oxford phd funding

Graduate Scholarships

Information on graduate scholarship and funding provision available for prospective students.

Details of Oxford’s graduate scholarship and funding provision are available for prospective students on the Oxford Funding pages of the website, including an A-Z list of centrally-managed scholarship schemes and further information on Research Council funding and studentships. For the majority of Oxford scholarships, candidates will automatically be considered if they apply by the relevant December or January deadline for their degree. Graduate applicants can also use the fees, funding and scholarship search to search for a list of scholarships for which an additional application is required.

A separate fees, funding and scholarship search tool is available for current graduate students. However, please be aware that funding opportunities for continuing students are very limited, as the vast majority of funding is awarded on admission.

The Graduate Admissions and Funding Handbook includes all the key information you should need in relation to graduate scholarship administration, including a list of scholarship manager contacts for individual scholarship schemes, advice on setting up new scholarships, scholarship offer letter guidance and the financial declaration process. Please contact the team if you have a query not covered within the GAF Handbook.

If you have queries about a specific scholarship, you can find a list of scholarship managers within the GAF handbook.

General graduate scholarship queries [email protected]

Related Pages 

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Graduate Funding

The Department is committed to providing excellent support to graduate students. We offer a range of internal and external scholarships and support schemes for graduate students to help with tuition fees and maintenance costs. The department is currently extending its graduate funding. We offer full funding to our MPhil+DPhil students for the first five years of the programme. In addition, we offer full funding or complement external funding to most of our DPhil and PRS/DPhil students for the first three years of the doctoral programme, with a potential extension to a fourth-year funding. We hope to be able to extend this funding to all our DPhil-PRS/DPhil students.

The standard full funding package covers tuition fees and maintenance costs at the UKRI level for the first two years of the DPhil. In the third year of the DPhil, tuition fees or continuation charges (as applicable) are covered, together with a stipend, which, if complemented with a Graduate Teaching Assistantship, amounts to the UKRI stipend. 

In order to succeed in funding all our DPhil students, it is important that students apply to all eligible funding sources.

Many of our students are funded by the Economic and Social Research Council via the Grand Union Doctoral Training Partnership . To be considered for this funding scheme, candidates must select ‘ESRC Grand Union DTP Studentships in Social Sciences’ in the University of Oxford scholarships section of the University's graduate application form. You must also complete a Grand Union DTP Application Form and upload it, together with your graduate application form, by the relevant January deadline for your course. See the Grand Union DTP website for more information on ESRC funding . ESRC awards are open to all candidates (including international students), however DTPs are limited to awarding a maximum of 30% of studentships to international students.

All successful MPhil and DPhil applicants who apply by the 19th January 2024 are automatically considered for internal University funding from over 70 scholarship funds for which they meet the eligibility criteria.

There are also over 15 University scholarship schemes that require additional application. Please check whether you are eligible for those. You may use the Fees, Funding and Scholarship Search tool to identify the schemes that suit you.

Four fully funded Swire S cholarships are available for applicants who are permanent residents of Japan, Chinese mainland or Hong Kong SAR and have completed the majority of their formal education in their country/region of permanent residency. For all those who will commence study on a course offered by St Antony's College in 2024/25 (both MPhil and DPhil applicants are eligible). Swire Scholarships | St Antony's College (ox.ac.uk) . This scholarship requires a separate application and candidates need to complete an online form and submit it by 5pm (UK time) on 4th March 2024.

St Antony's DAC Economics Scholarship is open to an incoming graduate student applying for MPhil Economics who has completed their undergraduate degrees in countries that receive official development assistance from the OECD (a full list can be found here) .

The funding deadline for all graduate courses in the Department of Economics is the 19th January 2024. Applications submitted after this date will not be considered for funding offered by Oxford. Funding deadlines for other University courses can be found on the relevant course page on the Graduate Admissions website .

The University provides guidance for funding from a variety of external sources depending on specialisation and geographic area.

In recent years, our MPhil and DPhil students are funded among others by the following scholarships:

In addition, the Department offers a small number of bursaries 1  to second and third-year DPhil students who have not secured full funding from other sources.

DPhil students staying for a fourth year can also apply for a bursary for an additional year of funding. The coverage of the fourth year is like the standard third-year DPhil Funding.

For final-year DPhil students in macroeconomics or finance or related fields, the Department offers the David Walton Distinguished Doctoral Scholarships for one year. Successful candidates undertake an internship of up to three months duration with either the Bank of England or Goldman Sachs, or possibly the Treasury Department, for which they will be paid separately by the host organisation.

The Department actively hires MPhil and DPhil students as Research Assistants and DPhil students as Graduate Teaching Assistants throughout the academic year in order to provide students with valuable research and teaching experience, increase financial support, and stimulate students to contribute to the academic and research activities at the Department. All students, funded and unfunded, are welcome to apply for those.

Current students receive a call for applications to bursaries and Graduate Teaching Assistantships every year in Hillary term.

We also have smaller internal pots of money to support various research-related activities, such as conference attendance and research assistance, including the George Webb Medley and Oxford Economics Papers funds.

1  The coverage of bursaries is similar to the standard full funding package for the corresponding year.

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Graduate Scholarships

Fully-funded graduate scholarships ensure Oxford attracts the very best graduate students from across the world, regardless of their financial circumstance.

• Access to a graduate education is more important than ever, given its potential to enhance career prospects both outside academia and within.
• The most frequent reason given for why graduate offer holders turn down their Oxford place is lack of funding.
• Many leading universities abroad provide full funding for all PhD students; at Oxford, only 60 percent of doctoral students enjoy this security.
• Graduate scholarships are a strategic priority for Oxford, with ambitious targets of 300 new scholarships proposed in the 2018-23 strategic plan.

The impact of Graduate Scholars

Graduate students are the engine of research in our laboratories, libraries and seminars. They make an essential contribution, and go on to play important roles in the worldwide economy and society, leading the way in their fields and pushing frontiers of knowledge.

Read their stories

Paving the way for success

For international students, a graduate scholarship can mean the difference between taking up a place at Oxford, or choosing an institution closer to home.

Read more →

Driving research into the future of energy

DPhil student Isaac Capone explains why developing new battery technology is vital to reducing our dependence on fossil fuels.

Supporting the study of human rights law

Four human rights professionals from around the world share their experiences of studying for a graduate degree at Oxford.

Tackling disease on a global scale

Oxford's MSc in International Health and Tropical Medicine is enabling graduate students to develop knowledge of major global health problems.

Teaching Fund

With your help we can attract future innovators and leaders who will address global challenges for generations to come.

Andrew Vivian

Graduate fees and funding

Currently available soge scholarships, useful information.

• None currently listed.
• DPhil Studentship: Governing residential heat decarbonisation in the UK [Deadline: 31 May 2024]

Please see the information below for further scholarship opportunities available at Oxford.

You will be liable to pay full course fees for the following period of time:

• Master of Science (MSc) Courses: 1 year.
• Master of Philosophy (MPhil): 2 years.
• Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil): Full-time 3 years; Part-time 6 years (a termly continuation fee will be charged for those exceeding the standard period of University tuition fee liability.)

For the latest information on fees charged by the University please visit the University's Fees and Funding webpage or use the Graduate Fees, Funding and Scholarship Search tool.

Scholarships

There are four categories of scholarship opportunities available at Oxford:

1) Central - Oxford University Scholarships

For details on these scholarships please see the University's Oxford funding webpage.

In order to be considered for these scholarships, you should apply no later than the January deadline for your programme of study.

These scholarships are managed by the central Student Fees and Funding team. You can apply for many of these scholarships by ticking the relevant boxes on the application form under the University of Oxford Scholarships headings. For some scholarships you may need to make a separate application. The individual scholarship web pages will indicate what application material is required.

You should use the fees, funding and scholarship search which will help you to locate Oxford University scholarships that are specific to you. The search will also give further information on applying for the scholarship and the deadline by which decisions will be made. The School of Geography and the Environment is able to nominate (shortlist) candidates for some Oxford University scholarship and we will notify successful nominees at the beginning of March. Please note that a nomination (shortlist) for a scholarship does not imply that you will be successful. The University funding office will only be able to notify successful candidates - if you are unsuccessful you will not receive notification of the outcome of your scholarship application. If you do not receive a notification by the first week in March to say you are being nominated (shortlisted) for a scholarship, or by the advertised scholarship decision deadline, you will not have been successful.

If you have any queries relating to these scholarships you should read the most popular questions section of the University website and/or submit your query using the online Ask a Question facility.

Black Academic Futures Scholarships

Up to 30 scholarships are available for applicants who are ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom, who are of Black or Mixed-Black ethnicity and who hold an offer for either a taught or research postgraduate degree, starting in the 2023-24 academic year. This includes all full-time and part-time DPhil and master's courses.

Please see the Black Academic Futures for more info.

Scholarships offered by the colleges of the University. You will need to look at individual college web pages for details of available scholarships and for information on how to apply. College Scholarships may also be included in the results of any fees, funding and scholarship search . In recent years we have been able to offer joint scholarships with the following colleges: Hertford, Linacre, St Anne's, St Antony's, and St Cross. Information on the availability of any joint college / departmental scholarships will be advertised on this webpage and the corresponding college websites.

3) UK Research Councils

To be considered for research council scholarships, applications must be submitted by the January deadline.

Research Council studentships are open to both Home (UK) and International candidates. However, the University are limited to awarding a maximum of 30% of studentships per cohort to International students.

We will notify you if you have been nominated for an award and notify you of the final decision. Most decisions are finalised by late April each year.

The School of Geography and the Environment hopes to be able to offer research council scholarships each year for the following:

The Grand Union ESRC Doctoral Training Partnership

In order to be considered for a Grand Union DTP ESRC studentship, you must select 'ESRC Grand Union DTP Studentships in Social Sciences' in the University of Oxford scholarships section of the University's graduate application form. You must also complete a Grand Union DTP Application Form and upload it, together with your graduate application form .

Applicants applying for the MSc or MPhil who, after completion of their course intend to continue onto the DPhil, are eligible to apply for an ESRC scholarship on a 1+3 or 2+2 basis. Please note that this scholarship is not available for those applying for the MSc or MPhil courses only. More information can be found on the Grand Union DTP website.

If you do not receive a notification by the first week in March to say you are being nominated (shortlisted) for a Grand Union DTP ESRC studentship, you will not have been successful.

Environmental Research NERC Doctoral Training Partnership

This is available to DPhil students only. You do not apply directly to the School of Geography and the Environment but directly to the Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) through one of the three research streams. More information can be found on the Environmental Research DTP website.

Open-Oxford-Cambridge AHRC Doctoral Training Partnership

The AHRC provides public funding in support of research into the arts and humanities, for approximately one quarter of the UK's research population. Oxford participates in the Open-Oxford-Cambridge AHRC Doctoral Training Partnership, providing a number of scholarships each year to students working on eligible subject areas across the Humanities and Social Sciences Divisions. Information about applying for AHRC scholarships at Oxford can be found on the Open-Oxford-Cambridge AHRC Doctoral Training Partnership website.

If you do not receive a notification by the first week in March to say you are being nominated (shortlisted) for an AHRC scholarship, you will not have been successful.

4) External

You can find information on funding available from external organisations, trusts, and companies that provide support to graduate students on the University's External scholarships webpages. These are managed by organisations external to Oxford, therefore various application processes and closing dates will apply. If you have any questions you should contact the relevant organisation directly.

In recent years our students have been successful with many awards offered by both the University and external organisations such as:

• Kwok Scholarships
• Rhodes Scholarships
• Clarendon Awards
• Commonwealth Scholarships
• OSI/FCO Chevening Scholarships
• Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies (OCIS) Scholarships
• Oxford-Weidenfeld and Hoffmann Scholarships and Leadership Programme
• Hill Foundation Scholarships (Graduate)
• China Oxford Scholarship
• China Scholarship Council - University of Oxford Scholarships
• Felix Scholarships
• Oppenheimer Scholarship
• Fulbright Awards
• Marshall Scholarships
• CONACyT, Mexican Government Funding
• Frost Scholarship
• Oxford - Indira Gandhi Graduate Scholarship
• Oxford Kobe Scholarship
• St Antony's College: Swire Scholarships
• St Antony's College: Swire and Oxford & Cambridge Society of Kenya Scholarship
• Trudeau Foundation Scholarship
• Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
• IJURR Foundation Scholarship
• Cost of living in Oxford , University of Oxford
• The British Council's website is a useful source of information, see Study UK and the Scholarships and Funding page .
• Association of Commonwealth Universities - awards are primarily intended for Commonwealth graduates, but the majority of awards are also open to those from non-Commonwealth countries.
• Postgraduatesearch.com - postgraduate funding .
• Prospects - the UK's official graduate careers website.
• Internationalscholarships.com - financial aid, college scholarship and international scholarship resource for students wishing to study abroad.

Department of

Department of Education

Dphil in education, scholarships.

The DPhil in Education is a full-time programme which takes 3-4 years and is intended to provide graduates with a wide range of research skills as well as in-depth knowledge, understanding and expertise in their chosen field of educational research.

The DPhil in Education is an advanced research degree of a high standing and is awarded on the basis of a thesis and an oral examination.

A full-time programme takes 3-4 years to complete and is intended to provide graduates with a wide range of research skills as well as in-depth knowledge, understanding and expertise in their chosen field of research.

About 80 DPhil students are attached to the Department, researching a wide range of topics, normally linked to one or more of the Department’s Research Groups. Students come from over 40 different countries and are supported by a variety of scholarships and grants. Entry is highly competitive, and applicants are required to have a strong academic background and are required to submit a research proposal.

It is also possible to study part-time for a DPhil in the department. For more information, visit our part-time DPhil page .

The Department offers some part and full scholarships to attract the very strongest students who would otherwise not be able to come and study in Oxford.

