[The_Lonely_Goatherd]

Originally Posted by Sirap3108

It has been my dream to go to Oxford. So I am currently considering the MPhil Music (Performance)-DPhil (Musicology)programme at Oxford. Does anyone have any experience with the MPhil/DPhil programme at Oxford?



Also does anyone know how long the MSt course is? I know the MPhil is 2 years but I don't recall seeing the MSt duration anywhere..



In addition, they require 2 pieces of written work, a portfolio and a recording (for performance). Does anyone know if the written work has to be marked essays? Or can they just be an essay that you wrote at home? Can they be articles that have been published? (written by yourself)



About the portfolio, what is expected to be in the portfolio? (since you will already be submitting your CV and written work separately)



About the recording, how long must it be? (minutes or n° of pieces) Does it have to be just a CD recording or a DVD recording?



During the interview, you will also be expected to play on your instrument, my instrument is the harp (big and bulky :/). Will I be expected to bring it with me? (I do not live in the UK)



On to colleges, I have heard (only heard) that Christ Church and St Peters have the biggest music departments. Is this true? Could anyone comment on the colleges and the music scene within the colleges? (CC, SP as well as others)



Could someone comment on the various tutors too? (which one is known for being strict, funny, gentle etc.) Just to get an idea - won't be basing college decision on this.



On the last note, I know this has come up several times, does anyone know what the chances of getting in are? (for the MPhil or DPhil courses)



Thank you! And I'm terribly sorry for the very long post - I am very excited Thank you for reading!! I really appreciate it



(Btw, in case you were wondering, I am planning to apply to other universities and conservatories in the UK as well, but I am just so excited about applying to Oxford :] The reason why I ask even when I still have 2-3 years in France left is because I like to plan ahead to make sure that I get everything done by the time I need to apply )

Hiya

Thought I'd try and answer your questions here, seeing as this is the specific 'Music at Oxford' thread

Firstly, as far as I can tell, you're quite a long way off from applying! So don't get too excited or start thinking too far in advance!

Second thing is that nearer the time (when you're on the last year of your French course), you will need to check with the Faculty whether your undergrad course gives you enough of a grounding for the MPhil or MSt. It's quite easy to do undergrad at Oxford and study postgrad at a conservatoire but it's not as easy the other way around. This is something important to consider.

I'm the only regular Oxford muso on this forum, so there isn't anyone with experience of the MPhil or DPhil. I do know lots of people doing the DPhil though

The MSt course is one year. Essays don't have to be marked (unlike for undergrad applications), since you upload them onto the online application form. I imagine that as long as they're 10% either side of 2000 words, you could submit published articles if you have any. Not sure about the portfolio. Make sure that that's not a composition requirement (sounds like it to me).

Not sure about the recording or the performance test at the interview. Harpists for undergrad do bring their own harps, so if you were a domestic student they'd expect you to bring it. When you eventually e-mail the Faculty about the suitability of your undergrad degree, this would be something to ask them. Afaik, they don't have harps lying around that you could use.

There are no 'music departments' within colleges. There is one Faculty of Music for the whole university. Christ Church, Magdalen and St. Peter's traditionally take the most undergrads (6 for the first, 5 for the others). At postgrad, figures would be entirely different. Colleges with a very active music scene (which might be what you meant?) include Christ Church, Magdalen, New, Worcester and St. Peter's.

Tutor-wise, your best bet is to choose someone who matches you research interest once you've figured it out and then apply to the college at which this tutor is based. I've not been taught by all of the Music tutors but can vouch for the ones at Worcester, St. Peter's/St. Edmund Hall and St. John's personally. I'd personally want to avoid certain colleges but if you need more info, PM me.

Stats for no. of applicants and no. of places are on the official website

Originally Posted by Sirap3108

Hello everyone!



I'm planning to apply to Oxford and I would like to know what a typical weekly schedule would look like. Preferably for music students. (lectures, tutorials, studying etc.)



If you could comment on life at Oxford, it would be great too. IE, do you have enough free time to participate in extra activities? (e.g. orchestra/swimming/triathlon/etc.) How many activities would one recommend joining? Do you often end up spending most of the day/week studying and revising?



Thank you

Can't give much info since you're applying for postgrad courses. There are lectures for the compulsory modules and I get the impression you meet with your supervisor about twice a term. It's very much independent study as far as I can tell. The Music graduates I know tend to do music-related activities only. It would very much depend on your personal timetable and other interests with regard to how much you could commit to stuff.

On a very serious note: I'd really recommend doing your French performance course and only considering applying to Oxford and worrying about all this stuff in the last year of that course. I'm not entirely convinced that what you're doing at the moment would be considered a good enough grounding for acceptance onto the MSt/MPhil course. Even if it turns out that it is, you should only apply if there is something you genuinely want to study at postgrad level that the department is good for. If you wanna do early music research and look at manuscripts a lot, there aren't many institutions that could beat Oxford. If it's something else that interests you (remember we're talking hardcore academia here: you have to be pretty interested, especially the amount of money you'd be looking at paying!!!) then you may be better off elsewhere

[owen_h]

Originally Posted by Haeron

'The Goals of Analysis' - basically why we analyse, and discussing certain methods.

Secret: I'm basically just quoting Nicholas Cook, but adding in a very few of my own ideas

I can't believe I've just found someone else going for Music at Magdalen! I see we're even doing the same A-level subjects - how weird is that? Have you heard about interviews yet?

[Haeron]

Originally Posted by owen_h

I can't believe I've just found someone else going for Music at Magdalen! I see we're even doing the same A-level subjects - how weird is that? Have you heard about interviews yet?

Haha, but you, sir, are applying for music college, something I am not! What instrument do you play?

Also, general announcement - I HAVE INTERVIEWS FROM THE 6TH TO THE 10TH AHHHHHHHHHHHH