1. Humanities Division Oxford University 34 St Giles Oxford, OX1 3LD www.humanities.ox.ac.uk Considering staying in Oxford to do a DPhil? Debbie McVitty Training Coordinator, Humanities Division 31 st October, 2008 www.humanities.ox.ac.uk/graduate_study/

2. What the session covers Why do a DPhil at Oxford? The application process Funding opportunities What goes in a research proposal? Discussion exercise: what makes a strong research proposal? How did current DPhil students approach their proposals?

3. Why do a DPhil at Oxford? Good reasons to do a DPhil –Enthusiasm for your subject/project –Career development –Personal development Good reasons to do a DPhil at Oxford –Resources – libraries and research centres –Research community – collegiate system –Intellectual standards –Social and career opportunities

4. Why not do a DPhil at Oxford? Bad reasons to do a DPhil –The money/prestige –Can’t think of anything else to do –Your supervisor thinks you should Why not Oxford? –Limited individual attention –Lack of structure –High pressure/competitiveness –No one in your subject area to supervise

5. Application process: online

6. Application process Deadline for funded places 23 rd January, 2009 (or 9 th Jan for Philosophy) Supplementary materials required: Research proposal (around 1000 words) References - at least 2 (and possibly 3) people who can comment on your suitability for research Written work and CV (varies according to faculty)

7. Funding For home/EU students Arts and Humanities Research Council funding –fees + maintenance or fees only –decided by faculties at the same time as decision to admit to degree –www.humanities.ox.ac.uk/graduate_study/ahrc For overseas students: various scholarships –consult Student Funding and International Office & Graduate Finance Guide http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/io/funding/index.shtml –check external funding criteria and deadlines

8. Criteria for admission and funding Is Oxford right for the project? –supervision –research resources –training needs Quality of candidate –Academic record & professional experience –Written work –References Quality of project proposal

9. Information checklist (by December) Have you... –Identified a possible supervisor in your field? –Found out from your faculty what supplementary materials you need to include with your application? –Identified relevant sources of funding and their requirements? –Approached possible referees and found out what they need from you to write a reference? –Written your research proposal?

10. Research proposals: development If you don’t know where to start... –Pick a field and try to predict where it’s going in the next five years –What books and journal articles have been published recently? –What conferences have been run recently? –What doctoral theses have been completed? –Who are the ‘big names’ in this field and what are they researching? –What do you have to offer to the field?

11. Research proposals: writing (i) Give it a title State the problem you intend to tackle –be specific –be realistic Set it in the context of the research field –refer to secondary sources State how you intend to tackle it – methodology & chapter breakdown Give a feasible (rough) timetable The ‘so what?’ factor

12. Research proposals: writing (ii) The perfect combination of person, place and project –why you are qualified to undertake this research –whether you have any further research training needs –why you want to do the project at Oxford Proof read – banish all jargon

13. ‘Originality’ Passing the DPhil (according to the exam regulations) ‘a good general knowledge of the particular field of learning within which the subject of the thesis falls’ ‘a significant and substantial contribution in the particular field of learning’

14. And finally... Take five minutes to jot down some tasks to accomplish and deadlines: 1. Talk to... 2. Read... 3. Find out... Please hand in your feedback forms Any questions or concerns raise them now or email: training@humanities.ox.ac.uk