It is committed to developing the number of fully-funded studentships it can offer to DPhil students, given their importance to the Department’s research culture. The funding deadline for all graduate courses in the Department of Education is January application deadline. Applications submitted after this date will not be considered for funding offered by Oxford. Funding deadlines for other University courses can be found on the relevant course page on the Graduate Admissions website . These are all highly competitive, and require high-quality, well-crafted research proposals.

All eligible applicants for graduate study are automatically considered for the University’s prestigious Clarendon Scholarships and the departmental scholarships. You will be notified around the beginning of March if you are being considered for any of these funding opportunities.

Reparative Futures of Education Scholarship

The Reparative Futures of Education (REPAIR-ED) research project is awarding two fully-funded doctoral scholarships based within Oxford University’s Department of Education.

The REPAIR-ED project involves working with primary school communities in the city of Bristol to examine the features and mechanisms of structural inequities in education. The project will use its empirical findings to facilitate dialogues with stakeholders (schools, their communities, policy-actors and the broader public) to explore how reparative justice in education might be conceptualised and enacted.

More information about the REPAIR-ED scholarships and how to apply.

Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)

The ESRC is the UK’s largest organisation for funding research on social and economic issues. The University, in collaboration with Brunel University and the Open University, hosts the Grand Union Doctoral Training Partnership – one of 14 Doctoral Training Partnerships accredited by the ESRC as part of a Doctoral Training Network.

In order to be considered for a Grand Union DTP ESRC studentship, you must select ‘ ESRC Grand Union DTP Studentships in Social Sciences ’ in the University of Oxford scholarships section of the University’s graduate application form. You must also complete a  Grand Union DTP Application Form and upload it, together with your graduate application form, by the funding deadline for your course.

Information about ESRC studentships at Oxford can be found here . Please ensure you have read all of the guidance available on the website before you complete the Grand Union DTP Application Form . If you have any questions, get in touch with the Grand Union DTP Office .

Talbot Scholarships

This scholarship fund is the result of a bequest to the Department in honour of Ms Elfrida Talbot, who ran the first women’s hostel for Education students in the University in the early years of the twentieth century. It is normally used to part-fund a UK/EU doctoral student for three years who was seen as strong contender for an ESRC doctoral studentship. Strong contenders for ESRC studentships will be automatically considered for this scholarship: no separate application process is needed. This scholarship is usually offered once every three years.

Clarendon scholarships

The very strongest applicants for all our MSc and DPhil programmes are automatically considered for University Clarendon scholarships. There is no separate application process. These are highly competitive and each year only one or two of our students are successful. During our initial admissions screening, supervisors nominate applicants with outstanding academic records to be considered. These supervisors then prepare a supporting statement.  A departmental panel ranks these candidates and the Director of Doctoral Research puts forward a shortlist of the strongest applicants to the divisional committee.

Departmental studentships

The Department is keen to attract the very strongest MSc students and encourage them to stay on for doctoral study. The shortlist will normally be made up of those students shortlisted for the ESRC and Clarendon scholarships. Interviews and decisions will be made once the ESRC and Clarendon awards are announced.

Awards will vary in range, but will seek to make a significant contribution to the overall cost of fees. Successful candidates will be expected to make an active contribution to the academic and professional life of the doctoral students within the Department. These scholarships may not be offered every year.

Further information on graduate scholarships and awards offered by the University and external agencies can be found on the  Student Funding Services  website.

Self-Funding

Scholarships are awarded on entry to the doctoral programme, not at any later point. If you are not awarded a scholarship in your first year, but elect to self-fund, you will be asked by the University to sign a declaration that you have the money to cover your fees and your living expenses for the first year. It should be noted that although you are only asked about the first year, it is extremely unlikely that you will acquire funding after that. There are no additional scholarships within the University for continuing doctoral students. The Department in general and individual staff members work hard to bring in funding for doctoral students, but we cannot fund everybody. It is worth carefully considering which colleges might have scholarships for which you are eligible when you apply.

Most colleges will offer some very small grants for fieldwork, travel or conference attendance. These are in the region of a couple of hundred pounds at most.

You can work part time during your doctorate, subject to the requirements of your visa, but you must obtain the support of your supervisor to do so, and it can have detrimental effects on your progress. There are occasionally some paid research assistant posts within the Department which are advertised to the doctoral cohort but these tend to be highly sought after. We do not have undergraduates so you are unlikely to be able to supervise as graduate students outside Education do.

There are some charitable trusts outside of the University to which you might be able to apply for some funding; we cannot keep track of all the potential requirements, so you should seek these out for yourself. However, they are not likely to be sufficient to cover fees and living expenses in their entirety.

Financial assistance run by colleges tends to be for ‘unexpected circumstances’; self-funders not getting any funding in second or subsequent years is not seen as unexpected. Both the University and the Department have some limited funds for those writing up the final stages of their doctorate. These are highly competitive and there are always more requests than there is money to fulfil them.

This advice is not intended to put you off, but it is important for self-funders to have a realistic view.

WHAT QUALIFICATIONS DO I NEED TO APPLY?

For more specific details of our admission criteria please visit the DPhil in Education course page .

HOW MANY STUDENTS DO YOU RECRUIT TO THE DPHIL IN EDUCATION PROGRAMME?

Approximately 25-35 students are recruited to our DPhil in Education programme each year.

CAN I STUDY ONLINE OR THROUGH DISTANCE LEARNING?

It is not possible to study at a distance or on-line on our DPhil programme.

What if I have already completed research training as part of a Masters degree?

All PRS students no matter what their previous training are required to undertake the Research Training Seminar course. This is the seminar specifically for PRS students, preparing you for the Oxford DPhil structure, creating a supportive cohort and enabling you to begin professional development for an academic or non-academic career. Other research training courses are: Beginners and Intermediate Quantitative Methods; Perspectives and Debates in Qualitative Research and Philosophy of Educational Research. The exact courses you will be required to take will depend on your previous training and experience, and the decision will be based on the evidence you provide in your application and in discussion with the Director of Doctoral Research on matriculation.

WHAT ARE THE BACKGROUNDS OF STUDENTS RECRUITED TO YOUR PROGRAMMES?

The Department offers a very wide range of courses. As well as a comprehensive Doctoral programme attracting students from all over the world, we offer full-time one year MSc in Education and in MSc Applied Linguistics and Second Language Acquisition (ALSLA) courses, as well as a range of part-time courses, some aimed primarily at UK teachers (e.g. MSc Learning & Teaching, MS Teacher Education) and some at distance learning (e.g., Applied Linguistics and Language Teaching). Consequently our courses cater to students from a diverse range of backgrounds.

For example in 2021/22, the Department had a total complement of 780 students of whom 414 were studying full-time and 366 were studying part-time. For 2021/22, across the MSc Education, MSc ALSLA, and DPhil programmes, approximately 29% of our students came from the UK, and the remaining 71% from the EU or overseas. The cohort from those programmes included students from Afghanistan, Australia, Japan, Germany, India, Malaysia, China, Mexico, Estonia, Australia, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey and the United States, among many others.

What our students share is exceptional academic achievement in their previous learning and an ambition to excel academically.

CAN I STUDY PART TIME?

Although doctoral research training programmes across the University tend to be structured around the needs of full-time students, we are able to offer a part-time DPhil option for students who reside and are employed locally.   See here for more information about studying for a part-time DPhil with us .

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST TO STUDY AND LIVE IN OXFORD?

To find out how much it will cost to undertake your studies at the University, please  visit the Fees and Living Costs webpage  for details.

CAN I APPLY FOR MORE THAN ONE COURSE?

We would strongly encourage you to focus your application on the course for which you have the most interest and experience.

CAN I APPLY FOR YOUR COURSES IF I AM IN THE PROCESS OF ACHIEVING MY QUALIFICATION TO GAIN ENTRY ONTO THE PROGRAMME?

Yes, you may apply for any of our courses whilst studying for another degree. If you are successful in achieving a place on one of our programmes, we would make a conditional offer which would include the condition of you achieving your qualification. You are required to submit an interim transcript at application. However, your final outcome would need to be available prior to you commencing the course at Oxford.

CAN SOMEONE CHECK IF MY RESEARCH PROPOSAL FITS INTO THE RESEARCH INTERESTS OF CURRENT MEMBERS OF STAFF BEFORE I SUBMIT AN APPLICATION?

Prospective DPhil applicants are expected to browse the online profiles of current members of staff to identify academics whose research interests overlap with theirs. If you can’t locate any academics with overlapping interests with yours, it is likely that your proposed area of research does not fit into the interests of current members of staff or the Department’s research centres.

ENGLISH IS NOT MY FIRST LANGUAGE; WHICH HIGHER LEVEL LANGUAGE QUALIFICATION IS ACCEPTABLE? AND WHAT SCORE DO YOU REQUIRE?

If you do not have English as your first language, we would like you to have achieved the higher level competence in English Language proficiency i.e. IELTS 7.5 overall with at least 7.0 in each component, or TOEFL 110 (Internet-based).

We do not accept tests which are more than 2 years old. We encourage applicants to apply with a successful IELTS test. If evidence that you successfully meet the English language condition cannot be provided with your application, the language requirement will be set as a condition if an offer is made.

For further information, please  visit the Application Guide .

CAN I APPLY FOR A WAIVER OF PROOF OF PROFICIENCY IN ENGLISH?

For information on applying for a waiver of the English test requirement, please  visit the application guide .

HOW DO I APPLY?

For information about applying, see the University Admission’s DPhil page . For a more detailed explanation of the process, please  click here for the application guide .

NOT ALL OF MY QUALIFICATIONS WILL FIT ON THE APPLICATION FORM, WHAT SHALL I DO?

If you require more space on the application form, please contact Graduate Admissions for advice.

I HAVE BEEN OUTSIDE OF AN ACADEMIC SETTING FOR SOME TIME NOW; WHO SHALL I HAVE TO ACT AS MY REFEREES?

We strongly recommend that you have at least one reference from your most recent academic tutor. If you are currently in employment, you would be expected to provide a reference from your employer as well as an academic referee who is able to comment on academic capability/suitability for Higher Degree study.

WHAT DO I NEED TO INCLUDE FOR THE SAMPLES OF WRITTEN WORK?

Two essays, a maximum of 2,000 words each.

The written work should be related to the DPhil in Education and should be on separate topics. If you do not have any existing material that fits this requirement, you may wish to critique an article or write a book review based on the course subject.

You may submit written work previously completed for a prior course of study if the topic is relevant, eg an assignment or chapter of a dissertation etc, provided it meets the requirements. If your work is significantly longer than the guide length it should be edited to meet the requirements.

A list of relevant references is required for your written work and should be included in your word count. [If possible, please ensure that the word count is clearly displayed on the document.] This will be assessed for understanding of the subject area, an ability to construct and defend an argument, and proficiency in academic English.

WHAT DO I NEED TO INCLUDE IN THE RESEARCH PROPOSAL AND PERSONAL STATEMENT?

If you are applying to the DPhil programme you need to submit a personal statement of a maximum of 1,000 words and a research proposal of a maximum of 2,500 words. Your statement and proposal should be submitted as a single, combined document with a clear subheading for each.

You should submit a convincing personal statement (statement of purpose) explaining your reasons for applying to the programme and highlighting your relevant academic and professional experience. The final line of your personal statement should indicate your future plans after a doctorate.

You should also submit a research proposal written in English. An indicative bibliography is required but you do not need to include this in your word count. Your proposal should include an indicative title and a short introduction/synopsis, a discussion of the most relevant scholarly literature, and a research question or hypothesis. This issue or question should emerge from your review of the literature. Please also provide a rationale for the importance of this research topic.

Your proposal should also indicate your proposed methodological approach. This will depend on the kind of research you envisage. If empirical research is planned, then please discuss the likely ‘data’ to be collected. At this stage these ideas are exploratory, and likely to develop and change once you are accepted.

This will be assessed for your potential to carry out doctoral research, the quality and coherence of the proposal and the originality of the project.

It will be normal for your ideas to subsequently change in some ways as you 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 your proposed research topic, rather than personal achievements, interests and aspirations.

HOW IS MY SUPERVISOR DECIDED?

Although supervisors will be allocated by the Department and it is not necessary for you to contact academic members of staff directly, prospective applicants are encouraged to approach academics whose research interests overlap with theirs to informally solicit their capacity and interest in supervising new DPhil students. You may also ask them to share with you specific publications that they have authored that you can’t access otherwise and that may help inform your research proposal. There is a section in the application form in which you can indicate your suggested supervisors. You are strongly encouraged to fill it in with two names of suggested supervisors when you apply.

AM I REQUIRED TO ATTEND FOR INTERVIEW?

Interviews are normally held with two interviewers using Microsoft Teams. Interviews will normally take place in February.

WHAT WILL THE INTERVIEW BE LIKE?

We are keen to find out more about you and your interests, and how these might tie in with the research specialisms of academic staff within the department.

For DPhil applicants, we will ask you to talk in detail about your research proposal, its design, your methodological choices and potential challenges you might face. For MSc applicants, we will ask you about your knowledge of the course, your reasons for wanting to study in this area, and initial ideas for their dissertation research.

Applicants may be asked to explain how their areas of interest link to those of the departments’ research groups, centres and academic staff.

WHEN WILL THE OUTCOME OF MY APPLICATION BE KNOWN?

Applications will be considered by the admissions panel within the Department and decisions will be made in accordance with the following deadlines:

January application deadline – mid March

You will be informed of our decision by email to ensure that you receive the outcome as soon as possible.

In the event that we are not able to offer you a place, we regret that it is not possible to provide you with feedback on your application.

CAN I DEFER ENTRY TO A COURSE?

The University will only consider requests for deferral of entry due to exceptional unforeseen circumstances, and only after all conditions set for the offer (both academic and financial) have been met.

Couldn’t find your answers under our FAQ section?

Please direct all enquiries to our Higher Degrees Office and a member of the administrative team will be happy to assist you.

