Selecting one course out of the 70+ courses offered between Oxford and Cambridge can seem like a rather daunting task. As you find out more about the various courses, these are some factors that can guide you in shortlisting your options:
Are you interested in the academic content that the course covers?
It is important to be thorough in researching the course curriculum. Courses with similar-sounding names can have different focuses. For instance Economics and Management at Oxford, Economics at Cambridge, and Land Economy at Cambridge.
Do you fulfil the subject requirements set by the course?
Some courses require candidates to have taken certain subjects at A-Level/ IB. It is important to check that you have taken the required subject(s) at the required level (e.g. IB Higher Level Math). It is also helpful to note if the course has any recommended subjects that are helpful, but not strictly required.
Some courses require candidates to take admissions test(s) and/or submit written work to inform the admissions selection process.
Which admissions tests do you feel most confident in tackling, or would you prefer not having to take one? Do you have (an) eligible piece(s) of written work that you are really proud of?
There are slight differences in the typical grades (A-Level/ IB) required for admission between Oxbridge courses (and even colleges).
How confident are you in fulfilling the typical offer conditions for a particular course?
Courses can vary from between 3 to 5 years in length. Do you have any preferences in this regard?
If both universities offer similar courses in your area of interest, or if you don't mind the differences between their course offerings, looking at the overall characteristics of each university (e.g. environment, location) can help to inform your choice.
A comprehensive repository with compiled resources from introduction videos to sample interviews for every Oxbridge course, the Oxbridge Course Library is a great place to start exploring which Oxbridge course is the one for you.