When Richard Gombrich taught the Sanskrit BA course at Oxford, Sanskrit composition was an option on the syllabus.  In the finals, one could choose Sanskrit comp., or instead a longer unseen translation (if I recall correctly). 

I think Skt. composition formed part of the syllabus under Burrow, before Richard, which would take it back to the war.  I expect before that, it was also there, Sanskrit being taught on the model of Greats.

I don't know about the present syllabus.

Best,

Dominik Wujastyk