Email: [email protected]

• Entry requirements
• Fees and Funding

Meet our DPhil Students

Postgraduate Funding

Postgraduate funding in the social sciences division.

The University of Oxford offers a variety of funding opportunities for those looking to undertake graduate study. The following are some of the key funding schemes open to those applying for courses in the Social Sciences Division.

Funding opportunities

Esrc grand union dtp.

The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) is the UK’s largest organisation funding research on social and economic issues. The University, in collaboration with Brunel University London and The Open University, hosts the Grand Union Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) which offers funding and training to postgraduate students in specific subject areas.

Information about ESRC studentships at Oxford and the application process can be found on the  Grand Union DTP website . Please note that these studentships are only open to candidates applying to start a new programme, rather than for current students already enrolled.

Clarendon Scholarships

Clarendon is Oxford’s flagship graduate scholarship scheme, open to all applicants for DPhil and Master’s courses. Clarendon scholarships are competitive, prestigious and highly sought-after. Like all fully-funded Oxford scholarships, Clarendon covers course fees, and provides a grant for living expenses. If you apply by the funding deadline for a full or part-time Master's or DPhil course at Oxford, you will  automatically  be considered for a  Clarendon Scholarship . Funding deadlines can be found on individual course pages on the Graduate Admissions website . 

Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships and Leadership Programme

The Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships and Leadership Programme provides outstanding university graduates and professionals from developing and emerging economies with the opportunity to pursue fully-funded graduate studies at the University of Oxford, along with a comprehensive programme of leadership development, long-term mentoring and networking. The majority of eligible programmes are based in Social Sciences Departments. There are additional steps you must complete in order to be considered for these scholarships. Details on eligibility and the application process can be found on the University's Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships and Leadership Programme page .

AHRC OOC DTP

The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) provides public funding in support of research into the arts and humanities. This includes some subjects formally based in the Social Sciences Division at Oxford, including Law, Archaeology, Anthropology and Politics. Oxford participates in the Open-Oxford-Cambridge AHRC Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP), providing a number of scholarships each year for doctoral students. Information about applying for AHRC scholarships at Oxford can be found on the OOC DTP website .

Other sources of funding

There is a wide variety of funding available at Oxford for graduate study. Details on funding available to candidates applying to start a new course can be found on the University’s Graduate Fees and Funding pages .

Please be aware that the majority of Oxford scholarships are open to new graduate students only, and funding options for on-course students are extremely limited. The University offers some tips on securing extra funding on its Other Graduate Funding Sources page .

Oxford-Rees Care-Experienced Graduate Student Scholarship

The inaugural award of the Oxford-Rees Scholarship will be awarded for 2023 entry. It will support care-experienced Social Sciences candidates.

For the purposes of selection, ‘care experienced’ means having been looked after by the state or your local authority, or as a looked-after child. This could include:

• living with foster carers under local authority care;
• living in a residential children's home;
• being 'looked after at home’ under a supervision order; or
• living with friends or relatives in kinship care – either through a formal arrangement (such as a Special Guardianship order) or an informal arrangement, without local authority support.

You do not have to meet the legal definition of being a care leaver to be considered for this scholarship. 

Support is being provided by funding partners across the University and colleges. These scholarships are open to applicants to all academic subjects and will provide funding packages to assist with course fees and living costs.

How to apply

Graduate Funding & Scholarships

Faculty studentship information.

If you receive an offer of a place, your college will require you to complete a Financial Declaration form. This aims to ensure that you are fully aware of the expected fees and living costs associated with your chosen programme of study. See  full details of fees .

The Faculty and University have a number of studentships available to fund graduate study in English.  In recent years about 11 studentships a year have been offered to study on our master's programmes, and about 20 studentships a year to study on our doctoral programme. Most of these are offered to UK, but some of the studentships on both the master's programme and the doctoral programme are awarded to EU and overseas students.

The University of Oxford is a partner in the OOC AHRC Doctoral Training Partnership . Candidates who are interested in being considered for this funding are required to indicate this when applying for a place on a doctoral programme, and to upload a statement in support of their application . English also nominates candidates each year for Clarendon Scholarships. Here too application is made through the central admissions process, but there is no need to submit any further information. The Humanities Division offers around 35 Clarendon scholarships a year. Smaller numbers of other scholarships are also offered. All eligible candidates are automatically considered for these scholarships.

The Faculty also offers studentships in partnership with some colleges, and makes recommendations for a number of trust-funded studentships, managed by other committees and Boards. All eligible candidates are automatically considered for these studentships, which are open to UK students only. They include:

Jeremy Griffiths Studentship   Available to candidates studying a subject related to the History of the Book before 1550 (held at St Hilda's College). Open to applicants for the MSt 650-1550 and MPhil (Medieval Studies).

Cecily Clark Studentship Available to students of English Medieval Studies, with a preference for subjects relating to Middle English Philology.

The Anne Hudson Graduate Scholarships Two of these are usually available each year, usually held at LMH, for outstanding doctoral candidates working on any area of Middle English Literature.

The Pamela Gradon Graduate Scholarship This is usually available every three years, to be held at St Hugh’s, for an outstanding doctoral candidate working on any area of Middle English Literature.

Violet Vaughan Morgan Studentship – available to candidates studying on any of the English MSt strands.

Jon Blanchard studentship – any post-1550 MSt strand (annual studentship for 3 years, 2024-25, 2025-26 and 2026-27); UK students only; Mansfield College only

George Oakes studentships – MSt American literature – two studentships available in 2024-25 only; UK students only; Queen’s College only

Oxford – Wordsworth Scholarship The Oxford – Wordsworth Scholarship is open to academically outstanding candidates who have been accepted on a one-year English MSt course for entry in October 2024. The scholarship may be combined with funding from another scholarship fund (e.g. Clarendon or Faculty funds) to cover up to the cost of full fees and a maintenance grant at the level of the AHRC stipend for the duration of the award-holder’s fee liability. All eligible applicants offered a place at Oxford for October 2024 will automatically be considered for this scholarship, whether or not they originally applied to Trinity College; there is no additional application form. The successful candidate will be informed by the end of April or early May 2024.    Oxford - Cecil Lubbock Graduate Scholarship A Trinity College Scholarship for the DPhil in English Language and Literature, with a preference for those working in the areas of either medieval or 19th Century English, for entry in October 2024. This scholarship will cover full home fees and a maintenance grant at the level of the AHRC stipend, for the duration of the award-holder’s fee liability (i.e. up to three academic years). All applicants offered a place for entry in October 2024 for the DPhil in English Language and Literature will automatically be eligible for this scholarship, whether or not they originally applied to Trinity College; there is no additional application form. The successful candidate will be informed by the end of April or early May 2024. 

Other opportunities

For the following studentships, candidates should check the criteria relating to each award as some may have particular application requirements:

Theatrical communities and collaborations: artistic networks, professional partnerships, and shared visions, 1880-1947

Applications are invited for an Open-Oxford-Cambridge AHRC DTP-funded Collaborative Doctoral Award at Oxford University, in partnership with the National Trust. This fully-funded studentship is available from October 2024. Further details about the value of an Open-Oxford-Cambridge AHRC DTP award are available on the DTP’s studentships page. Closing date: Friday 5th January 2024 (midday, UK time)

https://www.oocdtp.ac.uk/theatrical-communities-and-collaborations

Ertegun Postgraduate Scholarships in the Humanities Available to UK, EU and overseas students applying for entry to master's and doctoral programmes. Please see the programme website .

Swire and Oxford & Cambridge Society of Kenya Scholarship

For an applicant who is a Kenyan citizen to study for a one-year Master’s degree in the academic year 2024-25 at St Antony’s College. The scholarship will be for a value of up to £40k.  This scholarship requires a separate application and candidates would need to complete an online form and submit it by our deadline set at 5pm (UK time) on 4th March 2024. Full details:  Swire and Oxford & Cambridge Society of Kenya Scholarship | St Antony's College

Swire Scholarships

Four fully funded scholarships are available for applicants who are permanent residents of  Japan, Chinese mainland or Hong Kong SAR  and have completed the majority of their formal education in their country/region of permanent residency. For all those who will commence study on a course offered by St Antony's College in 2024/25 (DPhils, MPhils and MSc applicants in courses accepted by St Antony’s are all eligible).  These scholarships require a separate application and candidates would need to complete an online form and submit it by our deadline set at 5pm (UK time) on 4th March 2024. Full details:   Swire Scholarships | St Antony's College (ox.ac.uk)

Graduate funding

Funding opportunities for 2024-25.

Open-Oxford-Cambridge Doctoral Training Partnership

Mica and Ahmet Ertegun Postgraduate Scholarships in the Humanities

TEV UK Scholarship in the Humanities

Academic Futures awards for 2024-25

Oxford Nizami Ganjavi Centre Graduate Scholarship

Grand Union Doctoral Training Partnership

Application information.

Scholarships covering fees, living expenses, or fees plus living expenses, are available to outstanding graduate applicants subject to eligibility.

Deadline:  To be considered for funding, candidates applying to start a course from October must have submitted their University application(s) for the course(s) for which they wish to be considered by the relevant January deadline. 

How to apply:  Candidates applying for admission to a graduate course by the early January deadline will automatically be considered for their eligibility for funding from a number of sources including the Clarendon Fund; Oxford Colleges; and Benefactors and Trust Funds.

Candidates wishing to be considered for Arts and Humanities Research Council funding should consult the Open-Oxford-Cambridge DTP website .

Candidates wishing to be considered for an Ertegun Graduate Scholarship must indicate that they wish to be considered for this scholarship on their University course application form, and must also submit a supporting statement.

Clarendon Scholarships

If you apply for a full- or part-time Master's or DPhil course in the humanities at Oxford by the January deadline for your course, you will automatically  be considered for a Clarendon Scholarship . Candidates for funding will be nominated by each humanities faculty and awarded on the basis of academic merit through a divisional selection process.

If you wish to be considered for a Clarendon award, you must apply before the January deadline for your course. You can find the deadlines for your chosen course on the relevant  Course page.

Other sources of funding

The Fees, Funding and Scholarships Search tool is a useful source of information on the range of scholarships that are available at Oxford.

Am I eligible for any graduate scholarships from Oxford and how do I apply?

Is this answer helpful.

Graduate Funding

The application form, used to apply for admissions to any graduate philosophy programme, will also be used for applications for funding, such as for the  Clarendon fund, so you will not need to apply separately for these.  Please note that you must tick the relevant scholarship boxes on the application form if you wish to be considered for an Ertegun scholarship (see Mica and Ahmet Ertegun Postgraduate Scholarships in the Humanities for details), AHRC scholarships or other University of Oxford scholarships (e.g. Weidenfeld-Hoffman Scholarships or Hill Foundation Scholarships ); you will not be considered for these scholarships if you have not done so. Do ensure that you are indeed eligible for any particular source of funding before ticking the box.

Across the University, there are over a thousand scholarships available, as indicated on the Oxford Graduate Scholarships website. Full information on University scholarships, including the dates by which funding decisions will be made, is available on the Scholarships A-Z Listing website. Applicants may also be eligible for other scholarships not specifically mentioned on this website; to check which advertised University and college funding opportunities you are eligible for, do consult the online Graduate Funding Search Tool .  Scholarships are very competitive, and success cannot be guaranteed - it is therefore advisable to explore all possible funding sources. You can find some tips on the Funding Top Tips website.

Please see below for information on the scholarships that are currently known to the Faculty and which may be available in the next admissions cycle. It is possible that further scholarships may become available at a later point.

University and Faculty of Philosophy Scholarships

Arts and humanities research council (ahrc).

The AHRC is the UK’s largest organisation for funding research on social and economic issues. The University, in collaboration with Cambridge University and the Open University, hosts the Open-Oxford-Cambridge AHRC Doctoral Training Partnership (OOC DTP).

In order to be considered for an OOC DTP studentship, you must select ‘AHRC: OOC DTP’ in the University of Oxford scholarships section of the University’s graduate application form. You must also complete an OOC DTP Application Form (which can be downloaded from this page ) and upload it, together with your graduate application form, by the January deadline. Please ensure you have read all of the application guidance available on the website before completing the DTP Application Form.

Black Academic Futures Scholarships for entry in 2023-24

The Black Academic Futures Scholarships offer UK Black and Mixed-Black students financial support to pursue graduate study at Oxford. These scholarships are available for applicants who are ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom, who are of Black or Mixed Black ethnicity and who hold an offer for either a taught or research postgraduate degree, starting in the 2024-25 academic year. This includes all full-time and part-time DPhil and master’s courses. For more information, visit the Black Academic Futures website or contact [email protected] . 

Clarendon Fund

Clarendon not only offers over 200 new, fully-funded scholarships each year to assist outstanding graduate scholars, but also the opportunity to join one of the most active, internationally diverse, and multidisciplinary communities at Oxford. For more information, please visit the Clarendon Scholarships webpage. 

The Ertegun Scholarship Programme

Oxford is immensely proud to be able to offer the Ertegun Scholarships in the Humanities. The University has one goal in mind when selecting Ertegun Scholars: to choose the very best students who will realise Mica Ertegun’s Mission and one day become leaders in their chosen fields.

An Ertegun Scholarship covers the course fees, and provides a grant for living costs, for the period of fee liability . Ertegun scholars also enjoy dedicated use of Ertegun House, which provides space for each Scholar for writing and research, as well as opportunities to participate in social occasions, lively lectures, performances and other activities developed expressly for the Scholars. Awards are made for the full duration of a student's fee liability for the agreed course.

Candidates apply for the scholarship by selecting “Mica and Ahmet Ertegun Graduate Scholarships in the Humanities” in the Funding Section of the University's Graduate Application Form. Applicants must also complete a supporting statement and upload it as a pdf document together with the Graduate Application Form. The statement requires you to answer three questions (in no more than 500 words each) that relate to the aims and mission of the Ertegun Scholarship programme. The Selection Committee will consider your supporting statement in conjunction with your course application. 

