Music @ Somerville, Oxford in 2018

Interview format

4x 30 min interviews

Interview content

Extracts from musicology books, pieces of music, personal statement, written work

Best preparation

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Advice in hindsight

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Final thoughts

Keep on top of latest things going on in your subject; don't be afraid to ask questions at interview; try looking at some example questions.

Remember this advice isn't official. There is no guarantee it will reflect your experience because university applications can change between years. Check the official Cambridge and Oxford websites for more accurate information on this year's application format and the required tests.

Also, someone else's experience may not reflect your own. Most interviews are more like conversations than tests and like, any conversation, they are quite interactive.

Interview Format

Number of interviews: 4

Skype interview: No

Length of interviews: 30 minutes each

What happened in your interview? How did you feel?

We discussed pieces from musicology books - what I thought the writer was trying to say and what I thought of it. We talked about pieces of music, discussing the structure. and I gave a brief analysis. There was discussion about the written work I submitted and my personal statement.

The interview was very relaxed. It was slightly daunting, as you’re talking to people that know everything about music/your subject, but they’re nice so it was relaxed.

How did you prepare?

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What advice do you have for future applicants?