aims phd oxford

Autonomous Intelligent Machines and Systems

University of Oxford

www.ox.ac.uk

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The DPhil offered by the CDT provides graduates with the opportunity to develop in-depth knowledge, understanding and expertise in autonomous intelligent systems. 

The development of a positive group dynamic within and between year groups in the CDT and the progressive increase of responsibility and external exposure, equips graduates from the AIMS CDT for leadership roles in industry both nationally and internationally. It is anticipated that others will continue to spend time in postdoctoral research, probably developing the work in their theses towards product.

The programme provides a comprehensive, state-of-the-art view of autonomous intelligent systems, combining theoretical foundations, systems research, academic training and industry-initiated projects and thus mixing both practical and theoretical aspects of intelligent machines and systems.

The first year is oriented towards developing your knowledge base. You will take around 14 courses, each lasting one to two weeks, and your day comprises lectures each morning with laboratory sessions each afternoon. You will undertake two eight- to ten-week mini-projects, precursors to your DPhil study, to hone your research skills and shape your main research area. You will meet your supervisor regularly to assess progress and discuss academic issues.

Years two to four see an increasing emphasis on individual research. A summary of projects is produced each year by supervisors, but you will be encouraged to develop projects based on your own research ideas within the four key research themes of robotics, vision and perception, machine intelligence and multi-agent systems, control and verification, and M2M (or the 'Internet of Things'), and secure sensing and actuation. Training will continue in academic reading, writing and presentation skills, business and commerce (to include innovation and IP curatorship and entrepreneurship), career development and planning, and ethics and law, where the societal implications of autonomous systems will be considered.

Research seminars are used to discuss papers, for rehearsing conference talks and for building links between groups. An annual workshop gives the opportunity to present research to students, industrial partners and invited researchers from other universities. Industrial collaborators are invited to share their latest problems and market trends and to discuss opportunities for future collaboration.

You will spend one or two months over the second or third summer in an industrial lab to gain experience in industry-led projects and expanding your horizons by engaging in an AIMS topic that is not your main one. After the end of the internship, further interaction will be encouraged by inviting your industrial supervisors to join your group in Oxford for short periods.

You will also be encouraged to take demonstrations of your systems to companies, government departments, as well as schools. In the fourth year, the cohort help organise the annual workshop, inviting keynote speakers, participating in the program committee, reviewing papers submitted by second and third year students, and publicising the workshop to universities and industrial partners beyond those directly involved in the CDT.

You will be assessed continually throughout the first year during courses and projects and at its end the CDT supervisors will assess whether sufficient progress has been made to continue to the research phase. At the end of the second year, you will be required to write a report and give a presentation on your research, and to present a detailed and coherent plan for the research-intensive phase in the third and fourth years of your doctoral studies. Progress towards completion is again formally assessed some way into the final year of study.

For the DPhil you will be required to submit a substantial thesis which is read and examined by experts in the field, one from the department and one from elsewhere. Often the thesis will result in the publication of several journal and conference papers.

Applicants are normally expected to be predicted or have achieved a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours (or equivalent international qualifications), as a minimum, in computer science, engineering, physics, mathematics, statistics or other related disciplines. A previous master's qualification is not required.

Candidates will need to demonstrate a broad interest in the four AIMS themes:

• robotics, vision and perception
• machine intelligence and multi-agent systems
• control and verification
• pervasive networked sensing and actuator systems

For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA sought is 3.7 out of 4.0.

If you hold non-UK qualifications and wish to check how your qualifications match these requirements, you can contact the National Recognition Information Centre for the United Kingdom (UK NARIC).

• Official transcript(s)
• CV/résumé
• Statement of purpose/personal statement:1,000 to 1,500 words
• References/letters of recommendation: Three overall, all of which must be academic

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Higher level

• Global Education
• Hill Foundation Scholarships

Computational Prediction of Crystallographic Texture Evolution in Metals‌

Imperial College London

Automation and control.

Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava

Automation and control of machines and processes, process automation and informatization, theoretical and practical problems of automatic control and robotics.

Technical University of Poznan

Robotics control and intelligent systems.

Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne

Automatic control and robotics, automatic control and robotics — specialization: signal processing.

Gdansk University of Technology

Al-Farabi Kazakh National University

Napier University

Deadline information.

