Oxford University Admissions Director Visits ISNS |牛津招生总监专访

James began by emphasising that Oxford’s official website and digital resources are the best and most reliable source for students to understand the course they are applying for — including criteria, entry requirements, and admissions tests.

He explained that applicants must complete a subject-specific admissions test, followed by an academic interview for shortlisted candidates. The interview, he noted, “is not like a job interview — it’s more like a mock tutorial.”

“The tutors want to have a genuine academic conversation. They’re not testing what you already know, but how you think, apply knowledge, and respond to new ideas,” said James.

The process, he added, aims to identify students with creativity, critical thinking, and intellectual potential — those who can thrive in Oxford’s unique tutorial-based learning environment.

A common question from ISNS students concerned extracurricular activities. James clarified that while Oxford values students who are beyond academics, the admissions decision is primarily based on a combination of academic performance and engagement with super-curricular activities — the learning students pursue beyond school that connects directly to their chosen subject.

“We appreciate extracurriculars, but we focus on your academic engagement — how you’ve gone deeper into your subject,” he explained. “Oxford looks for genuine curiosity and commitment to your subject, not a checklist of achievements.”

He reminded students that authentic passion and honest self-reflection are key when writing their personal statements:

“Tutors can easily recognise authenticity. Your statement should reflect your intellectual journey, not what someone else thinks Oxford wants to hear.”

James also discussed Oxford’s commitment to innovation and its forward-looking approach to Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education. Oxford recently became the first UK university to provide all staff and students with free access to ChatGPT Edu, in partnership with OpenAI.

According to Jayna Devani, International Education Lead at OpenAI, “Oxford University is setting a new standard for how AI can enrich higher education, giving students more opportunities for personalised learning, improving efficiencies for faculty, and helping advance research breakthroughs.”

Oxford’s Professor Freya Johnston, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education, noted that “university-wide access to ChatGPT Edu will support the development of rigorous academic skills and digital literacy, preparing graduates to thrive and lead by example in an AI-enabled world.”

Through robust governance, training, and support, the University ensures that all its students and staff use AI safely, responsibly, and effectively to enrich and personalise learning.

Dr. Linda Li, who accompanied James on the visit, shared her personal journey as an Oxford graduate and provided practical advice on how students can prepare for the intellectual challenges and unique tutorial system. Her insights inspired students and parents, reinforcing the importance of curiosity, persistence, and academic integrity.

This milestone visit — Oxford’s first in China in a decade — provided ISNS students and families with a rare opportunity to gain firsthand insight from the world’s top university. It also underscored ISNS’s ongoing commitment to connecting students with leading global institutions and preparing them to “care locally and thrive globally.”