oxford phd politics

DPhil in Public Policy

• Entry requirements
• Funding and Costs

College preference

• How to Apply

About the course

The DPhil in Public Policy provides academically outstanding students who are committed to public service an unrivalled opportunity to study for a rigorous research degree that prepares them to have substantial impact on future policymaking processes.

The DPhil specialises in discipline-based, policy-driven research, applying rigorous social science to analysing policy issues with the explicit goal of prescribing solutions for policymakers. You will concentrate on research that answers policy questions with rigorous conceptual design, theoretical insight, and empirical methods. As well as honing your research skills and developing your interdisciplinary understanding of policy challenges, you will also enhance your ability to communicate your research findings to the policy community in a way that ensures real-world impact. You will join a school which conducts groundbreaking academic research where international leaders will engage with you and your scholarly community on the most pressing issues of our time.

The DPhil in Public Policy is one of Oxford's most selective degree courses and recruits those who are highly academically and professionally capable. Your peer group will include economists, lawyers, political scientists, behavioural scientists, and philosophers with professional backgrounds at international organisations such as the World Bank and the World Economic Forum and senior levels of government.

You will be expected to focus your research on practical challenges facing a range of different governments and publicly-oriented agencies. As well as developing your academic expertise, you will learn how to communicate your findings and analysis effectively so as to have real impact on government and public policy development throughout the world.

You will be given ample opportunities to present your work in the department, and develop your research ideas and proposals with the advice and support of your peers.

Research Development Seminars (RDS) will give you the opportunity to meet and discuss your research with other students, and the Blavatnik School hosts regular seminars and events with leading public policy practitioners, affording further networking and socialising opportunities. There is an array of research seminars that run across the University and you will be encouraged to attend and, if appropriate, to present at events relevant to your areas of interest. Part-time as well as full- time students will normally be required to attend all twelve of the RDS during their first year. This is to help you to establish a clear line of thinking and maximise the opportunity to integrate with all first-year students. Through the research training offered by the Social Sciences Division you can also take part in a range of skills development training sessions available across departments. Part-time students will be expected to identify, in consultation with their supervisors, their anticipated advanced research skills needs in their first year, and focus on acquiring these additional skills in their second, third and fourth years from the Social Science Division’s research methods and training programme and, as the DPhil in Public Policy is multi- and interdisciplinary in character, from relevant training opportunities in the wider University and nationally.

The course can be studied full-time or part-time with both modes requiring attendance in Oxford. Full-time students are subject to the  University's Residence requirements.  Part-time students are required to attend course-related activities in Oxford for a minimum of 30 days each year.

The full-time programme is studied over three to four years. The part-time programme has the same requirements, but is studied over six to eight years. If studying part-time, you will be required to commit approximately 20 hours per week to your studies. You will also be expected to be in Oxford for at least the first few weeks of the first term so that you can fully participate in the induction activities which are held at the beginning of Michaelmas term (October). 

Part-time students are expected to be active members of the Blavatnik School of Government Research Community even when not in Oxford.

Resources to support your study

As a graduate student, you will have access to the University's wide range of world-class resources including libraries, museums, galleries, digital resources and IT services.

The Bodleian Libraries is the largest library system in the UK. It includes the main Bodleian Library and libraries across Oxford, including major research libraries and faculty, department and institute libraries. Together, the Libraries hold more than 13 million printed items, provide access to e-journals, and contain outstanding special collections including rare books and manuscripts, classical papyri, maps, music, art and printed ephemera.

The University's IT Services is available to all students to support with core university IT systems and tools, as well as many other services and facilities. IT Services also offers a range of IT learning courses for students, to support with learning and research.

The Blavatnik School does not have its own library because most reading material is made available electronically. However, you will have access to the Social Science Library  in addition to other University libraries and centrally-provided electronic resources. 

You will have the opportunity to attend a variety of student social events at the Blavatnik School including the annual induction programme. You will also have access to a student common room and kitchen facilities close to your workspace.

The Blavatnik School benefits from its own ICT team, which provides support and advice to students. Students are expected to bring their own laptop.

Supervision

The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Blavatnik School of Government and it is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming students to work with a particular member of staff.

Your supervisors are carefully selected and will include a member of core member of faculty, together with other academics from the school or the University. You will usually have two supervisors during your DPhil research.

Your primary supervisor will establish a timetable of regular meetings for detailed discussion of your work and progress, normally a minimum of nine one-hour meetings (or equivalent) each year, although the frequency of meetings will vary depending on your stage of research.

In your first year, you will be admitted to Probationer Research Student (PRS) status in the first instance. As a PRS, you will focus on the development and early work of your thesis.

Within a maximum of four terms as a full-time PRS student or eight as a part-time PRS student, you will be expected to apply for, and achieve, transfer of status from Probationer Research Student to DPhil status. This application is normally made by the third term for full-time students and by the sixth term for part-time students by submitting a research outline and a substantial piece of written work. These are assessed by two academics (at least one of whom will usually be a Blavatnik School faculty member), who will also interview you about your work. A similar exercise then takes place in your ninth term (fourteenth term if you are part-time) when you will apply for confirmation of DPhil status.

After three or at most four years (no later than eight years if you are part-time) you are expected to submit your final thesis. Your thesis will be read by two examiners who conduct an in-depth oral examination with the student, known as a viva voce. On the basis of their report, you will either be awarded the DPhil (which may be subject to major or minor corrections) or referred back to make revisions to the thesis.

Graduate destinations

Graduates of the DPhil in Public Policy will be professional social scientists working in the area of public policy. You will be prepared to lead on devising, implementing, and evaluating innovative policy solutions; and you will be expertly qualified to conduct research, whether as an academic, in a governmental role, or in other influential policy organisations, institutes, and think tanks.

The school’s alumni form a close-knit community providing social connections, professional guidance and a trusted source of advice. These connections also serve as powerful reminders for all of us of our shared commitment to public service and our desire to make a positive difference in the world. For more information, visit our Alumni pages .

