UPDATE: This article was originally posted on January 15, 2020. It has been updated with new information and tips below.
With its focus on ethical leadership and social impact, Oxford is at the top of the list for an increasing number of applicants who seek to pursue (or continue pursuing) a high-impact, global career.
However, with impressive recruiting statistics and its unique 1+1 MBA + Master’s program, competition to join Oxford’s elite MBA is more difficult than ever.
That’s why we’ve prepared this guide to help you use your Oxford admissions interview to stand out. We’ve rounded up not only our best tips but have also included sample interview questions to ensure you give your Oxford application your best shot.
How the Oxford Interview Works
Making sure you shine during your Oxford interview is no easy task.
Oxford interviews, since they are conducted by the admissions committee, tend to be highly personalized and based on your whole application.
During the interview, the interviewer is also trying to gauge how solid your motivations for wanting to pursue an MBA are and how interested you seem in the Oxford program.
Interviewers often ask many standard MBA interview questions, as well as questions designed to test just how collaborative you really are. You can also expect numerous follow-up questions.
Our clients who have interviewed with Oxford in the past say that the interviewer was very friendly and demonstrated a genuine interest in their answers. Though questions do tend to focus on standard MBA interview questions, be ready for anything.
Who will interview you?
You will interview with a member of Oxford’s admissions committee. After being invited to interview, you will be given further instructions on how to schedule your interview.
Will the interviewer have read my application?
Yes. The interviewer will have read your entire application. Past reports indicate that interviewers develop specific questions based on your application, so make sure to take the time to review what you presented.
How long will the Oxford interview last?
30 minutes.
Who is Oxford Looking For?
Source: @oxfordsbs on Instagram
“Oxford University has a rich tradition of developing leaders. Our MBA programme builds on this legacy, providing you with a solid foundation in core business principles while developing a broadened mindset and understanding of the role of business in society.” Oxford Saïd Admissions
Every year, Oxford searches the globe (63 countries are represented in the 2023-2024 cohort) for outstanding professionals to join its annual class of 334 students. With a strong emphasis on diversity, there is no “typical” Oxford student, yet the average admitted student for the 2023-2024 cohort had a 680 median GMAT score and five years of work experience.
Source: Oxford Saïd website
Beyond the impressive statistics, though, Oxford is looking for candidates who want to make a positive impact on the world through their careers. That’s why, in addition to strong academic performance (demonstrated through the test scores and university grades), Oxford seeks candidates who possess the following qualities:
Make sure you also check out this Instagram video with more tips on what Oxford looks for!
Trends in Recent Oxford Saïd MBA Interviews
Recent feedback from candidates interviewing at Oxford Saïd highlights several notable trends that you should consider when preparing for your interview:
Emphasis on Leadership and Social Impact
Oxford Saïd consistently prioritizes leadership and social impact in their interviews. Candidates frequently report questions that require them to showcase how they’ve demonstrated leadership in complex situations and how they plan to make a social or global impact. This trend is deeply rooted in Oxford’s mission of nurturing ethical leaders who can tackle global challenges.
Increasing Focus on Diversity and Inclusion
Questions about diversity, inclusion, and how candidates will contribute to a diverse campus community have become more common. This reflects the broader trend across top MBA programs to foster inclusive leadership, as applicants report being asked about their contributions to diverse teams and handling cross-cultural interactions.
Reflection on Personal and Professional Growth
Many interviewees have highlighted that Oxford is particularly interested in personal and professional growth, as well as the ability to reflect on past experiences. The interview questions focus on understanding how candidates learn from failures and how they plan to continue growing as professionals and leaders.
How Can You Prepare For Your Oxford Interview?
Though no interview is 100% predictable, Oxford interviews do tend to center around a fairly standard list of MBA interview questions. As such, we have prepared some model questions below that previous candidates have received in their past Oxford interviews.
What questions are asked in the Oxford Saïd MBA interview?
The questions below are drawn from our clients’ interview reports, as well as from sites like clearadmit.com. Though these are not all the potential questions you could possibly receive during your Oxford interview, preparing for these (and any follow-up questions you think you might be asked) should give you a very solid foundation for your interview.
