Program Overview

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Introduction to the DPhil in Interdisciplinary Life and Environmental Science

The DPhil in Interdisciplinary Life and Environmental Science provides innovative training for graduates from a wide range of academic backgrounds who wish to conduct leading-edge bioscience, environmental science, and archaeological science research. This course is led by the University of Oxford in partnership with five world-class research organizations.

About the Course

The DPhil in Interdisciplinary Life and Environmental Science offers the opportunity to undertake research across the full breadth of biological and environmental science, from cellular mechanisms and crop science, through to climate change and dynamic earth processes. It provides innovative training for graduates from a life science, physical science, or computational and mathematical science background who wish to conduct leading-edge bioscience and environmental science research.

Course Structure

The course is based in the University of Oxford's innovative Doctoral Training Centre (DTC), where students undertake an in-depth program of cohort-based, experiential learning. This includes:

• A strong foundation in computational and quantitative techniques
• Development of these skills in a research context through rotations and team projects
• Building connections within and between themes, supporting learning, sharing best practice, and inspiring interdisciplinary innovation
• Development of communication skills and connections with broader communities through teaching, outreach, and policy engagement
• Work experience through internships that provide an opportunity to engage with real-world applications of research and embed transferable skills in a non-academic context
• Fostering an entrepreneurial spirit through an innovative entrepreneurship training program
• Connecting with business to co-create industrially relevant projects through an Open Innovation Industrial Consortium

Attendance

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.

Supervision

The allocation of graduate supervision is the responsibility of the Interdisciplinary Life and Environmental Science Landscape Award. Students will have two supervisors, and in some cases, more than two supervisors. If a student is working with a non-university academic partner organization, they will have a supervisor at the university at which they are registered and a supervisor in one of the non-university academic partner organizations.

Assessment

The course has annual milestones to assist students in their progress. Students will be required to write a research proposal during the first year of their doctorate, which will be assessed by two researchers with relevant expertise. The University of Oxford has two further formal milestones to measure progress: the transfer of status and the confirmation of status, which are typically undertaken in the second and third year of the degree, respectively.

Graduate Destinations

This course builds on two previous courses in Interdisciplinary Bioscience and Environmental Research. Doctoral graduates from these programs have progressed to a wide range of different careers, most commonly in academia, but also in industry, teaching, policy, and other areas of work where their analytical, communication, and quantitative skills are highly valued.

Entry Requirements

• Proven and potential academic excellence: A first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honors in a relevant academic subject.
• Degree-level qualifications: As a minimum, applicants should hold or be predicted to achieve the following UK qualifications or their equivalent.
• GRE General Test scores: No Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or GMAT scores are sought.
• Other qualifications, evidence of excellence, and relevant experience: Research or work experience in a relevant area may be an advantage.
• English language proficiency: This course requires proficiency in English at the University's higher level.

Funding

We expect that the majority of applicants who are offered a place on this course will also be offered a fully-funded scholarship specific to this course, covering course fees for the duration of their course and a living stipend.

Costs

• Annual course fees: The fees for this course are charged on an annual basis.
• What do course fees cover?: Course fees cover teaching as well as other academic services and facilities provided to support studies.
• Living costs: In addition to course fees, students will need to ensure they have adequate funds to support their living costs for the duration of their course.

College Preference

Students enrolled on this course will belong to both a department/faculty and a college. The following colleges accept students for full-time and part-time study on this course:

• Brasenose College
• Campion Hall
• Exeter College
• Green Templeton College
• Harris Manchester College
• Hertford College
• Jesus College
• Kellogg College
• Linacre College
• Lincoln College
• Magdalen College
• Mansfield College
• New College
• Pembroke College
• The Queen's College
• Reuben College
• St Anne's College
• St Catherine's College
• St Cross College
• St Edmund Hall
• St Hilda's College
• St Hugh's College
• St John's College
• Trinity College
• University College
• Wadham College
• Wolfson College
• Worcester College
• Wycliffe Hall

How to Apply

• Before you apply: Our guide to getting started provides general advice on how to prepare for and start your application.
• Application fee waivers: An application fee of Ł20 is payable for each application to this course. Application fee waivers are available for certain applicants.
• 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.
• Proposed field and title of research project: Please identify the research theme that most closely aligns with your research interests.
• Proposed supervisor: In the 'Proposed supervisor' field, please enter the name of the supervisor(s) you are interested in working with and include the institution at which each supervisor is employed in brackets after each name.
• Referees: 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.
• Official transcript(s): Your transcripts should give detailed information of the individual grades received in your university-level qualifications to date.
• Contextual statement: If you wish to provide a contextual statement with your application, you may also submit an additional statement to provide contextual information on your socio-economic background or personal circumstances in support of your application.
• Statement of purpose: Please provide your statement of purpose in English, describing how your background and research interests relate to the course.