Graduate Prospectus 2012–13 cover - separate file www.ox.ac.uk/graduate inside front cover - separate file Produced by © The University of The photographs used within University of Oxford this prospectus were submitted Do you need this prospectus Oxford 2011 by current graduate students Public Affairs Directorate and recent alumni as part of in another format? Distributed by All rights reserved. No part a photography competition University of Oxford of this publication may be that took place in 2011. All Braille, large print and audio formats Graduate Admissions reproduced, stored in a photographs are credited to are available on request from: and Funding retrieval system, or the photographer where they University Offices, transmitted, in any form appear. Graduate Admissions and Funding Wellington Square, or by any means, Oxford OX1 2JD electronic, mechanical, Cover photograph by Greg Smolonski Tel: +44 (0)1865 270059 photocopying, recording, +44 (0)1865 270059 Photograph by Michael Camilleri, or otherwise, without Email: [email protected] graduate.admissions@ MSc Computer Science prior permission. admin.ox.ac.uk (St Anne’s College) Graduate Prospectus 2012–13 | 3 Welcome to Oxford Our graduate students are vital to the University of Oxford. They form part of the academic research community, and the teaching and training they receive sets them up to join the next generation of leaders and innovators. Graduate study at Oxford is a very special experience. Our graduate students have the opportunity to work with leading academics, and the University has some of the best libraries, laboratories, museums and Rob Judges collections in the world. Our colleges are an outstanding feature of an Oxford education. As multidisciplinary academic and social communities within a large university, they offer a wonderfully rich and supportive environment to all our undergraduate and graduate students. Our graduate students are committed, resourceful and innovative, and they demonstrate great independence of thought. They come from all over the world, bringing different perspectives to their subject areas and helping create a uniquely stimulating academic environment. I hope this prospectus gives you an inspiring glimpse into life as a graduate student here at Oxford, and that it will lead you to find out more about what the University has to offer. Dr Sally Mapstone, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) The quotes featured in this prospectus were collected through interviews with current graduate students, recent alumni and academic staff at the University of Oxford. They include: Becky Waller Hannah Field Marvin Lee Roya Haghighat-Khah Beth Evans James Malone Matthew Kerr Stephanie Dobrowolski Daniel Decker Kulveer Singh Michael Haslam Dr Lucie Cluver Emefa Amoako Marcus Garvey Morgan Wesley Dr Angus Hawkins “ Farida Makar Mark Stevenson Nelson Oppong Dr Sally Mapstone Becky Beth Hannah Marcus Mark Marvin Matthew Michael Morgan Nelson Roya Stephanie 4 | Graduate Prospectus 2012–13 Contents 6-7 Where do Oxford’s graduate 34-35 Master’s-level degrees students come from? 36-37 Part-time and flexible study What are Oxford’s graduate 8-9 Oxford’s libraries students like? 38-39 Making the most of your time How will I fund my study? 40-41 10 -11 in Oxford 12-13 Arriving in Oxford 42-43 Sport at Oxford 14-15 Living in Oxford 44-45 Nightlife and music 16-17 Settling in to life at Oxford Oxford’s museums and Botanic Oxford’s colleges 46-47 18-19 Garden 20-21 Colleges as communities 48-49 Coming to the end of your course 22-23 A supportive environment 50-51 Continuing support in your career 24-25 Oxford’s academic departments and faculties 52-53 What’s next? 26-27 Research at Oxford 54-55 How do I apply? 28-29 The University’s research impact 56-60 List of courses 30-31 Life as a graduate student 61 Making the commitment 32-33 Doctoral degrees 62-63 Maps Yasemin Sengul, DPhil Mathematics (The Queen’s College), winner of the photography competition 2011 Photograph by Ekaterina Soboleva, Magister Juris (Harris Manchester College) 6 | Graduate Prospectus 2012–13 Where do Oxford’s graduate students come from? • More than 9,300 There is no such thing as a typical Oxford graduate student. Our exceptional graduate graduates are different ages, they come from different countries students and cultures, and from a wide range of academic and professional • 130 nationalities backgrounds. We attract graduate students of the highest calibre • Over 60 per cent and offer them a vibrant environment in which to study and learn. from outside the UK As a graduate student at Oxford, you will join a thriving research community of more than 9,300 other graduates, 60 per cent of whom come from outside the UK. Oxford is one of the most international universities in the world. Our graduate student body includes 130 different nationalities and our academics are drawn from more than 70 countries. Our research spans all areas of the globe and tackles issues of global