Graduate Admissions Criteria

DPhil in Particle Physics

1. Introduction

In relation to the admission of students wishing to undertake a graduate programme, and in the context of giving appropriate attention to relevant equal opportunities principles and legislation, the University regards as an overriding priority:

  1. For research degrees, the admission of the most suitably qualified candidates for whom the University can provide appropriate research opportunities and supervision;
  2. The selection of the most academically able set of candidates who meet the admissions criteria for the available places.

2. Criteria

Applications will normally be considered in the light of a candidate’s ability to meet the following criteria:

2.1 Academic ability

  • The applicant has provided appropriate indications of proven and potential academic excellence. Appropriate indicators may include two or more references, academic transcripts or their equivalent and performance at interview(s) where practicable.
  • 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.
  • Applicants are normally expected to have completed a four year UK undergraduate degree in physics with an upper second class or first class Honours Degree (or equivalent).

2.2 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 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, or for the computer-based TOEFL test, an overall score of 250 with an Essay Writing score of 4.5.
  • Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) Grade C

2.3 Suitability

  • 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.
  • 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 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.