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Research degrees admissions criteria


DPhil in Statistics
MSc by Research in Statistics

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 normally expected to be predicted or to have achieved a first-class or an upper second class undergraduate degree (or equivalent international qualifications) in an appropriate subject.  You will need a good background in mathematics or statistics. 

[If you hold non-British qualifications, you are advised to check with the National Recognition Information Centre for the UK (UK NARIC) how your qualifications match these requirements.]

Appropriate indicators will include:

Academic references/letters of recommendation, which support intellectual ability, academic achievement, motivation, commitment.

Written work produced by the student – this is not required but for example an undergraduate dissertation or MSc thesis on a relevant topic may be helpful.

Research proposal –   You should specify the area in which your research interests lie and why you have chosen this area.  If you have a particular project in mind, you should describe this and why you are keen to work on this.  The proposal should be brief but should aim to be helpful to the Department in the selection process.  The research proposal should be no more than 2 sides of paper and must be written in English.

You should focus on research rather than personal achievements, other interests and aspirations.

Performance at interview(s) Interviews are normally held as part of the admissions process for candidates who on the basis of the written application, best meet the selection criteria.  Interviews may be held in person or by telephone or Skype, normally with at least two interviewers.

3. Availability of supervision, teaching, facilities and places

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

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

·                    There are 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 Statistics 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 Statistics.


4.  English language requirement

Applicants whose first language is not English are usually required to provide evidence of proficiency in English at the standard level required by the University.

5. Deadlines and required full set of application materials

Please refer to the Graduate Admissions website 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.

6. Whether you have yet secured funding is not taken into consideration in the decision to make an initial offer of 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.

7. 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.

8. Other information

We recommend that DPhil and MSc by Research candidates should contact a potential supervisor(s) in the first instance before submitting an application.

9. Assessors

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

10. Course webpage

The course guide on the graduate admissions webpages can be found here.