At the Blavatnik School of Government you will develop the skills required to succeed in your career as well as benefit from a programme of career-focused events. Collaborating with your fellow students and faculty will help you discover career paths and opportunities in public service and academia. The Blavatnik School of Government also offers an outstanding programme of speaker events at which many visitors discuss their careers, and outside of the school there are many events organised by departments, centres, societies and colleges – all of these provide opportunities to meet with global specialists and develop your network of contacts.

In addition, students can receive expert one-to-one careers advice at the University's Careers Service, which is very close to the Blavatnik School, and attend careers fairs, talks, workshops and employer presentations.

Changes to this course and your supervision

The University will seek to deliver this course in accordance with the description set out in this course page. However, there may be situations in which it is desirable or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision, either before or after registration. The safety of students, staff and visitors is paramount and major changes to delivery or services may have to be made if a pandemic, epidemic or local health emergency occurs. In addition, in certain circumstances, for example due to visa difficulties or because the health needs of students cannot be met, it may be necessary to make adjustments to course requirements for international study.

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 illness, sabbatical leave, parental leave or change in employment.

For further information please see our page on changes to courses and the provisions of the student contract regarding changes to courses.

Entry requirements for entry in 2025-26

Proven and potential academic excellence.

The requirements described below are specific to this course and apply only in the year of entry that is shown. You can use our interactive tool to help you  evaluate whether your application is likely to be competitive .

Please be aware that any studentships that are linked to this course may have different or additional requirements and you should read any studentship information carefully before applying. 

Degree-level qualifications

As a minimum, applicants should hold or be predicted to achieve the following UK qualifications or their equivalent:

• a master's degree with a mark of at least 70%  (or an equivalent level of distinction for both the thesis and overall degree) in a relevant subject;  and
• a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours in any subject.

Entrance is very competitive and most successful applicants have a first-class degree or equivalent.

Applicants should hold a master's degree with training in research methods and design or be able to demonstrate significant knowledge and experience of research methods appropriate to their intended area of doctoral study. The master's course must be completed and a final transcript available prior to the start of the DPhil.

For applicants with a bachelor's degree from the USA, the minimum overall GPA that is normally required to meet the undergraduate-level requirement is 3.6 out of 4.0. However, selection of candidates also depends on other factors in your application and most successful applicants have achieved higher GPA scores.

If your degree is not from the UK or another country specified above, visit our International Qualifications page for guidance on the qualifications and grades that would usually be considered to meet the University’s minimum entry requirements.

GRE General Test scores

You are not required to submit scores from standardised tests such as the GRE, GMAT or LSAT but you can submit them if available.

Other qualifications, evidence of excellence and relevant experience

In addition to academic excellence, the assessors will look for evidence that:

• your research interests focus on policy-relevant challenges facing governments and/or publicly-oriented agencies around the world;
• you show an interest and ability to make real world change happen through your research and/or your employment or voluntary work. 

The Blavatnik School of Government does not expect applicants to have published. However, if you have published scholarly research, you should mention it in your application.

Where appropriate, evidence should also be provided of permission to use employers’ data in the proposed research project.

English language proficiency

This course requires proficiency in English at the University's  higher level . If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence that you meet this requirement. The minimum scores required to meet the University's higher level are detailed in the table below.

*Previously known as the Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English or Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) † Previously known as the Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English or Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE)

Your test must have been taken no more than two years before the start date of your course. Our Application Guide provides  further information about the English language test requirement .

Declaring extenuating circumstances

If your ability to meet the entry requirements has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic (eg you were awarded an unclassified/ungraded degree) or any other exceptional personal circumstance (eg other illness or bereavement), please refer to the guidance on extenuating circumstances in the Application Guide for information about how to declare this so that your application can be considered appropriately.

You will need to register three referees who can give an informed view of your academic ability and suitability for the course. The  How to apply  section of this page provides details of the types of reference that are required in support of your application for this course and how these will be assessed.

Supporting documents

You will be required to supply supporting documents with your application. The  How to apply  section of this page provides details of the supporting documents that are required as part of your application for this course and how these will be assessed.

Performance at interview

Interviews are normally held as part of the admissions process.

Applicants who are successful in the initial round of assessment may be invited to interview (usually in early March). The interview will be held online (with or without video) and there will be a minimum of two interviewers.

The interviewers may ask questions about the application submitted for the DPhil and about the research proposal but no advance preparation is required. Applicants will also be given the opportunity to raise any questions they have about the programme.

Offer conditions for successful applications

If you receive an offer of a place at Oxford, your offer will outline any conditions that you need to satisfy and any actions you need to take, together with any associated deadlines. These may include academic conditions, such as achieving a specific final grade in your current degree course. These conditions will usually depend on your individual academic circumstances and may vary between applicants. Our ' After you apply ' pages provide more information about offers and conditions . 

In addition to any academic conditions which are set, you will also be required to meet the following requirements:

Financial Declaration

If you are offered a place, you will be required to complete a  Financial Declaration  in order to meet your financial condition of admission.

Disclosure of criminal convictions

In accordance with the University’s obligations towards students and staff, we will ask you to declare any  relevant, unspent criminal convictions  before you can take up a place at Oxford.

Other factors governing whether places can be offered

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

• the ability of the University to provide the appropriate supervision for your studies, as outlined under the 'Supervision' heading in the About section of this page;
• the ability of the University to provide appropriate support for your studies (eg through the provision of facilities, resources, teaching and/or research opportunities); and
• minimum and maximum limits to the numbers of students who may be admitted to the University's taught and research programmes.

Blavatnik School of Government

The Blavatnik School of Government is a global school committed to excellence in leadership and public policy education and to pursuing a vision of a world better led, better served and better governed.

