Philosophy

The Philosophy program at the University of Oxford offers students an exceptional opportunity to explore fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, ethics, logic, and the nature of reality. Rooted in a rich academic tradition, this course provides a rigorous and comprehensive curriculum designed to foster critical thinking, analytical skills, and philosophical insight. Students engage deeply with classic texts and contemporary debates across various branches of philosophy, including metaphysics, epistemology, philosophy of mind, language, moral philosophy, and political philosophy.

The program is structured to encourage students to develop their own philosophical arguments while critically engaging with the ideas of historical and modern philosophers. Through a combination of lectures, seminars, and tutorials, students receive personalized academic guidance, enabling them to refine their reasoning and communication skills. The tutorial system at Oxford allows for close supervision by leading experts in the field, ensuring a supportive environment for intellectual growth.

Beyond core philosophical topics, the program also emphasizes the importance of historical context, exploring the development of philosophical thought from ancient Greece to contemporary philosophy. Students are encouraged to examine the influence of philosophical ideas on science, religion, politics, and culture, fostering a well-rounded understanding of how philosophy intersects with other disciplines.

Students in the Philosophy program benefit from access to world-class resources, including extensive library collections, cutting-edge research centers, and active philosophical communities. The program prepares graduates for a wide range of careers that require analytical precision, ethical reasoning, and clear communication, such as academia, law, public policy, journalism, and business. Graduates also emerge with a heightened ability to think critically about complex issues, a skill highly valued across many sectors.

The Philosophy course at Oxford is designed for intellectually curious individuals eager to explore profound questions that have challenged thinkers for centuries. Whether pursuing research or seeking to develop a deeper understanding of philosophical ideas, students will find the program stimulating, challenging, and rewarding. With its distinguished faculty, historic traditions, and vibrant academic environment, Oxford’s Philosophy program is an ideal place to pursue the study of one of the most enduring and influential disciplines in human thought.

The Philosophy Graduate Studies Committee recommends progression from Oxford's BPhil in Philosophy to the DPhil programme in view of the opportunity it offers to students to study a wide range of philosophical topics as well as to focus on a narrower field of research interest. Students proceeding to the DPhil programme via the BPhil will normally write a DPhil thesis which is an expansion of their BPhil thesis, although this is not a formal requirement. Indeed, sometimes, the BPhil thesis topic is not suitable for expansion into a DPhil thesis, or a student may wish to write their DPhil thesis on a different topic.

Each year, some students are admitted to the DPhil in Philosophy from programmes other than the BPhil in Philosophy. These students will enter the DPhil initially as a Probationary Research Student (PRS) from appropriate programmes at Oxford or elsewhere. Typically, these students will have already completed substantial graduate work in philosophy, usually equivalent to that required for the BPhil. Students may also progress from either of the Faculty of Philosophy's specialised MSt programmes - the MSt in Philosophy of Physics and the MSt in Ancient Philosophy.

The DPhil is examined by a thesis of up to 75,000 words, which has been written under the guidance of (a) supervisor(s) with expertise in the topic of the thesis. You will undergo an oral defence (viva voce) of the thesis, conducted by two appointed examiners. Students progressing from the BPhil may (but are not required to) incorporate the contents of their entire 30,000-word BPhil thesis into their 75,000-word DPhil thesis.

In the third term after enrolment onto the DPhil, you are required to complete a transfer of status from PRS to full DPhil status. Two appointed examiners will interview you on your two-page thesis outline, which explains in outline the intended line of argument or contribution to the subject, and a piece of written work of approximately 5,000 words in the area and philosophical style of the proposed thesis which is typically, though not necessarily, a draft chapter of the thesis.

Students who progressed from the MSt in Philosophy of Physics course are required to write a 20,000-word thesis during their year as a PRS, as their MSt does not have a thesis element. Students who progress from the BPhil will enter the DPhil without being required to pass a year as a PRS and as a result will only have another six terms (instead of the usual nine terms) of fee liability for their DPhil.

