Congratulations on securing an Oxford Economics interview! We know that this doesn’t leave you with much time to prepare, so we have spoken to previous Oxbridge applicants to compile tips and advice for the big day. Read on for interview tips, commonly asked questions and answer examples. We also asked Oxbridge students about their experiences to give you a real understanding of the Oxford interview process.
What is the Oxford Economics interview structure?
Each candidate has an interview with at least once at one college. This will likely be in the college you applied for (or, in the event you were pooled or did an open application, whichever college is hosting you). In some cases, you may have another additional interview at a second college. The interviews give you a chance to showcase your skills.
If you are applying for a joint degree (such as PPE), you will likely have separate interviews for each individual subject.
What are the Oxford Economics interview dates?
Dates for the Oxford Economics interviews for 2025 entry are currently unknown but based on previous years, they will likely take place at the beginning of December. The university will inform you about additional interviews soon after this, with these additional interviews taking place the week of or the week after.
It is not known yet whether the interviews will be held online or in-person.
Example Past Questions from Oxford Economics Interview
- General questions:
- Why do you want to study Economics at Oxford?
- What aspect of Economics are you most passionate about?
- What do you know about the course for Economics at Oxford?
- Tax: Why do governments tax their citizens? Given this equation, can you draw a graph, and tell me what the optimal rate of tax would be to maximise revenue? How could we work this out?
- Income per head: Why is income per head in the United States between 50 and 100 times larger than in countries such as Burundi and Malawi? (Essentially: why are some countries rich and some countries poor?)
- Bankers’ pay: Are bankers paid too much for what they do? Should the government be making efforts to limit how much money they get?
- New country: A new country forms in Europe, and along with it, they introduce a new currency. How would the international market value the worth of this currency?
- Monopoly: What is the optimal way to win at the board game Monopoly? Could you do something similar in real life?
Further Economics Interview Questions
- I will give you £100. You must offer someone part of the £100. If they accept, you get to keep the remaining money. However, if they decline, you get nothing. How much would you offer?
- Is it really possible to measure GDP?
- Would it be right for a government to intervene in the market?
- If there were three brand new, expensive, laptops in front of you, and you were given free choice, which one would you pick? Does this have any relevance to economics?
- Can you place a monetary value on this object? (They will show you a random object, such as a pen).
- I live in a small community, and I want to sell a piece of art. Would I earn more through raffle tickets or sealed bids?
Insider Guides: Oxford Economics Interview
What happens on the day of the Oxford Economics interview?
At the beginning of the Oxford Economics interview process, the university will share a timetable with your initial interview schedule. Later in the process, they may inform you of additional interviews.
I interviewed in 2019, so I sat my interviews in person. They moved to an online format in light of Covid-19. With online interviews, tutors sent interviewees links to a Microsoft Teams meeting for each of their interviews. They were let into these meetings at the time specified on their schedule.
Since I was applying for PPE, I had 3 interviews total – 2 on the second day and 1 on the final day.
What do you have to bring to your Oxford Economics interview?
Honestly we were not expected to bring anything! There was no dress code required; they said we should wear whatever we feel most comfortable in – from a suit to tracksuits.
The Economics interview was split between working through a maths question on paper, and talking through an abstract question. I would always suggest having a bottle of water on hand – this helps to keep you hydrated and gives you an extra few seconds to think before answering a hard question! Also, make sure you have a pen and paper in case you need to work things out!
What is the interview setting and how long is it?
I had one interview for economics, which took place in the room belonging to the tutor who led the interview. It was very casual; we were just sitting around a table on sofas having a conversation.
My interview was about 25 minutes total. 5 minutes of generic questions (such as “Why Oxford”, “Why economics”), followed by an interview of 20 minutes. There was also time at the end to ask your own questions. While this does not form part of the interview, it is a good idea to prepare a couple of questions to ask and think about how you word these. I would do some research on the course and the college where you are applying. To show that you have done this research, you can structure your questions accordingly.
For example, instead of asking “what is the teaching style used for the Economics course?”, you could say “I noticed on the website that the course is taught through problem-based learning (PBL). I was just wondering if this was accompanied with another method?”
What are the Oxford Economics interviewers like?
The interviewers I had for my Economics interview were very friendly and put you at ease! You have to remember, they want you to succeed and do your best, so it’s unlikely they will try and trick you or be really cold. They know how nerve-wracking it can be, so really try to ease you in by having some small talk at the start. If you get really stuck with a question, they will offer you a helping hand.
One of the tutors I was interviewed by told me how he was rejected from Oxford for his Bachelor’s. He knew first hand how scary it is, and he let us know that it is not the end of the world if we don’t get in – we should all be very proud for making it to the interview stage!
