Want to study at Oxford? Need to know why lions have manes

It's considered one of the toughest universities to get into, and admission interviews at the University of Oxford invariably challenge potential students to think on their feet, think independently and laterally, and show an ability to apply theory. Tackle these

It's considered one of the toughest universities to get into, and admission interviews at the University of Oxford invariably challenge potential students to think on their feet, think independently and laterally, and show an ability to apply theory.

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Tutors challenge potential students with questions that may seem strange to some, but help bring out their potential.

For example, students applying to study biological sciences might be asked why it matters if tigers become extinct, potential history students are asked to discuss whether the word ‘political’ has different meanings in different contexts, and applicants looking to study materials science may be asked to calculate the temperature in a hot air balloon necessary to lift an elephant.

The university on Wednesday released some sample interview questions to provoke thought and help explain the reasoning behind even the most strange-sounding questions.

Some interview questions posed by tutors are: Is violence always political? Does 'political' mean something different in different contexts?; Why do lions have manes?; Ladybirds are red. So are strawberries. Why?; In a world where English is a global language, why learn French?; If the punishment for parking on double yellow lines were death, and therefore nobody did it, would that be a just and effective law?

Mike Nicholson, the director of undergraduate admissions, explains that the interviews "are an important but often misunderstood part of Oxford's admissions process".

He said the interviews are all about giving candidates "the chance to show their real ability and potential — while this may sound intimidating, all it means is that candidates will be pushed to use their knowledge and apply their thinking to new problems in ways that will both challenge them and allow them to shine".

The selection criteria, he says, are subject-specific, and interviews are designed to find evidence of academic ability and potential in those areas.