Ask admission

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Oxford Applied and Theoretical Machine Learning Group

How to Apply

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• Postdoc applicants : We do not currently have openings for Postdocs funded by the group. However, please note the funding opportunity with the Schmidt AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellowship Program .
• Master's in Computer Science or a related field (or a four-year undergraduate degree)
• Good communication and presentation skills in English
• Knowledge and experience with the stuff you want to work on
• Good mathematical or engineering background is preferred
• specific to the topic (i.e. avoid stuff like "how can we solve AI"),
• measurable (how would we know that we managed to answer the question? e.g. if you want to improve autonomous driving safety in out-of-distribution, what metric would we use?), and
• achievable (even though it might require a few years of work to answer!).
• previous education (grades, course and university) and research work that you've done (e.g. published papers),
• relevant internships or industry experience,
• topics of interest to you and how they fit with the lab's wider research interests (see above for advice on how to write a proposal)
• Internships : We do not accept interns at the moment. If we do in the future, it will be advertised here.

The Doctoral Training Centre

Our ground-breaking 4 year inter-disciplinary programmes are preparing a new generation of scientists to undertake quantitative and predictive research at the interface between the mathematical and physical, and the biological and medical sciences.

Foundation Building

We offer a broad range of intensive modules, designed to equip students with the skills they need for interdisciplinary doctoral research and taught by world-leading academics.

Rotation Projects

Students can choose from a wide number of research groups in different disciplines, in over forty departments in mathematical, physical and life sciences.

Doctoral Research

Upon completion of their rotation project, students spend three years of in a research group of their choice.

Continual Training

We offer a structured professional and personal development programme to support your future career. Extensive industrial placements and internships are available, and many students undertake their projects in collaboration with industry.

DPhil in Area Studies

Do you want to learn how to ask and help to answer key questions about some of the most important and exciting regions of the world?

Looking beyond the big picture of globalisation and development, researchers at the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies (OSGA) examine the interplay between the local, the national, the regional, and the global to offer a better understanding of the contemporary world. Exploring a broad range of area-specific issues such as urbanisation in China, gender in Japan, sovereignty in East Asia, ethnicity in South Asia, reconciliation in Africa, democracy in Latin America, security in the Middle East, and presidentialism in Russia and Eastern Europe, the School’s students and scholars closely engage with particular problems such as these to bridge gaps in the universalising theories of the social sciences.

If this sparks your interest then our DPhil in Area Studies might be right for you. The School’s DPhil (the name given to the PhD degree at the University of Oxford) is a full-time three year programme of doctoral study, offering the opportunity to undertake a project dedicated to researching a specific country, a particular region, or to examining more than one country or region in a comparative context, using social science approaches whilst also generating theories and propositions that are of value across regions.

How to Apply

• Selection Criteria
• University Application Guide
• Graduate Study at Oxford
• Frequently Asked Questions

Application Deadlines

Applications must be submitted by noon on  Friday 19th January 2024.

Fees and Funding

• ESRC Masters-to-DPhil Studentships
• Information and Search tool
• Fees and Funding webpage
• Aims and Objectives
• Course Overview
• Research Timelines and Milestones

The DPhil in Area Studies aims to empower you to achieve the following learning outcomes:

• Develop research skills in ways that are relevant to the study of areas and regions
• Build an interdisciplinary and/or comparative understanding of different regions
• Undertake original research which makes a significant contribution to the literature
• Communicate research to non-academic audiences in ways that ensure real-world impact
• Present a lucid and scholarly thesis for examination

Throughout your studies, you will be able to draw on the resources offered by the School’s vibrant research community as well as from across the Social Sciences Division and the Language Centre. You will have access to the University’s outstanding library resources and a connection to an unrivalled network of likeminded students, scholars, and practitioners that engage with the work of the School on a day-to-day basis. Complementing a dedicated Research Seminar series designed specifically to support the School’s DPhil cohort in their studies is a huge range of further lectures, workshops and conferences organised by Area Studies academics that overlap with the department’s areas of expertise.

Our doctoral programme is especially distinctive in that it is designed to meet the needs of students seeking particular interdisciplinary approaches to regions of the world, as well as those who perhaps fall between or across disciplinary boundaries.  It also caters for those whose work cuts across a number of fields including history, cultural studies, anthropology, politics, political economy, international relations, environmental studies and development studies.

Candidates for the DPhil will normally be admitted with Probationer Research Student (PRS) status. As a PRS, you will develop your research proposal and skills, and produce a draft section or sections of your thesis in order to apply for the Transfer of Status that will end your probationary period as a research student and give you full DPhil status. Once you have been admitted to full DPhil status, you are expected to complete your studies by the end of your ninth term as a doctoral student.