The Economics interview started off very structured (talking through a predetermined question and walking through the mathematics and reasoning behind it). Typically, the interviewers will have a list of predetermined follow up questions. However, if you bring up an interesting point of discussion, they may stick with this and let the discussion be a bit more free-flowing.
What are the best tips for planning my trip for my Oxford Economics Interview?
My experiences may differ from the students who are sitting online interviews, but I found that being distracted in the hours leading up to the interview helped. For example, going for a walk a few hours before to clear my head definitely helped the nerves.
In the 30 or so minutes leading up to my Economics interview, I made sure I had everything prepared, and then did something to distract myself, such as watching YouTube videos.
Whatever helps you get in the right mental headspace is crucial. Most importantly, try to get as much sleep as possible the night before. Do not stay up late and try to cram or prepare – this will not help. Relax and switch-off the night before, and get a good night’s rest. This is the best tip for preparation I can give.
Are there any academic or challenging Economics questions at the Oxford Interview?
The majority of my Oxford Economics interview consisted of challenging academic questions. The first question involved talking through a basic economics problem (relating to the Laffer curve). The tutors then showed me an equation and asked me to draw it and explain why it would have that shape. Then, they asked me to find the optimal rate of tax to maximise revenue – this was simple differentiation. From there on it seemed a bit less structured, and focused on various aspects I had brought up in my answers.
Are there any personality, work experience or extracurricular based Economics questions at the Oxford Interview?
I was not asked any personally, and think these questions are slightly less common. To prepare anyway, make sure you have an idea of what you would say if asked questions such as “give an example of a time you showed teamwork/initiative/overcame a problem”, “biggest strength/weakness”, “hobbies outside of the classroom”, etc.
The Oxford website cites that whilst interviewers may ask you about extra-curricular activities, they will not be used for judging your performance unless they help to showcase selection criteria for the specific course you are applying for.
Top Tips for the Oxford Economics Interview
Do mock-interviews as much as possible.
This can be with friends, teachers, parents – just get someone to put you on the spot and make you give a detailed answer. Whilst it is helpful thinking how you would answer questions on your own, being made to answer unseen questions under pressure is a whole different experience, and practising beforehand definitely helps.
Keep up to date with new economics news and advances.
If relevant to answering a question, bringing in real-life examples can really boost your answer and show you are passionate about the subject. Importantly though, do not try to force these examples in for the sake of doing it – the interviewer will be able to tell and may be deemed as irrelevant to the question.
It almost goes without saying but know your personal statement inside-out!
Whilst I was not asked about anything I put on mine, the last thing you want to do is for them to mention a book you have read or an economic concept you mentioned, for you to not be able to talk about it in detail. This would be a major red-flag to the interviewer.
Try to memorise some questions beforehand that you can prepare for.
It is very likely that at some point in the interview you will be asked questions such as “Tell me about yourself”, “Why Oxford/this college”, “Why Economics”. These are all questions you can prepare a well-thought out, structured answer for. Preparing for these beforehand will mean you will give a better answer than if you are thinking on the spot!
Listen to debates and speeches.
(I did this in the hour leading up to my interview). This helped for numerous reasons: it helped calm the nerves and distracted me beforehand. It also gave me motivation and helped me focus and get in a good frame of mind. Finally, and most importantly, in debates/speeches, the speaker must give a well-thought out answer. This helped me prepare for my interview – I found a few videos that resonated with me and adopted some of their methods of articulation which helped me give a more structured, clear answer.
Top Tips for the “Why Oxford” interview question
Make sure to mention the tutorial system and the college system. Both of these are unique and central to Oxford life. Think about why you would be excited about tutorials and how this unique style of learning might benefit you. Next, think about whether the college system appeals to you, and how you can contribute to college life. Coming to Oxford is not just about academics – they want well-rounded individuals who can contribute and get involved in everything that Oxford has to bring.
My Favourite Things about Studying Economics at Oxford University
The tutorial system is a major benefit. Typically, we have lectures at the beginning of the week where we go through the content. We then have the opportunity to do extra reading, and then around 3-4 days to do a problem sheet for Economics. For some modules (such as Microeconomics) this was a lot more focused on mathematics and involved a lot of equations and diagrams, whereas Macroeconomics was a bit more essay-based. We then hand in our work to tutors who mark them, in time to discuss the week’s work in a weekly tutorial. These typically last for an hour each week, with a tutor and around 1-2 other students. Tutorials are a great opportunity to get some feedback on your work, discuss the work and your own ideas with the tutor and your peers, or ask the tutor to go through a concept that you didn’t understand.
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