Skip to content
University of Oxford
School of Geography and the Environment

 School of Geography and the Environment

International Graduate School

MSc in Nature, Society and Environmental Policy

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is my background appropriate for the course?

The MSc Nature, Society and Environmental Policy accepts candidates from a range of backgroundssocial sciences and humanities, as well as natural sciences. The focus on human geography and social science means that some aspects of the course will be more challenging for students from natural science backgrounds. The two key criteria are:

  1. academic excellence, and
  2. a demonstrated interest in the interactions of society and nature and ways that policy instruments can mediate this relationship and achieve the goal of environmental and social sustainability.
2. What level of written and spoken English do I have to have?

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 the Graduate Studies Prospectus for information on the minimum English scores accepted by the University.

3. What level of supervision can I expect?

The formal training programme is designed to provide in-depth knowledge over a wide range of topics related to nature, society, and environmental policy, but a fundamental component of the Oxford educational system is students engaging in individual reading and study in order to broaden and deepen their knowledge of their chosen field. Simply, lectures and seminars are indicative of knowledge, not exhaustive, and much of the value of an Oxford degree lies in student initiative and effort in exploring literature and ideas. Staff are available to advise students on reading, literature, and topics. A personal adviser will be available to assist students with these matters.

4. Are there any funding opportunities for the course?

4.1 There are a number of scholarships available at Oxford University, especially for overseas students. Details of these scholarships and how to apply can be found on the Graduate Admissions web page of the University, under the section "Financial Information - Scholarship Search".

Further, please see our Fees and Funding Guide which provides details of many available schemes.

4.2 In addition, many Colleges offer full or partial scholarships for graduate study.

5. Is there further information on the course?

If you have only seen the information on the main Oxford University website, then there is plenty of additional information on our Department's web site.

5.1 For information on studying at the School of Geography and the Environment's International Graduate School, including our admission criteria, please see the International Graduate School website.

5.2 For more information on the MSc in Nature, Society and Environmental Policy, please look at the course website.

5.3 For detailed information on the MSc in Nature, Society and Environmental Policy course, the current course handbook is available online.

6. What sort of jobs will the course qualify me for?

As an ESRC recognized training programme one aim of the course is to prepare students for entry into doctoral programmes and careers in academia. More generally this course is designed to equip students with the critical thinking skills, theoretical groundings and practical insights to peruse careers at the cutting edge of policy and management in the governmental, business and civil society sectors.