significance. You get to be friends with these people who do such fantastic things it’s unreal, and the more you get to know them, the more you realise they’re excelling in so many different areas that it just seems impossible. People here are so interesting and have really different stories.” “ Stephanie Dobrowolski, DPhil Social Intervention (Jesus College) Photograph by Rebecca Scott, DPhil Economics (Balliol College) Research carried out at Oxford has, over the centuries, made an enormous impact on the world of ideas, on our fundamental understanding of the physical world, on health prevention and treatment, on public policy, international affairs, the arts, business and much more. Graduate students are central to the University’s research efforts. They carry out a lot of the research that happens at Oxford, they help to push the boundaries of knowledge and understanding in their fields, and they join academics in tackling some of the major challenges facing the world in the twenty-first century. Graduate qualifications from Oxford are recognised and valued all around the world. Our graduate students go on to work in some of the world’s finest organisations. Whether you want to join the next generation of academic researchers and teachers or build a successful career outside academia, you will benefit from the exceptional people and resources that Oxford has to offer. I was amazed to find the different nationalities. I’ve never been in an environment where people ask: ‘Where are you from?’ ‘I’m from Iran.’ ‘Where are you from? I’m from Iceland.’ Even within Africa, I’ve not had the opportunity to meet and interact with people from such diverse backgrounds.” “ Nelson Oppong, DPhil International Development (Green Templeton College) 8 | Graduate Prospectus 2012–13 What are Oxford’s graduate students like? Graduate students at Oxford not only come from all kinds of • 120 doctoral programmes different backgrounds, they also have diverse career goals and • 200 master’s-level courses study a broad array of subjects, from archaeology to zoology. The University currently offers 120 doctoral programmes and around 200 master’s-level courses, so whatever your passion, you are likely to find a course to suit you. Graduate study falls into two broad categories: doctoral research programmes and taught master’s courses. Students on doctoral programmes focus on a specific research project. They work closely with an academic supervisor who supervises their studies, and they produce a thesis that represents a significant and substantial piece of work. Students in the experimental sciences are also likely to collaborate with their supervisor on shared laboratory work as part of a research team. After completing their DPhil (as it is known in Oxford – most other institutions call it a PhD), research students frequently go on to pursue academic careers or careers requiring advanced research skills. Most commonly, doctoral degrees last three or four years. Students on taught master’s degrees study a range of core and optional courses, supported by lectures and seminars. Their work is assessed through a combination of coursework, written examinations and a dissertation. Some taught programmes prepare students for further research, while others are more oriented towards a particular profession, leading to a career in law, finance or the Christian ministry, for example. Some courses are delivered in a part-time format and are aimed at particular groups of professionals, such as diplomats and senior managers, who want the opportunity to develop their knowledge and understanding of their field, while also catalysing their career development. Taught programmes usually lead to a master’s or master’s-level qualification and last one or two years. To be eligible to apply for graduate study at Oxford, you need to have a record of academic excellence. As a minimum, you will usually need to have a good first or upper second class bachelor’s degree or the international equivalent. However, there are some courses that will take relevant experience or alternative backgrounds into consideration. In addition, if English is not your first language you will need to provide evidence of a high level of linguistic competence, since English is the language of instruction and examination for all courses at Oxford. For more information on specific courses and their entry requirements, see our online Course Guide. Whichever route you take, Oxford places emphasis on academic rigour and on a graduate student’s ability to study independently and to take the initiative, whether in exploring a new area of research, making connections, extending their networks, exploiting resources or acquiring new skills. You have to be resourceful, committed, independent, original and ambitious – in the best possible way.” Dr Sally Mapstone, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) “ Photograph by Rebecca Scott, DPhil Economics (Balliol College) We like to have people who think differently.