At the end of the second year, you will be required to apply for confirmation of your DPhil status. This entails an interview by one or two appointed examiners on your two-page thesis outline, which goes into some detail and comprises a reasoned statement of the nature of the proposed thesis together with a provisional table of contents, and a piece of written work of around 5,000 words intended as a part of the thesis, in final or near-final draft.

You should have regular one-to-one tuition sessions with your supervisor(s). These will normally happen twice per term but in some terms, especially at the start of the degree and during the final stages of the thesis, the number of sessions may be increased. You are not required to attend any taught graduate classes as part of your DPhil degree, but you are encouraged to participate in lectures, classes, seminars and other educational opportunities offered throughout the university as relevant to your topic of study.

The course has no fieldwork, industrial placement or year abroad element, but you may decide to attend conferences, workshops or research training elsewhere.

You may attend any graduate or undergraduate classes, seminars and lectures in and outside of the Faculty of Philosophy which are of interest to you, provided that those classes, seminars and lectures are open to you.

MLitt in Philosophy

The Masters of Letters (MLitt) in Philosophy is awarded on the basis of a thesis of maximum 50,000 words for the MLitt. In practice, applicants are admitted for the MLitt only in exceptional cases, and few students submit a thesis for the MLitt. The MLitt is more often an exit award for DPhil students who fail or withdraw from the DPhil degree but meet the requirements for the MLitt.

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 philosophy or a closely-related discipline. Applicants are also normally expected to be predicted or to have achieved a high pass or distinction in the BPhil in Philosophy from the University of Oxford or an equivalent national or international qualification. 

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 GPA of 3.7, 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).

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

• Official transcript(s)
• CV/résumé
• Research proposal and personal statement: Proposal of up to 2,000 words and statement of one page
• Written work:One essay of 4,000 to 5,000 words
• References/letters of recommendation:Three overall, generally academic

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Higher level

• Global Education
• Hill Foundation Scholarships
• Ertegun Scholarship Programme 

The Philosophy program at the University of Oxford offers a comprehensive and rigorous exploration of philosophical thought, spanning from ancient Greece to contemporary debates. As one of the most venerable departments at Oxford, the Faculty of Philosophy is renowned for its distinguished faculty members, distinguished research output, and its vibrant intellectual community. The program provides students with a solid foundation in the history of philosophy, logic, epistemology, ethics, metaphysics, and political philosophy, among other disciplines.

Undergraduates typically engage in detailed textual analysis of classical and modern philosophers, participate in seminars and tutorials, and develop their critical thinking skills through writing and discussion. The program emphasizes both theoretical understanding and analytical skills, preparing students for careers in academia, public policy, law, or journalism. The curriculum is designed to offer flexibility, allowing students to tailor their studies according to their interests, whether they wish to concentrate on the history of philosophy or contemporary issues.

Graduate students benefit from personalized supervision by leading scholars and participate in seminars that encourage debate and original research. The university's extensive libraries and resources support a wide range of philosophical inquiries. Students also have opportunities to engage with the wider intellectual community through conferences, workshops, and collaborations with other departments such as Classics, Politics, and Theology.

Oxford’s philosophy program is distinguished by its tutorial system, which involves weekly meetings with tutors to discuss student work and ideas in depth. This personalized approach fosters critical thinking, clarity of expression, and a deep engagement with philosophical texts and arguments. The program culminates in a dissertation or thesis, which demonstrates the student’s ability to conduct independent research.

Overall, the Philosophy program at Oxford offers an intellectually stimulating environment that challenges students to think rigorously and creatively about fundamental questions concerning existence, knowledge, values, reason, and language. Graduates of the program are well-equipped with analytical skills, philosophical literacy, and a nuanced understanding of human thought and society, enabling them to pursue diverse professional paths or further academic research.

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