You will participate in the 1st Year DPhil Seminar Series and you will have the opportunity to attend other courses offered by the School as identified in your Training Needs Analysis, which will be discussed and agreed with your supervisor and reviewed on a regular basis. As a DPhil student at OSGA, you will be assigned one or two supervisors, depending on your thesis subject. These supervisors will advise and guide you as you progress through the different stages of your research.

During year 1, you will focus on developing your research questions, conceptual framework and methodological approaches for your thesis. You should expect to be submitting material for  Transfer of Status  as the academic year comes to an end.

In your second year you will continue to implement your research plan through theoretical engagement and/or  fieldwork , data collection and analysis. If you intend to undertake fieldwork as part of your research, you will be expected to attend a fieldwork safety course available through the Division.

Your third year requires you to participate in at least one conference, in the UK or internationally, presenting your work to a non-specialist audience, and to submit materials for the  Confirmation of Status  as a doctoral researcher, as well as working towards the completion of your thesis.

The final oral examination – the  viva voce  – represents the culmination of the DPhil programme at which specialist examiners explore your subject knowledge and your thesis arguments through in-depth discussion with you to determine whether to grant the award of Doctor of Philosophy.

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Oxford AIMS DPhil

Has anyone heard about interviews or admissions for the Oxford AIMS DPhil? I noticed on gradcafe that interviews happened around this time last year. Thanks!

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DPhil in Philosophy

The Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) in Philosophy is a three- to four-year research programme in which a candidate undertakes a doctoral level research project under the guidance of a supervisor. The doctoral work culminates in a 75,000-word thesis that is defended in the form of a viva voce examination ( oral defence). Satisfactory progress through the DPhil is checked in the form of a mini- viva voce examination taking place at the end of the first and second year of study.

The aim of the Faculty’s DPhil in Philosophy is to prepare you for an academic career in philosophy.

For information on how to make an application please see our   Admissions Procedure and Entry Requirements page .

The Philosophy Graduate Studies Committee recommends progression from Oxford's BPhil in Philosophy to the DPhil programme in view of the opportunity it offers to students to study a wide range of philosophical topics as well as to focus on a narrower field of research interest. Students proceeding to the DPhil programme via the BPhil will normally write a DPhil thesis which is an expansion of their BPhil thesis, although this is not a formal requirement. Indeed, sometimes, the BPhil thesis topic is not suitable for expansion into a DPhil thesis, or a student may wish to write their DPhil thesis on a different topic.

Each year, some students are admitted to the DPhil in Philosophy from programmes other than the BPhil in Philosophy. These students enter the DPhil initially as Probationary Research Students (“PRS”) from appropriate programmes at Oxford or elsewhere. Typically, these students will have already completed substantial graduate work in philosophy, usually equivalent to that required for the BPhil. Students may also progress from a specialist MSt programme, for example from the MSt in Philosophy of Physics  or the MSt in Ancient Philosophy .

In the third term after enrolment onto the DPhil, you are required to complete a transfer of status from PRS to full DPhil status. Two appointed examiners will interview you both on your two-page thesis outline, which explains in outline the intended line of argument or contribution to the subject, and on a piece of written work of approximately 5,000 words in the area and philosophical style of the proposed thesis which is typically, though not necessarily, a draft chapter of the thesis. Students will also normally be expected to submit an additional essay of up to 5,000 words as part of their application to Transfer status, on a philosophical subject that differs from their doctoral research.

Students who progressed from the MSt in Philosophy of Physics course are required to write a 20,000-word thesis during their year as a PRS, as their MSt does not have a thesis element. Students who progress from the BPhil will enter the DPhil without being required to pass a year as a PRS and as a result will only have another six terms (instead of the usual nine terms) of fee liability for their DPhil.

At the end of the second year, you will be required to apply for confirmation of DPhil status. This entails an interview by one or two appointed examiners on your two-page thesis outline, which goes into some detail and comprises a reasoned statement of the nature of the proposed thesis together with a provisional table of contents, and a piece of written work of approximately 5,000 words.

You should have regular one-on-one tuition sessions with your supervisor(s). These will normally happen twice per term but in some terms, especially at the start of the degree and during the final stages of the thesis, the number of sessions may be increased. You are not required to attend any taught graduate classes as part of your DPhil degree, but you are encouraged to participate in lectures, classes, seminars and other educational opportunities offered throughout the university as relevant to your topic of study.

