Anthropology

The DPhil in Anthropology offers practice in developing research skills, especially through fieldwork with human subjects, though this is not compulsory. It also offers practice in analysing, interpreting and writing up research-related materials, and in presenting such materials in seminar-type formats.

You may be admitted to the course either with Probationer Research Student (PRS) status or, in the case of applicants holding an Oxford MPhil degree in anthropology, with full DPhil student status. Generally, you would only be admitted to the DPhil programme if you had successfully completed at least one taught degree in anthropology at the required level, whether in Oxford or elsewhere.

Exceptions may be made in the fields of cognitive and evolutionary anthropology, or for applicants with a distinction in a taught-course degree that includes some anthropology, but in a closely related discipline other than in anthropology. In the latter case, you would be expected to undertake some coursework in anthropology in the first year of the DPhil course. If you wish to undertake the DPhil with a focus on medical anthropology, you would usually be expected to have previously completed a taught master's degree in medical anthropology.

If you are admitted as full DPhil student, in principle you are ready to embark on the programme of research as approved by your DPhil supervisor. However, in some cases, your supervisor may determine that you should complete a further programme of methodological training or other preparatory work necessary for your proposed programme of research.

If you are admitted with PRS status, you will have to apply to transfer to full DPhil student status by the end of the first year. Once you attain the status of a full DPhil student in anthropology, you are immediately eligible to embark on fieldwork or other research. Such research typically lasts from 12 to 18 months and is then followed by a period of similar length to write up the thesis on which examination for the doctorate is based.

Applicants are normally expected to be predicted or have achieved a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours (or equivalent international qualifications), as a minimum, in at least one taught course degree in any discipline. At least one such degree should normally be in cultural or social anthropology. Distinction-level students in a closely related discipline may be considered for direct entry as Probationer Research Students on the condition that they undertake some coursework in social or cultural anthropology in their first year.

The final degree result should be 67%, or equivalent; for applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA sought is 3.7 out of 4.0.

Applicants for the DPhil in Anthropology will normally be required to have, or obtain, a taught-course qualification in social or cultural anthropology before embarking on doctoral research. Exceptions apply.

If you hold non-UK qualifications and wish to check how your qualifications match these requirements, you can contact the National Recognition Information Centre for the United Kingdom (UK NARIC).

No Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or GMAT scores are sought.

• Official transcript(s)
• CV/résumé
• Research proposal:Two to four pages
• Written work: Two essays of 2,000 words each
• References/letters of recommendation: Three overall, all of which must be academic

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Higher level

Want to improve your English level for admission?

Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

• ✔️ Flexible study schedule
• ✔️ Experienced teachers
• ✔️ Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

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