Founded in 2010, the Blavatnik School is one of the newest departments at the University of Oxford and it has developed an outstanding reputation for excellence in teaching and research.

The school fosters a dynamic programme of policy-relevant and academically excellent research that has the potential for positive, real-world impact. Through innovative graduate courses, it brings the latest research and practice right into the classroom so that you can be a part of discovering and advancing knowledge on the cutting edge of public policy challenges.

The school is located in a purpose-built, iconic building in the University's Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, near the centre of Oxford.

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For entry in the 2025-26 academic year, the collegiate University expects to offer over 1,000 full or partial graduate scholarships across a wide range of graduate courses.

If you apply by the January deadline shown on this page and receive a course offer, your application will then be considered for Oxford scholarships. For the majority of Oxford scholarships, your application will automatically be assessed against the eligibility criteria, without needing to make a separate application. There are further Oxford scholarships available which have additional eligibility criteria and where you are required to submit a separate application. Most scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic merit and/or potential.

To ensure that you are considered for Oxford scholarships that require a separate application, for which you may be eligible,  use our fees, funding and scholarship search tool  to identify these opportunities and find out how to apply. Alongside Oxford scholarships, you should also consider other opportunities for which you may be eligible including  a range of external funding ,  loan schemes for postgraduate study  and any other scholarships which may also still be available after the January deadline as listed on  our fees, funding and scholarship search tool .

Details of college-specific funding opportunities can also be found on individual college websites:

Select from the list:

Please refer to the College preference section of this page to identify which of the colleges listed above accept students for this course.

For the majority of college scholarships, it doesn’t matter which college, if any, you state a preference for in your application. If another college is able to offer you a scholarship, your application can be moved to that college if you accept the scholarship. Some college scholarships may require you to state a preference for that college when you apply, so check the eligibility requirements carefully.

Further information about funding opportunities for this course can be found on the school's website.

Annual fees for entry in 2025-26

Full-time study.

Part-time study

Information about course fees

Course 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 course fees). For courses lasting longer than one year, please be aware that fees will usually increase annually. For details, please see our guidance on changes to fees and charges .

Course fees cover your teaching as well as other academic services and facilities provided to support your studies. Unless specified in the additional information section below, course fees do not cover your accommodation, residential costs or other living costs. They also don’t cover any additional costs and charges that are outlined in the additional information below.

Continuation charges

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.

Where can I find further information about fees?

The Fees and Funding  section of this website provides further information about course fees , including information about fee status and eligibility  and your length of fee liability .

Additional information

There are no compulsory elements of this course that entail additional costs beyond fees (or, after fee liability ends, continuation charges) and living costs. However, please note that, should you and your supervisor(s) agree on placements or research trips, you may incur additional expenses, such as travel expenses, research expenses, and field trips. You will need to meet these additional costs. The Blavatnik School of Government has limited funding for doctoral students, to which you can apply for help to attend conferences or to defray fieldwork expenses, and you may be able to apply for small grants from your college to help you cover some of these expenses.

Please note that you are required to attend in Oxford for a minimum of 30 days each year, and you may incur additional travel and accommodation expenses for this. Also, please note that, should you and your supervisor(s) agree on placements or research trips, you may incur additional expenses, such as travel expenses, research expenses, and field trips. You will need to meet these additional costs. The Blavatnik School of Government has limited funding for doctoral students, to which you can apply for help to attend conferences or to defray fieldwork expenses, and you may be able to apply for small grants from your college to help you cover some of these expenses.

Living costs

In addition to your course fees and any additional course-specific costs, you will need to ensure that you have adequate funds to support your living costs for the duration of your course.

Living costs for full-time study

For the 2025-26 academic year, the range of likely living costs for a single, full-time student is between £1,425 and £2,035 for each month spent in Oxford. We provide the cost per month so you can multiply up by the number of months you expect to live in Oxford. Depending on your circumstances, you may also need to budget for the  costs of a student visa and immigration health surcharge and/or living costs for family members or other dependants that you plan to bring with you to Oxford (assuming that dependant visa eligibility criteria are met).

Living costs for part-time study

Your living costs may vary depending on your personal circumstances but you will still need to cover your cost of living on a full-time basis for the duration of your course, even if you will not be based in Oxford throughout your studies. While the range of likely living costs for a single, full-time student living in Oxford is between £1,425 and £2,035 per month, living costs outside Oxford may be different.

Part-time students who are not based in Oxford will need to calculate travel and accommodation costs carefully. Depending on your circumstances and study plans, this may include the  cost of a visitor visa to attend for short blocks of time (assuming that visitor visa eligibility criteria are met).

Further information about living costs

The current economic climate and high national rate of inflation make it very hard to estimate potential changes to the cost of living over the next few years. For study in Oxford beyond the 2025-26 academic year, it is suggested that you budget for potential increases in living expenses of around 4% each year – although this rate may vary depending on the national economic situation. For further information, please consult our more detailed information about living costs , which includes a breakdown of likely living costs in Oxford for items such as food, accommodation and study costs.

Students enrolled on this course will belong to both a department/faculty and a college. Please note that ‘college’ and ‘colleges’ refers to all 43 of the University’s colleges, including those designated as societies and permanent private halls (PPHs). 

If you apply for a place on this course you will have the option to express a preference for one of the colleges listed below, or you can ask us to find a college for you. Before deciding, we suggest that you read our brief  introduction to the college system at Oxford  and our  advice about expressing a college preference . 

If you are a current Oxford student and you would like to remain at your current Oxford college, you should check whether it is listed below. If it is, you should indicate this preference when you apply. If not, you should contact your college office to ask whether they would be willing to make an exception. Further information about staying at your current college can be found in our Application Guide. 