All candidates offered a place on any of our graduate philosophy programmes are automatically considered for nomination for an Ertegun Scholarship, provided they have checked the relevant box on the application form and uploaded an Ertegun application form to their course application.

For more information please visit the Ertegun Scholarship Programme website. 

Faculty of Philosophy Scholarships

The Philosophy Faculty has a limited level of departmental funding available for students who will start a graduate course in the Faculty in October 2024.

Scholarships will normally cover university fees, irrespective of fee status, and may also come with a grant for living expenses, for the duration of fee liability . Awards may be made in conjunction with other university or college scholarships.

There is no separate application process for these scholarships. The Faculty of Philosophy will automatically consider all eligible offer holders for this funding. Scholarship holders will be selected for their outstanding academic merit and potential.

Scholarships in Ethics in AI (DPhil only)

The Institute for Ethics in AI is offering up to two fully-funded scholarships to applicants accepted to start a DPhil in any subject that take a Humanities-based approach to research topics relevant to the Institute in the academic year 2024-25.

A large range of topics fall within the area of interest for the Institute for Ethics in AI. These include, but are not limited to, bias and discrimination in algorithmic decision-making, how AI bears on the value of human autonomy, the right to a human decision, the nature and value of human-robot relationship, AI applications in health care, the moral status of AI, the place of work in human life and the implications of AI for the workplace, and the ways in which AI and digital technology pose threats to, but also opportunities for, democratic governance.

Ethics in AI scholarships will cover university fees, irrespective of fee status, and provide a maintenance stipend for the period of fee liability . The maintenance stipend is set according to UKRI indicative level. The funding level changes on a yearly basis following inflation rate. Please visit the UKRI website for the most up-to-date figures.

There is no separate application process for these scholarships. The department you apply to by the January deadline for your course will automatically consider all eligible offer holders for this funding and nominate candidates to the Ethics in AI Funding selection committee for assessment. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview. Scholarship holders will be selected for their outstanding academic merit and potential.

College-based Scholarships

Graduate students in Philosophy may be considered for college-based scholarships. Below is a list of some of the college-based scholarships which may offer funding for our graduate courses in philosophy. Please refer to each college's individual graduate funding page for further information on the full range of scholarships available and the application process for each.

Drue Heinz Scholarship (Worcester College)

Open to all graduate applicants for courses in the Humanities in which Worcester College admits students and who specify Worcester College as their first choice College. The scholarship will provide funding for one year only up to a maximum of £10,000 per annum towards the full cost of fees and maintenance and includes certain SCR dining rights. More information on the Drue Heinz Scholarship is available  here . Details of this scholarship for entry in October 2024 will be published as soon as possible.

Dubuque Graduate Scholarship in Existential Phenomenology (Corpus Christi College)

Corpus Christi College intends to offer one fully-funder scholarship to support a student on a DPhil in Philosophy which focusses on existential phenomenology or with an emphasis on Post-Kantian European Philosophy.

The scholarship is open to all new applicants for a DPhil in Philosophy in the above area.

The scholarship will cover fees and provide a stipend based on the UKRI's minimum doctoral stipend for the duration of a student's fee liability (normally three years) plus an additional year's stipend should a fourth year of study be required.

For further information on the scholarship, and the application process, visit the Corpus Christi College Graduate Funding website .

Details of this scholarship for entry in October 2024 will be published as soon as possible.

GTC DPhil Scholarships (DPhil only) (Green Templeton College)

Green Templeton College, one of the colleges nearest to the Faculty, offer a variety of scholarships for graduate students. For more information please see the  Green Templeton College funding  webpage.

The Jowett Scholarship (MSt Ancient Philosophy only) (Balliol College)

The Jowett Scholarship, offered by Balliol College, is a partial scholarship and will be awarded to a student admitted to join the MSt in Ancient Philosophy in 2023-24. Further information can be viewed at the Balliol College website .  Details of this scholarship for entry in October 2024 will be published as soon as possible.

Joyce Mitchell Cook Black Academic Futures Graduate Studentship (St Hilda's College)

The studentship covers course fees and provides a generous grant for living expenses. The three-year scholarship is aimed at students for a graduate degree in Philosophy. Dr Joyce Mitchell Cook was a St Hilda's alumna, and was the first Black American woman to receive a PhD in Philosophy in the USA. The College's generous alumni have raised funds to support this studentship in her name. There is no separate application form for the Black Academic Futures Awards. All you need to do to be considered is apply for a philosophy graduate course by the relevant January application deadline.

The Neda Agha-Soltan Scholarship in Philosophy (The Queen's College)

The Queen's College may offer the Neda Agha-Soltan Scholarship in Philosophy to one student on any graduate programme offered by the Faculty of Philosophy, with preference given to Iranian nationals. The scholarship covers living expenses at the UKRI rate for one year. For more information on this scholarship, please see the  Queen's College funding  webpage.

The Pamela Sue Anderson Studentship (Regent's Park College)

Regent’s Park College may offer the Pamela Sue Anderson Studentship for the Encouragement of the Place of Women in Philosophy, worth up to £4000 for a student who is currently engaged in, or has been accepted for, postgraduate study at the University of Oxford. 

Reflecting the distinguished contribution to scholarship of the late Professor Anderson (1955-2017), preference will be given to applicants in the fields of feminist philosophy or feminist philosophy of religion, or, failing that and as an absolute requirement, to a person working on philosophy of a kind that encourages the place of women in philosophy.  The studentship will be tenable for as long as the selection committee deems appropriate, subject to the condition that it shall not be tenable beyond the duration of the student’s postgraduate studies at the University of Oxford.  The holder of the scholarship is required to be, or to become, a member of Regent’s Park College, Oxford. 

For more information please see  Regent's Park College's funding  webpage.

St Anne's Ethics Scholarship (St Anne's College)

St Anne's College, in partnership with the Faculty of Philosophy, is offering a scholarship in Ethics to a student on the BPhil or the DPhil in Philosophy. The scholarship will cover fees at the Home rate in the first academic year, and the scholarship may be renewed for a further year if progress is satisfactory. For further information visit the St Anne's scholarships page .

The Tang Scholarship (BPhil and DPhil only) (Balliol College)

Balliol College are offering the Tang Scholarship to a student studying for the BPhil or DPhil in the Faculty of Philosophy or the DPhil in Legal Philosophy in the Faculty of Law who are researching a topic related to the rule of law in its broadest sense.

The Scholarship may be offered in conjunction with a  University Clarendon Fund  award, or it may be awarded separately. When awarded jointly with a Clarendon Scholarship, the Scholarship covers all University and College fees, and a grant for living expenses. If the Scholarship is awarded alone, its value will be up to £15,000 per annum. 

Applicants must apply to the University of Oxford for admission to a higher degree by the University's second deadline in January. No separate application is required to be considered for this award. For more information on this scholarship, please see the  Balliol College Scholarships for Graduates  webpage.

Pembroke College Scholarship

Pembroke College offers the Atkinson Scholarship, which is open to current or past students of Melbourne University applying for DPhil programmes at Oxford in Theology, Law, Medicine or Philosophy. Further details can be found at the college website .

Links to relevant college funding pages (only for colleges which accept graduate students in philosophy)

Balliol College

Blackfriars

Brasenose College

Campion Hall

Christ Church

Corpus Christi College

Exeter College

Harris Manchester College

Hertford College

Jesus College

Keble College

Kellogg College

Lady Margaret Hall

Linacre College

Lincoln College

Magdalen College

Mansfield College

Merton College

New College

Oriel College

Pembroke College

The Queen's College

Regent's Park College

Reuben College

St Anne's College

St Benet's Hall

St Catherine's College

St Cross College

St Edmund Hall

St Hilda's College

St Hugh's College

St John's College

St Peter's College

Somerville College

Trinity College

University College

Wadham College  

Wolfson College

Worcester College

External Scholarships

A summary of external scholarships and search facilities can be found on the External Scholarships webpage. These are managed by organisations external to Oxford, therefore various application processes and closing dates will apply.  If you have any questions, please contact the relevant organisation directly. Some external scholarships are summarised below however do note this list is not exhaustive.

The Barry Scholarship

The Barry Scholarship is an academic prize which provides full funding for a minimum of two years of graduate study at the University of Oxford. It is awarded in recognition of a student's dedication to the academic vocation and the pursuit of truth. Generously funded by the John and Daria Barry Foundation , the Scholarship is an initiative of the Canterbury Institute , an Oxford-based charity that seeks to rediscover the academic vocation. 

There is no application process for this prize, but instead nominations are received from an existing pool of academic volunteers. Find more information about the Barry Scholarship here . 

British Society for the Philosophy of Science (BSPS) (DPhil only)

The British Society for the Philosophy of Science (BSPS) is offering a doctoral scholarship for doctoral work in philosophy of science at a UK university, subject to a candidate of sufficient merit presenting themselves. Further information on this BSPS Doctoral Scholarship, including what is covered by the scholarship and how to apply for it, is available on the  BSPS Doctoral Scholarship  webpage.  Details of this scholarship for entry in October 2024 will be published as soon as possible.

Fondation Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Scholarships (DPhil only)

Applications are now open for the Trudeau Foundation Scholarships, an external body providing scholarships to DPhil students from Canada. Applicants will need to apply directly to the Trudeau Foundation, rather than through the University of Oxford as in previous years. Details on how to apply, as well as information on eligibility, can be found on the  Trudeau Foundation’s website .

German Begabtenförderungswerke Scholarships

Studentships Organizations for the promotion of gifted students support students with outstanding achievements financially and non-materially in their academic education. In Germany there are 13 funding bodies that award scholarships to students and doctoral candidates.

For further information, see here .

Open Philanthropy Funding

Open Philanthropy career development and transition funding aims to provide support – in the form of funding for graduate study, unpaid internships, self-study, career transition and exploration periods, and other activities relevant to building career capital – for individuals at any career stage who want to pursue careers that could help to reduce global catastrophic risks or otherwise improve the long-term future. Further information can be found at the Open Philanthropy website .

The Society for Applied Philosophy Doctoral Scholarships (DPhil only)

Each year the Society for Applied Philosophy offers two scholarships for doctoral work in applied philosophy in a UK university, and one further scholarship for doctoral work in applied philosophy in any University in an EU country (subject to a suitable candidate coming forward). The level of each scholarship will be up to £10,000 and will be held for one year. More information can be found at the Society's  website .

Swiss Study Foundation Annual Scholarships (MSt courses and BPhil only)

The Swiss Study Foundation offers two annual scholarships for students studying or conducting research abroad for a period of one or two years. Only students who have successfully passed the selection procedure for admission to the Swiss Study Foundation are allowed to submit grant proposals. For more information on the scholarships and the Swiss Study Foundation, please see their  website . 

Wellcome Trust Doctoral Studentships

Wellcome are offering Doctoral Studentships (usually for three years) for students completing a DPhil in any Humanities or Social Science area. For more information on this scholarship, please see the  Wellcome Doctoral Studentships  webpage.

World Universities Ramsay Postgraduate Scholarship

The World Universities Ramsay Postgraduate Scholarship supports young Australians to undertake graduate study at the world’s best universities (e.g. Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, Harvard, Princeton, Bologna etc.) for one, two and, in select cases, three years of graduate coursework and/or research.

Levels of support are fully competitive with the Rhodes, John Monash, Fulbright and other major scholarships.

For further information visit the Ramsay Centre website .

Postgraduate Loans

Postgraduate loans for master’s degrees.

Since 1 August 2016, if you plan to take a postgraduate master’s course, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Loan to help with course fees and living costs. 

You are eligible if you:

• Are under 60
• Ordinarily live in England
• Don’t already have a master’s degree or higher qualification

For more information, please visit the Master's Loan page of the GOV.UK website. 

Postgraduate Loans for Doctoral Degrees

Postgraduate Doctoral Loans have been introduced by the UK government for English and EU (non-UK) students commencing study from 2018-19 onwards. Information currently available, including eligibility criteria, can be found on the Doctoral Loans page of the GOV.UK website.

US Federal Loans

Applicants in the USA may also find this University of Oxford webpage about US federal loans useful. 

Other Funding Information

The alternative guide to postgraduate funding.

This is an external resource providing advice to graduates on applying for funding from sources such as charities and trusts. It is particularly useful for graduate applicants or current graduate students who are struggling to find funding from more traditional sources. Features include a searchable database of funding opportunities, together with help on writing personal statements and a grants manager to help students keep track of their funding applications. Current Oxford students and staff can use their University email address to register for access to the Guide via their Gateway (or use the ‘Login automatically from campus’ option).  Non-Oxford graduate applicants may apply for an individual licence to access the Guide here .

'Easy Scholarships to Get'

Applicants in the USA may find this webpage of interest. This article provides information about 'easy scholarships' to apply for, as well as a few tips on what to look for when you apply. Please visit the ' Easy Scholarships to Get ' webpage for more information.

Useful Links

Oxford Graduate Scholarships

Graduate Funding Search Tool

Scholarships A-Z Listing

Funding Top Tips

Alternative Guide to Postgraduate Funding

GOV.UK Postgraduate Loans

Easy Scholarships to Get

Postgraduate Funding

Several funding sources are available to students of the Faculty of Theology and Religion. Applicants are advised to research the funding opportunities available for their course before applying. Most of the scholarships that provide full funding are available only to those starting a new course. Funding opportunities available to students who have already started their course are usually much more limited.

Information about the fees charged for each course can be found on the Graduate Fees and Funding website . 

Opportunities to seek employment during term time are normally limited by the full-time requirements of most of the faculty’s courses and course-related commitments during the Christmas, Easter and summer vacations. Please note that the demand for part-time paid work in Oxford often exceeds the amount of paid work that is available, whether academic or non-academic paid work.

