How to apply

From submitting your application, through to when you arrive at Oxford Brookes University, we’re here to help you every step of the way.

Application options

There are various ways to apply to study with us as an international student. The application process will vary depending on the type of course you are applying for.

Undergraduate

Apply directly to the University or through UCAS (using the institution code OXFD O66).

Postgraduate

Apply directly to the University.

Certain courses (such as the Graduate Diploma in Law and some education courses) have different application routes. Please check the individual course pages for information about your chosen course.

International pathways courses

For pre-sessional English, International Foundation Diplomas and Pre-Master’s courses, you should apply directly to the University.

Research degrees

The application to enrolment process for research degree programmes differs to the process for our taught undergraduate, postgraduate and pathways programmes.

Students are advised to speak to their Postgraduate Research Tutor about their proposed study.
After speaking to their Postgraduate Research Tutor, students should submit an application for consideration.
Students will then receive an offer, which they will need to accept to proceed with their application.
Students will then receive a Visa Information Form from the Research Degrees Team.
Their CAS will be issued by the International Student Compliance Team.

Apply through an international agent

International agents are an important part of the international education ecosystem. They can, and do, provide you with advice on making the right choice about their study destination, and support you on how to get to that destination.

Oxford Brookes works with international education agents around the world who can advise you about study options at the University and can help you fill in an application form free of charge. If you are choosing to apply via an agent, we strongly recommend that you apply through one of our approved representatives in your country, for full application support and advice, including guidance throughout the CAS and visa process.

More than 7 in 10 Oxford Brookes international students choose to use an agent, and the overwhelming majority do not come into substantial problems. However, before you make the choice to use an agent, it’s really important that you consider and know a few things.

As part of the UK’s Agent Quality Framework, the British Council hosts some advice on choosing an agent - please make sure you look at it carefully!
At Oxford Brookes, we have an agent complaints procedure. If you are unhappy with the service your agent has provided, you can raise a complaint.
UK universities, like Oxford Brookes, pay a commission to agents for the support they provide. This means that you should ensure that you are not solely relying on their advice, but doing your own research too. If you are being pressured to choose a particular institution, and not presented with options, you should ask your agent why this is.
We assess an agent’s performance based on a few factors. This can include the quantity of students that they recommend to Oxford Brookes, and factors such as their compliance records, and the likelihood of an application from that agency arriving at Oxford Brookes.

You can find contact details for international agents based locally to you on our Your Country / Region webpages.

Selecting sandwich years

When submitting your application please check whether your course has a "sandwich" option (an industry placement or a year abroad). Please select the correct sandwich option on your application to ensure a smooth application process and avoid any delays during the CAS process.

International applicant standard timeline for September 2026 entry

The below timeline information is a guide. Please be aware that the dates outlined may be amended in line with visa application processing timelines and course closures.

We recommend that students aim to complete their application, CAS and visa processes as early as possible, to avoid delays and ensure they arrive on time for the commencement of their studies with us.

Application submission

By 31 July 2026

Some courses may fill up quickly, therefore applications may close early. We would advise that students submit their applications as early as possible, to allow time to meet relevant conditions of offer, and complete CAS and visa processes.

Deposit timeline

International offer holders for our September 2026 intake may qualify for an International Student Scholarship, provided they pay their deposit by a specified deadline.
Please visit our International scholarships and financial support webpage to find out more about available scholarships.

If offer holders are unable to pay their deposit within the scholarship window, we advise students to pay their deposit by 21 August 2026 to confirm their place for September 2026 entry.

Find out more about paying deposits

CAS issuance timeline

We recommend that students complete their CAS Shield requirements as early as possible. Early preparation is key to avoid delays in visa processing.

CAS Shield completion also includes the payment of the required deposit.

Students will be required to show financial evidence that meets the UKVI regulations for applying for a Student Visa. Find out more about financial evidence for your application.

Find out more about the CAS process

Induction and teaching start dates

14 September 2026 - induction events start
21 September 2026 - teaching starts

It’s important that students attend Induction Week, and they are expected to arrive in plenty of time for this introduction to life at Oxford Brookes. There are many activities hosted for international students, including welcome quizzes and workshops, walking tours of Oxford and visits to cities such as London. It’s a great opportunity for students to meet others and spend time settling into their new life in the UK. Students will also have a Course Induction to attend, which covers important aspects of their course before teaching starts. Read more about Induction Week on our new student webpages.