The course has no fieldwork, industrial placement or year abroad element, but you may decide to attend conferences, workshops or research training elsewhere.

Admission to the DPhil in Philosophy

Admission procedure an entry requirements.

For information on admissions to the DPhil in Philosophy please check the  Admissions Procedure and Entry Requirements page .

FAQs about Admission to the DPhil in Philosophy

Please find answers to frequently asked questions about admissions to the DPhil in Philosophy  here .

• Teaching Opportunities

The Faculty believes that it is important both professionally and personally for graduate research students to have opportunities to teach. For graduates seeking an academic career, it is often crucial to have teaching experience when applying for jobs. For many graduate students, teaching is also an important supplement to their income.

The Faculty operates a number of schemes to help our research students secure relevant teaching experience:

• Graduate Teaching Assistant Scheme
• Graduate Lecturing Scheme
• Graduate Teaching Register

For more information on these schemes, please visit the Teaching Opportunities page . 

• DPhil Seminar

The DPhil Seminar at Oxford University provides a forum for graduate students to present and discuss thesis chapters, and workshop papers that are to be submitted for publication.  

Speaker Series:  DPhil students present a part of their dissertation to a faculty member and fellow students. The format is approximately 45 minutes for presentation, 15 minutes for faculty commentary, and 30 minutes for Q&A

Publishing Workshop:  DPhil students receive targeted feedback on papers they intend to submit for publication relatively soon. Each term participants are placed in groups of 3-4, according to topic. During each of the 3-4 workshops (per topic group) the paper of one group member is discussed. Participants will be expected to attend the workshops of their fellow group members and to have read each of the other papers in advance of the relevant sessions. The format will be approximately 10 minutes for author introduction, 30 minutes for faculty commentary, and 50 minutes for discussion. Other faculty members and students are very welcome, but are encouraged to read the paper in advance.

The Faculty expects that DPhil students will present their work in the DPhil seminar at some point during their studies: most likely in their second or third year. The seminar provides an excellent opportunity for presentation experience, as well as feedback from peers and at least one faculty member other than their thesis supervisor(s). All graduate students and faculty are encouraged to attend, and all students are welcome to present but advantage is given to those who have not yet presented a paper.

For more information, please contact the Graduate Training Student Representative .

• Graduate Placement Scheme

The Faculty operates a Graduate Placement Scheme which aims to support graduate research students on the job market from the final year of their DPhil until they secure a tenure track / permanent position. To find out more, please visit the Graduate Placement Scheme page . 

• DPhil Placement Record

The Faculty has an outstanding placement record, including a number of past students who have obtained positions within Oxford itself, such as an associate professorship and a junior research fellowship. Please visit the DPhil Placement Record page for an overview of the Faculty’s placements in recent years. 

Entry Requirements

For a detailed description of the entry requirements for the DPhil in Philosophy, please visit the DPhil in Philosophy page on the central university’s Graduate Admissions webpages.

We hold a Graduate Open Day in March each year, for applicants who receive an offer of a place. If your application is successful, you will receive further information about this in due course.

For the latest information on fees charged by the University, and living costs, please visit the Fees and Funding page .

Please visit our Graduate Funding page to identify various sources of funding for the Philosophy Faculty’s graduate programmes.

Please read through our applicant  Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)  regarding Admission to our courses.

Useful Links

• AIMS GLOBAL

AIMS ECOSYSTEM

AIMS ENTITIES

• AIMS GLOBAL SECRETARIAT
• AIMS SOUTH AFRICA
• AIMS SENEGAL
• AIMS CAMEROON
• AIMS RWANDA

AIMS INITIATIVES

AIMS PROGRAMS

• AFRICAN MASTER’S IN MACHINE INTELLIGENCE (AMMI)
• AIMS RESEARCH
• MASTERCARD FOUNDATION SCHOLARS PROGRAM @ AIMS

November 8, 2023

AIMS South Africa a partner in Oxford’s new Centre for Doctoral Training 

The University of Oxford is establishing a new Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) that will combine the university’s strengths in artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, Big Data, and environmental sciences. The  Intelligent Earth Centre  will bridge the gap between environmental science and AI to address global environmental challenges. Professor Philip Stier, Director for The Intelligent Earth Centre, explains that “AI is rapidly transforming environmental sciences allowing to scale existing research to unseen levels and to enter entirely new areas of research. Innovation in this area will be increasingly limited by the access to highly skilled graduates – the graduates of The Intelligent Earth Centre will contribute to fill this gap.”