University Scholarships for New Students

Every year, a significant proportion of the Faculty’s graduate applicants secure support for their studies from a range of public and private funding bodies and scholarship schemes.

Information about the scholarships available for those applying for, or currently studying, any one particular course or programme of study, including details of the scholarship amount, duration, eligibility and closing date, can be found by using the Fees, Funding and Scholarship search facility .

All applicants who apply by the  Early January Application Deadline and are offered a place on a graduate course will be considered automatically for those scholarships for which they are eligible. Some scholarships require additional application materials, and applicants are advised to read the details of the application requirements for each scholarship carefully.

Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Doctoral Training Partnership Studentships

Eligibility for AHRC studentship funding has changed. From 2021/22 onwards, international students will be eligible for UKRI studentship funding. All UKRI-funded doctoral students will be eligible for a full award, both the stipend to support living costs and fees at the UKRI approved rate. Awards to students liable for Overseas fees are capped at 30%.

Any students who started their degree in previous academic years are not affected by this announcement. EU, EEA and Swiss Nationals starting UKRI-funded programmes in the 2020 academic year will remain eligible for funding under the same terms as  guaranteed by the Government in July 2019 .

For more information please see the Open-Oxford-Cambridge Doctoral Training Partnership  website .

Current DPhil students may also be eligible for funding, for more information please click  here

All those who wish to be considered for an award should complete and submit the separate application form with their general application, by the 5th January 2024 deadline. 

Clarendon Fund graduate scholarships

You will be automatically considered for Clarendon if you apply by the relevant January deadline for your course. You do not need to submit a separate application. Clarendon offers fully-funded scholarships covering course fees, as well as a grant for living expenses for the period of fee liability. There are no restrictions on nationality, ordinary residence or field of study. All full-time and part-time DPhil and Master’s courses are eligible. Clarendon scholars are selected for their outstanding academic merit and potential, and are highly competitive.

All applicants for graduate study are eligible for a  Clarendon scholarship .

Mica and Ahmet Ertegun Graduate Scholarships in the Humanities

Applicants for most graduate courses in the Humanities may be considered for an  Ertegun Scholarship , but in order to be considered, they must complete the Ertegun application form and submit it with their general application by the 5th January 2024 deadline. Ertegun Scholarships are highly competitive, and cover course fees in full. Scholars also receive a generous annual grant for living costs (the rate for 2023-24 is £18,622) which is normally sufficient to cover the living costs of a single student living in Oxford. Ertegun Scholars also enjoy dedicated use of Ertegun House, which provides space for each Scholar for writing and research, as well as opportunities to participate in social occasions, lively lectures, performances and other activities developed expressly for the Scholars. Awards are made for the full duration of a student's fee liability for the agreed course, subject to satisfactory academic progress.

Faculty Scholarships for New Students

A range of postgraduate scholarships will be available for courses in the Faculty of Theology and Religion beginning in October 2022.  Funded from a variety of sources including Trust Funds, grants from philanthropic organisations and other benefactors, these awards will partly or wholly cover fees and/or a maintenance stipend.

All awards will be made on the basis of academic excellence as demonstrated by past performance and potential future achievement.

Those applying for admission who wish to be considered for a Faculty scholarship, should add the code ‘ THEO ’ to the ‘Departmental studentship applications’ section of the University’s online graduate course application form.

Grinfield Studentship in Septuagint Studies, 2022-2023

The Board of Electors to the Grinfield Lecturership intends, if a suitably qualified candidate can be found, to offer a one-year studentship funded by the Grinfield Trust, for an M.St. or M.Phil. with a proposed dissertation on any aspect of the Greek Septuagint translation of the Hebrew Bible. The studentship will be tenable from Michaelmas Term 2022, and is expected to cover annual fees up to a total of £12,000. The successful candidate will have a good first degree in a relevant subject (undergraduate or graduate), or will have completed all the elements of such a degree by September 2022. He or she will be expected to make, or to have made, an application for the M.St. or M.Phil. in either the Faculty of Theology and Religion or the Faculty of Oriental Studies by Friday, 7 January 2022, and to have met the usual criteria for acceptance.

The successful candidate will pay the usual fees to college and university. The award is non-renewable, and will be terminated if matriculation for the M.St. or M.Phil. course is suspended for any reason.

The awarding Board of Electors will have access to candidates’ application materials submitted to either of the two Faculties and therefore will not require additional documentation. Applicants should, however, ask their three referees to speak directly to their qualification for this studentship in the references submitted in support of the application for the M.St. or M.Phil.

Hall Houghton Studentship in New Testament

The Hall Houghton Trust intends to offer 1-2 studentships of up to £10,000 for an MSt/MPhil or DPhil student in the New Testament subject area starting in Michaelmas 2022, if suitable candidates can be found.

To be considered for this award you must have submitted your application to the MSt Theology, MPhil Theology, or DPhil Theology and Religion courses by the midday 7th January 2022 deadline, and intend to study with the New Testament subject area.

Zayed Foundation Islamic Studies Studentship

The Zayed Foundation intends, if a suitable candidate can be found, to offer a one year studentship award of £6000 to an MSt Study of Religions student starting in Michaelmas 2022 with Islam as one of their two chosen religions. To be considered for this award you must submit your MSt Study of Religions application by the Early January Deadline of midday (UK Time) on 7th January 2022

Financial Assistance for Continuing Students

Graduate students currently studying one of the Faculty’s courses who will be on the same course in 2022-23 - i.e. taught postgraduate students in the first year of two, or continuing DPhil students - may apply to the Faculty for financial assistance using the Application form for Financial Assistance . Most applications are usually considered in early March, but we will send all students information about any other deadlines through the year. Applicants must also ask two referees to email an academic reference on their behalf to the Faculty’s Graduate Studies Administrator at [email protected] .

Criteria for the awards are:

• Academic Excellence
• Financial hardship due to a change in circumstances or, in the case of DPhils, overrunning the funded years of their course.

Other Funding Sources

Crewdson trust awards.

Applications for awards (of up to two thousand pounds) from the Crewdson Trust are invited from Oxford students doing advanced degrees in Theology. The aims of the trust are to promote study and research in Christian theology relevant to the production of contemporary re-statements of the Christian faith or its application, and also to encourage research into the role of religion in eliminating violence and promoting peace. Further information can be found here .

Squire and Marriott Bursaries (and Hedley Lucas Scholarship Fund)

These financial assistance awards are available primarily to applicants who have the intention of offering themselves for ordination in the Church of England or any church in communion therewith. Deadlines fall in November and April each year and will be advertised in advance. Further information can be found  here .

The Pamela Sue Anderson Studentship for the Encouragement of the Place of Women in Philosophy

Regent’s Park College is offering a postgraduate studentship worth up to £4000 for a student who is currently engaged in, or has been accepted for, postgraduate study at the University of Oxford.  Reflecting the distinguished contribution to scholarship of the late Professor Anderson (1955-2017), preference will be given to applicants in the fields of feminist philosophy or feminist philosophy of religion, or, failing that and as an absolute requirement, to a person working on philosophy of a kind that encourages the place of women in philosophy.  The studentship will be tenable for as long as the selection committee deems appropriate, subject to the condition that it shall not be tenable beyond the duration of the student’s postgraduate studies at the University of Oxford.  The holder of the scholarship is required to be, or to become, a member of Regent’s Park College, Oxford.

Further information can be found here .

Charities and the Voluntary Sector

A new resource on the Fees and Funding website is now available to help current graduates in their quest for funding. The 'Alternative Guide to Postgraduate Funding' is an independent guide written by two UK-based PhD students who have between them won over £45,000 in funding from the charity/voluntary sector. The Guide shows where to find charities, how to approach them, and how to complete strong applications in the correct manner. It contains model personal and financial statements, and over 100 links to voluntary sector funding sources. The Guide, which is a password protected pdf document, and instructions on how to obtain the password, are available  here.

We have 16 University of Oxford PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships

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University of Oxford PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships

Research studentship in numerical study of plumes and booster stage separation in hcms, phd research project.

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

This project has funding attached, subject to eligibility criteria. Applications for the project are welcome from all suitably qualified candidates, but its funding may be restricted to a limited set of nationalities. You should check the project and department details for more information.

Sustainable Approaches to Biomedical Science: Responsible and Reproducible Research (Centre for Doctoral Training)

Funded phd programme (uk students only).

Some or all of the PhD opportunities in this programme have funding attached. It is only available to UK citizens or those who have been resident in the UK for a period of 3 years or more. Some projects, which are funded by charities or by the universities themselves may have more stringent restrictions.

4 Year PhD Programme

4 Year PhD Programmes are extended PhD opportunities that involve more training and preparation. You will usually complete taught courses in your first year (sometimes equivalent to a Masters in your subject) before choosing and proposing your research project. You will then research and submit your thesis in the normal way.

Dissecting the Role of Transposable Element-Derived RNA and Circular RNAs in Gene Regulation

On-therapy monitoring of oesophageal cancer and recurrence detection: the blood-based liquid sequencing study (bliss), developing a prime editing gene therapy for the treatment of abca4-related stargardt disease, competition funded phd project (students worldwide).

This project is in competition for funding with other projects. Usually the project which receives the best applicant will be successful. Unsuccessful projects may still go ahead as self-funded opportunities. Applications for the project are welcome from all suitably qualified candidates, but potential funding may be restricted to a limited set of nationalities. You should check the project and department details for more information.

Research Studentship in Impact Failure of Amorphous Polymers

Funded phd project (uk students only).

This research project has funding attached. It is only available to UK citizens or those who have been resident in the UK for a period of 3 years or more. Some projects, which are funded by charities or by the universities themselves may have more stringent restrictions.

Novel manufacturing methods for X-ray imaging scintillator materials

Research studentship in power electronics thermal management, research studentship in microfluidics applied to cell biology, microfluidics with fluid walls for cancer and neuronal research, unravelling the mechanisms behind plant stress sensing, combined geophysical datasets for characterising volcanic brines, single molecule science: new experimental approaches to measuring the charge, size and 3d conformation of single biomolecules in solution, plant adaptation to low oxygen conditions, dphil in computer science, funded phd programme (students worldwide).

Some or all of the PhD opportunities in this programme have funding attached. Applications for this programme are welcome from suitably qualified candidates worldwide. Funding may only be available to a limited set of nationalities and you should read the full programme details for further information.

Computing PhD Programme

PhD Research Programmes describe the opportunities for postgraduate research within a University department. You may often be asked to submit your own research project proposal as part of your application, although predefined research projects may also be available.

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For example, Engineering science AND Robotics

Information about postgraduate study in Engineering Science at the University of Oxford - fees and funding

Fees and Funding

Studying the MSc by research, fees are payable for up to six terms, with a minimum of three terms in residence. For the DPhil, fees are payable for up to nine terms, with a minimum of six terms in residence.

As well as your tuition fees, you should budget for various living costs including accommodation and meals. Use the fees calculator to calculate how much it will cost to study and live in Oxford.

For more information, please see https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate/fees-and-funding.

Funded studentships

Home students.

The Department holds funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council to support around six research students per year.

There is no separate application form to apply for these awards, but competition is strong. It is unlikely that an award will be allocated to anyone who does not have a first-class honours degree, or equivalent.

All Home applicants for the DPhil will automatically be considered for this funding.

In addition, the Department regularly advertises studentships funded by various partners and sponsors. See a list of current funded studentships.

International students

The University of Oxford offers scholarships and funding for non-Home students. For more details, please see the University's graduate fees and funding page , or go to your country page at the international section of the admissions website.

International students are also considered for the Departmental funding from EPSRC (see Home students section above) but the places are very limited. If you are an international student and want to apply for one of these studentships please contact the supervisor to see whether the flexibility might be available for you. 

Scholarships for MSc Energy Systems

Bseisu-oxford scholarship.

The Bseisu-Oxford Scholarship is available to graduate students demonstrating exceptional academic merit and/or potential ordinarily resident in Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon or Syria, commencing a Masters course of study in Energy Systems at the University’s Department of Engineering Science.

The scholarship covers course fees at the Overseas rate, as well as living costs for one year.

The scholarship receives generous funding from The Bseisu Foundation .

Energy Systems Scholarship

The MSc Energy Systems Scholarship is available to students accepted onto the MSc Energy Systems programme , with preference for female students from developing countries, not already in receipt of a fully-funded scholarship.

This scholarship covers course fees at the Overseas rate, as well as living costs for one year.

How will Brexit affect my application?

The University of Oxford is and intends to remain a thriving, cosmopolitan community of scholars and students united in our commitment to education and research. The UK leaving the European Union will not change this; our students from all across the world are as warmly welcome as ever.

The University of Oxford has published a range of Q&As covering the sort of questions you might have about studying here now that the UK has left the European Union. You'll find answers to many of your questions, as well as details on who to contact to find out more at https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/oxford-and-the-eu .

Oriel Graduate Scholarship in Artificial Intelligence

Following a generous gift from an Orielensis, Oriel College is offering a new scholarship to support one postgraduate student focused on artificial intelligence research as part of a DPhil course in either Engineering Science or Computer Science. We look forward to welcoming the recipient of this scholarship in Michaelmas Term 2021.

The Oriel Graduate Scholarship in Artificial Intelligence will provide an annual award of £5,000 for up to three years, provided the recipient remains on course at Oriel. College accommodation is available during the first year of the course and by competitive ballot in subsequent years.

Oriel has one of the liveliest MCR communities in Oxford, with regular social events and the well-established ‘Oriel Talks’ presentation series which offers graduate students the opportunity to share their research with the College community. Please visit the MCR website for more information about life as a graduate student at Oriel.

How to Apply

Applicants should make a direct DPhil application to the Department of Engineering Science or Department of Computer Science, following the University’s admissions procedures and course deadlines. Applicants should list Oriel College as their first-choice college and note the Oriel Graduate Scholarship in Artificial Intelligence on their application form.

