Should I apply?

This self-evaluation tool is designed to help you understand whether you are likely to be able to make a competitive application to a graduate course at Oxford and provide helpful advice on how to make the strongest possible application.

Where can I find information about how to apply?

All the information you need to apply is available on this website, so make sure you have noted when you need to apply, what your application should contain and how it will be evaluated.

Applications will be assessed according to the entry requirements listed on individual course pages and the information you provide, so make sure you have checked the specifications for the supporting documents in the How to apply section of the course page (these will differ for each course).

There aren’t any hidden rules or requirements – applications are assessed against defined criteria and decisions made accordingly.

Where do our students come from?

Our graduate students come from all round the world and a diverse range of backgrounds.

Oxford is committed to supporting applications from disadvantaged and underrepresented groups and has a range of graduate access schemes in place.

Our courses fall into two categories: taught courses (MSt, MSc, MPhil, PGDip, PGCert) and research courses (DPhil and MSc by Research).

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Question: What type of course are you considering applying to?

Taught course Research course

Postgraduate taught courses include various levels of course: postgraduate certificates and diplomas, MSc and MSt masters' courses and MPhils.

Full-time masters’ courses are one-year courses, while MPhil courses last two years, with the first year normally being taught and the second research.

Some taught courses will encourage or require you to contact a potential supervisor ahead of applying. You can find information on this in the How to apply section of individual course pages. If you need to contact a supervisor, please refer to advice on the course page.

Postgraduate research courses are typically either at PhD (known at Oxford as DPhil) or masters' level. An MSc by Research course is like a mini PhD and has no taught components. A full-time DPhil typically takes 3-4 years, while an MSc by Research takes 1-3 years.

Some DPhil courses will require you to have completed a masters' course first – you can find information on this in the entry requirements section of the course page.

Research courses will typically require you to submit a research proposal as part of your application and you are often required to contact a potential supervisor ahead of applying. You can find information on this in the How to apply section of individual course pages. If you need to contact a supervisor, please refer to advice on the course page.

Entry requirements for each course are set out on our individual course pages. These are what the academic assessors will be considering when making their decision. Since entry to our courses is highly competitive, you are likely to need to meet, or even exceed, the published entry requirements. Assessors will also consider how your performance has changed over time - your academic trajectory.

Academic grades are only one part of the assessment, so there may be some flexibility depending on other elements of your application and extenuating circumstances that may have affected your academic performance.

Assessors will also typically be looking for evidence of a deep interest in the subject area you have chosen, evidence of which might take the form of events attended, presentations and publications, practical experience, reading around the subject and a compelling explanation of how the course will help you achieve your ambitions.

Some courses hold interviews after shortlisting applicants, while others make their decisions based solely on the application and supporting documents, including references – this will be indicated in the entry requirements.

The minimum qualification normally required to be able to make a competitive application is shown on our individual course pages. This is expressed either using the UK scale (1st, 2.1, 2.2, 3) or a US GPA (out of 4.0).

At the point of application we will accept a download or screenshot of your transcript from a self-service system, as long as it contains details of the institution, course, grades and your name.

If you are still completing your current course, you will need to provide an interim transcript showing the grades you have achieved so far.

Question: Do you meet (or are expecting to meet) the published requirements?

The University publishes guidance on international qualifications from 28 countries to help applicants understand the types of qualifications and grades that would be considered to meet the entry requirements.

If you are unsure about the suitability of your qualifications after checking this guidance, please contact the course administrator for guidance using the contact details on our individual course pages.

Question: Do your overseas qualifications meet the published requirements?

If your qualifications are not covered by our international qualifications guidance, our assessors will evaluate them as part of assessing your application. As well as local knowledge, assessors will use information published by the UK’s qualifications body, ECCTIS.

Since entry to our courses is highly competitive, your grades would normally need to place you near the top of your cohort in your previous course. 20-25% of graduate applications to Oxford receive offers, although this does vary significantly by course – you can find information about volumes of applications received and places available on the right of each course page .

You do not need to provide information about your cohort ranking – this will be determined from your transcripts and the ratings given by your referees.

Question: Are/were your academic grades near the top of your cohort?

Some of our courses include a significant professional element; this will be outlined on the course page.

If you are applying for one of these courses and your undergraduate degree does not meet the course’s requirement, your professional experience may enable you to make a competitive application.

If you need further advice, please contact the course administrator via the contact details on the course page.

Question: Are you applying for a course that has a significant professional element and have at least 3 years of relevant professional experience?

You may be able to make a successful application without meeting the entry requirements if specific circumstances have affected the strength of your application.

You can follow the instructions in the Application Guide to submit details of these extenuating circumstances in the extenuating circumstances section of your application, as well as in your personal statement if your course requires one.

Academic assessors will consider whether to adjust their assessment based on these circumstances.

Examples of potentially relevant circumstances include:

ill health;
lack of access to opportunities (eg due to the coronavirus pandemic);
significant caring responsibilities;
being care experienced or homeless; and
being a displaced person or refugee.

It will help our academic assessors if you provide evidence that focuses on the impact of those circumstances (eg effect on grades during a specific period or loss of opportunities such as an internship).

You should not include circumstances that have been appropriately addressed by your previous institution.

Question: Are there significant extenuating circumstances not taken into account by your institution that have affected your performance or disadvantages you have experienced in your school education?

N/A

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Where can I find information about how to apply?

Where do our students come from?

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