Application requirements

You must upload all your university academic transcripts to the online application form. These must show the subjects studied and grades obtained from each academic year. If you are made an offer to join the programme, you will need to provide official copies of your transcripts. 

DPhil in Finance

You should have at least an upper second class honours degree or equivalent in an undergraduate degree.

DPhil in Management

For this programme, the most successful applicants typically have a distinction in a Master’s level degree in addition to an upper second class honours or first class in their undergraduate studies.

Please see our guidance on international qualifications to assess whether your qualifications meet our requirements. If you have only just commenced a master's programme and do not have a transcript, please upload a confirmation of enrolment letter from your institution. 

All applicants must take either the GMAT or GRE (General) exam before applying, and provide an official copy of your report in your application. We do not provide GMAT or GRE waivers under any circumstances.

• Please contact GMAC/ETS directly to arrange to take the test. We have no preference between the GMAT and the GRE.
• We can accept the in-person and the online version of either test.
• All sections of the GMAT/GRE must be taken. GMAT/GRE scores are not valid if they are older than five years on the programme start date.
• Both the official scores and the score report (PDF or screenshot) must be uploaded to the application portal by your chosen application deadline. Provisional scores are not accepted.
• You should aim to sit the exam as early as possible to allow enough time for ETS/GMAC to release the score report to you.
• We will continue to accept GMAT (10th Edition) scores during the transition period.

You will need to prove your English language capability through one of the below means if you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country as defined by UK Visas and Immigration*.

Completed degree-level course entirely in English

Proof of English language proficiency may be accepted at the discretion of the University, in cases where you have either:

• Successfully completed a full-time degree-level course of a minimum of nine months, at a recognised institution, where the medium of instruction and assessment was entirely in English. Evidence must be provided by submitting an official letter from your institution stating that the medium of instruction throughout your course was English OR by uploading transcripts from your institution, which clearly indicate that the medium of instruction throughout your course was English.

or

• You have completed a degree in a majority English speaking country, as outlined by UK Visas and Immigration.*

In both instances, the course must have been completed within two academic years of the start date of the course to which you are applying.

If you are unable to provide a letter or transcript from a recognised institution stating that the medium of instruction throughout your course was in English, or you did not complete a degree in the countries listed below, you will be required to take one of the English tests below and achieve the required scores before you can join the programme. It is not mandatory for applicants to submit their English language test results at the point of application.

A TOEFL score

Test of English as a Foreign Language® is a standardised test to measure the English language ability of non-native speakers wishing to enrol in English-speaking universities. The institution code for ordering your official TOEFL score sheet from ETS is 0807. There is no department code, this can be left blank. TOEFL scores will not be valid if they are more than two years old on the programme start date for which you are applying.

• Minimum Score: 110
• Minimum required on each component: Listening - 22, Reading - 24, Writing - 24, Speaking - 25
• Test scores must all be achieved in one sitting; we do not accept TOEFL Best Score results.

An IELTS Academic score

The International English Language Testing System, or IELTS™, is an international standardised test of English language proficiency for non-native English language speakers. IELTS scores will not be valid if they are more than two years old on the programme start date for which you are applying.

• Minimum Score: 7.5
• Minimum required on each component: 7.0

A C1 Advanced score

The Cambridge C1 Advanced exam is an international standardised test of English language proficiency for non-native English language speakers. We only accept scores which are less than two years old on the programme start date for which you are applying. If admitted you will be asked to supply an official copy of the certificate.

• Minimum Score: 191
• Minimum required on each component: 185

A C2 Proficiency score

The Cambridge C2 Proficiency exam is an international standardised test of English language proficiency for non-native English language speakers. We only accept scores which are less than two years old on the programme start date for which you are applying. If admitted you will be asked to supply an official copy of the certificate.

• Minimum Score: 191
• Minimum required on each component: 185

An Oxford Test of English Advanced score

The Oxford Test of English Advanced is an online English assessment for applicants who want to prove their English proficiency at a higher level for professional or academic opportunities. We will only accept scores which are less than two years old on the programme start date for which you are applying. If admitted you will be asked to supply an official copy of the certificate.

• Minimum Score: 165
• Minimum required on each component: 155

* UK Visas and Immigration Office English-speaking country list:

Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, British Overseas Territories, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Malta, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, USA.

Please note, if you are a national of one of the above countries but either your first language is not English or you have not been living in a majority English-speaking country, you will still need to provide an English language test score to obtain a visa and meet the University's requirements.

You will need to upload three pieces of writing:

1. A research proposal: The research proposal provides an outline of your research plans and is intended to demonstrate your ability to pursue a research-oriented academic career. The proposal should specify your intended research questions and locate them in relevant academic literature. It should outline research methods suitable to addressing your research questions and explain how they would advance knowledge in the field. Please begin your research proposal with a clear title. Max. 2,000 words. 
2. A previous piece of written work such as an essay or section of a longer piece of work on a topic appropriate to the degree for which you are applying. Please note, you must be listed as the sole author of this piece of work - we cannot accept papers with multiple authors listed. Alternatively, you may submit a second research proposal should you have a secondary research interest. Max. 2,000 words.
3. A personal statement. This should explain why you want to do a DPhil, why you want to study at Oxford, the field of your research interests, your preferred supervisor(s) and your post-DPhil plans. Max. 1,500 words.

Three academic references must be submitted via the online application form.  

• If you are in the process of completing a degree programme, one reference must be from the institution which will award your final degree.
• We require references to come from a valid institutional or professional email address; we will not accept a reference from a Gmail/Hotmail/163 (or similar) address under any circumstances.
• We cannot accept references via any other channel than our official system, including by post or email.
• We do not accept references from friends or family members.

You will also be required to pay a £20 application fee via the University's Online Store.