About applying to Alpha Fund, the assessment, and what happens after.
Applying
Any current University of Oxford student. General public applicants confirm their student status as part of applying; anyone already an Alpha Fund member has already cleared that bar.
There are two tracks, Fundamental and Quant, and each has a Bootcamp (taught) and an Analyst (research) tier. You can apply to either Quant or Fundamental, not both. Quant applications are here on AlphaBook and Fundamental uses its own separate form, so pick the one that suits you and apply to that one only. You'll be asked to confirm this when you apply. If you have little or no experience, we'd recommend the Bootcamp; if you already have a lot of experience, apply to join directly as an Analyst.
Fundamental Bootcamp and Fundamental Analyst applications use a separate form, which isn't currently open on this platform. Quant is open here now.
Yes. An up-to-date CV goes on your profile as part of applying, and it's what reviewers read alongside your written answers.
The assessment
Two questions, one straight after the other, each with its own timer. The first gives you 5 minutes on something you've pursued seriously and what you'd bring to the fund. The second gives you 3 minutes on an estimation question: pick something large and hard to count exactly, and reason your way to a number. You can write plain text or light LaTeX for any maths.
No. Once you start, each question's timer keeps running whether or not the page is open, and the second question starts as soon as the first one ends. Start only when you have 8 minutes free and won't be interrupted.
No. The assessment is meant to be your own thinking, in the moment. Pasting in text and leaving the page are both tracked, and it's the same sitting every applicant gets.
No. The assessment is the two written questions above for every track, Quant included. Quant Analyst applicants can expect the harder mathematical content to come up at interview instead.
After you submit
The committee reviews your CV and written answers. If you're shortlisted, you'll be asked to submit your availability, then an analyst proposes an interview time for you to confirm.
Once shortlisted, fill in the availability grid. Each box is a 30-minute interview slot, so click every one you could make. An analyst picks one of those times and schedules your interview; there's nothing to confirm. You and your interviewer both get an email with the time, the Google Meet link, each other's contact and a calendar invite. If something comes up, contact your interviewer directly to find another time.
Yes. If you're rejected from Bootcamp, you may reapply next year, or apply as an Analyst next term. A Bootcamp member moves on to Analyst the same way, by starting a fresh application.
Quant Outreach & Fast-Track
A talk from senior Alpha Fund members about the fund, careers in quant finance, and how to get involved. See Events for the date, time and location.
Fast-Track means your CV round happens in person at the event instead of online: an analyst reviews your CV with you and asks you a quick question, in place of the online motivation and estimation questions. After that it's the same process as everyone else, including the interview. It's limited to the first 50 places. General attendance has no cap, so it's always available if Fast-Track is full, and you can still apply online afterwards either way.
