Biology at Oxford covers multiple scales of biology, from ecology and whole organisms to cells and genes. I’d recommend it if you are interested in: plants, animals, microbes, genetics, cellular processes, and evolution. If you want to learn about the nitty gritty of enzymes and genes- do biochemistry. If you care more about people- do human or biomedical sciences. You might have to study parts of biology you aren’t particularly interested in, so be prepared for that. I spent the whole of first year complaining that I still had to think about the xylem and phloem, but luckily you can choose to specialise later in the course.

The application process does not involve an entrance exam. On one hand that’s good- less stress and one fewer exam! On the other hand, you need to make sure that your personal statement stands out, because there are no test results to separate you from the other applicants.

If all has gone well, then you’ll be offered an interview. Oxford interviews usually span over a few days and you get to stay at the college you applied to. Interviews can be stressful, but try to find time to relax and enjoy Oxford. I spent the night before my first interview flicking through my biology textbook trying to cram in some last minute information, and it was thoroughly unhelpful! I’d have been much better off just relaxing so I could go into it with a clear head. They’re going to ask you things that you aren’t expected to know- the tutors want to hear how you think, not some information you’ve memorised minutes before the interview. I found it easier to view the interview as an interesting discussion rather than an interrogation (even if it might feel that way!). The tutors are trying to find out whether you’d thrive in a tutorial-based learning environment, not scare you.

Biological sciences is such a fun course that’s quite broad, but also allows specialisation if you know what you want to do. I spent the first year dissecting animals like squid, trout and a mouse, while also doing laboratory based experiments using bacteria and enzymes. There’s also a first year ecology trip to Wales, which feels like a childhood dream come true (albeit with way more stats involved). If the thought of doing biology for the next 4 years excites you, then go for it!