The following colleges accept students for full-time study on this course:

• Balliol College
• Blackfriars
• Brasenose College
• Campion Hall
• Christ Church
• Corpus Christi College
• Exeter College
• Green Templeton College
• Harris Manchester College
• Hertford College
• Jesus College
• Kellogg College
• Lady Margaret Hall
• Linacre College
• Lincoln College
• Magdalen College
• Nuffield College
• Regent's Park College
• Reuben College
• St Anne's College
• St Antony's College
• St Catherine's College
• St Cross College
• St Hilda's College
• St Hugh's College
• St John's College
• St Peter's College
• University College
• Wadham College
• Wolfson College
• Wycliffe Hall

The following colleges accept students for part-time study on this course:

Before you apply

Our guide to getting started provides general advice on how to prepare for and start your application. You can use our interactive tool to help you evaluate whether your application is likely to be competitive .

If it is important for you to have your application considered under a particular deadline – eg under the January deadline in order to be considered for Oxford scholarships – we recommend that you aim to complete and submit your application at least two weeks in advance . Check the deadlines on this page and the information about deadlines and when to apply in our Application Guide.

Application fee waivers

An application fee of £20 is payable for each application to this course. Application fee waivers are available for the following applicants who meet the eligibility criteria:

• applicants from low-income countries;
• refugees and displaced persons; 
• UK applicants from low-income backgrounds; and 
• applicants who applied for our Graduate Access Programmes in the past two years and met the eligibility criteria.

You are encouraged to  check whether you're eligible for an application fee waiver  before you apply.

Readmission for current Oxford graduate taught students

If you're currently studying for an Oxford graduate taught course and apply to this course with no break in your studies, you may be eligible to apply to this course as a readmission applicant. The application fee will be waived for an eligible application of this type. Check whether you're eligible to apply for readmission .

Do I need to contact anyone before I apply?

If you have any questions about the course, please consult the  Blavatnik School of Government website . If you have any questions that are not answered by the Blavatnik School website, please contact the admissions team via the email address provided on this page under 'Further information'.

Please note that academics at the Blavatnik School are unable to comment on your suitability for the course or offer advice on the admissions process. Please do not contact faculty directly, instead contact the admissions team with any queries you may have. The Blavatnik School will appoint a supervisor in the event that your application is successful. 

Completing your application

You should refer to the information below when completing the application form, paying attention to the specific requirements for the supporting documents . 

If any document does not meet the specification, including the stipulated word count, your application may be considered incomplete and not assessed by the academic department. Expand each section to show further details.

Proposed field and title of research project

Under the 'Field and title of research project' please enter your proposed field or area of research if this is known. If the department has advertised a specific research project that you would like to be considered for, please enter the project title here instead.

You should not use this field to type out a full research proposal. You will be able to upload your research supporting materials separately if they are required (as described below).

Proposed supervisor

Referees: three overall, academic preferred.

Whilst you must register three referees, the department may start the assessment of your application if two of the three references are submitted by the course deadline and your application is otherwise complete. Please note that you may still be required to ensure your third referee supplies a reference for consideration.

At least one reference must be from your current or most recent academic institution.

Current master’s students, or those who have completed a master’s degree, are required to submit a reference from their supervisor or course director on the master’s programme. 

If you have been out of university education for an extended period one professional reference may be submitted, but please be aware that any such reference should still comment on your academic suitability for the DPhil in Public Policy, and that an academic reference is preferred.

If you do not provide academic references that meet the criteria listed above, you may be asked to do so before the assessment of your application can be completed.

Your references should attest to your intellectual ability, academic achievement, academic writing ability and career motivation.

Official transcript(s)

Your transcripts should give detailed information of the individual grades received in your university-level qualifications to date. You should only upload official documents issued by your institution and any transcript not in English should be accompanied by a certified translation.

More information about the transcript requirement is available in the Application Guide.

A CV/résumé is compulsory for this course. Most applicants choose to submit a document of one to two pages highlighting their academic achievements and any relevant professional experience.

Statement of purpose and research proposal: Statement of a maximum of 1,000 words and proposal of a maximum of 2,500 words

Your statement of purpose/personal statement and research proposal should be submitted as a single, combined document with clear subheadings. Please ensure that the word counts for each section are clearly visible in the document.

Statement of purpose

Your statement of purpose should briefly describe your reasons for choosing the Blavatnik School of Government as well as outlining your interest in public policy and public service, your capacity for sustained and focused work, and what your previous experience and future career plans are. You should make clear who you would ideally like to be supervised by, together with a rationale for your preference. You should also make clear your ability to commit sufficient time to study and fulfil all elements outlined in the course description if you are applying for part-time study.

Your statement of purpose should be written in English and should be a maximum of 1,000 words. The word count does not include any bibliography or brief footnotes.

If possible, please ensure that the word count is clearly displayed on the document.

Research proposal

Your research proposal should outline the policy question you wish to address, indicate why this is significant and make clear how you plan to research and answer this question.

The proposal must include the following:

• the policy-focused research question that you wish to research and an explanation of its significance
• the analytical framework you propose to employ
• the research methods that you will use and your level of expertise in using them
• the data sources upon which you will draw (in the case of archives or databases, you should note whether or not they are publicly available, their locations and any permissions that may be required)
• a provisional timetable
• a list of the most important existing scholarly publications on the subject.

Your research proposal should be written in English and should be a maximum of 2,500 words. The word count does not include any bibliography or brief footnotes.

Your research proposal will be assessed for:

• your reasons for applying
• the coherence of the proposal
• the significance and policy-relevance of the project
• evidence of competency in research methods needed to carry out the proposed research
• evidence of motivation for and understanding of the proposed area of study
• the ability to present a reasoned case in English
• the feasibility of successfully completing the project in the time available for the course (a maximum of three years if full time)
• commitment to the subject
• knowledge of research techniques needed for the proposed thesis
• reasoning ability.

It will be normal for your ideas subsequently to change in some ways as you investigate the evidence and develop your project. You should nevertheless make the best effort you can to demonstrate the extent of your research question, sources and method when submitting your application.

