Oxford History and Politics acceptance rate and TARA admissions
For 2025 entry, 373 people applied for History and Politics at Oxford and 54 received offers: 14%. There is no offer calculator for this course yet: TARA is new to History and Politics for 2027 entry.
There is no offer calculator for Oxford History and Politics yet
We build a calculator only when a university has released how the chance of an offer changes with test score. For History and Politics, Oxford has released:
- no TARA scores or results of any kind: TARA is new to this course for 2027 entry
- HAT averages only: the course's old test was a history test, the HAT, and its scores cannot be converted to TARA
- no HAT scores linked to offers for this course: the 2025 release sorts the 322 applicants' scores apart from the outcomes
- no TSA results either: the course used the HAT before TARA, so there is no TSA history to build on
- counts of applicants, interviews and offers for every year from 2007 to 2025 entry, and average interview, written work and GCSE figures
Until Oxford releases TARA results for History and Politics, no one outside Oxford can work out a chance of an offer from a TARA score. What Oxford has released is below.
Where these figures come from
373applicants for 2025 entry
19 yearsof Oxford's own figures (2007 to 2025 entry)
No TARA yetHAT averages only, 2021 to 2025
Sources
Every figure on this page is Oxford's own, from its published admissions statistics, its replies to Freedom of Information requests and the History Faculty's reports and information sheet.
Oxford counts applicants: each person counts once, under the course they applied for. The offer rates on this page are offers divided by applicants. Oxford's own published acceptance rate divides the number who took up a place by applicants, so it comes out lower.
- University of Oxford, Admissions Statistics 2025 by course (Tableau): applicants, interviews, offers and acceptances by year of entry, 2007 to 2025, with UK, EU and non-EU applicants and school type.
- University of Oxford, Annual Admissions Statistical Report 2026: UK applicants and offers by school type, 2023 to 2025.
- University of Oxford, FOI/202501/73: HAT, written work and interview scores of 2025 applicants to History and Politics, with scores and outcomes in separate tables.
- University of Oxford, FOI/202601/77: GCSE grades of applicants, interviewees and offer holders, 2025 and 2026.
- Faculty of History, information for applicants 2020-21 to 2024-25: HAT averages for History and all its joint courses, and how the HAT and GCSEs were weighted.
- Faculty of History, History and Politics 2026: admissions statistics and shortlisting and interview process (information for applicants 2025-26).
- UAT-UK, Course List 2027 Entry and About TARA: the test for the course, its modules and its scale.
- University of Oxford, History and Politics course page for 2027 entry, read on 1 November 2026.
Oxford History and Politics admissions statistics
What the numbers Oxford has released say about getting into History and Politics: how many people apply, how many are interviewed, what Oxford has said about its old test and about TARA, and how the odds differ by where you apply from and your school.
14.5%
of applicants got an offer for 2025 entry
More detail
54 offers from 373 applicants, against 23.2% for 2007 entry (54 from 233).
463
applicants for 2021 entry, the most in any year
More detail
Offers stayed between 38 and 61 a year from 2007 to 2025, so the offer rate fell as applications grew. There were 373 applicants for 2025 entry.
17.0%
of UK applicants got an offer, 2023 to 2025 entry
More detail
117 of 690, against 11.2% of non-EU applicants (33 of 294) and 10.0% of EU applicants (11 of 110).
No TARA
results released yet
More detail
The course used the HAT before TARA. The 322 applicants with a HAT score for 2025 entry averaged 56.85, and Oxford has released no HAT scores linked to offers for this course.
Oxford History and Politics acceptance rate
14.5% of applicants got an offer for 2025 entry: 54 offers from 373 applicants.
For 2025 entry, 373 people applied for History and Politics at Oxford, 176 were interviewed and 54 received offers.
That is an offer rate of 14.5%, or about 1 in 7. Oxford's own published acceptance rate counts only those who took up a place: 47 of 373, or 13%, for 2025 entry.
Applicants rose from 233 for 2007 entry to a peak of 463 for 2021 entry, while offers stayed between 38 and 61 a year.
- Applied
- Interviewed
- Offered a place
Offers have been steady, between 49 and 54 in each of the last four years, so the offer rate follows the number of applicants: 23.2% for 2007 entry, 11.7% for 2021 and 14.5% for 2025.
