DPhil

GRADUATE ADMISSIONS CRITERIA FOR THE DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN MATHEMATICS 

                                                                                                                             FOR ENTRY IN 2013-14

1.  Criteria

Within equal opportunities principles and legislation, applications will be assessed in the light of a candidate’s ability to meet the following criteria:

2.  Academic ability

Proven and potential academic excellence.

Applicants are normally expected to be predicted or to have achieved a first-class undergraduate degree (or equivalent international qualifications^[1]) in Mathematics or a related discipline.

For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA we seek is 3.6 out of 4.0 as well as excellence in mathematical subjects.  

Appropriate indicators will include:

Academic references/letters of recommendation, which support intellectual ability, academic achievement, motivation, ability to work in a group.

Personal statement.  It is not necessary to submit a research proposal, though you may do so if you wish.  We need to know which area(s) of Mathematics interest you and why.  You should write a statement, which can be anything between a short paragraph and two pages, and must be in English.  This will be assessed for evidence of motivation for and understanding of the proposed area of study and whether we can provide a suitable supervisor.

Performance at interview(s) Interviews are normally held as part of the admissions process.  If invited, you can expect to be interviewed by at least two people.  The interview could take place face-to-face or by telephone or Skype

3. Other qualifications and experience

Research experience in the proposed research may be an advantage.

4. Availability of supervision, teaching, facilities and places

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

• The ability of the Mathematical Institute to provide the appropriate supervision, research opportunities, teaching and facilities for your chosen area of work.
• There are minimum and maximum limits to the numbers of students who may be admitted onto Oxford’s research and taught programmes.

The provision of supervision is subject to the following points.

• The allocation of graduate supervision is the responsibility of the Mathematical Institute, and 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 Mathematical Institute. It is the Institute's policy that in all cases one supervisor or co-supervisor should be a member of the Mathematical Institute
  
  

5.  English language requirement

Applicants whose first language is not English are usually required to provide evidence of proficiency in English at the standard level required by the University (see http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/postgraduate_courses/apply/internat_students.html).

6. Deadlines and required full set of application materials

Please refer to the Graduate Admissions website http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/postgraduate_courses/apply/application_guide.html for information on the deadlines which must be met, and the full set of supporting materials required, in order for applications to be guaranteed to be considered.

7. Whether you have yet secured funding is not taken into consideration in the decision to make an initial offer a place, but please note that the initial offer of a place will not be confirmed until the college which gives you an initial offer of a place is satisfied that you have sufficient funding to cover your fees and living costs for the standard period of fee liability for your course.

8. Disability, health conditions and specific learning difficulties.

Students are selected for admission without regard to gender, marital or civil partnership status, disability, race, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation, age or social background. Decisions on admission are based solely on the individual academic merits of each candidate and the application of the selection criteria appropriate to the programme of study. Further information on how these matters are supported during the admissions process is available here. [create hyperlink to http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/postgraduate_courses/about_the_university/graduate_welfare/e_d.html]

9. Other information

• We encourage prospective applicants to communicate with us if they require help with their application
  
  
  
• It is not necessary for prospective applicants to communicate with a potential supervisor before submitting an application, but they may do so if they wish
• In the case of students who require specific help to adjust to their particular academic programme of research or to a new range of skills, the supervisor will work with them to ensure that they have appropriate additional support.
  
  

10. Assessors

All applications will be assessed by more than one member of the academic staff with relevant experience and expertise. 

11. Course webpage http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/postgraduate_courses/course_guide/mathematics.html