Oxbridge Interview / The Oxford interview / Philosophy and Theology
Oxford Philosophy and Theology interview: reasoned argument on abstract questions
Twenty-five places. Tutors ask you to consider a religious, philosophical or ethical question or a brief text and want 'the ability to defend a viewpoint by reasoned argument'. No prior knowledge expected.
Updated September 2026Oxford's Philosophy and Theology course interviews about 43% of applicants and admits about 17%, with an intake of 25 and a further 3% admitted to a different course (three-year average, 2023-25). There is no admissions test. You submit one piece of written work in English of up to 2,000 words on any subject (it need not be philosophy or theology) by 10 November, chosen to show clear thinking, logical structure, clear writing and independence of thought. Oxford says tutors look for interest in the proposed fields, a critical and analytical approach to abstract questions, and the ability to defend a viewpoint by reasoned argument; you may be asked to consider a religious, philosophical or ethical question or to study a brief text; and students are not expected to have prior subject knowledge. The published questions from the two faculties include 'what exactly is involved in blaming someone?' and 'is religion of value whether or not there is a God?'. Shortlisted applicants are interviewed online in December, usually by two tutors, often more than once and sometimes by a second college. Oxford calls it 'a short tutorial with someone who knows the subject well'.
Merra is not affiliated with the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, any college or UCAS.
Merra: practise it out loud before it counts
Merra's Oxford Philosophy and Theology practice is a spoken mock in the tutorial style: five questions across both fields from Oxford's published set and criteria, one follow-up each, about fifteen minutes, then spoken feedback and a written report. It does not provide a brief text to study.
- 1Sign up free — no card, 2 free coaching sessions available until used.
- 2Practise out loud — answer unseen discussion questions with an AI tutor.
- 3Get readiness feedback — see how you reasoned and how you handled the push, with a recording and transcript.
No card details required. Your first 2 coaching sessions are free.
Practise an Oxford-style Philosophy and Theology interview
An AI tutor asks an unseen discussion question out loud, pushes once with a follow-up, then moves on — the same shape as the real thing, minus the science problems on paper.
Practise an Oxford-style Philosophy and Theology interview2 free coaching sessions · available until used · no card needed · no subscriptionHow this interview works
- 1No admissions test. Submit one piece of written work in English, up to 2,000 words (shorter is fine), on any subject, composed as part of a recent course of study, by 10 November 2026. If you have nothing suitable, tutors accept a piece written for submission.
- 2Shortlisting: about 43% of applicants are interviewed. Invitations arrive from mid-November to early December.
- 3Interviews are online in December; for a joint course expect tutors from both philosophy and theology, sometimes separately.
- 4You may be asked to consider a religious, philosophical or ethical question, or to study a brief text. Interviewers are interested in how you think and approach questions.
- 5Tutors look for interest in the fields, a critical and analytical approach to abstract questions, and the ability to defend a viewpoint by reasoned argument. Prior subject knowledge is not expected.
- 6Decisions on 12 January 2027 via UCAS.
Interview questions
Four questions below are Oxford's own published sample questions from its Philosophy, PPE and Theology tutors, marked (published by Oxford). The rest are Merra practice questions written to the course's stated criteria; they are not Oxford's.
“What exactly do you think is involved in blaming someone?”
“Is religion of value whether or not there is a God?”
“Is someone who risks their own life, and others', in extreme sports a hero or a fool?”
“Are our deaths bad for us?”
“Can a religious believer and an atheist mean the same thing by the word 'good'? Take a side, then take the other.”
“If God knows what you'll do tomorrow, are you free to do otherwise? Where does that argument break?”
“What's the difference between believing something and knowing it? Give me a case that's hard to classify.”
“What religious or philosophical idea have you read about this year that you didn't expect to take seriously?”
Pricing
FAQs
How competitive is Oxford Philosophy and Theology?
About 43% of applicants are interviewed and about 17% are successful for an intake of 25, with 3% admitted to a different course (three-year average 2023-25).
What written work is required?
One piece in English of up to 2,000 words on any subject, not necessarily philosophy or theology, showing clear thinking, logical structure, clear writing and independence of thought, by 10 November.
Do I need to have studied philosophy or religious studies?
No. Oxford says students are not expected to have prior subject knowledge; interviewers are interested in how you think.
What happens in the interview?
You may be asked to consider a religious, philosophical or ethical question or to study a brief text, and tutors look for a critical, analytical approach and reasoned argument.
Is there an admissions test?
No written test for this course.
Official information
For the official course page and admissions details.
More Oxbridge interview guides
Merra is not affiliated with the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, any college or UCAS. Merra’s feedback is advisory only — it is not a guarantee of any offer or admission outcome.
The Oxbridge interview is spoken. Practise it that way.
Your first mock takes about 15 minutes: an unseen question, a follow-up, and feedback on how you reasoned. Free, no card.
Practise an Oxford-style Philosophy and Theology interview2 free coaching sessions · available until used · no card needed · no subscription