Written work: One essay of a maximum of 2,000 words

You are required to submit a sample of work, which must be entirely your own and in English. You may not submit a co-authored piece. An extract from a longer piece may be submitted but should be prefaced by a note that puts it in context.

The word count should be adhered to should exclude any footnotes, annotations or bibliography used. Written work which exceeds the word count will not be read.

This will be assessed for:

• comprehensive understanding of the subject area
• understanding of problems in the area
• ability to construct and defend an argument
• powers of analysis
• powers of expression
• familiarity with the literature on the subject
• evidence of a keen interest and understanding of policy analysis.

The written work does not need to relate closely to the proposed area of study but should permit the Blavatnik School of Government Admissions Committee to assess your analytic ability as described above.

Detection of plagiarism

Plagiarism is presenting someone else’s work or ideas as your own, with or without their consent, by incorporating it into your work without full acknowledgement. All published and unpublished material, whether in manuscript, printed or electronic form, is covered under this definition. Plagiarism may be intentional or reckless, or unintentional. The test for determining if plagiarism has taken place is quite simple: has material been included in this piece of work without adequate referencing? If the answer to this is ‘yes’, then plagiarism has occurred. Therefore, when taking information from a source it is important that the source is fully acknowledged.

Plagiarism and collusion are serious offences and in order to protect the credibility of the application process applicants are required to submit an electronic copy of their work. All applications are put through plagiarism detection software to identify applicants submitting an application that is not their own original work.  More information about plagiarism  can be found on our plagiarism page. 

Start or continue your application

You can start or return to an application using the relevant link below. As you complete the form, please  refer to the requirements above  and  consult our Application Guide for advice .

Apply - Full time   Apply - Part time Continue application

After you've submitted your application

Your application (including the supporting documents outlined above) will be assessed against the entry requirements detailed on this course page. Whether or not you have secured funding will  not  be taken into consideration when your application is assessed. You can  find out more about our shortlisting and selection process  in our detailed guide to what happens next.

Find out how to manage your application after submission , using our Applicant Self-Service tool.

ADMISSION STATUS

Open to applications for entry in 2025-26

12:00 midday UK time on:

Thursday 9 January 2025

Latest deadline for most Oxford scholarships Final application deadline for entry in 2025-26

*Three-year average (applications for entry in 2022-23 to 2024-25)

Further information and enquiries

This course is offered by the Blavatnik School of Government

• Course page on the school's website
• Funding information from the school
• Academic and research staff
• Current students and alumni
• Research  at the school
• Social Sciences Division
• Residence requirements for full-time courses
• Postgraduate applicant privacy policy

Course-related enquiries

Advice about contacting the department can be found in the How to apply section of this page

✉ [email protected] ☎ +44 (0)1865 614343

Application-process enquiries

Application guide

Visa eligibility for part-time study

We are unable to sponsor student visas for part-time study on this course. Part-time students may be able to attend on a visitor visa for short blocks of time only (and leave after each visit) and will need to remain based outside the UK.

Radcliffe Camera, Oxford, by S-F / Shutterstock

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QS WORLD RANKINGS FOR POLITICS & INT’L STUDIES: 2

BEST UK UNIVERSITIES FOR POLITICS – THE GUARDIAN: 1

THE WORLD UNIVERSITY RANKINGS FOR POLITICS AND INT’L STUDIES: 1 IN THE UK

Department of Politics and International Relations

The  Department of Politics and International Relations  (DPIR) at Oxford is an internationally renowned centre of excellence for teaching and research. The study of these disciplines at Oxford has a long and distinguished history and the department is now one of the largest in the field in the UK.

DPIR Research

DPIR seeks to deepen scholarly understanding of government, politics and international relations and to contribute to practical solutions to problems of power, conflict and injustice in political and social life. Our research is organised through the three intersecting fields of Government and Politics, Political Theory and International Relations; our approach is inter-disciplinary with roots in history, philosophy and social science, both statistical and interpretive and ethnographic. We emphasise the rigorous interaction of epistemology and methodology, with developing techniques and methods, and the highest standards of scholarship, to produce research that has impact both academically and publicly.

DPIR Research on War and Peace

Recent work on war and peace within the DPIR has covered:  

• the role of external actors in war and violent conflict, in state-building, and in post-conflict and peace-consolidation;
• the historical and theoretical links between different forms of violent conflict and patterns of major power relations;
• emerging powers and global order, including emerging powers and the global nuclear order;
• the role of international law and legal and ethical norms in violent conflict, including the history of just war thinking, the responsibility to protect, and international and transnational criminal justice;
• the history of thought on war and security;
• the relationship between human rights, transitional justice, development and democracy;
• the role of the United Nations, including the UN Security Council and war,  peacekeeping operations and the evolution of security ideas within the UN, including human security;
• comparative regional security and the evolving roles of regional role of security institutions;
• civil resistance and power politics;
• religion and conflict;
• the inter-disciplinary study of conflict, including evolutionary theory and social psychology, and the role of emotions.

  Those involved in graduate teaching and research on war and peace include: Professor  Richard Caplan ; Professor  Louise Fawcett ; Professor  Elizabeth Frazer ; Professor  Todd Hall ; Professor  Andrew Hurrell ; Dr  Annette Idler ; Professor  Dominic Johnson ; Professor  Edward Keene ; Dr  Lucas Kello ; Professor  Neil MacFarlane ; Dr  Jonathan Leader Maynard ; Professor  Rana Mitter ; Professor  Karma Nabulsi ; Professor  Andrea Ruggieri ; Professor  Gwen Sasse ; and Professor  Ricardo Soares de Oliveira . There is a large doctoral programme and a flourishing post-doctoral community.

To find out about upcoming events at DPIR,  please follow this link .

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DPhil in Politics - 36 months

Wellington square, oxford, gb, oxford, united kingdom, # =2 qs subject rankings, 36 months program duration, 74,730 gbp tuition fee/year, politics main subject area, program overview, main subject, study level.

