From next year, the University of Oxford will allow admission in its undergraduate courses for those securing 90% and more in the ISC or CBSE exams. According to the university, the decision was taken keeping in mind the “terrific scholars India is producing.”“The review of Class 12 has been part of our process of reviewing international qualifications. Oxford has also seen a fast-growing and very high performing group of Indian postgraduate students in
recent years, which has confirmed how many terrific scholars India is producing,” says Dr Julia Paolitto, press officer, admissions and educational policy, University of Oxford.
India is rising rapidly – economically, in terms of educational quality and this has motivated the university’s decision to accept applications from students taking the ISC and CBSE exams.“This is also why our director for graduate admissions and studies has made a special
trip to recruit bright Indian postgraduates,” says Paolitto.

Eligibility Criteria
Elaborating on the eligibility criteria for admission to the various programmes at the the  University of Oxford, Paolitto says, “Typical standard offers are set by for each course, by the departments, but it is recommended that the condition should be a minimum of 90% in each of the five subjects taken in the Class 12 examinations. his equates to approximately the top 3% of candidates taking the CBSE and ISC.”
Science subjects may also require that candidates take the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) entrance examinations as a pre-condition for entry. There are likely to be further conditions made by individual departments in addition to the overall standard required for a conditional offer to Oxford.The university’s standard offers for A-level range from A*A*A to AAA, with some courses specifying some of the subjects that students must have studied (eg to -apply for engineering, you need to have physics and maths to A-level). “We expect the same to be true for Indian students, and some courses will require students to include certain specific subjects among the five they take to Class 12, and may require particular grades in particular subjects. Candidates must also demonstrate proficiency in English to a very high level,” she adds.

Class 12 results work
The University and College Admissions Service in the UK also recommends that the CBSE and ISC Class 12 results are suitable for admission to UK universities. Earlier, Oxford aspirants to the undergraduate courses needed to appear in various tests before they were considered eligible for admission.Both the boards have reacted positively to the move, saying it will widen the scope of opportunities for those aiming to go to the UK for higher studies. “We are already preparing our students for overseas studies with special emphasis on
English to boost written and communication skills of students. It gives them an edge when they compete in international exams. It’s good that Oxford also recognises our students and will allow them direct entry,” says Gerry Arathoon, additional secretary, Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE). CISCE conducts the Indian School Certificate examination.The council was established by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations
Syndicate. CBSE has also welcomed the decision of the University of Oxford. “It will put our students on the global map, giving them an opportunity to study in one of the best universities in the world,” says a CBSE official.The average fee for undergraduates wishing to study at Oxford in 2013 is likely to range between £13,000 and £15,000 per year.