Deciding between Harvard and Oxford, two prestigious universities, involves considering several key factors. Here’s a breakdown to help you determine which institution better aligns with your goals and aspirations.
Harvard vs Oxford: Rankings
A reliable sign of a reputable college or university is its global reputation. Various organizations rank educational institutions worldwide, from best to worst. To find the top universities, you need to look into these rankings. Fortunately, we have already researched for you.
Ranking Agencies
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Oxford University
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Harvard University
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THE - World University Rankings (2024)
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#1
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#4
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QS - World University Rankings (2024)
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#3
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#4
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US News & World Report - Global Rankings (2023)
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#5
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#1
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Suggested: How to Get into Harvard From India
Harvard vs Oxford: Acceptance Rate
Let's examine the selectivity of Harvard and Oxford. We can understand how selective these universities are by analyzing the acceptance rate trends over the past five years.
Admission Years
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Harvard University
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Oxford University
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2022-23
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3.59%
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16.8%
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2021-22
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3.4%
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14.5%
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2020-21
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3.2%
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13%
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2019-20
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3.4%
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14.1%
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2018-19
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4.9%
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14.1%
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The data indicates that Harvard’s acceptance rate is consistently lower than Oxford’s. This means Harvard is more selective, while Oxford has a relatively higher acceptance rate. Therefore, international students are likely to have a better chance of being admitted to Oxford than Harvard.
Suggested: How to Get Into Oxford University from India
Harvard vs Oxford: Popular Courses
Harvard offers 3,700 courses, while Oxford provides over 250 courses across its 18 constituent colleges. Both universities have a selection of highly sought-after programs. The MBA is the most popular course at both Harvard and Oxford. Here is a list of popular courses available at these prestigious institutions.
University
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Popular Courses
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Harvard
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- Accounting & Finance
- Engineering & Technology
- MBA
- Mechanical Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering
- Performing Arts
- Pharmacy and Pharmacology
- Physics and Astronomy
- Politics and International Studies
- Law
- Medicine
- Arts & Design
- Sociology
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Oxford
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- African & Middle Eastern Studies
- Anthropology
- Art & Design
- Asian Studies
- Biomedical Sciences
- Business & Management Studies
- Classics
- English
- History
- Law
- Philosophy
- Politics
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Also watch: MBA vs MS in the UK
Harvard vs Oxford: Eligibility Criteria
Let's take a look at the eligibility criteria for Harvard vs Oxford.
Harvard
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Oxford
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Bachelor’s Degree Transcript: Official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended
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Standardized Scores: GRE, GMAT, LSAT, or MCAT scores depending on the program. Submit TOEFL and IELTS scores to demonstrate English proficiency.
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Letters of Recommendation: Two to three letters of recommendation from academic or professional references.
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Resume or CV: Detailed resume or curriculum vitae highlighting relevant academic and work experience.
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Statement of Purpose: Essay outlining the student's academic and professional goals and how the program aligns with them.
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Application Fee: Non-refundable application fee.
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Hold a first-class or strong upper-second-class undergraduate degree.
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A GPA of 3.5–3.8 (US) or a First Class/Division in India.
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IELTS score of 7.0 or 100 in TOEFL.
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Submit a statement of purpose or research proposal.
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Personal essays showcasing unique traits and diverse contributions
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Provide at least 2 professional or academic letters of recommendation (LORs).
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Strengthen your application with relevant extracurricular activities or achievements.
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Check out our YouTube video on Universities in the USA with No Application Fee!
Harvard vs Oxford: Admission Process
The admission process for both universities more or less remains the same. The admissions process at Harvard and Oxford involves the following steps:
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Application Submission: Ensure you submit a complete application by the specified deadline for your chosen program. This includes all required documents, such as transcripts, SOPs, LORs, and test scores.
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Review Process: Your application will be reviewed by the admissions committee. They will consider factors such as academic performance, test scores, essays, and letters of recommendation.
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Interview Process: Some programs may require interviews as part of the selection process. Prepare for these interviews by familiarising yourself with the program and demonstrating suitability.
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Admission Decision: After the review process, you will be notified of the admission decision. If accepted, you'll receive further instructions on enrollment and any additional requirements.
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Confirmation of Admission: Upon acceptance, you may need to confirm your intention to enroll by a specified deadline and fulfill any remaining requirements, such as submitting financial documentation or visa applications.
Harvard vs Oxford: Tuition Fee
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The average tuition fee for a graduate program at Harvard University is around USD 60,000 (INR 49,97,580).
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The average tuition fee for a graduate program at Oxford University is around USD 39,000 (INR 32,00,000).
Harvard vs Oxford: Average Salary
Harvard
|
Oxford
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USD 1,68,000 (INR 1,39,93,220)
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GBP 59,000 (INR 62,60,050)
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Harvard vs Oxford: Recruiters
Harvard
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Oxford
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- Amazon
- Adobe
- Berkshire Partners
- Cisco
- Deloitte
- Altman Solon
- Emile Learning
- Enable Medicine
- Endeavor
- Figment
- Gravity
- McKinsey
- Innosight LLC
- L'Oreal
- Mastercard
- Netflix
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- Alvarez and Marsal
- Accenture
- Bain
- Dalberg
- EY-Parthenon
- McKinsey
- AMEX
- Bank of America
- CITI
- Inovia Capital
- JP Morgan
- UBS
- Amazon
- Google
- IBM
- Microsoft
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Did you know that Sarah, a Yocket Premium student, received admission from Oxford University for a Master's in Genomic Medicine? With a bachelor's in biotechnology, Sarah made it to one of the most prestigious universities in the world! Watch this video to learn about her journey, interview process, and tips on how to make it to Oxford!