Program Overview

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Introduction to the DPhil in Criminology

The DPhil in Criminology is a research-based degree offered by the Centre for Criminology at the University of Oxford. This program is designed to provide students with advanced research training and the opportunity to produce an original piece of research that contributes to the field of criminology.

About the Course

The DPhil in Criminology can be studied full-time over three to four years or part-time over six to eight years. The program entails researching and writing a thesis of between 75,000 and 100,000 words under the guidance of at least one supervisor who is an acknowledged authority on the chosen topic. Students are expected to submit their final thesis within the specified timeframe.

Attendance Requirements

Full-time students are subject to the University's Residence requirements, while part-time students are required to attend course-related activities in Oxford for a minimum of 30 days each year. Although there is no requirement for part-time research students to live in Oxford, they must attend the University on a regular basis, particularly during term-time, for supervision, study, research seminars, and skills training.

Resources to Support Study

As a graduate student, you will have access to the University's wide range of resources, including libraries, museums, galleries, digital resources, and IT services. The Bodleian Libraries, the largest library system in the UK, holds more than 13 million printed items and provides access to e-journals and outstanding special collections.

Supervision

The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Centre for Criminology. 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 Centre for Criminology.

Assessment

All students will be initially admitted to the status of Probationer Research Student (PRS). Within a maximum of four terms as a full-time PRS student (eight terms for part-time pathway), you will be expected to apply for and achieve transfer of status from Probationer Research Student to DPhil status. This application involves submitting a research outline and a substantial piece of written work, which are assessed by two members of the Centre for Criminology.

Graduate Destinations

Recent graduates of the DPhil in Criminology have pursued careers in professional careers in criminal justice agencies and the law, university research and teaching in academic criminology and law schools, research careers, government departments, and voluntary organizations in the crime and justice field.

Research Areas

You will have the opportunity to undertake research within the specialized themes of this course, which include:

• Policing and security
• Crime and the family
• Border control and the criminalization of migration
• The death penalty
• The politics of crime and justice
• Youth justice
• Sociology of punishment
• Psychology, law, and criminal justice
• Crime, risk, and justice
• Victims
• Prisons
• Restorative justice
• Race and gender in crime and justice
• Miscarriages of justice
• Crime, criminology, and social/political theory

Entry Requirements

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

Proven and Potential Academic Excellence

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

• A master's degree with an average mark of 67% or above
• A first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honors

The qualifications above should be achieved in one of the following subject areas or disciplines:

• Law
• Sociology
• Politics
• Economics
• Social policy
• Psychology
• History
• Another social science or humanities subject relevant to criminology

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.

References

You will need to register three referees who can give an informed view of your academic ability and suitability for the course.

Supporting Documents

You will be required to supply supporting documents with your application, including a research proposal and written work.

Funding

For entry in the academic year, the collegiate University expects to offer over 1,100 full or partial graduate scholarships across a wide range of graduate courses. You can find more information about funding opportunities on the faculty's website and the Centre for Criminology website.

Costs

The fees for this course are charged on an annual basis. For the academic year, the annual course fees are:

• Full-time study: Ł10,910 (Home), Ł31,110 (Overseas)
• Part-time study: Ł5,455 (Home), Ł15,555 (Overseas)

College Preference

Students enrolled on this course will belong to both a department/faculty and a college. You can express a preference for one of the colleges listed or ask the University to find a college for you.

How to Apply

You should refer to the information below when completing the application form, paying attention to the specific requirements for the supporting documents. The application form will include questions that collect information that would usually be included in a CV/résumé. You should not upload a separate document.

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.

Proposed Supervisor

It is not necessary for you to identify a potential supervisor in your application.

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.

Research Proposal

Your proposal should give details of the topic you propose to investigate, why it is legally or sociologically significant, and how you would carry out the research.

Written Work

Academic essays or other writing samples from your most recent qualification, written in English, are required.

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 be taken into consideration when your application is assessed.