Oxford Graduate Application 2012/13

Hey, I heard late last week that I was accepted into the politics mphil but i have heard nothing about any funding. Clarendon etc... I take it from previous posts this means that I will not receive any? Did most people hear by post?

University, but then with the usual thing about moving me if a funding opportunity comes up. What about you?

MPhil International Relations. You?

Similar situation. On reserve list for AHRC (who knows how far down ), no word from colleges yet.

Yes, it is with Continuing Education and it is interdisciplinary. They have said that they don't yet offer the DPhil, but that the MSt course can be used to lead to DPhil work possibly at Oxford and that they may be able to offer you a place if suitable supervision can be found. It seems like they are interested in creating the programme at some point.

Could you elaborate on how the grading works? What does a 60, 70, 80 mean (in terms of frequency awarded and criteria for each)? I realize this is rather theoretical, but I am just trying to get a grasp of the context and standards, so please know I'd just be grateful for any light you can shed, as this is all foreign.

Also, I was curious to know how graduate students approach the reading lists, as in, do you read all of the books listed, or do your best or pick and choose, or is this a conversation with your Tutor or Advisor? Is there any general idea of how much of a reading list to try to accomplish?

And my last question involves being assigned to a college. Do applicants reach out to the desired college in any way, to state their interest? Is there anything that you can do to help your case? Thanks for your input!

well, I got AHRC, Departmental, and Ertegun rejections by email. The Clarendon website says all successful candidates have been sent funding offer letters.

I have heard nothing on the AHRC front, no rejection, acceptance, or shortlist. No confirmation that I am being, or am not, considered at all. I may have to call them on Tuesday and find out whats happening there.
Oxford forgot to inform me about Ertegun, so that was a 'no-funding' prospect form the off. Am waiting nervously for the studentship response. No funding means I will not be able to attend the programme.

On the AHRC, I have ben nominated by m own university, well 'shortlisted' - I am told that that the results will be decided soon. I wondered if anyone here had any idea what so ever, if the chances for AHRC upon shortlist are considerably higher. They only have two offers, and I suspect hundreds of worthy candidiates. I don't even know how many would be shortlisted for two places, I hope upon shortlisting it's still not a slim chance as 1 in 10... somt
hing tells me with AHRC its always a slim chance.

they won't have hundreds of applicants for 2 AHRC places Most departments have 1/2 AHRC places for about 30-35 applicants. I think shortlisted means you got it.

Hi - Marking Criteria copied below. I'm not sure if they vary between different departments though. If you nose around dept websites you may find course specs (with exam conventions) and examiners' reports with information on the number of students achieving distinctions. Reading list - I definitely haven't managed to read every single book on every reading list, though you obviously need to read a lot more extensively beyond the list if it's a topic or area you've chosen to write/research on. Maybe other postgrad students may want to chime in on this?

But surely shortlisting means there's a few names and they will decide upon them. I'm just curious as to what shortlisting comprises off, i.e. a couple of people or still a significant number.

yes, actually, I think you are right I mixed it up with being "nominated". Sorry. I still hope you get it though

Thanks Corinna, I hope so too, but being rejected from Cambridge on the funding front makes me doubt getting funding other universities. It's perhaps not the most logical stance to take, but I'll be surprised if its not true.

Speaking of "nominated" - with Oxford, I suspected being "nominated" for a studentship meant although your chances were higher, you were still competing for funding. Do you reckon "nomination" implies a good, solid chance?

I've been racking me brains over what would make them give you funding via a studentship! i.e. everyone accepted into Oxford is an exceptional candidate: all have grades, extra ciricular, etc etc or else they would not have the offer, hence the funding criteria puts me in a confused state of mind.

there is really no way to know how they decide the funding. Maybe its the written work etc. I really don't know. I think that nominated is fairly certainly an offer. But I don't know really...

Thanks Corinna, I hope so too, but being rejected from Cambridge on the funding front makes me doubt getting funding other universities. It's perhaps not the most logical stance to take, but I'll be surprised if its not true.

Speaking of "nominated" - with Oxford, I suspected being "nominated" for a studentship meant although your chances were higher, you were still competing for funding. Do you reckon "nomination" implies a good, solid chance?

I've been racking me brains over what would make them give you funding via a studentship! i.e. everyone accepted into Oxford is an exceptional candidate: all have grades, extra ciricular, etc etc or else they would not have the offer, hence the funding criteria puts me in a confused state of mind.

'Nominated' at Oxford (at least for the AHRC) definitely doesn't mean one automatically gets it - I emailed the department to check this out after I heard I was being nominated and that's what they said. It rests with the humanities division.

Good luck with your faculty studentship; I hope you get good news very soon.

Thank you so much, cyberpoet! I really appreciate your time and thoughts. The reading list was over 40 pages long, so I will do my best... They said we should hear from our college in 8-10 weeks. Exciting!

Pffff. Finally got a response. I've been waitlisted. Anyone know what that means in real terms for IR?

Not good.
They usually hand out more offers than places available, but in an unlikely case if even more people will not take up offer than was expected they want to have a backup and some of those who were waitlisted will get an offer. I.e. chances are slim.

Not saying this to discourage you, but if you have any other options - take them.