Oxford University is known for being one the best in the world; it’s up there with the elite schools like Harvard, Stanford and Imperial College London. If you’re at Oxford, you know that you’re the best of the best. You also know that you’re going to spend a lot more of your time on UK Essays rather than going out partying! But what are the most popular subjects at Oxford?
Philosophy, Politics and Economics
One degree is usually enough for most people, but this course combines three subjects into one, and it’s only offered at a few exclusive institutions in the UK. It might be one of the most popular Oxford courses, but it’s also one of the hardest to get onto with only 15% acceptance rate. Most of the UK’s politicians have studied the subject at Oxford, so if you want to follow in their footsteps, this is the place to be. PPE students are able to study a wide range of subjects in a great level of depth, setting them up for a career as one of the world’s top leaders in the future.
Medicine
Medicine is the second most popular undergraduate course at Oxford, with over 1,500 applications. Degrees in medicine are offered up and down the country but it makes sense that if you’re going to train to be a doctor, you’d want to do it at one of the best institutions in the world. The six year long course will give you plenty of real world experience in hospitals and GP surgeries, as well as time studying the scientific basis of clinical practice. Competition is high, so students have to go through a rigorous application process before they are accepted.
Law
Oxford is home to one of the UK’s largest law schools. An Oxford Law degree will develop students’ ability to analyse texts and apply what they’ve learnt in a practical situation. So, if you’re looking for a career in the industry, you’re going to be pretty well set up. There’s even the option to study abroad for a year at any of the joined programmes in Europe, which is partly responsible for the course’s popularity.
English Literature
Anyone with a love for books, language and writing should consider an English Literature degree. There were over a thousand applications for Literature at Oxford in 2016, making it one of the most popular degrees offered. The course is popular because of the broad range of study available; students can study from the origins of the language right through to the latest contemporary texts. There’s so much you can do with an English degree from Oxford, from pursuing further study to journalism or even working in advertising.
History
Learning about the world’s history can give you a better understanding of society today. It’s definitely a fascinating subject area, but it’s also among the hardest courses to get onto at Oxford with a measly 11% acceptance rate. Demand for History is so high because the course gives students the opportunity to pursue their areas of interest, whether it’s ancient civilisations or the most recent World Wars. It also helps that it’s taught by some of the top researchers in the relevant fields, so students really will be learning from the best of the best.