How to Apply

For detailed information on courses, please refer to the individual course pages.

Application to study for a postgraduate degree at Oxford is made through the University Graduate Admissions Office and not through the Department itself. Prospective applicants are advised to consult the University’s online Graduate Studies Prospectus, which sets out general information on study in Oxford, the roles of faculties, departments and colleges in graduate study, the costs of study and methods of application.

Online Application / Application Form

The University prefers to receive applications via its Online Application Form which can be accessed via the link to the right.

However, it also possible to complete a paper application. Forms for all ODID courses must be obtained from the University Graduate Admissions Office:

• Email: graduate.admissions@admin.ox.ac.uk
• Post: Graduate Admissions Office, PO Box 738, University of Oxford, Wellington Square, OX1 9FB

When completing your application, please ensure that you refer to the University’s online Application Guide.

Available Deadline Dates

ODID courses have multiple application deadlines. However, the number of places available on each programme is limited and all are heavily over-subscribed. Applicants are therefore strongly advised to apply by the January deadline at the latest.

For 2011-12, the deadline dates are:

Applicants should refer to the Graduate Studies Prospectus and Application Guide for full information on deadline dates.

Supporting Materials

Applicants should refer to the 'Application Criteria' page for their particular course and the Graduate Studies Prospectus and Application Guide for full information on what supporting materials to include. As a guide, all applications will be required to include the following along with their application form:

• transcript(s) or similar detailed official records of all previous and current degree courses;
• two separate samples of the applicant's written work, of about 2,000-5,000 words each (e.g. undergraduate essays);
• a statement of the applicant's study plans (or research proposal for the DPhil) while at Oxford;
• three academic references
• for those whose first language is not English, a recent, acceptable certificate of proficiency in English.
• for those applying for the MSc in Economics for Development a GRE score of the required level, unless their Bachelors degree is from a university in the UK.

Applicants must also ensure that they submit references as directed in the Notes of Guidance for completing application forms. Applications cannot be considered until the requisite items of supporting material have been received. Candidates who fail to comply with this requirement may find that their applications are disqualified from consideration.

Items b, c, and d must be in English. Transcripts not originally produced in English must be translated and certified by an official translator. Both original and translation should be submitted.

Overseas Applicants

ODID accepts applications from a wide range of overseas countries. Whether you are from the UK or overseas, the application procedure is the same and international applicants should follow the procedure set out above.

Information of particular relevance to overseas applicants can be found on the main University webpages for international students.

English language requirements

A good command of English (both written and spoken) is essential. Candidates whose first language is not English and who have not successfully completed a degree course at a British university are required to provide evidence of proficiency in English (eg by taking the TOEFL or IELTS test). All courses require the higher level of language requirements as outlined in the Graduate Studies Prospectus. These standards are strictly observed. Further information can be found in the Application Guide, under "Information for International Students".

Immigration and visas

If you are an international applicant from outside the EEA/Switzerland you will require a Tier 4 visa. There is further information for such applicants on the main University webpages for international students – in  particular, please refer to the guide to Tier 4 visas. Once all conditions set by the Department and the College have been fulfilled, the Department will arrange for the CAS number to be emailed. Please ensure that we are informed of any changes to your contact details to ensure that correspondence relating to the visa application is received. Email admissions@qeh.ox.ac.uk with any updates or with any questions about this process.

The Student Immigration Office can provide assistance and advice once the visa application is in progress. Email: student.immigration@admin.ox.ac.uk

Choosing a College

For an explanation of the University’s collegiate system, please read the University webpages on Colleges.

Applicants are encouraged to list on the application form the College by which they wish to be considered (you may only specify one preferred College). The choice of College is important – a key distinction to bear in mind is that between Colleges that cater only for postgraduate students and those that admit postgraduates but where the majority of students are undergraduates.

In practice, most ODID students are at Wolfson, Linacre, St Antony’s, St Cross and Green Templeton, although other colleges do welcome them too. Most undergraduate colleges have space for only one or maybe two students from this Department.

Points to look for in a college are:

If you are applying for a scholarship or bursary attached to a particular college, indicate that as your chosen college for membership. If you do not have a preference, you can let us choose for you.

For further information about a particular college, write to the Tutor for Graduates or the Tutor for Admissions of the college concerned. For further advice on choice of colleges, please contact the Department’s Graduate Student Administrator: admissions@qeh.ox.ac.uk.