Applying to Study for a DPhil

Apply online

Everything you need to know about the application requirements: http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate/courses/dphil-fine-art

Application Guide: http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate/applying-to-oxford/application-guide

Technical questions: graduate.admissions@admin.ox.ac.uk

Course questions to the department: graduate@rsa.ox.ac.uk

• Due to the limited places the Ruskin can offer, the way we accept applications is via a selection panel rather than an individual academic making a decision. Individual academics cannot comment further until you make an application and are called to interview. You do not need to secure agreement from a potential supervisor before applying.

All supporting documentation, including letters of reference, must be received by the deadline. It is not possible to consider incomplete applications. 

It is a good idea to submit the reference section early to give your referees plenty of time to prepare and submit their supporting statements by the deadline. 

• Important things to note:
• Do not upload your portfolio as a file or it will be removed and your application not assessed.
• Please avoid ad-heavy platforms and/or password-protection if you can.
• It is your responsibility that the link works in January and February.
• We cannot accept any content other than the requested URL. The department will not accept portfolios submitted via email. If you cannot provide a web-based portfolio, please send an email to graduate@rsa.ox.ac.uk  to discuss alternative arrangements in good time well before the deadline.

Interviews

The Admissions panel assesses all complete applications in January and early February.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an online interview in early February. Interviews usually take place in mid-February.

All final decisions are made after the interviews and are accessible via the Admissions Self Service Portal. 

Fees & Funding

As in most places in the UK, funding for the Humanities is thin, but we only offer a few DPhil places every year and we try our best to get at least 2 of them some funding. However, it is a good idea to have an external backup plan before applying. 

Here are some useful links:

https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/fees-funding/search

If you filter for DPhil Scholarships a list will appear, showing the Scholarships that need a separate application. All students are considered for AHRC/Clarendon funding automatically. Note: Do not enter anything in the dropdown lists (Division and Subject Area), just enter Fine Art in the Course keywords field and then highlight your course in the course list (it goes green) that will activate the Scholarship list below.

Please note that the scholarships shown there are the ones that need a separate application process. There is a number of funding sources that those who are eligible get automatically considered for if they have an offer. Have a look here https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate/fees-and-funding/oxford-funding and find the ‘A-Z of Scholarships’ on that page.

DPhil students can apply for small material grants while on course, and the amount varies, depending on whether you are on the written-only DPhil or the practice-led one.

Collegiate System

It can be confusing when choosing a college on the application form. Find more information here https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate/colleges/introducing-colleges

Any questions?

Please drop our Graduate Studies Administrator (Susanne Heinrich) a line if you are unsure about anything: graduate@rsa.ox.ac.uk