Show the data as a table
| Entry | Applicants | Interviewed | Offers | Offer rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 373 | 176 (47%) | 54 | 14.5% |
| 2024 | 340 | 131 (39%) | 53 | 15.6% |
| 2023 | 381 | 142 (37%) | 54 | 14.2% |
| 2022 | 420 | 156 (37%) | 49 | 11.7% |
| 2021 | 463 | 166 (36%) | 54 | 11.7% |
| 2020 | 415 | 175 (42%) | 52 | 12.5% |
| 2019 | 403 | 172 (43%) | 45 | 11.2% |
| 2018 | 383 | 161 (42%) | 49 | 12.8% |
| 2017 | 417 | 187 (45%) | 61 | 14.6% |
| 2016 | 355 | 202 (57%) | 54 | 15.2% |
| 2015 | 317 | 191 (60%) | 46 | 14.5% |
| 2014 | 288 | 154 (53%) | 38 | 13.2% |
| 2013 | 279 | 151 (54%) | 43 | 15.4% |
| 2012 | 304 | 166 (55%) | 55 | 18.1% |
| 2011 | 315 | 178 (57%) | 49 | 15.6% |
| 2010 | 344 | 205 (60%) | 49 | 14.2% |
| 2009 | 282 | 191 (68%) | 51 | 18.1% |
| 2008 | 244 | 174 (71%) | 52 | 21.3% |
| 2007 | 233 | 169 (73%) | 54 | 23.2% |
What TARA score do you need for Oxford History and Politics?
Oxford has released no TARA results for History and Politics: TARA is new to the course for 2027 entry.
TARA is the test for Oxford History and Politics from 2027 entry, with all modules compulsory, according to UAT-UK, which runs it. Oxford has not released how applicants score on it.
TARA has three modules: Critical Thinking, Problem Solving and a Writing Task. Critical Thinking and Problem Solving are each scored from 1 to 9 to one decimal place, scaled so the median is 4.5 and the 90th percentile 7.0. The Writing Task is not scored: UAT-UK sends your response to the universities. There is no pass mark.
The course's old test was the HAT, the History Aptitude Test, a history test with its own scoring. A HAT score cannot be converted into a TARA score, and the course has no TSA results either, so there are no earlier scores that map onto TARA. We give no TARA target because Oxford has released nothing to base one on.
Oxford has released the 2025 HAT scores, sorted apart from outcomes. The 322 History and Politics applicants with a HAT score averaged 56.85 (median 56, middle half from 47.25 to 66.75), and 67 of them scored 70 or more.
It has not released HAT scores linked to offers for this course alone: the 2025 release gives scores and outcomes in separate tables, sorted apart.
The History Faculty's reports do give HAT averages by stage, for History and all its joint courses combined, which include History and Politics. For 2025 entry applicants averaged 59.2, those interviewed 64.6 and offer holders 69.2, as a percentage of 90 points. Offer holders averaged between 9.6 and 10.7 points above all applicants in each year from 2021 to 2025.
Every score in this section is a HAT score, so none of it gives a TARA target. For the 2026 entry round the Faculty ran no HAT and shortlisted on contextualised GCSEs alone (your grades read against your school's results).
For how Oxford uses TARA across its courses, see our guide to TARA for Oxford.
Show the table
| Entry | All applicants | Interviewed | Offer holders |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 59.2 | 64.6 | 69.2 |
| 2024 | 59.8 | 65.4 | 70.5 |
| 2023 | 61.8 | 68.3 | 71.4 |
| 2022 | 58.5 | 65.5 | 68.8 |
| 2021 | 61.7 | 68.76 | 71.94 |
How many applicants are interviewed?
47% of applicants were interviewed for 2025 entry (176 of 373), and about 3 in 10 of them got an offer.
Oxford interviewed 47% of applicants for 2025 entry, against 36% for 2021 entry and 73% for 2007 entry. Of the 176 interviewed in 2025, 54 received offers (30.7%).
The Faculty ranks applicants for interview and aims for about 2.5 interviews for every place. Over 2023 to 2025 entry, 161 offers followed 449 interviews (35.9%).
- Interviewed (of applicants)
- Offered a place (of interviewed)
Shortlisted candidates have interviews in both History and Politics, held online for 2026 entry, and each interview is scored. Oxford has released average interview scores but none linked to individual offers.
For 2025 entry, the 173 applicants with a first-college History interview score averaged 6.33, and the 168 with a first-college Politics score 6.55.
These averages describe past applicants and give no mark to aim for. After the first interviews, high-scoring candidates without a place can be given a second interview at another college.
UK and international applicants
UK applicants had the higher offer rate in each three-year period: 17.0% for 2023 to 2025 entry, against 11.2% for non-EU and 10.0% for EU applicants.
Over 2023 to 2025 entry, 117 of 690 UK applicants got an offer (17.0%), and 33 of 294 non-EU applicants (11.2%). EU applicants had 11 offers from 110 (10.0%).
Interview rates differed too: 44% of UK applicants were interviewed, against 36% of non-EU and 35% of EU applicants.
- Interviewed
- Offered a place
Once interviewed, 38% of UK applicants got an offer, 31% of non-EU and 29% of EU.
Show the data as a table
| Applying from | 2017 to 2019 | 2020 to 2022 | 2023 to 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK | 15.4% (118 of 764) | 14.5% (121 of 833) | 17.0% (117 of 690) |
| Non-EU | 10.7% (29 of 272) | 7.4% (23 of 309) | 11.2% (33 of 294) |
| EU | 4.8% (8 of 167) | 7.1% (11 of 156) | 10.0% (11 of 110) |
State and independent schools
For 2023 to 2025 entry, 18.6% of UK state-school applicants got an offer, against 13.7% of those from independent schools.
