Oxbridge Interview / The Oxford interview / Theology and Religion
Oxford Theology and Religion interview: the six things tutors listen for
No A-level Religious Studies needed. Oxford lists six things its theology tutors listen for, from close textual reading to responding to counterarguments, and publishes two of their questions.
Updated September 2026Oxford's Theology and Religion course interviews about 65% of applicants and admits about 32%, with an intake of 40 (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 by 10 November. Oxford's course page lists six things tutors look for at interview: your ability to think clearly, including understanding complex concepts, forming sound arguments and listening and responding to counterarguments; openness to learning; ability at close textual reading and interpretation; enthusiasm and motivation, including independent thought and reading; ability to develop ideas from your submitted work; and oral communication. You may be asked to consider a religious, philosophical or ethical question or to study a brief text or image, and no prior subject knowledge is expected. The tutors' published questions ask whether an extreme-sports risk-taker is a hero or a fool, and whether religion has 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 Theology and Religion practice is a spoken mock in the tutorial style: five questions from Oxford's published set and its six criteria, one follow-up each, about fifteen minutes, then spoken feedback and a written report. It does not provide a text or image 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 Theology and Religion 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 Theology and Religion 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, on any subject, by 10 November 2026; a mock exam essay or homework essay is fine.
- 2Shortlisting: about 65% of applicants are interviewed. Invitations arrive from mid-November to early December.
- 3Interviews are online in December, usually two tutors.
- 4You may be asked to consider a religious, philosophical or ethical question, or to study a brief text or image.
- 5Tutors look for: clear thinking (complex concepts, sound arguments, responding to counterarguments); openness to learning; close textual reading and interpretation; enthusiasm and motivation with independent reading; developing ideas from your written work; oral communication.
- 6Decisions on 12 January 2027 via UCAS.
Interview questions
Two questions below are Oxford's own published sample questions, marked (published by Oxford). The rest are Merra practice questions written to Oxford's six listed criteria; they are not Oxford's.
“Is someone who risks their own life (and those of others) in extreme sports or endurance activities a hero or a fool?”
“Is religion of value whether or not there is a God?”
“You say religion does good. I say the same good could be done without it. What's your reply?”
“Take a religious text or story you know. What does one word in it do that a different word wouldn't?”
“What's the difference between faith and belief? Try to define each without using the other.”
“Tell me about a religious tradition you know little about. What would you want to ask its adherents first?”
“What did your essay argue, and what would you add to it now?”
“Why theology rather than philosophy or history, which also study religion?”
Pricing
FAQs
How competitive is Oxford Theology and Religion?
About 65% of applicants are interviewed and about 32% are successful, with an intake of 40 (three-year average 2023-25).
Do I need A-level Religious Studies for Oxford Theology?
No. The tutors say the course does not require it and that students are not expected to have prior subject knowledge.
What written work is required?
One piece in English of up to 2,000 words on any subject, by 10 November, showing clear reasoning, logical structure, clear writing and independent thought.
What do Oxford theology tutors look for at interview?
Six things: clear thinking including responding to counterarguments, openness to learning, close textual reading, enthusiasm and independent reading, developing ideas from your written work, and oral communication.
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 Theology and Religion interview2 free coaching sessions · available until used · no card needed · no subscription