Where do I start?

Getting started

At Oxford, we welcome and encourage applications from promising students of all backgrounds and nationalities. Graduate students are key to our academic community, and join our world-leading academics in tackling the most important questions we face today. We look for the most promising students to join our outstanding departments and faculties and to participate in the interdisciplinary communities of our colleges.

Your options for postgraduate study

Our courses fall into two categories:

• taught courses (eg MSt, MSc, MPhil, PGDip, PGCert); and
• research courses (eg DPhil and MSc by Research).

Postgraduate taught courses include various levels of course: postgraduate certificates and diplomas, MSc and MSt masters' courses and MPhils. Full-time masters’ courses are typically one-year courses, while MPhil courses last two years, with the first year normally being taught and the second research.

Postgraduate research courses are typically either a DPhil (Oxford's name for a PhD) or an MSc by Research course, which is like a mini DPhil/PhD and has no taught components. A full-time DPhil typically takes three to four years, while an MSc by Research takes one to three years. 

Whether you chosen course is full-time, part-time, or online, you'll belong to a department or faculty – a thriving academic community working to advance knowledge in a particular field. Your department or faculty will provide your teaching and supervision, as well as extensive, specialist resources to support your studies. Our departments often collaborate on joint courses and interdisciplinary research projects.

You will also belong to a college, unless you have chosen to study a non-matriculated course (typically courses that award a Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma). The collegiate system is at the heart of the University’s success. Although your college won't provide teaching or supervise your studies (as it may do for undergraduate students), it can provide support, facilities and membership of a friendly and stimulating academic community. 

How many courses can I apply for?

During an application cycle, it is technically possible to submit a total of:

• two applications, provided both are for taught courses; or
• three applications, where at least one is for a research course.

However, we strongly encourage you to apply for one course so that you can focus your energy and attention on submitting the best possible application. It is important that each application you submit must:

1. meet the course's specific entry requirements; and
2. demonstrate your commitment to undertaking that particular course and type of study.

While there is nothing to stop you applying for a mixture of taught and research courses in the same year, it is also important to consider that some research courses will require a master’s degree. The specific entry requirements for each course can be found on its course page.

Do I need to have completed my existing degree before applying?

You can apply while you are studying for another degree, however you will need to ensure that:

• the degree you are currently completing (or a previous degree you have already completed) meets the entry requirements for your chosen course at Oxford; and
  
• you will complete your current degree before the start of your postgraduate course at Oxford - expected start dates can be found on each course page.

If you are still completing your current course you will need to provide an interim transcript as part of your application, which shows the grades you have achieved so far.

Making a competitive application

What are the entry requirements for postgraduate study at Oxford?

Entry requirements for each course are set out on our individual course pages. These are what the academic assessors will be considering when making their decision. Assessors will also consider how your performance has changed over time - your academic trajectory.

Your academic qualifications

The minimum qualification normally required to be able to make a competitive application is shown on our individual course pages. This is expressed either using the UK scale (1st, 2.1, 2.2, 3) or a US GPA (out of 4.0). Since entry to our courses is highly competitive, you are likely to need to meet, or even exceed, the published entry requirements.

The University publishes guidance on international qualifications from 28 countries to help applicants understand the types of qualifications and grades that would be considered to meet the entry requirements. If you are unsure about the suitability of your qualifications after checking this guidance, please contact the course administrator for guidance using the contact details on our individual course pages.

If your qualifications are not covered by our international qualifications guidance, our assessors will evaluate them as part of assessing your application. As well as local knowledge, assessors will use information published by the UK’s qualifications body, ECCTIS. 

Since entry to our courses is highly competitive, your grades would normally need to place you near the top of your cohort in your previous course. 20-25% of graduate applications to Oxford receive offers, although this does vary significantly by course – you can find information about volumes of applications received and places available in the Key facts section of each course page .

At the point of application we will accept a download or screenshot of your transcript from a self-service system, as long as it contains details of the institution, course, grades and your name. If you are still completing your current course, you will need to provide an interim transcript showing the grades you have achieved so far. We recommend that you contact your university to request a transcript as soon as possible after you decide to apply.

You do not need to provide information about your cohort ranking in your application – this will be determined from your transcripts and the ratings given by your referees. We recommend that you contact potential referees as soon as possible to ask if they would be happy to submit a reference to support your application.

English language requirement 

Your course page will tell you the English language requirement for your course: 'standard' or 'higher'. Check whether you need to book a language test—it can take a few months to get a test place.

Interviews

Some courses hold interviews after shortlisting applicants, while others make their decisions based solely on the application and supporting documents, including references – this will be indicated in the entry requirements.

What other factors do assessors consider?

Academic grades are only one part of the assessment, so there may be some flexibility depending on other elements of your application and extenuating circumstances that may have affected your academic performance.

Assessors will also typically be looking for evidence of a deep interest in the subject area you have chosen, evidence of which might take the form of events attended, presentations and publications, practical experience, reading around the subject and a compelling explanation of how the course will help you achieve your ambitions.

Consideration of extenuating circumstances

You may be able to make a successful application without meeting the entry requirements if specific circumstances have affected the strength of your application.

Our Application Guide provides instructions for declaring extenuating circumstances, as well as guidance for submitting a personal statement/statement of purpose if your course requires one.

Academic assessors will consider whether to adjust their assessment based on these circumstances.

Examples of potentially relevant circumstances include:

• ill health;
• lack of access to opportunities (eg due to the coronavirus pandemic);
• significant caring responsibilities;
• being care experienced or homeless; and
• being a displaced person or refugee.

It will help our academic assessors if you provide evidence that focuses on the impact of those circumstances (eg effect on grades during a specific period or loss of opportunities such as an internship).

You should not include circumstances that have been appropriately addressed by your previous institution.

Do courses require any professional experience?

Some of our courses include a significant professional element; this will be outlined on the course page.

If you are applying for one of these courses and your undergraduate degree does not meet the course’s requirement, your professional experience may enable you to make a competitive application.

If you need further advice, please contact the course administrator via the contact details on the course page.

Do I need to contact anyone before I apply?

Some taught courses will encourage or require you to contact a potential supervisor ahead of applying. You can find information on this in the How to apply section of individual course pages. If you need to contact a supervisor, please refer to advice on the course page.

Research courses will typically require you to submit a research proposal as part of your application and you are often required to contact a potential supervisor ahead of applying. You can find information on this in the How to apply section of individual course pages. If you need to contact a supervisor, please refer to advice on the course page.