The DPhil in Politics is a full-time, three-year course of doctoral study which is intended for students who would like to undertake detailed research in preparation for an academic career in political science or political theory. Admitted students will conduct their own research under the guidance of a University supervisor. Students are required to have a good general knowledge, to master's level, of the field within which their research falls and of the methods appropriate to the study of this field. Candidates for the DPhil are normally admitted with Probationer Research Student (PRS) status. As a PRS, students will develop their research proposal and skills, and produce a draft section or sections of the thesis, in order to apply for the Transfer of Status that will end their probationary period as a research student.

Admission requirements

Exam scores, important dates.

A first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours (or equivalent international qualifications), as a minimum, in political science or international relations or in a related discipline such as economics, history, philosophy, sociology or law.

Tuition fee and scholarships

Tuition fee, scholarships, domestic students, international students.

One of the important factors when considering a master's degree is the cost of study. Luckily, there are many options available to help students fund their master's programme. Download your copy of the Scholarship Guide to find out which scholarships from around the world could be available to you, and how to apply for them.

In this guide you will find:

Where to look for scholarship opportunities

How to apply to scholarships relevant to you

A list of available scholarships around the world

A scholarship application checklist

QS WUR Ranking By Subject

More programs from the university, bachelor ug.

Oxford offers 48 undergraduate degrees in a wide range of disciplines, from the traditional sciences through to humanities, law, languages, and fine art. Students can also study joint honors programs such as Philosophy and Theology, and Archaeology and Anthropology. 

Undergraduate degrees are usually three years in length and are taught inside the individual college to which students apply. Undergraduate study at Oxford is centered on the weekly tutorial, which is supported by classes, lectures, and laboratory work carried out in university faculties and departments. 

The admissions rate for Oxford is 21 percent, which seems high in comparison to Ivy League universities but is a reflection of the English system. The application period runs during the autumn for the following academic year. Applicants register to take a test, and prospective students might have to send in written work alongside the standard completed UCAS form. Shortlisted candidates are then invited to interview, and will know whether they have been successful by the end of the calendar year. 

Unlike the University of Cambridge, Oxford does not operate a pooling system for candidates invited to interview. Instead, it’s common for applicants to be asked to stay multiple days in the city (accommodation is provided) and, if there are no places available at their first-choice college, they may also be invited for interviews at other colleges which have less competition for places.

Around 17 percent of applicants are international citizens, and there are no quotas for international students (with the exception of the medicine program). The application process is broadly the same for international students, with Oxford accepting school-leaving qualifications from many different countries. There are, however, additional elements to the application such as English language requirements. 

Tuition fees are currently set at the annual UK maximum of £9,250, with loans available from the UK government for the full amount. Loans are also available to cover living costs during the full three years of study. Students from outside the EU are charged a significantly higher tuition fee, of up to £24,000 a year, and an additional £7,570 a year college fee. This does not include accommodation or board. 

Terms at Oxford are actually shorter than at other UK higher education institutions, and their total duration amounts to less than half of the year. However, undergraduates are also expected to do some academic work during the three holidays, known as the Christmas, Easter, and Long Vacations.

Arts and Humanities (5)

Archaeology and anthropology, classical archaeology and ancient history, classics and english - 36 months, classics and english - 48 months, classics and modern languages, classics and oriental studies, english language and literature, english and modern languages, european and middle eastern languages, history (ancient and modern), history and economics, history and english, history and modern languages, history and politics, history of art, modern languages, modern languages and linguistics, oriental studies - 36 months, oriental studies - 48 months, philosophy and modern languages, philosophy and theology, philosophy, politics and economics, engineering and technology (5), computer science, computer science and philosophy - 36 months, computer science and philosophy - 48 months, engineering science, life sciences and medicine (5), bm bch (graduate entry) medicine, biochemistry (molecular and cellular) (mbiochem), biology - 36 months, biology - 48 months, biomedical sciences, human sciences, medicine (graduate-entry/ accelerated) (bm bch), medicine - 36 months, medicine - 72 months, psychology (experimental), psychology, philosophy and linguistics, natural sciences (5), chemistry (mchem), earth sciences (geology) - 36 months, earth sciences (geology) - 48 months, materials science, mathematics - 36 months, mathematics - 48 months, mathematics and computer science - 36 months, mathematics and computer science - 48 months, mathematics and philosophy, mathematics and statistics, physics (mphys) - 36 months, physics (mphys) - 48 months, physics and philosophy - 36 months, physics and philosophy - 48 months, social sciences and management (5), bachelor of theology (bth) - 12 months, bachelor of theology (bth) - 24 months, economics and management, law (jurisprudence), religion and oriental studies, theology and religion.

Oxford has a reputation for world-leading research, teaching and resources, all within the confines of a uniquely beautiful city. Graduate programs at Oxford are shorter than in many countries, typically lasting only one year for a master’s degree, something which is designed to facilitate swift career progression. 

Students belong to an academic department or faculty that provides teaching, supervision and numerous resources to support studies and are assigned an academic supervisor who provides guidance and advice throughout the program. There are taught programs that usually lead towards a master’s qualification, where students study a range of core and optional courses, supported by lectures and seminars. Research degrees at the master's and doctoral level are conferred in all subjects studied at graduate level at the university. 

There were over 20,000 graduate applications last year, so getting your application right is absolutely crucial. Candidates must choose their subject carefully and check to see if they have the correct qualifications before submitting an application. 

To apply, applicants must complete Oxford’s graduate application form, pay a £75 application fee and upload the following supporting documents: a statement of purpose and research proposal (if applicable), an official transcript of a bachelor’s degree, academic references, and in many cases a portfolio and written work. 

International students whose first language is not English will also need to submit an English language test score certificate to prove either standard or higher (depending on the course) level of English proficiency.