Building on our research in Machine Learning and Biodiversity, AIMS South Africa is honoured to be a partner to the CDT, and we look forward to research and teaching exchanges with Oxford University. More details about the announcement can be found  here .

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DPhil in Area Studies

Do you want to learn how to ask and help to answer key questions about some of the most important and exciting regions of the world?

Looking beyond the big picture of globalisation and development, researchers at the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies (OSGA) examine the interplay between the local, the national, the regional, and the global to offer a better understanding of the contemporary world. Exploring a broad range of area-specific issues such as urbanisation in China, gender in Japan, sovereignty in East Asia, ethnicity in South Asia, reconciliation in Africa, democracy in Latin America, security in the Middle East, and presidentialism in Russia and Eastern Europe, the School’s students and scholars closely engage with particular problems such as these to bridge gaps in the universalising theories of the social sciences.

If this sparks your interest then our DPhil in Area Studies might be right for you. The School’s DPhil (the name given to the PhD degree at the University of Oxford) is a full-time three year programme of doctoral study, offering the opportunity to undertake a project dedicated to researching a specific country, a particular region, or to examining more than one country or region in a comparative context, using social science approaches whilst also generating theories and propositions that are of value across regions.

How to Apply

• Selection Criteria
• University Application Guide
• Graduate Study at Oxford
• Frequently Asked Questions

Application Deadlines

Applications must be submitted by noon on  Friday 19th January 2024.

Fees and Funding

• ESRC Masters-to-DPhil Studentships
• Information and Search tool
• Fees and Funding webpage
• Aims and Objectives
• Course Overview
• Research Timelines and Milestones

The DPhil in Area Studies aims to empower you to achieve the following learning outcomes:

• Develop research skills in ways that are relevant to the study of areas and regions
• Build an interdisciplinary and/or comparative understanding of different regions
• Undertake original research which makes a significant contribution to the literature
• Communicate research to non-academic audiences in ways that ensure real-world impact
• Present a lucid and scholarly thesis for examination

Throughout your studies, you will be able to draw on the resources offered by the School’s vibrant research community as well as from across the Social Sciences Division and the Language Centre. You will have access to the University’s outstanding library resources and a connection to an unrivalled network of likeminded students, scholars, and practitioners that engage with the work of the School on a day-to-day basis. Complementing a dedicated Research Seminar series designed specifically to support the School’s DPhil cohort in their studies is a huge range of further lectures, workshops and conferences organised by Area Studies academics that overlap with the department’s areas of expertise.

Our doctoral programme is especially distinctive in that it is designed to meet the needs of students seeking particular interdisciplinary approaches to regions of the world, as well as those who perhaps fall between or across disciplinary boundaries.  It also caters for those whose work cuts across a number of fields including history, cultural studies, anthropology, politics, political economy, international relations, environmental studies and development studies.

Candidates for the DPhil will normally be admitted with Probationer Research Student (PRS) status. As a PRS, you will develop your research proposal and skills, and produce a draft section or sections of your thesis in order to apply for the Transfer of Status that will end your probationary period as a research student and give you full DPhil status. Once you have been admitted to full DPhil status, you are expected to complete your studies by the end of your ninth term as a doctoral student.

You will participate in the 1st Year DPhil Seminar Series and you will have the opportunity to attend other courses offered by the School as identified in your Training Needs Analysis, which will be discussed and agreed with your supervisor and reviewed on a regular basis. As a DPhil student at OSGA, you will be assigned one or two supervisors, depending on your thesis subject. These supervisors will advise and guide you as you progress through the different stages of your research.

During year 1, you will focus on developing your research questions, conceptual framework and methodological approaches for your thesis. You should expect to be submitting material for  Transfer of Status  as the academic year comes to an end.

In your second year you will continue to implement your research plan through theoretical engagement and/or  fieldwork , data collection and analysis. If you intend to undertake fieldwork as part of your research, you will be expected to attend a fieldwork safety course available through the Division.

Your third year requires you to participate in at least one conference, in the UK or internationally, presenting your work to a non-specialist audience, and to submit materials for the  Confirmation of Status  as a doctoral researcher, as well as working towards the completion of your thesis.

