Program Overview

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Introduction to the DPhil in Area Studies (South Asia)

The DPhil in Area Studies (South Asia) is a research-based course that explores South Asia through interdisciplinary approaches, covering politics, gender, history, anthropology, economics, and international relations. This course offers the opportunity to undertake a doctoral project dedicated to the study of a specific country or region, or to compare more than one region, using social science approaches while generating theories and propositions that are of value across regions.

About the Course

The course aims to empower students to achieve the following learning outcomes:

• Develop research skills in ways that are relevant to the study of areas and regions
• Build an interdisciplinary and/or comparative understanding of different regions
• Undertake original research that makes a significant contribution to the literature
• Communicate research to non-academic audiences in ways that ensure real-world impact
• Present a lucid and scholarly thesis for examination

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.

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 is the largest library system in the UK, holding more than 13 million printed items and providing access to e-journals.

Supervision

The allocation of graduate supervision is the responsibility of the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies. You will be assigned one or two supervisors, depending on your thesis subject, who will advise and guide you as you progress through the different stages of your research.

Assessment

Candidates for the DPhil are normally admitted with Probationer Research Student (PRS) status. As a PRS, you will develop your research proposal and skills and produce a draft section or sections of your thesis to apply for the Transfer of Status. Applications for Transfer of Status must be submitted within a maximum of four terms from admission.

Graduate Destinations

This course is completing its sixth year; therefore, data on alumni destinations is yet to be captured. However, area studies graduates have found employment in many and diverse fields, including business, finance, law, civil service, journalism, government, and industry.

Changes to the Course

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.

Research Areas

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

• International Relations
• Gender and Society
• History
• Anthropology
• Economics

Recent doctoral research projects undertaken by students undertaking the South Asia stream include:

• The Rise and Fall of Trust in Indias Relations with Pakistan and China in the 1950s
• From Demonetisation to Covid-19: Insights on the Dynamics between Informality and Financial Inclusion from the City of Kolkata

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.

• A master's degree with distinction in a subject relevant to your proposed research, which includes appropriate research methods training
• A first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honors in any subject relevant to your proposed research

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. If you apply by the January deadline and receive a course offer, your application will then be considered for Oxford scholarships.

Costs

Annual Course Fees

The fees for this course are charged on an annual basis.

• Full-time study:
  • Home: Ł22,600
  • Overseas: Ł32,960
• Part-time study:
  • Home: Ł11,300
  • Overseas: Ł16,480

Additional Costs

There are no compulsory elements of this course that entail additional costs beyond fees. However, please note that, depending on your choice of research topic and the research required to complete it, you may incur additional expenses, such as travel expenses, research expenses, and field trips.

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. The range of likely living costs for a single, full-time student is between Ł1,405 and Ł2,105 for each month spent in Oxford.

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 study on this course:

• Balliol College
• Blackfriars
• Brasenose College
• Campion Hall
• Hertford College
• Jesus College
• Kellogg College
• Linacre College
• Oriel College
• Regent's Park College
• Reuben College
• St Antony's College
• St Catherine's College
• St Cross College
• Somerville College
• Wolfson College
• Wycliffe Hall

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

• Blackfriars
• Campion Hall
• Jesus College
• Kellogg College
• Linacre College
• Pembroke College
• Regent's Park College
• St Antony's College
• St Cross College
• Wadham College
• Wolfson College
• Wycliffe Hall

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.

• Proposed field and title of research project
• Proposed supervisor
• Referees: Three overall, academic preferred
• Official transcript(s)
• Personal statement and research proposal: Statement of a maximum of 1,000 words and proposal of a maximum of 2,500 words
• Written work: Two essays, a maximum of 2,000 words each

Your application 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.