Admissions Criteria

Applications are generally considered in the light of a candidate's ability to satisfy criteria under the following three headings: academic ability, English language proficiency and suitability. In detail these can be set out as follows.

1) Academic ability

a) The applicant has provided appropriate indications of proven and potential academic excellence. Appropriate indicators may include three references, academic transcripts or their equivalent, and performance at interview(s) where practicable.

b) The applicant has provided sufficient evidence, in the view of the assessors, to suggest that they have the academic ability and commitment to pursue the chosen programme to a successful conclusion within the required time limits.

c) Applicants are normally expected to have achieved an upper second class or first class Honours Degree (or equivalent) in an appropriate subject. Most sub-departments require a four-year or equivalent degree (five years in Scotland) but see the individual sub-department web pages or contact the individual sub-departments directly for information on specific degree requirements.
For information on how an international degree might compare to a UK degree, visit the NARIC website

2) English language requirement

Applicants whose first language is not English are required to provide evidence of proficiency in English. Candidates are normally expected to meet the one of the following criteria [this is the minimum language requirement]:

For IELTS an overall score of 7.0 with at least 6.5 in each component.
For TOEFL an overall score of 600 with a Test of Written English (TWE) of 4.5.
For the internet-based TOEFL test, an overall score of 100.
Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) Grade C.

Language test waiver
The requirement to provide proof of English language proficiency may be waived, at the discretion of the University, in cases where you have successfully completed, or are currently completing, a full-time degree-level course of a minimum of nine months at a recognised institution where the medium of instruction and assessment is entirely in English. If this is applicable you should include a written test waiver request with the reasons outlined as part of the documentation for your application.

For more information on language and visa requirements please ensure you visit the following sites for support:
Guidance for International Students
Visa and Immigration Information

3) Suitability

a) The programme of study that the applicant wishes to pursue is well suited to the academic interests and abilities to which they have drawn attention in their application and (where appropriate) the applicant has undertaken any preliminary academic work or course, which is normally considered indispensable to acceptance on the proposed programme of study.

b) The relevant faculty/department is able to provide appropriate supervision and facilities for the candidate’s chosen programme of work (the allocation of graduate supervision is the responsibility of the department/faculty and it is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff).

Well qualified candidates may not be offered a place because:

  • secure funding is not available (places offered on a conditional basis will not be confirmed without a financial guarantee);
  • there are constraints on the availability of research facilities (especially laboratory and library space) and on supervision;
  • there are limitations on the size of taught graduate courses;
  • there are limitations on the numbers of students which can be admitted onto research programmes;
  • other candidates have been judged to match more closely the admissions criteria.

It should also be noted that acceptance on a particular course gives no guarantee of final success, and all courses require the student to develop their learning and skills to new levels in order to pass taught course examinations or successfully to undertake all the assessment hurdles of a research programme.

Disability, health conditions and specific learning difficulties.
Students are selected for admission without regard to gender, marital or civil partnership status, disability, race, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation, age or social background. Decisions on admission are based solely on the individual academic merits of each candidate and the application of the selection criteria appropriate to the programme of study. Further information on how these matters are supported during the admissions process is available at: http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/postgraduate_courses/about_the_university/graduate_welfare/e_d.html.

Assessors
All applications will be assessed by more than one member of the academic staff with relevant experience and expertise.