Please note that all applications should go through the University of Oxford online application system and applications should not be made to Oriel College directly.

Financial aid

The University of Oxford offers various forms of financial aid which you may be eligible for. Please note that you must apply for these yourself. The Department cannot do so on your behalf; it has no scholarships, bursaries or teaching assistantships and few other sources of aid beyond those mentioned above.

Postgraduate Applications

Research Studentships

Scholarships and funding for under-represented groups

• Study at Merton
• Graduate Study

Graduate Study: Graduate Scholarships for 2024-25 entry

• Merton already has a higher than average number of scholarships available to enable graduate students to study at Oxford and increasing the funds available from our own resources and the generous gifts of donors is a priority for the College. Our interim goal is to offer one per subject area per year.
• These scholarships are only available for applicants to programmes of study for which the College normally considers.
• Our scholarships are generally made in partnership with the University and NONE of them requires a separate college-specific application .
• The applications of all eligible candidates will automatically be considered on the basis of the University application form for graduate study, regardless of whether or not you state Merton College as your preferred college on your graduate application form, which should be submitted by the January deadline (unless otherwise stated).
• If you are offered a scholarship at Merton College you will also be offered a place at Merton College in order to take up the award; this will take the place of any earlier college offer you may have received.
• The schedule of scholarships offered changes each year. Details of 2024 Scholarships will be published in August/September 2023.
• The University website has a Fees, Funding and Scholarships search tool  designed to assist graduates looking for funding sources.
• The Alternative Guide to Postgraduate Funding is an external resource from GradFunding which provides a database of alternative funding opportunities (for example, from charities and trusts) and advice about how to apply for them. The University has subscribed to the guide: Current Oxford students can use their University email address to access the guide.
• Offered – One each in Economics, Law, Biology, Computer Science, Medical Sciences; and three further awards in Humanities.
• Eligibility – Home/Overseas applicants for subjects the College normally considers.
• Value - Course fee and a grant for living expenses at the UKRI minimum doctoral stipend rate.
• Duration – Up to four years (depending on period of fee liability).
• Application – Via  University application form for graduate study  by the January application deadline.
• Eligibility  – Home/Overseas applicants for subjects the College normally considers.
• Value  - Course fee and a grant for living expenses at the UKRI minimum doctoral stipend rate.
• Duration  – Up to four years (depending on period of fee liability).
• Application  – Via  University application form for graduate study  by the January application deadline.
• Offered –  One for a student from, or undertaking research in, Sub-Saharan Africa
• Offered –  One for a student undertaking research in History
• Merton College will be supporting scholarship provision for the  Black Academic Futures  scheme as a funding partner.
• Offered  - annually.
• Eligibility  – UK applicants.
• Value  – £5,000 from Merton College and £5,000 from the Faculty of Law.
• Duration  – one year.
• Application  – Via  University application form for graduate study  by the January application deadline. Eligible candidates will be identified to the College by the department and the College will make its decision in late May based on the University application form.
• Eligibility  – British.
• Eligibility  – Home/Overseas applicants for the BCL or MJur.
• Value  – £5,000 from Merton College and £5,000 from the Faculty of Law.
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Oxford-Pershing Square Graduate Scholarships

Full scholarships to support outstanding students on the 1+1 MBA.

Established in 2014, the Oxford-Pershing Square Graduate Scholarships provide up to six full awards covering both the Master's and the MBA degrees. Scholars can pursue any of the  1+1 MBA partnering programmes  and combine it with our MBA. 

Recipients are exceptional individuals who can demonstrate the potential and commitment to finding scalable and sustainable solutions to world-scale social challenges.

You will benefit from a range of on-course opportunities such as attending prestigious conferences, termly events and scholar community activities, spring 'trek' to New York hosted by the Pershing Square Foundation, and mentorship opportunities. 

The Pershing Square Scholarship

Scholarship details

Course fees for both the Master's degree and MBA programme, plus a grant for living costs of at least £17,668 per year for both years of study. 

Number available

Eligibility criteria.

You will be considered in order of priority for the scholarship:

1.   New applicants to the Oxford 1+1 MBA programme

• You must be admitted to a 1+1 MBA partnering programme  and to the MBA prior to the selection process (waitlisted or re-evaluated applicants will not be considered)

2.   If you apply to any full-time one-year Master’s course that is not currently part of the official list of 1+1 MBA partnering programmes, and to the MBA (as a separate application)

3.   If you are:

• moving into your MBA year and have not been considered for the scholarship in the previous year (eg waitlisted/ re-evaluated applicants)
• admitted to the MBA while studying on one of the 1+1 MBA partnering programmes

Selection criteria

• Academic achievement demonstrated through degree results, GMAT or GRE score, previous university prizes and awards, and other academic achievements.
• Leadership potential demonstrated through experience and motivation.
• Strong personal character, integrity, and commitment.
• Intention to focus on addressing world-scale social challenges in your career, either in an existing organisation or through the development of a new enterprise.
• Ability to envision how to achieve scalable and sustainable solutions to these challenges.
• Articulated vision on how the Oxford 1+1 MBA will allow you to fulfil your objectives.

You are advised to highlight these attributes in your 1+1 MBA application, scholarship essay and interview answers. 

How to apply

You must submit a complete application for both courses and upload the scholarship essay in the 'Funding' section of the 1+1 MBA programme application by the deadline to be considered. 

Answer the following question in no more than 500 words:

• How do you intend to change the world and what does this tell us about you as a person?

Each of our  partnering programmes  has its own application form, deadlines and requirements.

You must apply by 5 January 2024  for the 1+1 MBA and for your chosen Master's programme by its own deadline, either in December or January. Application deadlines for 1+1 MBA partner programmes can be found on the relevant course page on the Graduate Admissions website .

Selection process

Shortlisting is planned to take place in early April with candidates expected to be invited to interview in late April or early May.

Meet our scholars

Scholarships for exceptional individuals.

Hear from our on-course scholars and learn about their backgrounds, careers, and plans. 

Our extraordinary community of scholars are  exceptional individuals who are inspired to address important social issues by reimagining the possible and delivering scalable and sustainable impact across the globe.  

Scholar community

As part of the scholarship, recipients have the unique opportunity to benefit from a range of on-course activities and priority access to School events. Through fostering a positive and stimulating community, they are encouraged to share ideas, experiences, skills, as well as creating new initiatives.

See what our scholars have recently been up to.

The transition from MSc to MBA for a Pershing Square Scholar

Kate talks about finding her place in the MBA cohort.

Founding a Fintech: The story of a financial inclusion startup in Latin America

Diego discusses his experience starting a Fintech business.

The unique journey of having a baby during my MBA

Sophie balances pregnancy and motherhood with the MBA.

2023 Best & Brightest MBA

Diego makes the top 100 Best & Brightest MBA students in the world.

Oxford is the journey, my transformative first term

Adam evaluates his unique experiences and possibilities at Oxford.

Trash Talk: How to transform our approach to waste management

Ryan debunks commonly-held assumptions about waste management.

Combining Oxford's MSc Water Science, Policy and Management with the Oxford MBA

Kate contemplates her journey to Oxford.

My Oxford 1+1 MBA experience so far: a catalyst for future impact

Sophie reflects on her first year of the Oxford 1+1 MBA.

Scholarship co-curricular activities

As a scholar, you will benefit from a range of on-course opportunities which are unique to the Oxford-Pershing Square Graduate Scholarships.

These opportunities have been designed to enhance the scholarship experience and help to prepare you intellectually, professionally and practically for your future leadership positions.

• Opportunity to speak and play an active part in global forums such as the  Oxford Africa Business Forum
• Opportunity to attend prestigious conferences and events throughout the year eg the Ditchley Conferences
• Termly lunches with the MBA Director
• Annual dinner with the Dean and/or members of the Saïd Business School Senior Leadership Team
• Networking and career events

Events and opportunities change from year to year. You are welcome to suggest opportunities that appeal to you and shape the termly timetable. 

You will have the opportunity for mentorship and networking with inspirational individuals and organisations that are part of the Pershing Square Foundation's community.

Mentors can include members of  the Oxford-Pershing Square Graduate Scholarship Advisory Board,  faculty and members of the Saïd and wider Oxford University community, and Oxford-Pershing Square Graduate Scholarship alumni.   

New York Trek

You will be invited to take part in a 'trek' to New York hosted by the Pershing Square Foundation, where you can participate in meetings and workshops with leading innovators and change-makers.

Pershing Square Foundation

The foundation supports exceptional leaders and innovative organisations that tackle social issues and deliver scalable and sustainable impact. It is committed to supporting areas such as economic development, education, healthcare, justice and the arts.

The Pershing Square Foundation’s gift of £7.8m has endowed the scholarships in perpetuity. The University of Oxford has provided a further £5.2m under the Oxford Graduate Scholarship Matched Fund, taking the total funding to £13m.

Apply to the 1+1 MBA

Visit our programme pages to find out more about the programme, the admissions requirements, and how to apply. You can also contact the MBA recruitment team for a discussion about your suitability for the programme. 

Learn more about the programme

Partnering programmes

Learn more about our 1+1 MBA partnering programmes

• Please contact us if you have any questions about the scholarship or your eligibility.
• [email protected]

Get the Reddit app

A subreddit dedicated to PhDs.

Does it worth paying for PhD at Oxford?

Hi everyone,

I'm writing on behalf of a friend who recently received an offer from Oxford University to study DPhil in Area Studies, a three-year doctoral programme that can be completed in two years. However, he did not receive any scholarship. As someone who wants to pursue a postdoctoral degree and become a university professor, he's wondering if it's worth paying for the programme.

The costs are quite high and he would need to use all his savings to pay for it. Additionally, he won't be able to work for at least two years while studying full-time. He already has a Master's degree from Oxford, which he self-funded, so he's unsure if it's worth it to self-fund another degree.

He's wondering if anyone has any experience with partially funded opportunities during the programme or if they have any advice on whether or not it's worth it to self-fund a doctoral programme at Oxford.

Thank you in advance for any insights or advice you can offer.

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Article Contents

“ keep it a secret ”: leaked documents suggest philip morris international, and its japanese affiliate, continue to exploit science for profit.

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Sophie Braznell, Louis Laurence, Iona Fitzpatrick, Anna B Gilmore, “ Keep it a secret ”: leaked documents suggest Philip Morris International, and its Japanese affiliate, continue to exploit science for profit, Nicotine & Tobacco Research , 2024;, ntae101, https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntae101

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The tobacco industry has a long history of manipulating science to conceal the harms of its products. As part of its proclaimed transformation, the world’s largest tobacco company, Philip Morris International (PMI), states it conducts “ transparent science ”. This paper uses recently leaked documents from PMI and its Japanese affiliate, Philip Morris Japan (PMJ), to examine its contemporary scientific practices.

23 documents dating 2012 through 2020 available from Truth Tobacco Industry Documents Library were examined using Forster's hermeneutic approach to analysing corporate documentation. Thematic analysis using the Science for Profit Model was conducted to assess whether PMI/PMJ employed known corporate strategies to influence science in their interests.

PMJ contracted a third-party external research organisation, CMIC, to covertly fund a study on smoking cessation conducted by Kyoto University academics. No public record of PMJ’s funding or involvement in this study was found. PMJ paid life sciences consultancy, FTI-Innovations, ¥3,000,000 (approx. £20,000) a month between 2014 and 2019 to undertake extensive science-adjacent work, including building relationships with key scientific opinion leaders and using academic events to promote PMI’s science, products and messaging. FTI-Innovation’s work was hidden internally and externally. These activities resemble known strategies to influence the conduct, publication and reach of science, and conceal scientific activities.

The documents reveal PMI/PMJ’s recent activities mirror past practices to manipulate science, undermining PMI’s proclaimed transformation. Tobacco industry scientific practices remain a threat to public health, highlighting the urgent need for reform to protect science from the tobacco industry’s vested interests.

Implications: Japan is a key market for PMI, being a launch market for IQOS and having the highest heated tobacco product use globally. Our findings, in conjunction with other recent evidence, challenge PMI’s assertion that it is a source of credible science and cast doubt on the quality and ethical defensibility of its research, especially its studies conducted in Japan. This, in turn, brings into question the true public health impacts of its products. There is urgent need to reform the way tobacco-related science is funded and conducted. Implementation of models through which research can be funded using the industry’s profits while minimising its influence should be explored.

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PhD Students in the Natural Sciences, Engineering and Applied Sciences, and Medical Sciences

Phd students in the humanities and social sciences programs of the faculty of arts and sciences, phd students in humanities and social sciences programs offered in partnership with other harvard schools, acceptance of financial support.

The Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences offers incoming PhD students full financial support—including tuition, health insurance fees, and basic living expenses—for a minimum of five years (typically the first four years of study and the completion year). This funding package includes a combination of tuition grants, stipends, traineeships, teaching fellowships, research assistantships, and other academic appointments.

Each student is provided a Notice of Financial Support at the time of admission and is assigned a financial aid officer , who administers this funding and is available to assist with financial concerns. Each spring, continuing students supported by Harvard Griffin GSAS-administered funding sources are required to activate their funding for the upcoming academic year using the Student Aid Portal, an online financial aid management system.

A typical funding package* includes:

• grants toward tuition and the Harvard University Student Health Program  paid in full for years G1 through G4 and the dissertation completion year, with a partially subsidized dental plan option available
• a combination of stipend, teaching fellowships, and/or research assistantships during years G1 through G4
• summer research support from Harvard Griffin GSAS or faculty grants following the first four academic years.

*In some programs, the timing and structure of living expense support may vary from this pattern.