Over 2023 to 2025 entry, 95 of 512 UK state-school applicants got an offer (18.6%), against 20 of 146 from independent schools (13.7%).
The earlier periods went either way: independent-school applicants had the higher rate for 2017 to 2019 entry, and state-school applicants the higher rate for 2020 to 2022. With 20 to 95 offers in a group, the rates move a lot between periods.
- State
- Independent
State schools supply about 3 in 4 UK applicants: 512 of 690 over 2023 to 2025 entry, and 95 of the 117 UK offers.
Oxford does not publish interview rates by school type for UK applicants alone, so these rates cannot show where in the process the difference arises.
Show the data as a table
| Entry | State | Independent |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 to 2025 | 18.6% (95 of 512) | 13.7% (20 of 146) |
| 2020 to 2022 | 15.8% (92 of 581) | 9.7% (20 of 206) |
| 2017 to 2019 | 15.3% (81 of 528) | 16.7% (35 of 209) |
How much do GCSEs matter?
Offer holders averaged 6.66 GCSEs at grade 9 for 2025 entry, against 3.55 for all applicants.
For 2026 entry the Faculty shortlisted on contextualised GCSEs alone: your grades read against your school's results. For 2025 entry they carried half the shortlisting score, with the contextualised HAT carrying the other half.
Offer holders had the strongest GCSEs. For 2025 entry they averaged 6.66 grade 9s, against 4.86 for those interviewed and 3.55 for all applicants.
For 2026 entry the pattern held: offer holders averaged 5.95 grade 9s and 2.62 grade 8s, against 3.41 and 2.41 for all applicants.
These are averages for candidates with six or more numeric GCSEs. They describe who received offers and give no GCSE profile to aim for.
Show the table
| Entry | Group | Grade 9 | Grade 8 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | All applicants | 3.41 | 2.41 |
| 2026 | Interviewed | 4.99 | 2.67 |
| 2026 | Offer holders | 5.95 | 2.62 |
| 2025 | All applicants | 3.55 | 2.31 |
| 2025 | Interviewed | 4.86 | 2.52 |
| 2025 | Offer holders | 6.66 | 1.91 |
Entry requirements
Oxford asks for AAA at A-level for 2027 entry, or 38 IB points with 666 at Higher Level, and TARA.
History is highly recommended; no subject is required. TARA is compulsory, and applicants sit all three modules.
Shortlisted applicants have at least one online interview in December. Oxford's course page gives a three-year average for 2023 to 2025 entry of 41% of applicants interviewed and 13% successful, with an intake of 46 a year.
Show the table
| Requirement | |
|---|---|
| A-levels | AAA; History highly recommended |
| IB Diploma | 38 points, 666 at Higher Level |
| Admissions test | TARA, all three modules |
| Interview | Yes, online, in December |
Questions about Oxford History and Politics admissions
What is the acceptance rate for Oxford History and Politics?
About 14.5% of applicants got an offer for 2025 entry: 54 offers from 373 applicants. Oxford's own published acceptance rate, which counts only those who took up a place, was 13% (47). Roughly 47% of applicants are interviewed, and about 3 in 10 of those interviewed get an offer.
What TARA score do I need for Oxford History and Politics?
Oxford has released no TARA results for the course, which uses TARA for the first time for 2027 entry, so no one outside Oxford can say what score gives a good chance. UAT-UK, which runs the test, sets no pass mark. We give no target because there is nothing to base one on.
Why is there no offer calculator for Oxford History and Politics?
A calculator needs offer rates at each test score. The old test was the HAT, whose scores cannot be converted to TARA, and Oxford has not released HAT scores linked to offers for this course. It has released HAT averages and counts of applicants, interviews and offers.
What was the HAT, and is it still used?
The HAT was the History Aptitude Test. It counted in the History Faculty's weightings for each entry year from 2021 to 2025, with half the shortlisting score for 2025 entry. The Faculty ran no HAT for 2026 entry, and TARA replaces it from 2027 entry.
Does Oxford interview for History and Politics?
Yes. Shortlisted applicants have interviews in History and in Politics, held online for 2026 entry. For 2025 entry 176 of 373 applicants were interviewed (47%), and the Faculty aims for about 2.5 interviews for every place.
Are UK applicants more likely to get an offer than international applicants?
Over 2023 to 2025 entry, 17.0% of UK applicants got an offer, against 11.2% of non-EU and 10.0% of EU applicants. UK applicants also had the higher offer rate in 2017 to 2019 and 2020 to 2022. Oxford has released nothing to show why.
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Updated 1 November 2026 · GhostPrep is independent of the University of Oxford. Figures describe past applicants and are for planning, with no guarantee of any outcome.