Program Overview

---

Introduction to the DPhil in Geography and the Environment

The DPhil in Geography and the Environment is a research-based degree focused on original work in areas such as climate systems, biodiversity, political geographies, and environmental interactions. This advanced research degree is awarded on the basis of a thesis and oral examination, with an emphasis on independent research and academic excellence.

About the Course

The DPhil is an advanced research degree that requires students to work independently and take the initiative in exploring a line of research. The course provides support and an intellectual environment to pursue independent research, with students being members of one of the department's seven research clusters. The full-time programme is studied over three to four years, while the part-time programme is studied over six to eight years.

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, while 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, with over 13 million printed items and access to e-journals. The University's IT Services is available to support students with core university IT systems and tools.

Supervision

The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the School of Geography and the Environment. You will be allocated a supervisor who will meet with you at specifically agreed times and agree with you a research plan and programme of work. The supervisor will also establish clear academic expectations and milestones.

Assessment

If you are intending to read for the DPhil, you are normally admitted to the status of Probationer Research Student (PRS) initially. Within a maximum of four terms as a full-time PRS student or eight terms 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 requires successful completion of a qualifying test, which involves the submission of a piece of written work examined by two assessors.

Research Areas

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

• Biodiversity, Ecosystems and Conservation
• Climate Systems
• Landscape Dynamics
• Economy, Society: Transformations and Justice
• Environmental Interactions
• Political Worlds: Place, Power, Politics
• Technological Life: Environments, Bodies, Mobilities

Entry Requirements

The requirements described below are specific to this course and apply only in the year of entry. As a minimum, applicants should hold or be predicted to achieve the following UK qualifications or their equivalent:

• A master's degree with distinction (or a distinction grade on the dissertation, as a minimum) in geography or a related environmental field
• A first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honors in any discipline

Degree-Level Qualifications

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.

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

Costs

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

• Full-time: Ł24,430 (Home), Ł32,960 (Overseas)
• Part-time: Ł12,215 (Home), Ł16,480 (Overseas)

Additional Costs

Depending on your choice of topic and the research required to complete it, you may incur additional expenses, such as travel expenses to a field location and research expenses for equipment.

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.

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 us 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.

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

You are expected to have obtained preliminary agreement from a potential supervisor and you should enter this name under 'Proposed supervisor 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.

Research Proposal

Proposals are usually 2,500 words long, although there is no upper or lower limit. Your research proposal should comprise a detailed outline of your proposed research, written in English.

Written Work

The written work must be in English and can be either an essay you have written, a chapter(s) of a thesis, a published scholarly paper, or even academic work written specifically to support your 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 be taken into consideration when your application is assessed.