The initial Notice of Financial Support assumes continuous enrollment as a full-time resident student; students not enrolled are not eligible for Harvard Griffin GSAS financial aid programs. Students may find that their actual enrollment patterns necessitate adjustments to the timing of their funding. Students wishing to defer Harvard Griffin GSAS-administered funding indicate this in the Student Aid Portal during the annual financial aid acceptance process. The options for deferring financial support vary by type of aid; please refer to the applicable sections of the financial aid policy webpages for details. Students who are considering deferring financial support are strongly encouraged to contact their financial aid officers to review how such actions may impact their funding in future years.

While funding packages vary by program, PhD students in the sciences typically receive full funding until they complete their programs of study. Contact your department administrator or financial aid officer for details.

See more detailed information about funding for students in humanities and social sciences programs of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences.

Humanities and Social Sciences Programs in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences

• Celtic Literatures and Languages
• Comparative Literature
• East Asian Languages and Civilizations
• Film and Visual Studies
• Germanic Languages and Literatures
• History of Art and Architecture
• Inner Asian and Altaic Studies
• Linguistics
• Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations
• Romance Languages and Literatures
• Slavic Languages and Literatures
• South Asian Studies

Social Sciences

• African and African American Studies
• American Studies
• Anthropology
• History of Science
• Human Evolutionary Biology
• Middle Eastern Studies
• Social Policy

A number of humanities and social sciences PhD programs are offered in partnership with Harvard's professional schools. While funding packages vary by program, PhD students in these interfaculty programs generally receive at least four years of financial support for tuition, health fees, and living expenses; most programs provide dissertation completion fellowships as well. For more information, refer to your Notice of Financial Support or contact your financial aid officer .

Interfaculty Programs in the Humanities and Social Sciences

• Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urban Planning
• Business Administration
• Business Economics
• Health Policy
• Organizational Behavior
• Political Economy and Government
• Public Policy

Each student is provided a Notice of Financial Support at the time of admission and is assigned a financial aid officer who administers this funding and is available to assist with financial concerns. Students are required to formally accept their financial aid offers and acknowledge their understanding of financial aid policies. Students should also consult their academic programs to determine whether program-specific conditions apply.

Each spring, continuing students supported by Harvard Griffin GSAS-administered funding sources are required to activate their funding for the upcoming academic year using the Student Aid Portal, an online financial aid management system. Continued eligibility for financial aid is contingent upon an annual report by the faculty that the student is making  satisfactory progress toward the degree.

Financial Aid

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PhD in Information Admissions & Funding

Thank you for your interest in applying for admission to the PhD in Information.

Prospective students are required to submit application materials directly to the  University of Arizona Graduate College . Please read the information below and then submit your application prior to the annual deadline:

Application Deadline

Annual deadline for all students.

• Fall 2024: January 20, 2024 Now closed
• Fall 2025: Applications open July 1, 2024

PhD Program Funding

The iSchool successfully supports all PhD students in securing funding, including full tuition plus a stipend for living expenses, through at least four years of the program.

Funding sources may include research assistantships, teaching assistantships or other forms of support. Additional sources of funding may be available, such as summer funding secured through sponsored research and  summer teaching opportunities.

How to Apply

To apply, you must complete the University of Arizona Graduate College online application . Follow these steps:

• Create a GradApp account
• Complete your GradApp profile under "My Account".
• Select "Apply to a Program" from the sidebar.
• Choose "Degree Seeking" under application type and "Information (PHD)" under program of study.
• Choose the semester during which you wish to enter the program.
• Your application should now be initiated under "My Active Applications."

Admission Requirements

Admission to the doctoral program is competitive and based on both your abilities and faculty interest and expertise in your proposed area of study.

The School of Information may deny entry to an otherwise qualified applicant if there is insufficient faculty intellectual overlap for working with that applicant.

A GRE is not required as part of our admissions process.

Our faculty consider the overall package when making candidate evaluations, including:

• An undergraduate or graduate academic record that is indicative of significant achievement (typically a minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale)
• A minimum of three letters of recommendation that clearly speak to your promise as a graduate student and as a doctoral student
• A résumé or CV indicating both employment and educational experience to date
• A statement of intent outlining why you are applying to this particular program and what you consider the outcome of doctoral study will be
• An interview, on campus or by phone, with selected members of the faculty may occur

See also minimum admission requirements from the UArizona Graduate College. Also refer to our  information for international applicants  if needed.

Application Checklist

You are required to submit the following materials as part of your online application. Your application will not be processed until all required information is received.

Academic Statement of Purpose

Write a 750-1000   word statement outlining why you are applying to this particular program and what you consider the outcome of doctoral study will be. You need not, at this point, indicate potential dissertation topics, but an indication of the area(s) in which you propose to study would be very helpful to the faculty. 

Transcripts

Upload unofficial transcripts from ALL higher educational institutions attended as part of the online application. (Please note that unofficial transcripts are needed from each individual institution even if they are listed on the final transcript where the degree was issued.)

Official e-transcripts can be sent to  [email protected]  directly from the institution. Official transcripts can be requested after the graduate college has provided requirements in their letter once admittance has occurred.

English Language Proficiency

Proof of English proficiency is required for any international applicant born in a country where English is not the official language. Please check our  English Requirement  list to verify your need to submit an English proficiency test.  These tests must be dated within 2 years of the enrollment term to be considered valid.

Acceptable English Proficiency tests are: 

• Test of English as a Foreign Language  (TOEFL): Minimum score of 79 iBT (or 60 on the revised PBT with no section score lower than 15).  Individual MyBest scores must also be dated within 2 years of the enrollment term to be considered valid.
• International English Language Testing System  (IELTS): Minimum composite score of 7, with no subject area below a 6
• Pearson PTE Academic : Minimum score of 60
• Graduate  English Language Endorsement  from the Center for English as a Second Language (CESL)
• CEPT Full Academic test : Offered by our Center for English as a Second Language (CESL), minimum Total score of 110.

Those exempt from submitting English proficiency scores are:

• Applicants from countries where English is the official language.
• Applicants who have completed a bachelor's or graduate degree at a regionally accredited institution in the United States, or an approved institution in an official English speaking country. Degree must not be older than 2 years from the term of enrollment.
• Applicants who have completed 2 years of full-time academic study must have 48 upper division, graded undergraduate semester units or 30 graded, graduate semester units.

Upload your unofficial TOEFL scores as part of the online application. You must also submit official scores through ETS using institution code 4832.

Letters of Recommendation

Provide email addresses and contact information for three recommenders in the ‘Letters of Recommendation’ section of the online application.

Upload a current resumé or curriculum vitae (CV) as part of the online application in the ‘Supplemental Questions’ section.

Additional Forms

You may also need to complete:

• A domicile affidavit if you wish to have in-state (Arizona) status .  Mail or fax the form directly to the Residency Classification Office.  All students are considered out-of-state residents until domicile affidavits are processed. See Residency Guidelines and also review information about   Proposition 300 .
• A financial guarantee form (international students)
• An immunization form to be sent directly to Campus Health. Students will not be allowed to register for classes until they have met the University's immunization requirements. For more information, see the Campus Health Service's  immunization requirements .

If you have any questions, contact us at [email protected] .

Are you ready to work with top faculty while conducting original research on information's grand challenges?

If so, you're ready to apply to the University of Arizona PhD in Information at the iSchool:

DPhil in Mathematics

• Entry requirements
• Funding and Costs

College preference

• How to Apply

About the course

The DPhil in Mathematics is an advanced research degree which provides the opportunity to investigate a project in depth and write a thesis which makes a significant contribution in the field.  You will gain a wide range of research and other skills as well as in-depth knowledge and expertise in your chosen field, whilst studying in a beautiful, modern setting. 

During your study at Oxford, you can share in the excitement of contributing to research in one or more of the many topics studied by Oxford mathematicians. The department’s research covers the entire spectrum of mathematics, with subject areas including:

• algebra (primarily group theory and representation theory)
• number theory
• algebraic geometry
• differential geometry
• complex manifolds
• global analysis
• partial differential equations
• functional analysis
• stochastic analysis
• dynamical systems
• mathematical logic
• optimisation
• combinatorial theory
• quantum theory
• string theory
• mathematical biology and ecology
• mathematical modelling
• fluid and continuum mechanics
• mathematical and computational finance
• numerical analysis
• history of mathematics
• mathematics applied to problems in earth sciences, materials science and finance
• data science
• network science.

You will be asked to outline your research interests when you apply by listing at least one but no more than three of the fields of research listed above on your application form.  More information about the Research Groups in the Mathematical Institute  can be found on the department's website. Full instructions for completing this section of the application form can be found in the  How to apply  section of this page.

You will be expected to acquire transferable skills as part of your training, which will require you to attend courses, lectures, workshops and colloquia. You will be expected to complete a minimum of 68 hours of broadening training during your studies, comprising the equivalent of 3 standard 16-hour lecture courses and attendance at relevant seminars and colloquia. You will have the opportunity to develop other valuable skills and to contribute to the teaching work of the department, both by marking students’ work and later by leading classes of around eight to twelve students.

Undertaking the course is regarded as equivalent to working full-time hours and may also sometimes require some additional hours. The minimum period of registration for the DPhil is six terms but in practice you may need nine terms at least.

Supervision

You will be invited to suggest a specific supervisor or supervisors in your application, and your preferences will be taken into account in allocating you a supervisor (which will be done before your arrival). The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Mathematical Institute and it is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff. Under exceptional circumstances a supervisor may be found outside the Mathematical Institute. 

Students are expected to meet with their supervisors at least four times per term. A more typical pattern is weekly, at least until you reach the stage of writing up your thesis.

All students will be initially admitted to the status of Probationer Research Student (PRS). Within four terms of admission as a PRS student you will be expected to apply for transfer of status from Probationer Research Student to DPhil status.

A successful transfer of status from PRS to DPhil status will require satisfactory attendance and the submission of a thesis. Students who are successful at transfer will also be expected to apply for and gain confirmation of DPhil status within nine terms of admission, to verify that their work continues to be on track. Both milestones normally involve an interview with two assessors (other than your supervisor) and therefore provide important experience for the final oral examination.

You will be expected to teach at least one set of classes before transfer of status and a further two additional sets before confirmation of status. You will be expected to acquire transferable skills as part of your training and to undertake 68 hours of broadening courses outside your specialist area. This normally involves the submission of written work for three 16-hour lecture courses and attendance at workshops and colloquia.

You will be expected to submit a substantial original thesis which should not exceed 200 pages after three or, at most, four years from the date of admission. To be successfully awarded a Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics you will need to defend your thesis orally (viva voce) in front of two appointed examiners.

Graduate destinations

The department, working alongside the university’s Careers Service, supports graduate students as they move from the DPhil to the next stage of their career. Many graduate students stay in academia, by taking up a postdoctoral position, and many move into employment in a range of industries and sectors where the expertise and skills developed during the DPhil are highly valued.

Changes to this course and your supervision

The University will seek to deliver this course in accordance with the description set out in this course page. However, there may be situations in which it is desirable or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision, either before or after registration. The safety of students, staff and visitors is paramount and major changes to delivery or services may have to be made in circumstances of a pandemic, epidemic or local health emergency. In addition, in certain circumstances, for example due to visa difficulties or because the health needs of students cannot be met, it may be necessary to make adjustments to course requirements for international study.

Where possible your academic supervisor will not change for the duration of your course. However, it may be necessary to assign a new academic supervisor during the course of study or before registration for reasons which might include illness, sabbatical leave, parental leave or change in employment.

For further information please see our page on changes to courses and the provisions of the student contract regarding changes to courses.

Entry requirements for entry in 2024-25

Proven and potential academic excellence.

The requirements described below are specific to this course and apply only in the year of entry that is shown. You can use our interactive tool to help you  evaluate whether your application is likely to be competitive .

Please be aware that any studentships that are linked to this course may have different or additional requirements and you should read any studentship information carefully before applying. 

Degree-level qualifications

As a minimum, applicants should hold or be predicted to achieve the following UK qualifications or their equivalent:

• a first-class undergraduate degree with honours in mathematics or a related discipline.

A previous master's degree is not required, though the requirement for a first-class undergraduate degree with honours can be alternatively demonstrated by strong performance in a master's degree.

For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA sought is 3.7 out of 4.0.

If your degree is not from the UK or another country specified above, visit our International Qualifications page for guidance on the qualifications and grades that would usually be considered to meet the University’s minimum entry requirements.

GRE General Test scores

No Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or GMAT scores are sought.

Other qualifications, evidence of excellence and relevant experience

• Research or working experience in the proposed research area may be an advantage.
• Publications are not expected.

English language proficiency

This course requires proficiency in English at the University's  standard level . If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence that you meet this requirement. The minimum scores required to meet the University's standard level are detailed in the table below.

*Previously known as the Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English or Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) † Previously known as the Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English or Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE)

Your test must have been taken no more than two years before the start date of your course. Our Application Guide provides further information about the English language test requirement .

Declaring extenuating circumstances

If your ability to meet the entry requirements has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic (eg you were awarded an unclassified/ungraded degree) or any other exceptional personal circumstance (eg other illness or bereavement), please refer to the guidance on extenuating circumstances in the Application Guide for information about how to declare this so that your application can be considered appropriately.

You will need to register three referees who can give an informed view of your academic ability and suitability for the course. The  How to apply  section of this page provides details of the types of reference that are required in support of your application for this course and how these will be assessed.

Supporting documents

You will be required to supply supporting documents with your application. The  How to apply  section of this page provides details of the supporting documents that are required as part of your application for this course and how these will be assessed.

Performance at interview

Technical interviews are normally held as part of the admissions process.

If invited you can expect to be interviewed by at least two people and for the interview to last around 30 minutes. The interview will take place remotely.

It is expected that interviews will take place around three to five weeks after an application deadline.

How your application is assessed

Your application will be assessed purely on your proven and potential academic excellence and other entry requirements described under that heading.

References  and  supporting documents  submitted as part of your application, and your performance at interview (if interviews are held) will be considered as part of the assessment process. Whether or not you have secured funding will not be taken into consideration when your application is assessed.