The final oral examination – the  viva voce  – represents the culmination of the DPhil programme at which specialist examiners explore your subject knowledge and your thesis arguments through in-depth discussion with you to determine whether to grant the award of Doctor of Philosophy.

DPhil in Mathematics

• Entry requirements
• Funding and Costs

College preference

• How to Apply

About the course

The DPhil in Mathematics is an advanced research degree which provides the opportunity to investigate a project in depth and write a thesis which makes a significant contribution in the field.  You will gain a wide range of research and other skills as well as in-depth knowledge and expertise in your chosen field, whilst studying in a beautiful, modern setting. 

During your study at Oxford, you can share in the excitement of contributing to research in one or more of the many topics studied by Oxford mathematicians. The department’s research covers the entire spectrum of mathematics, with subject areas including:

• algebra (primarily group theory and representation theory)
• number theory
• algebraic geometry
• differential geometry
• complex manifolds
• global analysis
• partial differential equations
• functional analysis
• stochastic analysis
• dynamical systems
• mathematical logic
• optimisation
• combinatorial theory
• quantum theory
• string theory
• mathematical biology and ecology
• mathematical modelling
• fluid and continuum mechanics
• mathematical and computational finance
• numerical analysis
• history of mathematics
• mathematics applied to problems in earth sciences, materials science and finance
• data science
• network science.

You will be asked to outline your research interests when you apply by listing at least one but no more than three of the fields of research listed above on your application form.  More information about the Research Groups in the Mathematical Institute  can be found on the department's website. Full instructions for completing this section of the application form can be found in the  How to apply  section of this page.

You will be expected to acquire transferable skills as part of your training, which will require you to attend courses, lectures, workshops and colloquia. You will be expected to complete a minimum of 68 hours of broadening training during your studies, comprising the equivalent of 3 standard 16-hour lecture courses and attendance at relevant seminars and colloquia. You will have the opportunity to develop other valuable skills and to contribute to the teaching work of the department, both by marking students’ work and later by leading classes of around eight to twelve students.

Undertaking the course is regarded as equivalent to working full-time hours and may also sometimes require some additional hours. The minimum period of registration for the DPhil is six terms but in practice you may need nine terms at least.

Supervision

You will be invited to suggest a specific supervisor or supervisors in your application, and your preferences will be taken into account in allocating you a supervisor (which will be done before your arrival). The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Mathematical Institute 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 Mathematical Institute. 

Students are expected to meet with their supervisors at least four times per term. A more typical pattern is weekly, at least until you reach the stage of writing up your thesis.

All students will be initially admitted to the status of Probationer Research Student (PRS). Within four terms of admission as a PRS student you will be expected to apply for transfer of status from Probationer Research Student to DPhil status.

A successful transfer of status from PRS to DPhil status will require satisfactory attendance and the submission of a thesis. Students who are successful at transfer will also be expected to apply for and gain confirmation of DPhil status within nine terms of admission, to verify that their work continues to be on track. Both milestones normally involve an interview with two assessors (other than your supervisor) and therefore provide important experience for the final oral examination.

You will be expected to teach at least one set of classes before transfer of status and a further two additional sets before confirmation of status. You will be expected to acquire transferable skills as part of your training and to undertake 68 hours of broadening courses outside your specialist area. This normally involves the submission of written work for three 16-hour lecture courses and attendance at workshops and colloquia.

You will be expected to submit a substantial original thesis which should not exceed 200 pages after three or, at most, four years from the date of admission. To be successfully awarded a Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics you will need to defend your thesis orally (viva voce) in front of two appointed examiners.

Graduate destinations

The department, working alongside the university’s Careers Service, supports graduate students as they move from the DPhil to the next stage of their career. Many graduate students stay in academia, by taking up a postdoctoral position, and many move into employment in a range of industries and sectors where the expertise and skills developed during the DPhil are highly valued.

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 in circumstances of a pandemic, epidemic or local health emergency. 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.

Entry requirements for entry in 2024-25

Proven and potential academic excellence.

The requirements described below are specific to this course and apply only in the year of entry that is shown. You can use our interactive tool to help you  evaluate whether your application is likely to be competitive .

Please be aware that any studentships that are linked to this course may have different or additional requirements and you should read any studentship information carefully before applying. 

Degree-level qualifications

As a minimum, applicants should hold or be predicted to achieve the following UK qualifications or their equivalent:

• a first-class undergraduate degree with honours in mathematics or a related discipline.

