Application and Admission

Admission to the Programme is on a competitive but flexible basis. Students must apply to the Dean's Office by the prescribed deadline (normally early in February) and, prior to applying, should consult with the chair of their major department. Any questions students might have about curricular offerings at Oxford can also be raised with the Director of the Programme in Oxford. In addition to completing the formal application form, students can expect to be interviewed at Williams and will subsequently need to complete an application for Visiting Student status at Oxford University. All admissions to the Programme are subject to approval by Exeter College. Students can expect to be notified of acceptance before Spring Break. It is normally expected that they will have completed the College's distribution requirement by the end of their sophomore year.

In making its decisions, the Admissions Committee of the Williams-Exeter Programme takes student GPA into account, expects all applicants to have demonstrated capacity for rigorous independent work and extensive essay writing, and looks favorably on those students whose intellectual maturity, curiosity and enthusiasm would best prepare them for a demanding course of study in Oxford. All applicants are required to solicit at least two letters of recommendation from faculty members at Williams. Because of the emphasis at Oxford on weekly written work for each tutorial course, at least one of those faculty members should be able to offer an assessment of the applicant's writing ability.