotated example with line-by-line expert commentary.
Philosophy and Theology PS Example →Section 09
Supercurricular work is not an admissions requirement, but the suggested activities are retained as preparation guidance for this page. The best projects are small enough to finish and precise enough to discuss in an interview.
How to present a project:
Project ideas include comparing two arguments for God’s existence, building a mini dossier on evil and suffering, and close-reading a primary religious text with a philosophical commentary.
Good supercurricular work should leave a trace: a question, a summary, an objection, or a better definition. The suggested activities are useful because they produce material you can discuss.
These are support, not substitute. The real value is in how you think about them afterwards.
Competitions are not required; what they do well is stretch argument, structure and independent writing. One or two done well beats five half-attempted.
Section 10
Section 11
One piece of written work in English is required for Philosophy and Theology. It should be from current or recent study, no more than 2,000 words, and does not need to be on Philosophy, Theology or Religion.
The deadline is 10 November 2026. There is a source conflict: Oxford’s summary table lists none, while the official course page explicitly requires one piece; this draft follows the course page and faculty guidance.
We recommend choosing work that shows argument rather than decoration. A plain, well-structured essay with definitions, evidence and objections is usually more useful than a dramatic topic handled loosely.
Section 12
For philosophy foundations, start with Bertrand Russell’s The Problems of Philosophy, which is described as a concise entry point into scepticism, knowledge and philosophical method. Edward Craig’s Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction gives a compact map of core philosophical questions.
For theology, David F. Ford’s Theology: A Very Short Introduction is retained as a balanced introduction, while Augustine’s Confessions connects philosophy and theology through a primary text. The point is not to collect book titles, but to practise moving from summary to argument.
For video and audio, Wireless Philosophy is useful for short animated explanations, The Royal Institute of Philosophy for public lectures and debates, and Closer To Truth for long-form interviews on mind, meaning and religion. Philosophy Bites, The Panpsycast Philosophy Podcast and In Our Time: Philosophy give different levels of discussion and can help you test whether you can explain an argument in your own words.
For structured courses, Coursera’s Philosophy, Science and Religion is directly relevant to philosophical argument, science and religion, Introduction to the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible) supports academic study of religious texts, Philosophy and the Science of Human Nature connects ethics, political philosophy and human nature, and MIT OpenCourseWare’s Problems of Philosophy gives a university-level introduction.
Section 13
43 colleges offer this subject. ~20% of applicants submit an open application. ~33% of successful applicants receive an offer from a college they did not specify of places come through the pool.
Oxford is collegiate, and the data used here counts 43 colleges including societies and permanent private halls. For Philosophy and Theology, the current central course-college list includes Christ Church, Harris Manchester College, Jesus College, Keble College, Lady Margaret Hall, Mansfield College, Oriel College, Pembroke College, Regent’s Park College, St John’s College, St Peter’s College, Worcester College and Wycliffe Hall.
Oxford uses reallocation to spread shortlisted candidates across colleges, and open applications are assigned to colleges with relatively fewer applications for the course that year. The college-choice data gives around a fifth of applicants making open applications and around a third of successful applicants receiving an offer from a college they did not specify.
College choice affects living and tutorial community, but should not be treated as a shortcut to admission because colleges follow a common admissions framework. We recommend choosing a college for practical reasons: accommodation, size, location and whether it offers the course.
Section 14
Where graduates of this course head after leaving — by sector, as reported in the university’s destinations survey.
Full employer lists, median salary bands, and sector notes live on the careers data page.
No official Philosophy and Theology-only sector split was located, so the careers data below uses Oxford Humanities-sector data as a labelled proxy. The course-page careers material and sector proxy should therefore be read as broad destination context, not as a promise that one degree leads to one career path.
The transferable skill is disciplined interpretation: reading carefully, separating claims from evidence, and writing a conclusion that follows from the argument. That can be useful in law, education, public policy, journalism, consulting, finance, charity work and further academic study, but the available data does not provide Philosophy and Theology-only percentages for those routes.
Section 15
Oxford uses contextual data to understand achievement in context, but it does not replace the academic standard. For UK applicants, contextual information may include school performance, individual performance against school averages, area indicators, Free School Meals since age 11, care experience and widening participation flags.
Applicants from the most disadvantaged backgrounds may be strongly recommended for shortlisting if evidence suggests they are likely to meet the offer and perform suitably in any required test; Philosophy and Theology has no admissions test for 2027 entry. GCSE or IGCSE grades are not required for this course, and where applicants have not taken GCSEs, teacher references and internal data can help provide context.
Watch & Learn
Student vlogs, mock interviews, lecture tasters, and admissions advice.
Official Oxford-style demonstration interview.
Introduces a central argument in philosophy of religion.
Starting point for analysing the problem of evil.
Open Yale Hebrew Bible lecture.
Connects philosophical texts with modern evidence.
All videos are the property of their respective creators.
Further Reading
Super-curricular reading, websites, and tools recommended by our expert tutors.
by University of Oxford
Canonical source for requirements, structure, written work and admissions statistics.
by Stanford University
Advanced philosophy articles and bibliographies.
by University of Tennessee at Martin
Accessible peer-reviewed philosophy articles.
by University of Oxford
Explains online interview format and assessment.
by University of Oxford
Official guidance on submitting written work.
by David Edmonds and Nigel Warburton
Samples major philosophy topics.
by Open Yale Courses / Christine Hayes
Good preparation for biblical studies.
by University of Edinburgh / Coursera
Relevant to philosophical argument, science and religion.
Free Resource
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Weekly tips on Philosophy and Theology admissions, application deadlines, and interview prep — straight from Oxford graduates.