Personal experience: admission to the University of Oxford with a scholarship

Ekaterina Shatalova, student of the MA in English Literature at Oxford University, told how to get a full scholarship from the Hill Foundation and how to enter the best university in the world.

How did you come to the idea of ​​going abroad?Wasn't it scary to apply to one of the best universities in the world?

Of course, the thought of going to study abroad has always been, especially when you are studying to be a translator (I graduated in 2011).I started to think aboutOxfordin 2014, I even started filling out an application on the website, but then the Olympics in Sochi began and I went there as a volunteer translator, and then I completely got busy with work and left for a while.these thoughts.Last year my friends and I went to travel around England, looked among many cities andOxford , and then I decided it was time.Oxford was not my priority, I wanted to study in London.I applied to five universities, three through the Chevening scholarship, and Oxford was the last in the top three.In the rest, I applied already in the hope of university scholarships.I chose universities based on ratings and content of programs.It should be borne in mind that applying to top universities costs money (60-70 pounds).

How did you prepare the package of documents?What difficulties did you face?

The package of documents is standard almost everywhere.Translation of a diploma, personal statement or research proposal, two recommendations, sometimes a resume.Oxford needs three recommendations and two scientific articles.As a result, I was accepted by four universities (without a scholarship), Chevening did not select me, and Oxford provided its Hill Foundation scholarship for Russian researchers.You do not need separate documents for it, just indicate in the application that I would like to apply for this scholarship.The only condition I had was to confirm the level of the language with an international test.For example, IELTS.I've been preparing for a monthfor this exam and passed on 8 points (I needed 7.5).

You are a humanitarian who has received one of the most prestigious scholarships to study at the best university in the world.Tell us, what superpowers do you need to have to achieve such success?

I do not possess any superpowers, but I am a very meticulous and diligent person and I had a research base at the university.The only advice I can give is not to wait and not to waste time, now I only regret one thing - that I did not submit documents immediately after graduation.If anyone is interested, here islinkto my blog.

How was your move to Britain?

Then, after passing the exam, there were a lot of letters and a huge number of all kinds of documents, without which one cannot apply for a visa.But in the end everything was done, the visa was received, the tickets were bought.I am housing a college (paid from my scholarship), but this is not a room on campus, but a separate three-story double house with a kitchen and bathroom.

How much did the admission process take in total?From the decision to enroll to the receipt of the coveted letter of acceptance?

In September I started to deal with the documents, inOxfordfiled the last deadline already, probably in December.They sent the decision in March, and the decision on the scholarship in April.So less than a year

What are your plans after graduation?

Under the terms of the scholarship, I have to spend a year in Russia, but I would like to continue my research and write my doctoral dissertation.