Criteria

For entry in Autumn 2012, the University has three application deadlines:

• 18 November 2011
• 20 January 2012
• 9 March 2012

Application deadlines are strictly enforced. Your application and all supporting materials, including references, must be received by Graduate Admissions by the deadline. 

To access the online application system or to download forms, please follow the link from the main Oxford University website at: http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/postgraduate_courses/apply/index.html

If you are intending to apply for Research Council funding, such as AHRC, or for any of the scholarships specified on the application form you must submit a completed application by the 20th January deadline. 

1.  Criteria

Within equal opportunities principles and legislation, applications will be assessed in the light of a candidate’s ability to meet the following criteria:

2.  Academic ability

Proven and potential academic excellence. 

Applicants are expected to be predicted or to have achieved a  good undergraduate degree.  We impose no requirement on subject area, and consider (and accept) students from a wide range of disciplinary backgrounds.  In British terms, the level we expect is a first-class or a very good upper second class undergraduate degree (or equivalent international qualification[1]) 

For applicants with a degree from the USA, or from universities running an American assessment model, the minimum GPA we seek is 3.7. 

Appropriate indicators will include those listed below.  Of these, we attach most weight to our evaluation of the applicant’s written work.

Academic references/letters of recommendation, which support intellectual ability, academic achievement, and motivation for the chosen area of study. 

Written work produced by the student:  We require two pieces of written work, in English,  of maximum length 2,500 words each. These would normally represent work generated in the course of the applicant’s prior study, and need not bear directly on the proposed subject of study at Oxford.   Extracts from longer pieces are welcome but should be prefaced by a note which puts them in context.  Written work will be assessed for ability to construct and defend an argument; powers of analysis; and clarity of expression.

Personal statement (taught courses): This has a maximum length of 1,000 words.  This will be assessed for evidence of motivation for and understanding of the proposed area of study and the ability to present a reasoned case in English.  Any evidence from previous educational experience of capacity for sustained and intense work, and the ability to absorb new ideas, often presented abstractly, would be helpful.

Research proposal (research programmes):  Students applying for the doctorate are required to submit a research proposal, of maximum length 2,000 words, outlining their proposed research plans as currently formulated. This will be assessed for: the coherence of the proposal; reasoning ability; the academic interest of the project; evidence of motivation for and understanding of the proposed area of study; the ability to present a reasoned case in English; and the feasibility of successfully completing the project in the time available for the course (a maximum of 4 years).  It is normal for a student’s ideas subsequently to change as a project is developed. An applicant should nevertheless make the best effort to demonstrate the extent of the research question, sources and method at this moment.

Performance at interview(s): Interviews are not normally held as part of the admissions process. For doctoral applicants we may hold telephone interviews at a mutually convenient time; there will be at least two interviewers, and the focus will be on the applicant’s capability for advanced work. 

3. Other qualifications and experience:  Such qualifications or experience are not a requirement for admission.

·                    Working experience in social policy or evidence based social intervention may be an advantage

·                    Evidence of research methods training may be an advantage. 

4.  Availability of supervision, teaching, facilities and places

The following factors will govern whether candidates can be offered places:

·                    The ability of Department of Social Policy and Intervention to provide the appropriate supervision, research opportunities, teaching and facilities for your chosen area of work. 

·                    There are minimum and maximum limits to the numbers of students who may be admitted onto Oxford’s research and taught programmes.

The provision of supervision is subject to the following points.

·                    The allocation of graduate supervision is the responsibility of the Department of Social Policy and Intervention and it is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff. 

·                    Under exceptional circumstances a supervisor may be found outside the Department of Social Policy and Intervention

5.  English language requirement

Applicants whose first language is not English are usually required to provide evidence of proficiency in English at the higher level required by the University  http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/postgraduate_courses/apply/internat_students.html.]

6. Deadlines and required full set of application materials 

Please refer to the Graduate Admissions website  http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/postgraduate_courses/apply/application_guide.html#awhen_to_apply  for information on the deadlines which must be met, and the full set of supporting materials required, in order for applications to be guaranteed to be considered.

7. Whether you have yet secured funding is not taken into consideration in the decision to make an initial offer a place, but please note that the initial offer of a place will not be confirmed until the college which gives you an initial offer of a place is satisfied that you have sufficient funding to cover your fees and living costs for the standard period of fee liability for your course.

8. 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 here.  http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/postgraduate_courses/about_the_university/graduate_welfare/e_d.html 

10. Assessors

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

11. Course webpage  http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/postgraduate_courses/course_guide/courses_az.html