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Studying in the cafeteria at the Manor Road Building
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DPhil in Social Intervention and Policy Evaluation

About the course

The Department of Social Policy and Intervention offers an interdisciplinary DPhil in Social Intervention and Policy Evaluation and welcomes students from across the world. Research students are an important part of the department’s community and you will be fully involved and immersed in the life of the department.

The department welcomes DPhil candidates who are interested in a wide range of areas of social intervention and policy evaluation research, including evaluation methodology, and policy and intervention research in areas such as violence and injury prevention, neighbourhood and urban health, reduction of poverty and social inequality, alcohol and drug misuse, mental health and antisocial behaviour in children and youth, parenting and family interventions including those delivered across the perinatal period, school-based interventions, HIV prevention, AIDS-affected children, the Sustainable Development goals, violence against children and cross-cultural adaptation of interventions.

The department's approach to graduate study emphasises your ability to work independently to explore an original line of research under an academic supervisor. Each member of academic staff has expertise in a particular area of social intervention and policy evaluation and you should try to contact your potential supervisor prior to applying as you will only be accepted for a DPhil if there is an appropriate supervisor available. 

As a doctoral student you will be offered a unique graduate programme tailored to your individual needs. In addition to individual supervision, the department offers a large and diverse range of research groups, seminars, workshops and advanced training opportunities in order to further enhance graduate research experience.

Students on the DPhil in Social Intervention and Policy Evaluation belong to the Centre of Evidence-Based Intervention (CEBI) research group, that gives an opportunity to explore topics around social intervention and policy evaluation in more depth. DPhil students will have the opportunity to present their ongoing project in the research group.

The department runs several seminar series during the year providing the opportunity to hear external expert speakers. In addition, there is a fortnightly colloquium at which members of the department present and discuss their research, creating an excellent chance for staff and students to learn more about each others’ ideas or receive input on their own research.

The department’s research methods hub provides research students with specialist support on qualitative and quantitative research methods, as well as tailored training. Through the Oxford Social Sciences Division a range of methods-training seminars and summer schools are offered.

Attendance

The course can be studied full-time or part-time with both modes requiring attendance in Oxford. Full-time students are subject to the University's Residence requirements. Part-time students are required to attend course-related activities in Oxford for a minimum of 30 days each year.

The full-time course is studied over three to four years. The part-time course has the same requirements, but is studied over six to eight years. The part-time degree is particularly well-suited for students who are seeking flexibility. Part-time study also provides an excellent opportunity for professionals to undertake rigorous long-term research that may be relevant to their working life.

As a part-time student you will be required to attend classes/seminars/research groups/supervision meetings and other obligations in Oxford. There will be limited flexibility in the dates and pattern of attendance, which will be determined by mutual agreement with your supervisor.

Resources to support your study

As a graduate student, you will have access to the University's wide range of world-class resources including libraries, museums, galleries, digital resources and IT services.

The Bodleian Libraries is the largest library system in the UK. It includes the main Bodleian Library and libraries across Oxford, including major research libraries and faculty, department and institute libraries. Together, the Libraries hold more than 13 million printed items, provide access to e-journals, and contain outstanding special collections including rare books and manuscripts, classical papyri, maps, music, art and printed ephemera.

The University's IT Services is available to all students to support with core university IT systems and tools, as well as many other services and facilities. IT Services also offers a range of IT learning courses for students, to support with learning and research.

The department has a shared office space designated for graduate research students, for social intervention and policy evaluation students it is based in the Centre of Evidence-based Intervention (CEBI) area. The department aims to provide as much space as possible. You will also be able to book the department’s meeting rooms and lecture rooms if required.

DPhil students have access to the world-leading Bodleian Social Science Library, in addition to other University libraries, and the centrally provided electronic resources (giving access to the majority of academic journals published).

The department has its own IT provision and specialist IT support staff.

The department has a common room open to both staff and students. Barnett House Thursday coffee mornings are held fortnightly during term time and these occasions provide excellent opportunities for talking to academics and research staff, and fellow students.

Supervision

The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Department of Social Policy and Intervention and it is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff. Under exceptional circumstances a supervisor may be found outside the Department of Social Policy and Intervention.

Typically, students pursuing a DPhil in Social Intervention and Policy Evaluation are supervised by faculty who are affiliated with the department’s Evidence-Based Social Intervention and Policy Evaluation programmes. Information about supervisors can be found on the department's website under the supervisors tab.   

In the case of students who require specific help to adjust to an academic programme or to a new range of skills, the supervisor will work with them to ensure that they have additional support.

Students should normally expect to meet with their supervisor around three to four times a term.

Assessment

The sequence of milestones for a DPhil student are as follows:

  1. Admission as a Probationer Research Student (PRS)
  2. Transfer to DPhil status (‘Transfer of Status’)
  3. Confirmation of DPhil status for DPhil students (‘Confirmation of Status’)
  4. Submission of thesis

All students will be initially admitted to the status of Probationer Research Student (PRS). Within a maximum of four terms as a full-time PRS student or eight as a part-time PRS student, you will be expected to apply for, and achieve, transfer of status from Probationer Research Student to DPhil status. This application is normally made by the third term for full-time students and by the sixth term for part-time students.

A successful transfer of status from PRS to DPhil status will require the student to show that their proposed thesis and treatment represents a viable topic and that their written work and interview show that they have a good knowledge and understanding of the subject. Students who are successful at transfer will also be expected to apply for and gain confirmation of DPhil status to show that your work continues to be on track. This will need to be achieved within nine terms of admission for full-time students and eighteen terms of admission for part-time students.

Both milestones normally involve an interview with two assessors (other than your supervisor) and therefore provide important experience for the final oral examination.

Full-time students will be expected to submit a substantial thesis after three or, at most, four years from the date of admission. If you are studying part-time, you be required to submit your thesis after six or, at most, eight years from the date of admission. To be successfully awarded a DPhil in Social Intervention and Policy Evaluation, you will need to defend your thesis orally (viva voce) in front of two appointed examiners.

Graduate destinations

Many graduates of the DPhil go on to pursue academic careers in world-leading research universities, while others hold influential positions in government, non-governmental and international organisations, such as the World Bank, the World Health Organisation and the UN.

Changes to this course and your supervision

The University will seek to deliver this course in accordance with the description set out in this course page. However, there may be situations in which it is desirable or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision, either before or after registration. The safety of students, staff and visitors is paramount and major changes to delivery or services may have to be made if a pandemic, epidemic or local health emergency occurs. In addition, in certain circumstances, for example due to visa difficulties or because the health needs of students cannot be met, it may be necessary to make adjustments to course requirements for international study.

Where possible your academic supervisor will not change for the duration of your course. However, it may be necessary to assign a new academic supervisor during the course of study or before registration for reasons which might include illness, sabbatical leave, parental leave or change in employment.

For further information please see our page on changes to courses and the provisions of the student contract regarding changes to courses.

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