Does your Oxford course need written work by 10 November?

You have helped your child get the UCAS form in, and then you read that Oxford wants written work by 10 November. Maybe you are not even sure your child’s course needs it, or what Oxford written work is meant to be. This guide walks you through it in plain steps, so you know whether it applies to your child, what to send, and how to get it in on time.

First, does your course even need written work?

Not every Oxford course asks for written work. Only some do. So the first job is simple: check whether your child’s course is one of them. Here is the full list for 2027 entry, so you can find your child’s course in one place.

Some courses you might expect are not on the list. Modern Languages on its own, Philosophy, Politics and Economics, Law, Economics and Management, and the sciences do not ask for written work. If your child’s course is not on the list, open its course page to be sure.

What counts as Oxford written work

Here is the part worth getting right, and it is good news. Oxford written work is not a new essay your child writes for the application. It is a piece of work they already did for school or college. It should be in English and show the skills Oxford lists for the course: analytical, reasoning, language and writing skills.

A few plain rules. The work should be your child’s own, ideally marked by a teacher, and not rewritten or tidied up for Oxford. It can be typed or handwritten, as long as it is clear. No single piece can be longer than 2,000 words. Each piece needs a cover sheet that says how it was produced. You can read the full details on the official Oxford written work page.

The 10 November deadline and how to send it

The written-work deadline is separate from the UCAS deadline. Written work must arrive at the college by 10 November. That is the college your child applies to, or the one they are given if they make an open application. Oxford does not give a clock time for this one.

Your child does not send it straight away. After the UCAS application goes in, the college gets in touch to tell your child how to send the work online. Keep a copy, because if your child is shortlisted the work may come up at interview. Our guide to getting into Oxford or Cambridge covers the wider picture.

This clip shows a maths lesson recorded in Pencil Spaces, the online classroom used by Greenhill Academics.

Try this at home: a five-minute requirement check

You can do this in about five minutes. It is our own exercise, not an official task. You need a phone or laptop and your child’s folder of marked school work.

1. Minutes 0 to 1: Write down the exact name of your child’s Oxford course.
2. Minutes 1 to 3: Open that course’s page on the Oxford site. Note whether it asks for written work, the number of pieces, and what kind.
3. Minutes 3 to 4: Look through your child’s school work for pieces that already fit: their own work, ideally marked, not rewritten, and under 2,000 words.
4. Minutes 4 to 5: Pick the one or two that best show the skills the course lists, and note anything you are unsure about.

What should you look for?

Check that a piece is your child’s own and has not been changed for the application, and ideally that a teacher has already marked it. A piece that already fits is worth far more than one that has been tidied up.

What this cannot tell you

This check cannot tell you whether the tutors will think a piece is strong, whether your child will be shortlisted, or whether the college will accept an unusual piece. Where you are unsure, Oxford says to ask the college.

If you cannot find a piece that fits, or you want a second opinion, a tutor can talk it through with your child. They help your child choose, they do not rewrite the work.

How a tutor helps with the written work

A tutor cannot rewrite your child’s work, and they should not. Oxford wants your child’s own work, ideally marked by their school and not changed for the application. That is a line we do not cross.

What a tutor can do is help your child understand what the course asks for, look at which of their existing pieces best shows those skills, and get ready to talk about that piece at interview. They can also help your child grow as a writer in their normal school work, over time.

Our humanities tutors who can help

These three tutors studied humanities and support Oxbridge applications. Tell us your child’s course and we can help. You can also see our wider admissions consulting.

Laurie

Laurie read English at the University of Oxford (The Queen’s College) and earned a Double First. He helps Oxbridge applicants with personal statements and interviews, gives close feedback on essays, and teaches English and History.

Louis

Louis read Philosophy and French at the University of Oxford (Keble College) and earned a First. He helps Oxbridge applicants with personal statements and interviews, and helps students develop their essay writing.

George

George studied English Literature at the University of Manchester and Linguistics at the University of Cambridge. He teaches English and supports Oxbridge humanities applicants, with a strong track record across GCSE, A Level and admissions.

Questions parents ask us about written work

Still working out your child’s written work?

Tell us the course your child is applying for, and we can help you understand what Oxford asks for and how to get ready.

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