The cost of studying at Oxford as a graduate varies depending on the program. In the humanities, this could range from £4,260 (US$5,962) a year for a three-year DPhil (PhD) in music, to £16,230 (US$22,714) for an MSc in Contemporary Chinese Studies. 

Most graduate courses fall within this range of costs. There are a few exceptions however, with the most expensive programs, including business administration, costing up to £77,390 (US$108,307). Likely living costs can be anything up to a further £18,655 (US$26,108) a year on top of the course fees.   

Financial aid for graduate students is diffuse in its nature. Some colleges offer their own scholarships, and there are a number of external scholarships available, where organizations offer anything from £1,000 (US$1,400) to the entire cost of tuition. 

For British students, the UK government offers a loans scheme for master’s courses, and there are hundreds of charities that make awards to current and prospective graduate students. 

Arts and Humanities (6)

Bphil in philosophy, mphil in archaeology, mphil in classical archaeology, mphil in cuneiform studies, mphil in economic and social history, mphil in egyptology, mphil in english studies (medieval period), mphil in greek and/or latin languages and literature, mphil in greek and/or roman history, mphil in history, mphil in history of science, medicine and technology, mphil in islamic art and archaeology, mphil in jewish studies in the graeco-roman period, mphil in late antique and byzantine studies, mphil in linguistics, philology and phonetics, mphil in modern languages, mphil in modern middle eastern studies, mphil in music (composition), mphil in music (musicology), mphil in music (performance), mphil in russian and east european studies, mphil in slavonic studies, msc in applied landscape archaeology, msc in applied linguistics and second language acquisition, msc in applied linguistics for language teaching, msc in archaeological science, msc in archaeology, msc in english local history, msc in history of science, medicine and technology, msc in modern middle eastern studies, mst in ancient philosophy, mst in archaeology, mst in classical archaeology, mst in classical armenian studies, mst in classical hebrew studies, mst in comparative literature and critical translation, mst in creative writing, mst in english (1550-1700), mst in english (1700-1830), mst in english (1830-1914), mst in english (1900-present), mst in english (650-1550), mst in english and american studies, mst in global and imperial history, mst in greek and/or latin languages and literature, mst in greek and/or roman history, mst in historical studies, mst in history - 21 months, mst in history - 9 months, mst in history of art and visual culture, mst in islamic art and archaeology, mst in jewish studies, mst in jewish studies in the graeco-roman period, mst in late antique and byzantine studies, mst in linguistics, philology and phonetics, mst in literature and arts, mst in medieval studies, mst in modern languages, mst in music (composition), mst in music (musicology), mst in music (performance), mst in philosophy of physics, mst in practical ethics, mst in slavonic studies, mst in world literatures in english, mst in yiddish studies, mst in the history of design, master of fine art (mfa) - 21 months, master of fine art (mfa) - 9 months, business and management (6), msc in financial economics, msc in major programme management, msc in taxation, engineering and technology (6), msc + dphil in social data science - 36 months, msc + dphil in social data science - 72 months, msc by research in engineering science, msc in computer science, msc in energy systems - 12 months, msc in energy systems - 24 months, msc in energy systems - 36 months, msc in social data science, msc in social science of the internet + dphil in information, communication and the social sciences, msc in social science of the internet - 10 months, msc in social science of the internet - 22 months, msc in software engineering, msc in software and systems security, life sciences and medicine (6), mphil in medical anthropology, mphil in social anthropology, mphil in visual, material and museum anthropology, msc by research in biochemistry, msc by research in clinical neurosciences - 12 months, msc by research in clinical neurosciences - 24 months, msc by research in experimental psychology- 12 months, msc by research in experimental psychology- 24 months, msc by research in molecular and cellular medicine, msc by research in musculoskeletal sciences, msc by research in oncology, msc by research in pharmacology, msc by research in physiology, anatomy and genetics, msc by research in psychiatry, msc by research in surgical sciences, msc by research in women's and reproductive health, msc in clinical embryology, msc in clinical trials, msc in clinical and therapeutic neuroscience, msc in cognitive behavioural therapy, msc in cognitive and evolutionary anthropology, msc in evidence-based health care, msc in evidence-based health care (medical statistics), msc in evidence-based health care (systematic reviews), msc in experimental and translational therapeutics, msc in global health science and epidemiology, msc in integrated immunology, msc in international health and tropical medicine, msc in medical anthropology, msc in migration studies, msc in neuroscience, msc in paediatric infectious diseases, msc in pharmacology, msc in precision cancer medicine, msc in psychological research, msc in radiation biology, msc in sleep medicine, msc in social anthropology, msc in surgical science and practice, msc in translational health sciences, msc in visual, material and museum anthropology, mst in mindfulness based cognitive therapy, mst in psychodynamic practice, natural sciences (6), mphil in biodiversity, conservation and management, mphil in environmental change and management, mphil in nature, society and environmental governance, mphil in water science, policy and management, msc by research in chemical biology, msc by research in inorganic chemistry, msc by research in materials, msc by research in mathematics, msc by research in organic chemistry, msc by research in physical and theoretical chemistry, msc in biodiversity, conservation and management, msc in environmental change and management, msc in mathematical modelling and scientific computing, msc in mathematical sciences, msc in mathematical and computational finance, msc in mathematical and theoretical physics, msc in mathematics and foundations of computer science, msc in nanotechnology for medicine and health care, msc in nature, society and environmental governance, msc in sustainable urban development, msc in theoretical and computational chemistry, msc in water science, policy and management, social sciences and management (6), bachelor of civil law, mphil in buddhist studies, mphil in classical indian religion, mphil in comparative social policy, mphil in development studies, mphil in eastern christian studies, mphil in economics, mphil in evidence-based social intervention and policy