An overview of the shortlisting and selection process is provided below. Our ' After you apply ' pages provide  more information about how applications are assessed . 

Shortlisting and selection

Students are considered for shortlisting and selected for admission without regard to age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, race (including colour, nationality and ethnic or national origins), religion or belief (including lack of belief), sex, sexual orientation, as well as other relevant circumstances including parental or caring responsibilities or social background. However, please note the following:

• socio-economic information may be taken into account in the selection of applicants and award of scholarships for courses that are part of  the University’s pilot selection procedure  and for  scholarships aimed at under-represented groups ;
• country of ordinary residence may be taken into account in the awarding of certain scholarships; and
• protected characteristics may be taken into account during shortlisting for interview or the award of scholarships where the University has approved a positive action case under the Equality Act 2010.

Initiatives to improve access to graduate study

This course is taking part in a continuing pilot programme to improve the selection procedure for graduate applications, in order to ensure that all candidates are evaluated fairly.

For this course, socio-economic data (where it has been provided in the application form) will be used to contextualise applications at the different stages of the selection process.  Further information about how we use your socio-economic data  can be found in our page about initiatives to improve access to graduate study.

If you wish, you may submit an additional contextual statement (using the instructions in the How to apply section of this page) to provide further information on your socio-economic background or personal circumstances in support of your application.  Further information about how your contextual statement will be used  can be found in our page about initiatives to improve access to graduate study.

This course is also taking part in the 'Close the Gap' project  which aims to improve access to doctoral study.

Processing your data for shortlisting and selection

Information about  processing special category data for the purposes of positive action  and  using your data to assess your eligibility for funding , can be found in our Postgraduate Applicant Privacy Policy.

Admissions panels and assessors

All recommendations to admit a student involve the judgement of at least two members of the academic staff with relevant experience and expertise, and must also be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies or Admissions Committee (or equivalent within the department).

Admissions panels or committees will always include at least one member of academic staff who has undertaken appropriate training.

Other factors governing whether places can be offered

The following factors will also govern whether candidates can be offered places:

• the ability of the University to provide the appropriate supervision for your studies, as outlined under the 'Supervision' heading in the  About  section of this page;
• the ability of the University to provide appropriate support for your studies (eg through the provision of facilities, resources, teaching and/or research opportunities); and
• minimum and maximum limits to the numbers of students who may be admitted to the University's taught and research programmes.

Offer conditions for successful applications

If you receive an offer of a place at Oxford, your offer will outline any conditions that you need to satisfy and any actions you need to take, together with any associated deadlines. These may include academic conditions, such as achieving a specific final grade in your current degree course. These conditions will usually depend on your individual academic circumstances and may vary between applicants. Our ' After you apply ' pages provide more information about offers and conditions . 

In addition to any academic conditions which are set, you will also be required to meet the following requirements:

Financial Declaration

If you are offered a place, you will be required to complete a  Financial Declaration  in order to meet your financial condition of admission.

Disclosure of criminal convictions

In accordance with the University’s obligations towards students and staff, we will ask you to declare any  relevant, unspent criminal convictions  before you can take up a place at Oxford.

Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)

Some postgraduate research students in science, engineering and technology subjects will need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate prior to applying for a  Student visa (under the Student Route) . For some courses, the requirement to apply for an ATAS certificate may depend on your research area.

Mathematics

Mathematics has been studied in Oxford since the University was first established in the 12th century. The Mathematical Institute aims to preserve and expand mathematical culture through excellence in teaching and research.

The Mathematical Institute offers a wide range of graduate courses, including both taught master’s courses and research degrees. Research and teaching covers the spectrum of pure and applied mathematics with researchers working in fields including:

• combinatorics
• mathematical physics
• mathematical finance
• mathematical biology
• numerical analysis.

Graduate students are an integral part of the department, interacting with each other and with academic staff as part of a vibrant community that strives to further mathematical study. As a graduate student at Oxford you will benefit from excellent resources, extensive training opportunities and supportive guidance from your supervisor or course director.

The Mathematical Institute has strong ties with other University departments including Computer Science, Statistics and Physics, teaching several courses jointly. Strong links with industrial and other partners are also central to the department.

View all courses   View taught courses View research courses

The Mathematical Institute's home is the purpose-built Andrew Wiles Building, opened in 2013. This provides ample teaching facilities for lectures, classes and seminars. Each research student is allocated an office in the Andrew Wiles Building that they will share with 3 or 4 other students: each student has their own desk, with a computer. The Mathematical Institute provides IT support, and students can use the department's Whitehead Library, with an extensive range of books and journals.

In addition to the common room, where graduate students regularly gather for coffee and other social occasions, there is also a café in the Andrew Wiles Building.

The department offers extensive support to students, from regular skills training and career development sessions to a variety of social events in a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere. You will have the opportunity to interact with fellow students and other members of your research groups, and more widely across the department. The department is committed to offering you the best supervision and to providing a stimulating research environment.

The University expects to be able to offer over 1,000 full or partial graduate scholarships across the collegiate University in 2024-25. You will be automatically considered for the majority of Oxford scholarships , if you fulfil the eligibility criteria and submit your graduate application by the relevant December or January deadline. Most scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic merit and/or potential. 

For further details about searching for funding as a graduate student visit our dedicated Funding pages, which contain information about how to apply for Oxford scholarships requiring an additional application, details of external funding, loan schemes and other funding sources.

Please ensure that you visit individual college websites for details of any college-specific funding opportunities using the links provided on our college pages or below:

Please note that not all the colleges listed above may accept students on this course. For details of those which do, please refer to the College preference section of this page.

Annual fees for entry in 2024-25 

Further details about fee status eligibility can be found on the fee status webpage.

Information about course fees

Course fees are payable each year, for the duration of your fee liability (your fee liability is the length of time for which you are required to pay course fees). For courses lasting longer than one year, please be aware that fees will usually increase annually. For details, please see our guidance on changes to fees and charges .

Course fees cover your teaching as well as other academic services and facilities provided to support your studies. Unless specified in the additional information section below, course fees do not cover your accommodation, residential costs or other living costs. They also don’t cover any additional costs and charges that are outlined in the additional information below.

Continuation charges

Following the period of fee liability , you may also be required to pay a University continuation charge and a college continuation charge. The University and college continuation charges are shown on the Continuation charges page.

Where can I find further information about fees?

The Fees and Funding  section of this website provides further information about course fees , including information about fee status and eligibility  and your length of fee liability .

Additional information

There are no compulsory elements of this course that entail additional costs beyond fees (or, after fee liability ends, continuation charges) and living costs. However, please note that, depending on your choice of research topic and the research required to complete it, you may incur additional expenses, such as travel expenses, research expenses, and field trips. You will need to meet these additional costs, although you may be able to apply for small grants from your department and/or college to help you cover some of these expenses.

Living costs

In addition to your course fees, you will need to ensure that you have adequate funds to support your living costs for the duration of your course.

For the 2024-25 academic year, the range of likely living costs for full-time study is between c. £1,345 and £1,955 for each month spent in Oxford. Full information, including a breakdown of likely living costs in Oxford for items such as food, accommodation and study costs, is available on our living costs page. The current economic climate and high national rate of inflation make it very hard to estimate potential changes to the cost of living over the next few years. When planning your finances for any future years of study in Oxford beyond 2024-25, it is suggested that you allow for potential increases in living expenses of around 5% each year – although this rate may vary depending on the national economic situation. UK inflationary increases will be kept under review and this page updated.

Students enrolled on this course will belong to both a department/faculty and a college. Please note that ‘college’ and ‘colleges’ refers to all 43 of the University’s colleges, including those designated as societies and permanent private halls (PPHs). 

If you apply for a place on this course you will have the option to express a preference for one of the colleges listed below, or you can ask us to find a college for you. Before deciding, we suggest that you read our brief  introduction to the college system at Oxford  and our  advice about expressing a college preference . For some courses, the department may have provided some additional advice below to help you decide.

The following colleges accept students on the DPhil in Mathematics:

• Balliol College
• Brasenose College
• Christ Church
• Corpus Christi College
• Exeter College
• Green Templeton College
• Hertford College
• Jesus College
• Keble College
• Kellogg College
• Lady Margaret Hall
• Linacre College
• Lincoln College
• Magdalen College
• Mansfield College
• Merton College
• New College
• Oriel College
• Pembroke College
• The Queen's College
• Reuben College
• St Anne's College
• St Catherine's College
• St Cross College
• St Edmund Hall
• St Hilda's College
• St Hugh's College
• St John's College
• St Peter's College
• Somerville College
• Trinity College
• University College
• Wadham College
• Wolfson College
• Worcester College
• Wycliffe Hall

Before you apply

Our  guide to getting started  provides general advice on how to prepare for and start your application. You can use our interactive tool to help you  evaluate whether your application is likely to be competitive .

If it's important for you to have your application considered under a particular deadline – eg under a December or January deadline in order to be considered for Oxford scholarships – we recommend that you aim to complete and submit your application at least two weeks in advance . Check the deadlines on this page and the  information about deadlines and when to apply  in our Application Guide.

Application fee waivers

An application fee of £75 is payable per course application. Application fee waivers are available for the following applicants who meet the eligibility criteria:

• applicants from low-income countries;
• refugees and displaced persons; 
• UK applicants from low-income backgrounds; and 
• applicants who applied for our Graduate Access Programmes in the past two years and met the eligibility criteria.

You are encouraged to  check whether you're eligible for an application fee waiver  before you apply.

Readmission for current Oxford graduate taught students

If you're currently studying for an Oxford graduate taught course and apply to this course with no break in your studies, you may be eligible to apply to this course as a readmission applicant. The application fee will be waived for an eligible application of this type. Check whether you're eligible to apply for readmission .

Application fee waivers for eligible associated courses

If you apply to this course and up to two eligible associated courses from our predefined list during the same cycle, you can request an application fee waiver so that you only need to pay one application fee.

The list of eligible associated courses may be updated as new courses are opened. Please check the list regularly, especially if you are applying to a course that has recently opened to accept applications.

Do I need to contact anyone before I apply?

You do not need to make contact with the department before you apply but you are encouraged to visit the relevant departmental webpages to read any further information about your chosen course.

However, if you would like to speak to an academic member of staff involved in your preferred area of research, you may get in touch with them directly or via the course administrator using the contact details provided on this page.

Completing your application

You should refer to the information below when completing the application form, paying attention to the specific requirements for the supporting documents .

For this course, the application form will include questions that collect information that would usually be included in a CV/résumé. You should not upload a separate document. If a separate CV/résumé is uploaded, it will be removed from your application .

If any document does not meet the specification, including the stipulated word count, your application may be considered incomplete and not assessed by the academic department. Expand each section to show further details.

Proposed field and title of research project

Under the section titled 'Field and title of research project', you are strongly encouraged to name at least one but no more than three research groups that you would like your application to be seen by.  More information about the Research Groups in the Mathematical Institute  can be found on the department's website.

You should not use this field to type out a full research proposal. You will be able to upload your research supporting materials separately if they are required (as described below).

Proposed supervisor

If known, under 'Proposed supervisor name' enter the name of the academic(s) who you would like to supervise your research. Otherwise, leave this field blank.

You can enter up to four names and you should list them in order of preference or indicate equal preference. 

Referees: Three overall, academic preferred

Whilst 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.

Your references should generally be academic, though up to one professional reference will be accepted.

Your references should describe your intellectual ability, academic achievement, motivation, and aptitude for advanced research.

Official transcript(s)

Your transcripts should give detailed information of the individual grades received in your university-level qualifications to date. You should only upload official documents issued by your institution and any transcript not in English should be accompanied by a certified translation.

More information about the transcript requirement is available in the Application Guide.

Contextual statement

If you wish to provide a contextual statement with your application, you may also submit an additional statement to provide contextual information on your socio-economic background or personal circumstances in support of your application.

Submit a contextual statement

It is not necessary to anonymise this document, as we recognise that it may be necessary for you to disclose certain information in your statement. This statement will not be used as part of the initial academic assessment of applications at shortlisting, but may be used in combination with socio-economic data to provide contextual information during decision-making processes.

Please note, this statement is in addition to  completing the 'Extenuating circumstances’ section of the standard application form .

You can find  more information about the contextual statement  on our page that provides details of the continuing pilot programme to improve the assessment procedure for graduate applications.

Statement of purpose/personal statement: A maximum of 1,000 words

Your statement should be written in English and explain your reasons for applying for the course at Oxford, your relevant experience and education, and the specific areas that interest you and/or you intend to specialise in. This will be assessed for evidence of motivation for and understanding of the proposed area of study and whether a suitable supervisor can be found.

If possible, please ensure that the word count is clearly displayed on the document.

Start or continue your application

You can start or return to an application using the relevant link below. As you complete the form, please  refer to the requirements above  and  consult our Application Guide for advice . You'll find the answers to most common queries in our FAQs.

Application Guide   Apply

ADMISSION STATUS

Closed to applications for entry in 2024-25

Register to be notified via email when the next application cycle opens (for entry in 2025-26)

12:00 midday UK time on:

Friday 5 January 2024 Latest deadline for most Oxford scholarships

Friday 1 March 2024 Applications may remain open after this deadline if places are still available - see below

A later deadline shown under 'Admission status' If places are still available,  applications may be accepted after 1 March . The 'Admissions status' (above) will provide notice of any later deadline.

*Three-year average (applications for entry in 2021-22 to 2023-24)

Further information and enquiries

This course is offered by the Mathematical Institute

• Course page on the Mathematical Institute's website
• Academic and research staff
• Departmental research  
• Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences
• Residence requirements for full-time courses
• Postgraduate applicant privacy policy

Course-related enquiries

Advice about contacting the department can be found in the How to apply section of this page

✉ [email protected] ☎ +44 (0)1865 615208

Application-process enquiries

See the application guide