A previous master's degree is not required, though the requirement for a first-class undergraduate degree with honours can be alternatively demonstrated by strong performance in a master's degree.

For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA sought is 3.7 out of 4.0.

If your degree is not from the UK or another country specified above, visit our International Qualifications page for guidance on the qualifications and grades that would usually be considered to meet the University’s minimum entry requirements.

GRE General Test scores

No Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or GMAT scores are sought.

Other qualifications, evidence of excellence and relevant experience

• Research or working experience in the proposed research area may be an advantage.
• Publications are not expected.

English language proficiency

This course requires proficiency in English at the University's  standard level . If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence that you meet this requirement. The minimum scores required to meet the University's standard level are detailed in the table below.

*Previously known as the Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English or Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) † Previously known as the Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English or Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE)

Your test must have been taken no more than two years before the start date of your course. Our Application Guide provides further information about the English language test requirement .

Declaring extenuating circumstances

If your ability to meet the entry requirements has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic (eg you were awarded an unclassified/ungraded degree) or any other exceptional personal circumstance (eg other illness or bereavement), please refer to the guidance on extenuating circumstances in the Application Guide for information about how to declare this so that your application can be considered appropriately.

You will need to register three referees who can give an informed view of your academic ability and suitability for the course. The  How to apply  section of this page provides details of the types of reference that are required in support of your application for this course and how these will be assessed.

Supporting documents

You will be required to supply supporting documents with your application. The  How to apply  section of this page provides details of the supporting documents that are required as part of your application for this course and how these will be assessed.

Performance at interview

Technical interviews are normally held as part of the admissions process.

If invited you can expect to be interviewed by at least two people and for the interview to last around 30 minutes. The interview will take place remotely.

It is expected that interviews will take place around three to five weeks after an application deadline.

How your application is assessed

Your application will be assessed purely on your proven and potential academic excellence and other entry requirements described under that heading.

References  and  supporting documents  submitted as part of your application, and your performance at interview (if interviews are held) will be considered as part of the assessment process. Whether or not you have secured funding will not be taken into consideration when your application is assessed.

An overview of the shortlisting and selection process is provided below. Our ' After you apply ' pages provide  more information about how applications are assessed . 

Shortlisting and selection

Students are considered for shortlisting and selected for admission without regard to age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, race (including colour, nationality and ethnic or national origins), religion or belief (including lack of belief), sex, sexual orientation, as well as other relevant circumstances including parental or caring responsibilities or social background. However, please note the following:

• socio-economic information may be taken into account in the selection of applicants and award of scholarships for courses that are part of  the University’s pilot selection procedure  and for  scholarships aimed at under-represented groups ;
• country of ordinary residence may be taken into account in the awarding of certain scholarships; and
• protected characteristics may be taken into account during shortlisting for interview or the award of scholarships where the University has approved a positive action case under the Equality Act 2010.

Initiatives to improve access to graduate study

This course is taking part in a continuing pilot programme to improve the selection procedure for graduate applications, in order to ensure that all candidates are evaluated fairly.

For this course, socio-economic data (where it has been provided in the application form) will be used to contextualise applications at the different stages of the selection process.  Further information about how we use your socio-economic data  can be found in our page about initiatives to improve access to graduate study.

If you wish, you may submit an additional contextual statement (using the instructions in the How to apply section of this page) to provide further information on your socio-economic background or personal circumstances in support of your application.  Further information about how your contextual statement will be used  can be found in our page about initiatives to improve access to graduate study.

This course is also taking part in the 'Close the Gap' project  which aims to improve access to doctoral study.

Processing your data for shortlisting and selection

Information about  processing special category data for the purposes of positive action  and  using your data to assess your eligibility for funding , can be found in our Postgraduate Applicant Privacy Policy.

Admissions panels and assessors

All recommendations to admit a student involve the judgement of at least two members of the academic staff with relevant experience and expertise, and must also be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies or Admissions Committee (or equivalent within the department).

Admissions panels or committees will always include at least one member of academic staff who has undertaken appropriate training.

Other factors governing whether places can be offered

The following factors will also govern whether candidates can be offered places:

• the ability of the University to provide the appropriate supervision for your studies, as outlined under the 'Supervision' heading in the  About  section of this page;
• the ability of the University to provide appropriate support for your studies (eg through the provision of facilities, resources, teaching and/or research opportunities); and
• minimum and maximum limits to the numbers of students who may be admitted to the University's taught and research programmes.

