My name is Ameya, and I’m currently studying a BA Jurisprudence, which is the undergraduate law degree, at the University of Oxford. I’m from Bangalore, India, and I completed my schooling at Malya Aditi International School for all my school years. I followed the IGCSE curriculum in Grades 9 and 10 and then pursued A-levels in Grades 11 and 12.

Throughout high school, I participated in Debate, which is what fostered my interest in Law. I was able to engage in rigorous academic related dialouge, and learn the structure of different debating styles which are loosely borrowed from the legal process that I am now studying.

Academic Background

For IGCSE, I took nine subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, English Literature, English Language, History, Art and Design, and Hindi. I achieved strong grades in these subjects.

In Grades 11 and 12, I took five A-levels: Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, and English Literature. At the beginning of Grade 12, I realised that I wanted to study law. This didn’t align perfectly with my science-heavy subject combination, but since it was too late to change subjects, I decided to apply anyway.

In hindsight, I don’t think your subjects need to directly match law, as long as you can demonstrate interest and relevant skills elsewhere.

Applying to the UK and Oxford

The UK application process is relatively straightforward and consists of a few core elements. The most important factor is grades, as UK universities place significant emphasis on predicted and achieved academic performance, and most courses have specific grade requirements.

Another key difference is that the UK system is very course-specific, meaning you apply directly to the exact degree you want to study, and changing courses later can be difficult. Along with grades, applicants submit a personal statement. When I applied, this was a single essay, but it has since been changed into a set of four structured questions focused on your motivations, academic interests, and engagement with the subject.

A teacher reference is also required, though this is largely handled by your school. It can play a key role in emphasising any hardships you had that explain lower academics, and also depict your character to the university.

For Oxford specifically, most courses require an admissions test. For law, this is the LNAT, which is an aptitude-based test used by several UK universities. Because many applicants have strong grades, this test plays a major role in shortlisting candidates. After this stage, shortlisted applicants are invited for interviews, which are conducted by tutors who may end up teaching you. These interviews focus on how you think, analyse problems, and engage with ideas rather than prior knowledge for a course like Law. It is important to prepare well for them, because they are used to filter applicants, using online resources, sample YouTube videos and having your friends or parents practice with you can make all the difference.

Grades and Offer

My Oxford offer was conditional on achieving three As at A-level, which is intentionally set at a relatively achievable level to increase access. I applied with strong predicted grades, and my achieved IGCSE results were also important because they were the only completed exam results available at the time of my application, although predicted grades have more emphasis placed on them.

For Law you also have to take the LNAT, and university admissions interviews are often scheduled for students with strong predicted grades and LNAT scores.

Visa Process as an International Student

The UK student visa process is fairly simple, provided you start early and stay organised. As an Indian student, I had to submit additional documents such as proof of finances and a tuberculosis test. While the information online can sometimes feel unclear, there is no interview involved for the Visa. Once you submit your passport and biometrics, visas are usually processed quite quickly.

I completed the entire process myself without using an agency and didn’t face any issues. I also don’t know anyone who did not end up getting their UK visas once they had their conditional offers in place. The only thing is how quickly you apply for it, especially because A-level results come out in August, which is relatively later compared to IB or CBSE, hence being prompt is important.

Supercurriculars and Personal Statement

For law, supercurriculars are especially important, especially for someone like me whose coursework did not align directly with the degree itself.

Through a school internship programme, I was able to shadow a senior advocate at the Karnataka State High Court for a week, where I observed court proceedings and assisted with basic legal research. This experience helped me understand what legal work actually looks like and confirmed my interest in the field.

I also spent time reading introductory legal texts, particularly those recommended to first-year law students, and reflected on the ideas and questions they raised in my personal statement. Which is something that the UK universities do place a lot of emphasis on, I think the reading culture is a huge part of the University experience in the UK.

In addition, my background in debating played a significant role, as skills like argument-building, critical thinking, and public speaking are highly relevant to studying law. I only decided to apply for law a few months before the deadline, and I don’t think universities expect applicants to have shaped their entire lives around the subject, as long as they can clearly explain their interest.

Life at Oxford

Studying law at Oxford is academically intense, and a significant amount of time is spent reading and preparing for tutorials. That said, the experience beyond academics is very much what you make of it. There are constant lectures, talks, and discussions by leading academics and professionals, often multiple on the same day, which are extremely interesting.

Outside of my degree, I continue to debate, play basketball regularly with people in my college, and contribute to crosswords for the student newspaper. The opportunities are present, especially at an academically rigorous institute like Oxford; you just need to go ahead and tap into them.

As an international student, making friends does require some effort, especially if you’ve been in the same school environment for most of your life, like I was. However, Oxford is highly international, and many students are adjusting to a new environment, just like you, which makes it easier to find common ground and build connections.

Final Advice

My biggest advice to students applying to the UK and to Oxford is to think very carefully about the course you choose. Because the UK system is so course-specific, your degree choice plays a huge role in shaping your university experience. Rather than choosing based purely on rankings or prestige, take the time to explore different fields, understand what studying them actually involves, and make an informed decision that genuinely aligns with your interests and goals.