From the Leaving Cert to Oxbridge
One-to-one guidance from a current Oxford student who made the journey from an Irish classroom to Oxbridge — and knows exactly what the admissions tutors are looking for.
Online sessions · Flexible around school & study · No CAO conflict
I sat where you're sitting
I'm James, an undergraduate at the University of Oxford — and a few years ago I was an Irish secondary school student staring at the UCAS website wondering where to even begin. No one at my school had done it before. I figured it out the hard way, so you don't have to.
Applying to Oxford or Cambridge from Ireland is a different game: the deadlines land in the middle of sixth year, the admissions tests cover material the Leaving Cert doesn't, and the interview is unlike anything in the Irish system. I've been through every stage of it, recently, from this side of the Irish Sea.
- Current Oxford undergraduate
- Applied from the Irish Leaving Cert system
- First-hand, up-to-date knowledge of tests and interviews
- Sessions built around your school timetable
Every stage of the application, covered
Oxbridge admissions has four hurdles. Most Irish students only find out about three of them when it's too late. We'll prepare properly for all four.
Course & college strategy
Oxford or Cambridge? (You can't apply to both.) Which course fits your Leaving Cert subjects? Which college suits you — and does it even matter? We start with a clear, honest strategy session so every hour after it is well spent.
Personal statement & written work
The UCAS application asks you to show genuine engagement with your subject beyond the classroom — something the Leaving Cert never asks of you. We'll build real "super-curricular" evidence and turn it into an application that stands out.
Admissions test preparation
MAT, TSA, LNAT, ESAT, TMUA, UCAT — most Oxbridge courses have an entrance test sat in the autumn of sixth year, and they reward a style of thinking the Leaving Cert doesn't teach. We'll train it with past papers, timed practice and detailed review.
Mock interviews
The December interview is where offers are won. It's a conversation about ideas, not a recital of notes — and it's learnable. Realistic mock interviews in your subject, with honest feedback, until thinking aloud under pressure feels natural.
A year ahead of the CAO — by design
The single biggest mistake Irish applicants make is starting too late. Here's the shape of a well-run application. The earlier we start, the calmer it all is.
Year
Explore & build evidence
Reading, competitions, online courses and projects in your subject. This is what personal statements are made of — and it's far easier gathered over months than invented in a panic.
mer
Decide & draft
Lock in course, university and college choices. Draft the personal statement before sixth year starts, so the autumn belongs to test prep and school work.
–Oct
Submit & sit the test
The UCAS application for Oxford and Cambridge closes in mid-October — eight months before the CAO. Most admissions tests are sat around the same time. We'll be ready well in advance.
Interview
Shortlisted candidates are interviewed in December, usually online — which is great news for Irish applicants. By now you'll have done several full mock interviews with me.
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Offer & results
Decisions arrive in January. Offers are typically conditional on Leaving Cert results — usually a set of H1s and H2s in your Higher Level subjects, depending on the course. Then we get you over the line in June.
The Irish system doesn't prepare you for this — I do
Oxbridge admissions is designed around the British system. Irish applicants are competitive — but only if someone translates the process for them.
Nobody at school has done it
Most Irish schools send a handful of Oxbridge applicants a decade, if any. Guidance counsellors know the CAO inside-out — UCAS references, admissions tests and Oxbridge interviews are another world.
The timeline clashes with sixth year
Everything important happens between September and December of sixth year — exactly when school pressure peaks. A clear plan, started early, keeps the Oxbridge application from colliding with the Leaving Cert.
A different kind of thinking
The Leaving Cert rewards thorough preparation of a defined course. Oxbridge tests and interviews reward reasoning about the unfamiliar. That's a skill — and like any skill, it can be coached and practised.
Simple, honest rates
No lock-in, no gigantic "guaranteed offer" packages. Pay per session, or save with a bundle. Every new student starts with a free consultation call.
Single session
- One-to-one, subject-specific
- Personal statement, test prep or interview practice
- Notes & action points after every session
Application bundle
- Everything in single sessions
- Full personal statement development
- Marked past papers between sessions
- Email support throughout the cycle
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply to Oxbridge and still do the CAO?
Yes — and you should. UCAS and the CAO are completely separate applications, and almost every Irish Oxbridge applicant holds a full CAO list as well. Nothing about applying to Oxford or Cambridge affects your Irish options.
Can I apply to both Oxford and Cambridge?
No — undergraduate applicants must choose one or the other in a given year. Choosing well is one of the first things we'll work on: the courses, teaching styles and admissions tests differ more than people expect.
What Leaving Cert results do I need?
It varies by course, but typical offers ask for high grades across five or six Higher Level subjects — mostly H1s with some H2s, and specific subjects for certain courses (for example, H1 Maths for maths-heavy degrees). We'll check the exact requirements for your course together on the first call.
When should I start?
Ideally in fifth year, or the summer before sixth year. The application closes in mid-October of sixth year, so a September start means doing everything at once. That said — if you're reading this in September, get in touch anyway. Late is better than never.
Are sessions online or in person?
Online, over video call, which works brilliantly for this — the real interviews are typically online for international applicants too, so mock interviews over video are the most realistic practice you can get.
Do you guarantee an offer?
No, and you should be suspicious of anyone who does. What I guarantee is that you'll submit the strongest application you're capable of, walk into the interview prepared, and know that whatever happens, you gave it a genuine shot.
What about fees and funding at Oxbridge?
Irish (EU) students pay international fee arrangements that changed after Brexit, and the details vary — it's worth checking the universities' official pages early. I'm happy to talk through what I know from my own experience on our first call, but always verify the current figures with the universities directly.
Book your free consultation
A relaxed 20-minute call: tell me about your subjects and ambitions, and I'll tell you honestly what an Oxbridge application would look like for you — and whether it's worth going for. No obligation, no hard sell.
Email me to book Or write directly: jamesgaravan@gmail.com Or call: +353 83 115 2847