Graduate on-course guidance
Oxford's approach to graduate study reflects an emphasis on your ability to work independently, to take the initiative in exploring a line of research or acquire a new skill or identify and remedy a perceived area of weakness.
Course guidance
Taught programmes usually involve a range of core and optional courses and the submission of a dissertation. Assessment may be by coursework, as well as by examination papers, a dissertation and oral examination. These courses reflect a mixture of traditional Oxford tutorial teaching (where one or two students discuss their work with a faculty member) with lectures, seminars and classes. The termly lists of lectures can be found online. Students should also receive formal notice of invitations to classes and seminars.
Students carrying out postgraduate research are largely self-directed. New PRS students are likely to be supervised more closely, with supervisors perhaps requiring submissions of work quite regularly initially. Students on research programmes are supervised by an academic. Supervisors provide advice about the specific project, the nature of research, data collection methods, and the standards expected. You will attend courses on specific research skills as well as a range of seminars and lectures. PRS students should familiarise themselves with Research Degree Stages and Progression Forms.
| Course Resources | |
|---|---|
| Handbooks | A-Z list of courses outlining structure and content. |
| Lecture lists | A-Z of lecture lists on the web. |
| Weblearn | Virtual Learning Environment containing induction material, course material and tools for learning. |
| Progression Forms | For readmission, transfer and confirmation of status, examination and changes in circumstances |
| Research Degree Stages | Timings and procedures for readmission, transfer and confirmation of status; suspension; maximum submission date; withdrawal, lapsing and reinstatement. |
| Recognised Student status | Graduate research students registered with another university and admitted by an Oxford faculty or department to undertake research for their degree for one to three terms or early career researchers admitted to work with an Oxford academic or researcher. |
| Student Self Service | View your student record, update your details and access your assessments and results. |
Supervision
Graduate students receive a report of their termly supervision from their Supervisor through the Graduate Supervision System from Week 8 of term.
| Graduate Supervision System (GSS) |
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The Graduate Supervision System (GSS) offers students the opportunity to contribute to their termly supervision reports by reviewing and commenting on their own academic progress. The student reporting window opens Monday Week 6 and closes Friday Week 7 of each term. |
Each divisional Code of Practice for Supervision of research students offers guidance on the maximum number of students that should be supervised by each supervisor, the typical number of meetings per term between supervisor and supervisee, and policies for support for new supervisors: Humanities / Medical Sciences / MPLS / Social Sciences / Department for Continuing Education
The Oxford Learning Institute (OLI) research supervision website is a resource on doctoral education at Oxford.
