Admissions

Theoretical Physics

Research programmes

DPhil in Theoretical Physics

Course Code | 002610

Theoretical Astrophysics and Plasma Physics

Reheating of ‘cooling flows’ by radio sources
Evolution of galaxies and the role of the intergalactic medium
Stellar dynamics in the vicinity of supermassive black holes at galaxy centres
Dynamical models of galaxies
Plasma astrophysics of galaxy clusters and accretion discs
Magnetogenesis (origin of cosmic magnetism) and dynamo theory
Kinetic theory and numerical modelling of plasma turbulence and instabilities
Plasma turbulence in the solar wind
Turbulence and transport in fusion plasmas [Joint projects with Culham Laboratory]

Condensed Matter Theory

Field theory applied to condensed matter physics
Low-dimensional and geometrically frustrated magnets
Quasi-one dimensional metals and Mott insulators
Quantum Hall systems topological phases of matter
Micro- and nanofluidics and the rheology of polymers, colloids and liquid crystals
Theoretical modelling of biological processes

Elementary Particle Physics and Quantum Field Theory

Phenomenology of the Standard Model including neutrino physics
Collider physics
Gauge-string duality
Lattice QCD
Quantum Field theory in two and more dimensions
Beyond the Standard Model (supersymmetry, new dimensions, Grand and String Unification)
Strings and string compactification
Particle cosmology and astroparticle physics

How to Apply

The deadlines for the research programme are 16 November 2012, 18 January 2013 and 8 March 2013. Later applications will be considered if places are still available.

Applicants wishing to apply for any of the funding/award schemes listed above should apply by the January deadline.

If you are in any doubt about which sub-department to apply for then you are advised to contact the sub-departments concerned in advance of applying.

The standard set of materials you should send with any application to a research course comprises:

A research proposal,
CV/résumé,
Three (3) academic references, and
Official transcripts detailing your university-level qualifications and marks to date.

However, applicants to the DPhil in Theoretical Physics do not need to provide a detailed research proposal; you should only give a brief indication of the area in which you wish to carry out research. This may be quite specific, but need not be if you have not yet decided on your preferred topic or area.

Please follow the detailed instructions in the Application Guide, and consult the Theoretical Physics website for any additional guidance.

Academic resources

Extensive network of Mac computers
800 cpu core Beowulf computing cluster
Online access to major journals
Radcliffe Science Library

Academic staff profiles

There are twenty permanent members of academic staff, eight emeritus members and six Fellows. There are always a number of post-doctoral and temporary senior visitors engaged in research, typically around twenty-five.

There are usually about fifty research students. Research work falls into three main groups - Theoretical Astrophysics and Plasma Physics, Condensed Matter Physics, and Theoretical Particle Physics - although there is a considerable overlap of interests.

Information on academic staff profiles

Graduate destinations

The theoretical physics doctoral programme at Oxford is ideally suited to those students who would like to pursue a career in research; either in academia or industry all over the world. The majority of our graduate students go on to take up postdoctoral research posts after graduation. Physics as a discipline is always in high demand.

However, a very wide range of career paths is possible, with recent graduates taking up positions in investment banking, business analysis and consulting.