If you think you may arrive late for Induction Week, please contact our Induction Team.

Closed courses

Due to high demand, the following programmes are closed to new applications for September 2026 entry:

MEng Motorsport Engineering
MEng Mechanical Engineering
BEng Automotive Engineering with Electric Vehicles
MEng Automotive Engineering with Electric Vehicles
BEng Motorsport Engineering
BEng Mechanical Engineering
BEng Electro-Mechanical Engineering
BEng Motorsport Technology
BEng Mechanical Engineering Design
BSc Nursing (Children's)
BSc Physiotherapy
MSc Physiotherapy
BSc Midwifery
MSc Midwifery

Important information about visa sponsorship for specific countries and regions

Due to changes in the UKVI Basic Compliance Assessment (BCA) for Student Route Sponsors, especially around refusal rate thresholds, we are adopting a more targeted approach to balancing risks and opportunities in relation to international recruitment and compliance. We are using a range of intelligence to do this, including our internal data, sector trends and market feedback.

The Home Office has issued a visa brake for nationals of some countries, meaning Student visas will not currently be issued. These countries are:

Afghanistan
Cameroon
Myanmar
Sudan

Find out more information on this visa brake

The University has paused sponsorship of Student visas for nationals of some additional countries. These pauses are being enforced along the same policy lines as the UKVI visa brake. These countries / markets are:

Bangladesh (foundation, Pre-Masters and PG Business only, and all applicants from Sylhet)
Pakistan (foundation and Pre-Masters only)
Iran
South Sudan
Yemen

The University has put in place additional compliance measures for applicants from some markets. This is based on visa outcome trends within our own data in recent intakes, as well as those at sector level. These markets and compliance measures are as follows:

India (Punjab state only)

Full tuition fee deposit
No offers beyond 31 July
No CAS issuance beyond 14 August
Higher pre-CAS interview threshold (7.0 overall required with 7.0 in the four core questions)
7 days for students to provide evidence of a visa application from the date the CAS is received - CAS’ will be withdrawn where this evidence is not provided.

Pakistan

No offers beyond 31 July
No CAS issuance beyond 14 August
Higher pre-CAS interview threshold (7.0 overall required with 7.0 in the four core questions)
7 days for students to provide evidence of a visa application from the date the CAS is received - CAS’ will be withdrawn where this evidence is not provided.
Applicants from the states of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab will also need to pay the full first year tuition fee to release their CAS. The sequencing of deposits for these applicants, therefore, will be:
- £3,000 to firmly accept their offer of study.
- The remaining first year tuition fees for CAS release.

Bangladesh

No offers beyond 31 July
No CAS issuance beyond 14 August
Higher pre-CAS interview threshold (7.0 overall required with 7.0 in the four core questions)
7 days for students to provide evidence of a visa application from the date the CAS is received - CAS’ will be withdrawn where this evidence is not provided.

Nigeria

No CAS issuance beyond 14 August
7 days for students to provide evidence of a visa application from the date the CAS is received - CAS’ will be withdrawn where this evidence is not provided.
We will no longer issue a CAS to applicants who meet both of the following criteria:
- Proof of funds is from Globus or Parallex bank;
- Study application is for a programme related to ‘management’.

The University will continue to monitor the Basic Compliance Assessment position throughout 2026 and will remove and add compliance measures as appropriate.

Please reach out to your regional contact if you have any queries about these measures.

What supporting documents will I need?

Proof of your qualifications

We usually require full official academic transcripts and certificates, with officially translated copies if the originals are not in English.

Proof of your English language skills

If English is not your first language, we require proof of your English language ability. For further guidance on the qualifications we can accept, please see our English Language requirements.

A personal statement

Your personal statement is a chance to express why you have chosen the course, why you have chosen to study at Oxford Brookes and why you are a suitable candidate for the course. Your personal statement should be around 500 words in length.

An academic or professional reference letter

Reference letters should be from someone who knows you academically, such as your teacher. We may be able to accept a professional reference from a recent employer if you are unable to obtain an academic reference. The references should be on official headed paper, signed and dated.

More information

The pages below are designed to guide you through the next stages of your application, help to answer common queries and highlight what to expect next.

Academic entry requirements

English language requirements

Credit transfer