Philosophy DPhil
University of Oxford
Key Course Facts
Course Description
The Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) in Philosophy is a three- to four-year full-time research programme whereby you undertake a doctoral level research project under the guidance of your supervisor(s). This course is not available in part-time mode of study and is not offered via distance learning.
The primary aim of the faculty’s DPhil in Philosophy is to prepare you for an academic career in philosophy. Each year, the Faculty of Philosophy welcomes students from a range of courses who have already completed substantial graduate work in philosophy. Typically, students who are successfully admitted to the DPhil course have already completed study that is equivalent or nearly equivalent to that required for Oxford’s BPhil in Philosophy course. The faculty’s Graduate Studies Committee recommends progression from Oxford's BPhil in Philosophy to the DPhil course, considering the BPhil offers the opportunity to study a wide range of philosophical topics over two years as well as to focus on a narrower field of research interest (unlike most one-year masters in a specialised subject, as offered elsewhere).
Students may also progress from the faculty's specialised MSt programmes - the MSt in Philosophy of Physics, the MSt in Ancient Philosophy and the MSt in Practical Ethics.
As part of your doctoral research you will produce a substantial 75,000-word thesis. Students proceeding to the DPhil programme via the BPhil will normally write a DPhil thesis which is an expansion of their BPhil thesis and may be able to incorporate the full contents of their 30,000-word BPhil thesis into the 75,000-word DPhil thesis. However, this is not a formal requirement; sometimes the BPhil thesis topic is not suitable for expansion into a DPhil thesis, or you may wish to write your DPhil thesis on a different topic.
You are not required to attend any taught graduate classes as part of your DPhil degree, but you are encouraged to participate in lectures, classes, seminars and other educational opportunities offered throughout the university as relevant to your topic of study. The course has no fieldwork, industrial placement or year abroad element, but you may decide to attend conferences, workshops or research training elsewhere.
You may attend any graduate or undergraduate classes, seminars and lectures in and outside of the Faculty of Philosophy which are of interest to you, provided that those classes, seminars and lectures are open to you.
Each term, many graduate classes and research seminars are organised by faculty members in which graduate students are full and important participants.
Graduates are encouraged to organise their own seminars and reading groups, and they also run two societies: one invites distinguished speakers from the UK and around the world, while the other gives graduates the opportunity to present papers to a graduate audience.
Each year there is an Oxford Graduate Philosophy Conference, in which most graduate philosophy students participate in some way.
The Masters of Letters (MLitt) in Philosophy is awarded on the basis of a thesis of maximum 50,000 words. In practice, applicants are admitted for the MLitt only in exceptional cases, and few students submit a thesis for the MLitt. The MLitt is more often an exit award for DPhil students who fail or withdraw from the DPhil degree but meet the requirements for the MLitt.
Entry Requirements / Admissions
Requirements for international students / English requirements
IELTS academic test score (similar tests may be accepted as well)
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- 6.5
- Graduate Degrees
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- 7.0
- Undergraduate Degrees
- (no subscore less than 6.0)
Costs
Average student cost of living in the UK
Rent | £518 |
Water, gas electricity, internet (at home) | £50 |
Supermarket shopping | £81 |
Clothing | £35 |
Eating out | £33 |
Alcohol | £27 |
Takeaways / food deliveries | £30 |
Going out / entertainment (excl.alcohol, food) | £24 |
Holidays and weekend trips | £78 |
Transport within city | £17 |
Self-care / sports | £20 |
Stationary / books | £13 |
Mobile phone / internet | £13 |
Cable TV / streaming | £7 |
Insurance | £51 |
Other | £95 |
Average student cost of living | £1092 |
London costs approx 34% more than average, mainly due to rent being 67% higher than average of other cities. For students staying in student halls, costs of water, gas, electricity, wifi are generally included in the rental. Students in smaller cities where accommodation is in walking/biking distance transport costs tend to be significantly smaller.
University Rankings
Positions of University of Oxford in top UK and global rankings.
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About University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a prestigious research university located in Oxford, England, and is the oldest English language university in the world. It is made up of 39 partly autonomous constituent colleges, six private halls, and a variety of academic departments which are split into four divisions: Humanities, Mathematical, Physical & Life Sciences, Medical Sciences, and Social Sciences.
List of 389 Bachelor and Master Courses from University of Oxford - Course Catalogue
Student composition of University of Oxford
-
Total number of students enrolled at University of Oxford by level Academic year 2021/22 - Full-time equivalent student enrollments published by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) on February 2022
- undergraduates:
- 12425
- postgraduates:
- 9785
- Total:
- 22210
Where is this programme taught
Similar courses
Program | University | Student satisfaction | Unemployed | Dropout | Tuition (UK) | Tuition (International) | UCAS Tariff | City | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Philosophy PhD | The University of York | - | - | - | £2325 £2403 | £9450 £11100 | - | York | On campus Part-time | |
Doctor of Philosophy PT (PHD) PhD | Royal Conservatoire of Scotland | - | - | - | £9250 | £27968 | - | Glasgow | On campus Part-time | |
Doctor of Philosophy FT (PHD) PhD | Royal Conservatoire of Scotland | - | - | - | £9250 | £27968 | - | Glasgow | On campus Full-time | |
Philosophy PhD | University of Kent | - | - | - | £4195 | £13810 | - | Canterbury | On campus Full-time | |
Philosophy, Politics and Economics PhD | The University of York | - | - | - | £4650 £4806 | £18900 £22200 | - | York | On campus Full-time | |
Philosophy MA (Res) | Royal Holloway, University of London | - | - | - | - | £18800 | - | Egham | On campus Part-time | |
Philosophy MPhil | University of Bristol | - | - | - | £2332 | - | - | Bristol | On campus Part-time | |
Philosophy and Literature PhD | The University of Warwick | - | - | - | - | - | - | Coventry | On campus Part-time | |
Philosophy PhD | The London School of Economics and Political Science | - | - | - | - | - | - | London | On campus Full-time | |
Philosophy DPhil | University of Oxford | - | - | - | - | - | - | Oxford | On campus Full-time |