Welcome to the Oxford Physics Department Patrick Baird Graduate Studies: the challenge, the requirements and the community.

The Community There are six sub-departments within Oxford Physics: ALP, CMP, PP, TP, AOPP, AP. Each sub-department has a Director of Graduate Studies whose job is to oversee all aspects graduate work from admission to monitoring progress and examinations. The PGJCC is your voice in what the department offers to graduates.

PGJCC The membership of this Joint Consultative Committee includes one graduate student representative from each sub-department and one post-doctoral representative from each of our two sites (East – CMP, ALP & AOPP and West - PP, TP & AP) The committee meets once a term - in 5 th week - and elections to membership take place in Hilary.

Teaching and Graduate Studies: Organization Academic Administrator Academic Committee Access Officer Director of Graduate Studies Teaching Faculty Secretary and Reception Graduate Studies Secretary (PA) PMC Head of Teaching Faculty Graduate Studies Panel PGJCC PJCC Budgets MPLS Graduate Advisory Panel (RCUK/Colleges)

The Hurdles The transfer from PRS to D.Phil. student. In physics this involves the graduate course, a research report and a viva. Notification from the sub-department to allow this transfer means filling in a form! (GSO 2). Your changed status ultimately needs to be Confirmed. Normally in the third year. Requires a brief report of progress and a timeline to completion. Another form ( or rather two) to fill in! (GSO A). The thesis you ultimately submit will need to be no more that 250 pages of A4, double-spaced with standard font size. (The exception is TP – where the limit is150 pages). Currently two examiners are appointed to review the thesis; normally one is external and one internal to the department.

Transferable Skills – The Roberts’ Report The government accepted this report and provided resources to enable graduates to develop additional skills aside from specific research training. Each graduate student is responsible for maintaining a portfolio of the skills training they have received. It is expected that each year you will receive 10 days (2 weeks) of such training. There is a University web portal On the MPLS Divisional website there is a summary of various skills training courses which are offered. See:

Organisation of skills training First year: largely embedded in your first year graduate course. Skills which are useful to your research but which reach further afield, e.g. computing, presentational… etc. Second year: UKgrad schools, Teacher training etc. (The teaching training day(s) are mandatory and is a requirement for anyone wishing to teach or demonstrate.) Third Year: career-oriented skills, writing CVs, papers and applications…..

Graduate Notice Board There is an electronic notice board on our physics website. Here you will find information and links to relevant graduate studies information, e.g. minutes of PGJCC meetings, membership of committees, regulations governing degrees, scholarships, links to counselling services etc. ….And who knows perhaps even information on social functions..!! The division’s notice board at: provides information on graduate lectures etc. across the division, i.e. in other science departments in physical and life sciences. provides information on graduate lectures etc. across the division, i.e. in other science departments in physical and life sciences. There is a graduate Wiki accessible at

And finally.. Remember you are a crucial part of this large department. Your welfare is important to us as well as your academic endeavours. Let someone know if you need information or support! The graduate studies office is located in the Mullard Building of the Clarendon Laboratory (Ming Li). You should also have a College Advisor. Above all enjoy your time in the department and make the most of the research opportunities available.