Pharmacology

The DPhil in Pharmacology offers a very wide range of topics, from calcium signalling to cardiovascular pharmacology and neuropharmacology.

Graduate destinations

According to the department's last survey, 100% of DPhil students have either gone on to continue their education or are in employment. Departmental academics follow their alumni with interest.

Examples of careers and employers on completion of the DPhil: postdoctoral research, the pharmaceutical industry, the Wellcome Trust, the biotechnology industry, graduate medical study, investment banking and Google UK.

Applicants are strongly advised to visit the Medical Sciences Graduate School website to help them identify the most suitable course and supervisors.

On the DPhil, your research will be carried out at Oxford under the supervision of a member of academic staff. You will work within their research group on a project at the forefront of the subject, and at the end of your time with the department you will produce a doctoral thesis that represents a significant advance in the field. You will become the world expert in your research area and you will have demonstrated that you are an original and creative thinker capable of independent scientific work at a very high level.

If you are interested in joining the department as a DPhil student, you are strongly encouraged to look at the Department of Pharmacology's current research to identify areas of research that interest you.

Selecting the correct research project is a hugely important first step, so it is recommended that you contact potential supervisors directly to discuss possibilities before you apply online for a place on the course.

On starting as a probationary research student, besides regular monitoring undertaken by your supervisor and department, the University checks your progress twice – firstly, your transfer to DPhil status and secondly, the confirmation of your DPhil status.

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 a biological or chemical science, but applications from high calibre candidates with mathematical and physical science backgrounds are welcomed. For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA sought is 3.5 out of 4.0.

However, entrance is very competitive and most successful applicants have a first-class degree or the equivalent.

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).

A previous master's is not a prerequisite for consideration for a place to study for a DPhil, and we do not seek a Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or GMAT score.

• Official transcript(s)
• CV/résumé
• Research proposal: Two pages
• References/letters of recommendation:Three overall, generally academic

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Higher level

• Global Education
• Hill Foundation Scholarships