evaluation, mphil in international relations, mphil in islamic studies and history, mphil in japanese studies, mphil in judaism and christianity in the graeco-roman world, mphil in latin american studies, mphil in law, mphil in modern chinese studies, mphil in modern south asian studies, mphil in philosophical theology, mphil in politics (comparative government), mphil in politics (european politics and society), mphil in politics (political theory), mphil in socio-legal research, mphil in sociology and demography, mphil in theology, mphil in tibetan and himalayan studies, mphil in traditional east asia, msc by research in statistics, msc in african studies, msc in comparative social policy, msc in contemporary chinese studies, msc in criminology and criminal justice - 21 months, msc in criminology and criminal justice - 9 months, msc in economic and social history, msc in economics for development, msc in education (child development and education), msc in education (comparative and international education), msc in education (higher education), msc in education (research design and methodology) - 12 months, msc in education (research design and methodology) - 24 months, msc in educational assessment, msc in evidence-based social intervention and policy evaluation, msc in global governance and diplomacy, msc in japanese studies, msc in latin american studies, msc in law and finance, msc in learning and teaching, msc in modern south asian studies, msc in political theory research, msc in politics research, msc in refugee and forced migration studies, msc in russian and east european studies, msc in sociology - 12 months, msc in sociology - 24 months, msc in statistical science, msc in teacher education, mst in bible interpretation, mst in diplomatic studies, mst in film aesthetics, mst in international human rights law, mst in islamic studies and history, mst in korean studies, mst in oriental studies, mst in philosophical theology, mst in study of religions, mst in syriac studies, mst in theology, mst in traditional china, mst in women's studies, mth in applied theology - 24 months, mth in applied theology - 36 months, magister juris, master of public policy (mpp), executive master of business administration (emba) - 22 months, executive master of business administration (emba) - 26 months, master of business administration (mba), oxford 1+1 mba, dphil in ancient history - 36 months, dphil in ancient history - 96 months, dphil in archaeological science, dphil in archaeology - 36 months, dphil in archaeology - 72 months, dphil in architectural history, dphil in classical archaeology, dphil in classical languages and literature - 36 months, dphil in classical languages and literature - 72 months, dphil in english - 36 months, dphil in english - 72 months, dphil in english local history, dphil in fine art - 36 months, dphil in fine art - 72 months, dphil in geography and the environment - 36 months, dphil in geography and the environment - 72 months, dphil in history (history of science and medicine & economic and social history) - 72 months, dphil in history (history of science and medicine & economic and social history) -36 months, dphil in history - 36 months, dphil in history - 72 months, dphil in history of art - 36 months, dphil in history of art - 72 months, dphil in linguistics, philology and phonetics - 36 months, dphil in linguistics, philology and phonetics - 72 months, dphil in literature and arts, dphil in medieval and modern languages- 36 months, dphil in medieval and modern languages- 72 months, dphil in music - 36 months, dphil in music - 84 months, dphil in philosophy, dphil in management, dphil in computer science, dphil in engineering science, dphil in engineering science - 36 months, dphil in social data science - 36 months, dphil in social data science - 72 months, dphil in anthropology - 36 months, dphil in anthropology - 72 months, dphil in biochemistry, dphil in biochemistry (skaggs-oxford programme), dphil in biomedical sciences: nih-ou, dphil in biomedical and clinical sciences, dphil in cardiovascular science, dphil in cellular structural biology, dphil in clinical medicine - 36 months, dphil in clinical medicine - 72 months, dphil in clinical neurosciences - 36 months, dphil in clinical neurosciences - 72 months, dphil in cognitive behavioural therapy, dphil in evidence-based health care, dphil in experimental psychology - 36 months, dphil in experimental psychology - 72 months, dphil in genomic medicine and statistics, dphil in ion channels and membrane transport in health and disease (oxion), dphil in medical sciences, dphil in migration studies - 36 months, dphil in migration studies - 72 months, dphil in molecular cell biology in health and disease, dphil in molecular and cellular medicine, dphil in musculoskeletal sciences, dphil in oncology, dphil in paediatrics, dphil in pharmacology, dphil in physiology, anatomy and genetics, dphil in plant sciences, dphil in population health - 36 months, dphil in population health - 72 months, dphil in primary health care - 36 months, dphil in primary health care - 72 months, dphil in psychiatry - 36 months, dphil in psychiatry - 72 months, dphil in radiation oncology (1+3), dphil in surgical sciences, dphil in women's and reproductive health, dphil in zoology, interdisciplinary bioscience (bbsrc doctoral training partnership), msc in musculoskeletal sciences, synthesis for biology and medicine (epsrc centre for doctoral training), dphil in astrophysics, dphil in atmospheric, oceanic and planetary physics, dphil in atomic and laser physics, dphil in chemical biology, dphil in condensed matter physics, dphil in earth sciences, dphil in inorganic chemistry, dphil in materials, dphil in mathematics, dphil in organic chemistry, dphil in particle physics, dphil in physical and theoretical chemistry, dphil in sustainable urban development, dphil in theoretical physics, environmental research (nerc doctoral training partnership) (dphil), dphil in area studies, dphil in criminology - 36 months, dphil in criminology - 72 months, dphil in economics - 36 months, dphil in economics - 72 months, dphil in education - 36 months, dphil in education - 72 months, dphil in information, communication and the social sciences - 36 months, dphil in information, communication and the social sciences - 72 months, dphil in international development - 36 months, dphil in international development - 72 months, dphil in international relations - 36 months, dphil in international relations - 72 months, dphil in law - 36 months, dphil in law - 72 months, dphil in oriental studies, dphil in politics - 72 months, dphil in public policy - 36 months, dphil in public policy - 72 months, dphil in social policy - 36 months, dphil in social policy - 72 months, dphil in socio-legal studies - 36 months, dphil in socio-legal studies - 72 months, dphil in sociology - 36 months, dphil in sociology - 72 months, dphil in statistics, dphil in theology and religion - 36 months, dphil in theology and religion - 72 months.

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