History · Head to head
Every figure on this page is taken from each university's own published requirements and admissions statistics, with the source named underneath.
Neither Oxford nor Cambridge History requires an admissions test for 2027 entry, so the application turns on your written work, your grades and your interview. Both ask you to submit marked school essays. Cambridge asks for the higher headline grade profile. With no test to filter on, the written work carries more weight here than in almost any science subject, and it is where most applicants underinvest.
Course requirements last verified for 2027 entry. Editorial review: 2026-08-17.
Oxford and Cambridge do not publish course-level competition the same way. Oxford publishes applicants per place; Cambridge publishes applications and offers, from which the offer rate below is derived. A place and an offer are not the same thing, so read each university's figure on its own terms rather than as a head-to-head score.
Sources
Entry requirements as each university publishes them for 2027 entry. Always confirm against the official course page before you apply, linked underneath.
| Oxford | Cambridge | |
|---|---|---|
| Official course name | History | History |
| Degree awarded | BA (Hons) | BA (Hons) |
| Duration | 3 years | 3 years |
| UCAS course code | V100 | V100 |
| Admissions test | None required | None required |
| Typical A-Level offerdiffers | AAA | A*AA |
| Typical IB offerdiffers | 38 with 666 at HL | Not published in registry |
| Required subjects | No specific subjects required | No specific subjects required |
| Interviewdiffers | 2 interviews, about 20 minutes each | 2 interviews, about 25 minutes each |
| Written work required | Yes | Yes |
Oxford
None required for 2027 entry.
Cambridge
None required for 2027 entry.
What this means for you: With no test to filter on, your submitted essays and your interview carry proportionally more weight than in almost any science subject. Treat the written work as a selection document, not an afterthought.
Oxford
Marked school essays submitted ahead of interview.
Cambridge
The same requirement.
What this means for you: Submit the essay that shows you arguing, not the one that shows you knowing. Interviewers read it before they meet you and frequently open by challenging its central claim.
Oxford
Two shorter interviews, typically opening from your written work or from a source handed to you on the day.
Cambridge
Two slightly longer interviews of the same character.
What this means for you: Being disagreed with is the format, not a bad sign. What is assessed is whether you can defend a position, concede when the evidence turns, and rebuild.
Oxford
A named History degree with breadth requirements across periods and a substantial thesis.
Cambridge
The Historical Tripos, similarly broad, organised into staged parts.
What this means for you: Both force you outside your comfort period. If you only want modern British history, read the paper lists before applying to either.
These differences apply whichever subject you apply for.
| Oxford | Cambridge | |
|---|---|---|
| UCAS institution codediffers | O33 | C05 |
| Teaching formatdiffers | Tutorial | Supervision |
| Term structurediffers | 3 eight-week terms (Michaelmas, Hilary, Trinity) | 3 eight-week terms (Michaelmas, Lent, Easter) |
| If your college cannot make an offerdiffers | Reallocation | Winter Pool |
| Extra form beyond UCASdiffers | None | My Cambridge Application (supplementary questionnaire) |
| Interview policydiffers | Oxford interviews approximately 50-60% of applicants overall, though this varies significantly by subject. Most shortlisted candidates receive 2-3 interviews. | Cambridge interviews approximately 75% of applicants overall. Nearly all applicants deemed potentially competitive are invited. Interviews are typically held at the college you applied to. |
The university-level answer changes once you look at the course. Here is the same comparison for the other subjects with published data on both sides.
Free Resource
Oxbridge Application Guide
Entry requirements, test dates and interview formats for both universities, in one plan you can work from.