Interview days and offers

What we do next

Once we receive your application, we check it through and aim to contact you within five working days about the next steps. We normally send off for the additional references before inviting an applicant to interview.

If you’re applying for postgraduate study or recognition of prior learning, we want to make sure Oak Hill can serve you well, and so a committee will assess how your previous theological study maps on to Oak Hill's programmes - please allow extra time for this.

Inviting you to an interview day

Oak Hill interviews all applicants who meet the basic admissions criteria. We have specific dates for our Interview Days, and on the application form you’re asked to state which of the published dates you’re available for. If you’re married and a full time applicant, your spouse is encouraged to attend the Interview Day with you.  The dates are listed below and are a mixture of in-person and Zoom dates. 

Thursday 8 December 2022, in person, starting at 10.10am

Monday 23 January 2023, on Zoom, starting at 1.20pm

Thursday 9 February 2023, in person, starting at 11.00am

Tuesday 21 February 2023, in person, starting at 10.10am

Thursday 9 March 2023, in person, starting at 11.00am

Thursday 23 March 2023, on Zoom, starting at 1.20pm

Wednesday 3 May 2023, on Zoom, starting at 9.20am

Thursday 11 May 2023, in person, starting at 11.00am

Wednesday 7 June 2023, in person, starting at 11.00am

Monday 12 June 2023, on Zoom, starting at 11.00am

Friday 16 June 2023, on Zoom, starting at 9.20am

How to prepare for the interview day

To ensure you get as much out of the day as possible, please ensure you’ve read the material about the programme you’ve applied for, and made a note of any questions or concerns that you have.  You may want to read over your application form again as it will form the basis for part of the interview.

What the day consists of

Interview days usually include a small group session with the College leadership to hear more about Oak Hill and our programmes, an individual interview with a faculty member, a short conversation with our Director of Pastoral Care, time to chat with current students, and a conversation with a member of the Admissions Office to discuss funding, accommodation and any needs you may have. You’ll also have the option of attending chapel for interview days which are during a teaching period. On in-person interview days, you'll also have the option of having a tour round College.

Offer of a place

Normally we’ll contact you within five working days of your interview to confirm whether or not we’re offering you a place. With offer letters we include a financial assurances form, the terms and conditions, response forms and, for full time applicants, an accommodation form.  For those who have indicated an intention to apply for either the Access Bursary or Partnership Bursary, we will also provide the relevant application form at this stage.

Accepting your offer and applying for accommodation

All offer letters include a date (which we normally agree with you at interview day) by which you will reply to us in writing. If you wish to apply for College-owned accommodation, you may submit the accommodation form when you accept an offer of a place to study.  There will be two accommodation dates you’ll want to be aware of:

• To be considered for the first phase of allocation of married accommodation you must apply by 12noon Thursday 30 March 2023.
• To be guaranteed single accommodation you must apply by 12noon Wednesday 24 May 2023.

Read about the accommodation application and allocation process on the 'Getting ready to apply' page.

Submit bursary application

When you accept an offer, you can also submit your application for either an Access Bursary or a Partnership Bursary.  The closing date for applying for each bursary is:

• Access Bursary: 12noon Monday 3 July 2023
• Partnership Bursary: 12noon Monday 17 July 2023

Meeting conditions of an offer

A standard condition in all offer letters is that you satisfactorily complete a financial assurances form, which then needs to be signed off by Oak Hill. Other conditions might be you obtaining certain exam results, our receipt of remaining references, or, for ordinands, being recommended for training following your Stage 2 Discernment Panel.

The purpose of the financial assurances form is to show us how you plan to fund the first year of your studies. We look for evidence of sufficient financial planning, including both actual and pledged funds, so that when you start at Oak Hill you can focus on your training and aren’t faced with the possibility of being unable to pay your fees or rent. You will be asked to provide supporting documentation for each source of support listed on the financial assurances form.

Receiving an assured place

Once you accept an offer and meet all conditions, you’ll be given an assured place. If you’ve applied for accommodation, you can be formally considered for the allocation of College accommodation at this stage. If by mid-July you do not yet have an assured place, we will agree with you a final date for your place to be assured.