It is possible to study for a DPhil (doctorate) in English Local History by part-time research.
Students undertaking the DPhil part time normally study for four to six years. This compares with a full-time DPhil which normally takes three to four years to complete.
The part-time DPhil regulations require a minimum period of four years’ part-time study (equivalent to two years’ full-time). However, except where students are building on research and research skills developed by taking the MSc in English Local History the average time taken is approximately six years (equivalent to three years’ full-time).
The MSc and DPhil programmes are overseen by the University’s Continuing Education Board, and admission is through the Department for Continuing Education. All graduate students on these courses are now members of the department’s new graduate school.
If you are research student you may be required to undertake appropriate research training provided within the University. In addition, you will be strongly encouraged to participate in seminars and informal meetings with staff and other researchers. The major commitment of time will be to individual study and research, involving wide and intense reading, data collection and analysis, and writing.
Supervision on the DPhil programme is provided by specialist tutors from the department, elsewhere in Oxford and further afield. An impression of interests represented in the department’s teaching and research supervision can be seen in the advanced paper subjects offered as part of the master’s course:
- Power and patronage in the later medieval localities
- Kinship, culture and community: provincial elites in early modern England
- Poverty and the Poor Law in England 1660-1800
- Enclosure and rural change, 1750-1850
- Religion and community in England, 1830-1914
Entry requirements for entry in 2017-18
Within equal opportunities principles and legislation, applications will be assessed in the light of an applicant’s ability to meet the following entry requirements:
1. Academic ability
Proven and potential academic excellence
Applicants are normally expected to be predicted or have achieved a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours (or equivalent international qualifications), as a minimum, in any relevant subject. A good master's level qualification is usually, though not always required.
For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA normally sought is 3.7 out of 4.0. Other experience will be carefully considered and may be taken into account. No Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or GMAT scores are sought.
Other appropriate indicators will include:
Supporting documents
You will be required to supply supporting documents with your application, including references and an official transcript. See 'How to apply' for instructions on the documents you will need and how these will be assessed.
Performance at interview(s)
Interviews are normally held as part of the admissions process.
Places on this course are not offered without the department conducting an interview. Interviews are conducted by a minimum of two interviewers.
Publications
Publications are not expected
2. 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.
3. Availability of supervision, teaching, facilities and places
The following factors will govern whether candidates can be offered places:
- The ability of the Department for Continuing Education to provide the appropriate supervision, research opportunities, teaching and facilities for your chosen area of work, bearing in mind the part-time, non-residential nature of the course.
- Minimum and maximum limits to the numbers of students who may be admitted to Oxford's research and taught programmes.
- The acceptability of any arrangements for research opportunities, access to facilities, and support for your chosen area of work to be provided by a third party (for example, your employer).
The provision of supervision, where required, is subject to the following points:
- The allocation of graduate supervision is the responsibility of the Department for Continuing Education 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 for Continuing Education. In such circumstances, a second internal supervisor will be appointed.
Where possible your academic supervisor will not change for the duration of your course. However, it may be necessary to assign a new academic supervisor during the course of study or before registration for reasons which might include sabbatical leave, maternity leave or change in employment.
4. 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 entry requirements appropriate to the course.
Further information on how these matters are supported during the admissions process is available in our guidance for applicants with disabilities.
5. Assessors
All recommendations to admit a student involve the judgment of at least two members of academic staff with relevant experience and expertise, and additionally must be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies or Admissions Committee (or equivalent departmental persons or bodies).
Admissions panels or committees will always include at least one member of academic staff who has undertaken appropriate training.
Funding
There are over 1,000 full graduate scholarships available across the University, and these cover your course and college fees and provide a grant for living costs. If you apply by the relevant January deadline and fulfil the eligibility criteria you will be automatically considered. Over two thirds of Oxford scholarships require nothing more than the standard course application. Use the Fees, funding and scholarship search to find out which scholarships you are eligible for and if they require an additional application, full details of which are provided.
A range of scholarships are available to students on the programmes offered by the department, along with bursary funds to assist students on low incomes. Full information on these opportunities can be found on the departmental funding pages.
Costs
Annual fees for entry in 2017-18
Fee status |
Tuition fee |
College fee |
Total annual fees |
| Home/EU (including Islands) |
£2,098 | £1,511 | £3,609 |
| Overseas | £7,880 | £1,511 | £9,391 |
The fees shown above are the annual tuition and college fees for this course for entry in the stated academic year; for courses lasting longer than one year, please be aware that fees will usually increase annually. For details, please see our guidance on likely increases to fees and charges.
Tuition and college fees are payable each year for the duration of your fee liability (your fee liability is the length of time for which you are required to pay tuition and college fees).
Following the period of fee liability, you may also be required to pay a University continuation charge and a college continuation charge. The University and college continuation charges are shown on the Continuation charges page.
How to apply
If you wish to discuss your research proposal, please contact the Director of Studies, Dr Mark Smith at mark.smith@conted.ox.ac.uk. However, it is not necessary to contact a potential supervisor or other academic member of staff before you apply.
DEADLINES
12 noon UK time (midday) on:
- Friday 20 January 2017
- Friday 10 March 2017
Later applications may be considered if places are available.
EXPECTED LENGTH OF COURSE: 4 to 6 years
NUMBER OF PLACES AVAILABLE: c. 4 (2017-18)
NUMBER OF APPLICANTS: 5 per year (three-year average)
For more information please click "Further Official Information" below.