The Student Room Group

Philosophy Postgrad at Oxford

Hi,
I'm applying (or at least thinking of applying) to do a bphil at oxford (its a 2 taught year masters course in philosophy).

Although I've almost most filled in the form (apart from my statement or purpose). I've yet to send it off.
(The deadline is the 11th Jan and the application is online so this means I can click on 'send' anytime untill then).

I was wondering if anyone here does this degree, and how difficult it is to get onto?

I have a solid first from the university of manchester (average=72, all 2nd and 3rd year marks above 65, second best in my year), and my references should be good.

If it matters, I got AAB at A Level (Maths, Physics, Chemistry) an A at AS Philosophy, and 6A*s and 4As at G.C.S.E.

No one I know has ever gone to oxford or cambridge, I was the first in my family to go to university. Oxford has always felt out of my reach, a place to see in Harry Potter Films but not actually go...

Anyway, I was wondering if any of you guys know anything about the course, or if I have a chance at getting in? I know a first is good but like I said oxford had always felt out of my reach.

Finally, I have to write a 'statement of purpose' for my application. Any tips on what I should put in?

Any help would be very very much appreciated.

Thanks xx
I have no idea as to the strength or size of the competition but given the BPhil is almost certainly the most prestigious philosophy masters out there(and, I gather, absurdly demanding), it's not going to be easy to get on.

Your best bet with regards the statement is probably to get in touch with a current student, though I've not seen any on this site. They have a list of current students on the philosophy department website - try starting there if you need to hunt people down.
Reply 2
Hey.
According to their website they get 180 applications each year, for 30 places.

I'm not feeling very confident AT ALL.

I suppose there is no harm in sending the application.

Its a shame, cause the course looks EXACTLY like what I'd like to do - the options are amazing. I wrote down a list of things I wanted to study at postgrad level and oxford was the only course which covered all of them...
It's definitely worth a try - having a clear, precise idea of what you want to do will be a huge help. Is there no one at your previous uni who would be willing to offer advice with your application? And, out of interest, what areas are you interested in studying?
Reply 4
Hey,
I'm intrested in Metaphysics, Philosophy of Language, Logic, and Frege.

There are people at my old uni, but I'd feel cheeky asking them to help. I dont even know exactly what questions I'd ask them.

I didnt know that the Bphil was so prestigious. I mean, I knew oxford was one of the best unis in the world - but I didnt know that the bphil was the most prstigious course in the world.

shame.
blown_speakers
Hey.

I suppose there is no harm in sending the application.

QUOTE]

No there isn't. Go for it! :smile:
St Andrews is supposedly great for Logic/Language and they've got Crispin Wright, who's written some really good stuff on Frege. You might want to look at doing a masters there.

To be honest though, most places are going to offer courses in Language/Logic/Metaphysics and, even if there's no particular course on him, Frege's bound to pop up all over the place in any course on the former of those.
Oxford is easily the biggest department and the most prestigious for postgrad philos, but you should certainly look into the Standies/Stirling joint courses too.
Reply 8
HPSH

To be honest though, most places are going to offer courses in Language/Logic/Metaphysics and, even if there's no particular course on him, Frege's bound to pop up all over the place in any course on the former of those.


Well, thats not as true as you might think - some places dont offer them all, and some places offer quite specific courses, not general 'metaphysics', but X's Theory on Y issue in metaphyisics.

Also - Oxford was one of the few places that would let me take all of the above at once.
Reply 9
All I can say is that it's worth a try! :smile:.
You really have nothing to lose by applying. You don't want to be constantly looking back and thinking "What if I had applied?", do you? =P Go for it. You'll never know until you've tried.

All the best!
Reply 11
Good luck, I've applied as well
Reply 12
blown_speakers
Hi,
I'm applying (or at least thinking of applying) to do a bphil at oxford (its a 2 taught year masters course in philosophy).

Although I've almost most filled in the form (apart from my statement or purpose). I've yet to send it off.
(The deadline is the 11th Jan and the application is online so this means I can click on 'send' anytime untill then).

I was wondering if anyone here does this degree, and how difficult it is to get onto?

I have a solid first from the university of manchester (average=72, all 2nd and 3rd year marks above 65, second best in my year), and my references should be good.

If it matters, I got AAB at A Level (Maths, Physics, Chemistry) an A at AS Philosophy, and 6A*s and 4As at G.C.S.E.

No one I know has ever gone to oxford or cambridge, I was the first in my family to go to university. Oxford has always felt out of my reach, a place to see in Harry Potter Films but not actually go...

Anyway, I was wondering if any of you guys know anything about the course, or if I have a chance at getting in? I know a first is good but like I said oxford had always felt out of my reach.

Finally, I have to write a 'statement of purpose' for my application. Any tips on what I should put in?

Any help would be very very much appreciated.

Thanks xx


OP, you'll probably find more helpful advice on the postgrad forum, about things like personal statements and the like (seeing as we've all had to fill them in before!) And seeing as this is Oxford-specific, this thread should be useful to you. :smile: