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University of Oxford
School of Geography and the Environment

 School of Geography and the Environment

International Graduate School: How to Apply

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do I apply for a scholarship?

The University has a number of scholarships available and you can find out about these on the University's Fees and Funding website or through our Fees and Scholarships webpage. In addition, specific scholarships and bursaries are available for the MSc in ECM and MSc in WSPM and you can find out about these at scholarships on the respective course webpages.

What level of written and spoken English do I need?

To register for a course at Oxford University, you will be required to prove your written and spoken English language abilities. If you do not already have these qualifications, please see our Entrance Requirements webpage and the University's Graduate Studies Prospectus for information on the minimum English scores accepted by the university.

Do you accept recent graduates to the MSc programmes as well as graduates with work experience?

Yes, we accept both. One of the factors that makes our International Graduate School unique and successful is the diversity of students' nationalities, ages, academic and employment backgrounds. However, all students must demonstrate a track record of academic excellence.

Can I apply for more than one MSc course at Oxford?

You may apply for as many MSc courses as you'd like bearing in mind the following:

  • Applying for multiple courses may communicate to those making admission decisions that you are not committed to a particular programme or area of study.
  • You must fill out a distinct application for each program to which you apply. Therefore, if you apply to 3 courses, you must fill out 3 separate applications and pay three separate fees as the courses do not share materials.
Do I need to include a research proposal with an application for the MSc or MPhil?

No, for both programmes you will be asked to develop a research proposal for your dissertation / thesis during Hilary Term and submit this in 8th week of that term.

What is the difference between the MPhil and MSc programme?

The key difference is that the MPhil programme involves an extended period of individual research that is termed a thesis rather than a dissertation. Until mid-Trinity term of the first year you will be part of either the MSc in BCM or MSc in NSEP class, after which you will be treated more as a DPhil student with individual supervision. Furthermore, MPhil students may apply to enter the second year of the DPhil programme subject to appropriate academic progress.

What level of supervision can I expect from my dissertation / thesis research?

MSc and MPhil students are allocated a single supervisor for their dissertation/thesis, although you can also request a second supervisor if your research requires, for example from another department or external agency. DPhil students are normally allocated two supervisors - a primary and second supervisor.

MSc students are provided with up to 8 hours of supervisory contact time. For MPhil and DPhil students the amount, frequency and type of supervision will depend on your research, your agreed research plan and whether or not your supervisor runs a larger research group. In the later case, some supervision will be provided in the form of regular research group or lab meetings.

How do I choose which college to apply to?

For advice and a list of questions that may help you to make this choice place visit our Choosing a College webpage.

Where can I view the detailed MSc course and elective booklets?

Links to these are available from the respective MSc course pages.

What are the likely career destinations of the MSc graduates?

To view the career sectors of our alumni, please view our alumni statistics (forthcoming).