Applying for PhD at Oxford

Aye, I'm a wee bit confused too! Not sure what your subject is, but if it's social sciences then a masters will be pretty much a pre-requisite (and sometimes a particular programme, like a research masters, is compulsory). If on the other hand what you're asking is 'if I get a 2.1 and do a masters at SOAS, then apply for a 1+3 at Oxford, will that be sufficient?' then I would have said yes, certainly. A masters definitely helps to increase your academic credentials.

I'm still not sure if I've understood the question right. :s-smilie:

Edited to add: I'll take the example of politics but I would imagine it's the same for much of the social sciences. For politics doctorates, Oxford admissions states:

Applicants who intend to apply for direct entry to the DPhil will need a Master's qualification in addition to an undergraduate degree.

If you want to apply for funding, you'll need to complete a research masters - one of these - either on its own or after taking a first masters.

Reply 3

Eubacterium

13

If it's not a prerequisite, then possibly, but it's really down to the individual. Especially as there's plenty of people with masters.

Reply 4

Socrates

Wasn't sure whether to put this here or in Postgrad (if a mod thinks its better there than move it please)

Basically, I'm almost done with my undergrad (about two weeks left). I've got an offer to do a Masters (at SOAS), and I'm thinking about a PhD. While SOAS would probably offer the specialist nature that I'm looking for, a change would be nice, and Oxford do have the course I'm looking for. My question is a bit more general: the research degrees at Oxford say that entry requirements are 2.i/1.i (but you won't stand a chance without a first in flowery language, essentially). However, if I already have a masters (hopefully), does that give me an edge over other grads?

Cheers for any help you can give me :biggrin:

i guess it depends on the specialist nature of the degrees that others have studied at undergrad/postgrad. funded phds in the social sciences are 1+3 (research masters + phd) so if you have a a masters that is not recognised as a "1" then you won't be able to apply for a funded "3" social science phd (if it is to be funded by the esrc). in terms of general admittance, as others have said, a masters improves your cv if the masters is in the area that you wish your phd to be in. when i started the 1+3 route at exeter i was amazed at how many people had a specialist subject masters, then applied for the 1+3. i would say at least 1/3 had a subject specialist masters before they started the "1" research training masters.

Reply 5

The Boosh

i guess it depends on the specialist nature of the degrees that others have studied at undergrad/postgrad. funded phds in the social sciences are 1+3 (research masters + phd) so if you have a a masters that is not recognised as a "1" then you won't be able to apply for a funded "3" social science phd (if it is to be funded by the esrc). in terms of general admittance, as others have said, a masters improves your cv if the masters is in the area that you wish your phd to be in. when i started the 1+3 route at exeter i was amazed at how many people had a specialist subject masters, then applied for the 1+3. i would say at least 1/3 had a subject specialist masters before they started the "1" research training masters.

Sorry to ask such a dumb question, but what exactly is a "subject specialist master's"? :confused:

I don't think I've ever come across the term before...

Reply 6

hobnob

Sorry to ask such a dumb question, but what exactly is a "subject specialist master's"? :confused:

I don't think I've ever come across the term before...

Just a normal MA, I think, ie. not a research masters, but related to the PhD topic.

Reply 7

hobnob

Sorry to ask such a dumb question, but what exactly is a "subject specialist master's"? :confused:

I don't think I've ever come across the term before...

i just use the term to imply a masters degree that's in a particular subject (e.g. victorian literature) rather than a research training masters

Reply 8

Ah. Thanks. I still don't really understand why so many people would want to do a taught MA and a research MA before starting on their PhD, though. Unless they're all masochists - in which case they're probably cut out for academia, come to think of it. :p:

Reply 9

hobnob

Ah. Thanks. I still don't really understand why so many people would want to do a taught MA and a research MA before starting on their PhD, though. Unless they're all masochists - in which case they're probably cut out for academia, come to think of it. :p:

It makes me feel a bit queasy I have to say, although I am envious of people that get to do a 'fun' masters. Obviously that's what Boosh did and he's a relatively well-adjusted individual :p:

I think the other factor is that some apply for the 1+3 in the final year of undergrad, but don't get it; so take a masters before reapplying to strengthen their application (which it does, in most cases). I know the place I turned down went to a 'normal' masters student.

Reply 10

lol or they could be lazy and trying hard to avoid the real world.

i don't think you can really differentiate between a taught and research ma in that way though, because a taught ma is taught, and a research ma is research-based, but you can be taught research skills and you can research your chosen area in a taught ma. this is why i use "subject specialist" vs. "research training" distinctions. you can get research masters, but they may not be recognised as a research training masters in the eyes of funding bodies, because such masters have to be approved by the funding body first.

gets complicated, doesn't it?

actually, i can't tell if you get it or not! the research training masters isn't optional if you want funding, but you may not know exactly what you want to do for your phd, which is why a subject specialist masters is needed.

im confused now. are you confused, or am i?

