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When to apply

Applications for entry in 2024-25 are now open.

The deadline for applications is 12:00 midday UK time on Friday 28th June 2024.

how to apply

1. Check the entry requirements.

Ensure that you have the right qualifications to apply by checking the ‘Admissions Criteria’.

2. Find a supervisor.

You need to have a potential supervisor and research project before you submit your application. Use our ‘Find a Project’ and ‘Find a Supervisor’ pages to help you in your search. You should then contact potential supervisors directly.

3. Think about funding.

How are you going to fund your DPhil or MSc? You do not need to have confirmed funding before you apply, but it is a good idea to have some ideas. Check our ‘Fees and Funding’ page to find out how much it costs and opportunities for funding. Note the 1st December 2023 deadline for the majority of Oxford scholarships.

4. Prepare and submit your application.

You will need to submit:

A) Official transcript(s) issued by your institution, along with certified translation if not in English

B) CV/résumé

C) Statement of purpose/personal statement and research proposal: statement a maximum of 500 words, proposal a maximum of 2,000 words (for DPhil applicants) or 1,500 words (for MSc by Research applicants). Your statement of purpose/personal statement and research proposal should be submitted as a single, combined document with clear subheadings. Please ensure that the word counts for each section are clearly visible in the document.

Statement of purpose/personal statement:

You should provide a statement of your research interests, in English, describing how your background and research interests relate to the programme. It will be normal for your ideas and goals to change in some ways as you undertake your DPhil, but your personal statement will enable you to demonstrate your current interests and aspirations.

Research proposal:

You should submit a detailed outline of your proposed research, written in English, covering areas such as the background to the research, methodology, expected results and the contribution to the field of learning. It will be normal for your ideas subsequently to change in some ways as you investigate the evidence and develop your project. You should nevertheless make the best effort you can to demonstrate the extent of your research question, sources and method at this moment. Your proposal should focus on research rather than personal achievements, interests and aspirations.

D) Three references.  While you must register three referees, the department may start the assessment of your application if two of the three references are submitted by the course deadline and your application is otherwise complete. Please note that you may still be required to ensure your third referee supplies a reference for consideration.

References should usually be academic, though one professional reference is acceptable provided that it is relevant to the course and the other two references are academic.

Your references will support intellectual ability, academic achievement, motivation, and ability to work in a group.

5. Submit your application.  

Submit online via the Graduate Application Form.  Also see the University's application guide

6. Attend an interview.

If you are shortlisted, you will be invited to attend an interview with the Graduate Studies Committee and your potential supervisor. This may be in person or online (via Skype, Zoom or MS Teams).

7. Take a language test.

If your first language is not English, any offer made will be conditional on providing results of an English language test. You do not need to have these results before you apply, but try and take the relevant test as soon as your offer has been made.

8. Submit originals of supporting documents.

Your offer may be subject to providing original documents to support academic or language conditions. Please submit these as soon as possible.

Finding a college

You may choose to specify a preferred college in your application, but this is no guarantee. You will be allocated a college once an offer of a place has been made by the department, and will be contacted by your college soon after that.