STARTING UP QUESTIONS
- Tell me about yourself.
- Expect follow-up questions like Why did you choose your university? Why did you change jobs (if applicable)?
- What are your short-term and long-term career goals?
- Name three firms you would like to work at after your MBA.
- What are your short-term and long-term goals?
- What networks do you have in those firms?
- What do you plan to do between now and the time you join those firms to boost your chances?
- Why do you want an MBA?
- Why now?
- Why Oxford?
- Why a 1-year MBA?
- What will you contribute to the Oxford community in terms of clubs and sharing your experience?
- What other schools have you applied to? If you get into all of them, how will you choose where to go?
LEADERSHIP & TEAMWORK
- Tell me about a time when you didn’t get along with your team. What did you do?
- Talk about a time when you failed in a team environment. What did you do to overcome it?
- Tell me about a time when you disagreed with your boss. How did you handle the situation?
- What is your leadership style? Can you give me an example?
- Tell me about a time you had to convince others to follow your lead.
- Tell me about a time when you had to lead a team through a challenge.
MISCELLANEOUS BEHAVIORAL
- Tell me an example of when things didn’t work out as you planned.
- Tell me about a time you failed. What did you learn from it?
- How would your friends describe you? Colleagues?
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
- Tell me about a time you faced an obstacle in your career. How did you overcome it?
- Tell me about a time you had to deal with a difficult teammate.
- Tell me about a time you used your communication skills.
- Tell me something that shows how you will be able to contribute to diversity and inclusion on campus.
- Tell me about a time you worked with people from different cultures.
- What negative attributes do you think your references put in their letter/ areas they recommended for improvement?
- Can you describe a time when you had to make a decision with ethical considerations?
CLOSING
- Is there anything else you would like us to know about you? / Is there anything you wish I had asked you?
- Questions for me?
We have found that answering real interview questions on the spot is a much better means of preparation than reading lists of interview questions for most candidates.
We highly suggest you take a look at mock interview questions and sample interview responses before your interview.
Our MBA Resource Center has dozens of real interview mocks from Oxford, as well as detailed guides to help you prepare for questions ranging from “Why our MBA program?” to “Tell us about a time you failed.”
The Ellin Lolis Consulting MBA Resource Center is your one-stop shop to interview success. Click to join!
If you’re still not quite confident with your interview skills, our interview experts can help you craft your answers or prepare you for the Oxford Saïd interview through mock interviews tailored to your profile.
What to do if you get a question you weren’t prepared for
Despite your best preparation, it’s likely that you’ll encounter a question you didn’t anticipate. The key to handling such moments is staying calm and confident.
First, take a moment to gather your thoughts. Taking a deep breath or a sip of water can give you a few extra seconds to formulate your answer. Remember, the interviewer is often testing your ability to think on your feet, so a well-structured response is more important than a fast one.
If you’re struggling to find an example from your experience, you can rely on a hypothetical response. However, it’s always better to use a real-life example, even if you modify the scenario slightly to fit the question. Regardless of the nature of the question, ensure that your response aligns with Oxford Saïd’s core values—leadership, ethical decision-making, global impact, and diversity.
Make sure you get into Oxford
You have stressed about every aspect of your MBA application, and now you are ready for your interview! With the right preparation, this can be your chance to shine and get a highly-coveted spot at an elite business school.
However, maybe you don’t know where to start in preparing, or maybe you tend to ramble on and lose focus during interviews. Maybe you’ve even downloaded sample questions and written out your answers. The problem is, when you try to apply these templates to your own story, it doesn’t quite work.
Our interview prep focuses on helping you determine how to present yourself during your MBA interview while using appropriate, impact-driven language without being artificial, or worse, robotic.
This approach was critical to helping our client Janette earn her spot at Oxford.
Our interview prep focuses on helping you determine how to present yourself during your MBA interview while using appropriate, impact-driven language without being artificial, or worse, robotic.
That’s why 98.9% of our clients secure admissions to at least one of their target schools.
Want to put the Ellin Lolis advantage to work for you? Schedule your preparation session with our team of interview experts today!
Real MBA Essays That Got People In
School-specific sample essays that got our clients accepted
