Graduate Study (2012)

Please read this carefully before making an enquiry
- most common queries are already answered below!

Notes on Application

Postgraduate research students in Particle Theory normally enter at the beginning of Michaelmas Term (mid-October) and, after a probationary period of 1 year, can apply for "change of status" to do a DPhil degree. The minimum period of residence prescribed by the University for the DPhil is 2 years (6 terms) but in practice it takes 3 to 4 years.
We do not presently consider applicants wishing to do a MSc rather than a DPhil degree.

We do not usually pre-assign Supervisors at the time of application, nor do we advertise research projects beforehand. However prospective students are welcome to look at our research areas and make enquiries to the relevant staff member. After the selected students arrive, they are encouraged to speak to all potential Supervisors about possible research projects and formal pairings are made at this time. During their first year, students spend most of their time on course work and study, and it is quite feasible to change Supervisor during this time. Several postgraduate lecture courses are provided and students are advised about reading by their Supervisors. Problem classes relating to lectures are held in the first 2 terms (Oct-Apr). At the end of the year there is an oral examination. Students must perform satisfactorily in both the classes and the oral examination in order to be promoted to DPhil status.

How to Apply

Prospective Students should follw the procedure described in the University's Graduate Studies Prospectus - an application Guide can be found here. Applications should be made by the second University deadline of 20 January 2012.

NB: candidates wishing to be considered by more than one physics sub-department (or more than one group within a sub-department) should fill in only ONE form and pay only ONE application fee. The form should be submitted giving the course code for the sub-department which most closely reflects their research interests (002610 for Theoretical Physics) and give under section 1(iii), Programme of Study, the sub-departments (or research groups) which are being asked to consider the application.

All applicants who obtain a 1st or Upper 2nd Class Honours Degree (or equivalent) from an UK or EU University will be considered for a STFC postgraduate studentship - we award upto 3 of these each year. These cover all costs for UK residents but fees only for students from other EU states.

The Oxford Funding Search lists many external scholarships available to students from both inside and outside the EU. Note that many College Scholarships are not listed on the University's graduate application form as they are for specific nationalities or have other constraints - you must apply for these directly. The University awards over 100 graduate scholarships every year from the Clarendon Fund - all applicants can ask to be considered for these.

Applicants resident in the UK will usually be called for interview in March; overseas applicants may be interviewed by phone/skype. Preliminary offers (subject to examination results) are made at this time, both for places and for STFC studentships (for UK/EU students). We accept 4-6 students per year (depending on the availability of Supervisors), about half of whom are usually from abroad.

Funding and Expenses

Expenses for the academic year 2011-12 are £14,900 for University Fees (£3,732 for UK/EU students), typically £2,238 for the College fee, and £12,300 for living costs.

Admission to Colleges

Every research student must be accepted by an Oxford College and it is necessary to specify one when applying. The choice does not affect the academic work of the student, which is the responsibility of the Sub-Department. You may be allocated a specific College if your application for a Clarendon Bursary is successful. Note that some Colleges (e.g. Linacre, Wolfson) admit graduate students only.

If you would like to apply elsewhere in the UK, here is a list of all UK research groups in particle physics.