DPhil Study

The History Faculty offers the DPhil (available on a full-time or a part-time basis) in all areas of post-Classical history. 

The DPhil is an advanced research degree, awarded on the basis of a thesis and an oral examination. The thesis will be based on extensive original research and engagement with current scholarship. Full-time DPhil students are expected to submit their thesis three, or at most four, years from the date of admission. Part-time DPhil students are expected to submit their thesis six, or at most eight, years from the date of admission.

All research students in the Oxford History Faculty benefit from the advice of a specialist supervisor or supervisors, and all are encouraged to take advantage of the wide range of expertise available within the Faculty and the University more widely. Training in languages needed for your research is available and the Faculty also organises weekly training sessions for graduate students on a variety of topics. DPhil students in the History Faculty may also gain experience in teaching and lecturing through the Introduction to Teaching scheme.

As a DPhil student, you will have many opportunities to present your work and to share ideas through the Faculty’s wide and varied range of research seminars. You are also encouraged to gain valuable experience by establishing and convening your own networks and workshops. The Faculty and Colleges also provides some funding for field-work and attendance at conferences outside Oxford.

The Faculty Offers Three DPhil Degrees:

Part-time DPhil Study

The Faculty is now able to accept a number of students for part-time study towards a DPhil. Part-time students are fully integrated into the research culture of the History Faculty and afforded all the same opportunities and support as full-time students, and are expected to take full advantage of these opportunities. A candidate's supervisor and the co-ordinator of part-time studies, are available to advise part-time students on how to access research and training provision. However, it may not always be possible to offer the part-time study mode in very specialized areas of research.

Although there is no requirement to reside in Oxford, part-time research students must attend the University in person on a regular basis, particularly in term-time, for supervision, research, seminars, and skills training. The pattern of attendance will be individual to each student and worked out between the student and supervisor. The part-time DPhil cannot be undertaken by distance learning, and students must be able to devote 2-3 days a week to their research. The Faculty appreciates that part-time research students will have non-standard attendance and work patterns, and research may be concentrated into certain periods rather then spread out evenly.

If an applicant is in employment, they must provide a letter from their employer stating they may take time off if necessary to attend the University as required for the duration of the course, before the Faculty can confirm their offer of a part-time place.

Students offered a place on the full-time DPhil can switch to part-time study before the course starts, or after they have enrolled, but cannot switch back to full-time.

DPhil Handbook

The DPhil Handbook can be found on the Oxford Historians Hub (OHH) site by clicking here.