Reply 11

Socrates

OP

IlexAquifolium

Aye, I'm a wee bit confused too! Not sure what your subject is, but if it's social sciences then a masters will be pretty much a pre-requisite (and sometimes a particular programme, like a research masters, is compulsory). If on the other hand what you're asking is 'if I get a 2.1 and do a masters at SOAS, then apply for a 1+3 at Oxford, will that be sufficient?' then I would have said yes, certainly. A masters definitely helps to increase your academic credentials.

I'm still not sure if I've understood the question right. :s-smilie:

Sorry for being unclear, yes it was your latter answer that I was looking for. Cheers.

Reply 12

IlexAquifolium

It makes me feel a bit queasy I have to say, although I am envious of people that get to do a 'fun' masters. Obviously that's what Boosh did and he's a relatively well-adjusted individual :p:

.

lol the first masters was a sort of conversion course (not an official one but a brand new field that i was interested in).

to be fair, i didn't want to do the second masters - it sounded boring and pointless. i was sold on it purely because (1) i would be selected to apply for open comp. (2) i would have the chance to apply for departmental scholarship (3) i was offered a job opportunity, and (4) i could hand in my phd a year early and graduate in the amount of time.

in hindsight i'm please that i've done it, but at the time i really didn't want to.

Reply 13

The Boosh

lol or they could be lazy and trying hard to avoid the real world.

i don't think you can really differentiate between a taught and research ma in that way though, because a taught ma is taught, and a research ma is research-based, but you can be taught research skills and you can research your chosen area in a taught ma. this is why i use "subject specialist" vs. "research training" distinctions. you can get research masters, but they may not be recognised as a research training masters in the eyes of funding bodies, because such masters have to be approved by the funding body first.

gets complicated, doesn't it?

actually, i can't tell if you get it or not! the research training masters isn't optional if you want funding, but you may not know exactly what you want to do for your phd, which is why a subject specialist masters is needed.

im confused now. are you confused, or am i?

Wait, so how would you classify my MA, then? It's in a specialist subject, but we're still forced to attend boring sessions on what the faculty chooses to call "research training" every week. :s-smilie:

*gets even more confused*

Reply 14

Socrates

Sorry for being unclear, yes it was your latter answer that I was looking for. Cheers.

No problem :smile:

I'm starting that programme at another university in September, so if there's anything I can help with, don't hesitate to drop me a PM.

Added: to go back to your original question about applying to the 1+3 with a first masters under your belt, the ESRC state that if potential applicants have done less well than expected, they can take a masters to show attainment 'at equal standard to completing a first in a degree'. So it should enhance a 2.1, particularly if you perform really well.

Reply 15

hobnob

Wait, so how would you classify my MA, then? It's in a specialist subject, but we're still forced to attend boring sessions on what the faculty chooses to call "research training" every week. :s-smilie:

*gets even more confused*

who knows!!! the arts/humanities seem have a different structure. my research training masters was just that - research training, but in english i don't see how you can study an entire year of research methodology (though this probably shows my ignorance)

Reply 16

apotoftea

19

hobnob

Wait, so how would you classify my MA, then? It's in a specialist subject, but we're still forced to attend boring sessions on what the faculty chooses to call "research training" every week. :s-smilie:

*gets even more confused*

You're not the only one who's now confused :s-smilie:

As mine's got research training too within it. Hmmmm, god you social science lot make it confusing :p:

A 1+3 is a Masters (of whatever kind) then a PhD isn't it? But you can still apply if you've got a Masters but it just means you do another year of a different MA course so if you didn't do the PhD, you would have 2 Masters rather than one, correct?

~my brain hurts~

Reply 17

i only like to think of things as a research masters if the degree is almost entirely based around a research project that you undertake, like a smaller mphil. but conducting an actual research and learning about research methodology can be two very different degrees in the social sciences.

Reply 18

Stickyvix

You're not the only one who's now confused :s-smilie:

As mine's got research training too within it. Hmmmm, god you social science lot make it confusing :p:

A 1+3 is a Masters (of whatever kind) then a PhD isn't it? But you can still apply if you've got a Masters but it just means you do another year of a different MA course so if you didn't do the PhD, you would have 2 Masters rather than one, correct?

~my brain hurts~

almost! the "1" has to be recognised as a masters that offers research training (usually approved by a research council). if you don't have this, you can't apply for the "3" part of the 1+3, and you can't apply for research council funding (unless you are applying for the whole 1+3 route)

Reply 19