Offer conditions for successful applications

If you receive an offer of a place at Oxford, your offer will outline any conditions that you need to satisfy and any actions you need to take, together with any associated deadlines. These may include academic conditions, such as achieving a specific final grade in your current degree course. These conditions will usually depend on your individual academic circumstances and may vary between applicants. Our ' After you apply ' pages provide more information about offers and conditions . 

In addition to any academic conditions which are set, you will also be required to meet the following requirements:

Financial Declaration

If you are offered a place, you will be required to complete a  Financial Declaration  in order to meet your financial condition of admission.

Disclosure of criminal convictions

In accordance with the University’s obligations towards students and staff, we will ask you to declare any  relevant, unspent criminal convictions  before you can take up a place at Oxford.

Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)

Some postgraduate research students in science, engineering and technology subjects will need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate prior to applying for a  Student visa (under the Student Route) . For some courses, the requirement to apply for an ATAS certificate may depend on your research area.

Mathematics

Mathematics has been studied in Oxford since the University was first established in the 12th century. The Mathematical Institute aims to preserve and expand mathematical culture through excellence in teaching and research.

The Mathematical Institute offers a wide range of graduate courses, including both taught master’s courses and research degrees. Research and teaching covers the spectrum of pure and applied mathematics with researchers working in fields including:

• combinatorics
• mathematical physics
• mathematical finance
• mathematical biology
• numerical analysis.

Graduate students are an integral part of the department, interacting with each other and with academic staff as part of a vibrant community that strives to further mathematical study. As a graduate student at Oxford you will benefit from excellent resources, extensive training opportunities and supportive guidance from your supervisor or course director.

The Mathematical Institute has strong ties with other University departments including Computer Science, Statistics and Physics, teaching several courses jointly. Strong links with industrial and other partners are also central to the department.

View all courses   View taught courses View research courses

The Mathematical Institute's home is the purpose-built Andrew Wiles Building, opened in 2013. This provides ample teaching facilities for lectures, classes and seminars. Each research student is allocated an office in the Andrew Wiles Building that they will share with 3 or 4 other students: each student has their own desk, with a computer. The Mathematical Institute provides IT support, and students can use the department's Whitehead Library, with an extensive range of books and journals.

In addition to the common room, where graduate students regularly gather for coffee and other social occasions, there is also a café in the Andrew Wiles Building.

The department offers extensive support to students, from regular skills training and career development sessions to a variety of social events in a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere. You will have the opportunity to interact with fellow students and other members of your research groups, and more widely across the department. The department is committed to offering you the best supervision and to providing a stimulating research environment.

The University expects to be able to offer over 1,000 full or partial graduate scholarships across the collegiate University in 2024-25. You will be automatically considered for the majority of Oxford scholarships , if you fulfil the eligibility criteria and submit your graduate application by the relevant December or January deadline. Most scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic merit and/or potential. 

For further details about searching for funding as a graduate student visit our dedicated Funding pages, which contain information about how to apply for Oxford scholarships requiring an additional application, details of external funding, loan schemes and other funding sources.

Please ensure that you visit individual college websites for details of any college-specific funding opportunities using the links provided on our college pages or below:

Please note that not all the colleges listed above may accept students on this course. For details of those which do, please refer to the College preference section of this page.

Annual fees for entry in 2024-25 

IMPORTANT : Please note that while most of the content of these pages relates to the course starting in 2024-25, this information about course fees and the additional information section on this page relate to entry in 2025-26 . The remaining content will be updated for 2025-26 entry later in September.

Information about course fees

Course fees are payable each year, for the duration of your fee liability (your fee liability is the length of time for which you are required to pay course fees). For courses lasting longer than one year, please be aware that fees will usually increase annually. For details, please see our guidance on changes to fees and charges .

Course fees cover your teaching as well as other academic services and facilities provided to support your studies. Unless specified in the additional information section below, course fees do not cover your accommodation, residential costs or other living costs. They also don’t cover any additional costs and charges that are outlined in the additional information below.

Continuation charges

Following the period of fee liability , you may also be required to pay a University continuation charge and a college continuation charge. The University and college continuation charges are shown on the Continuation charges page.

Where can I find further information about fees?

The Fees and Funding  section of this website provides further information about course fees , including information about fee status and eligibility  and your length of fee liability .

Additional information

There are no compulsory elements of this course that entail additional costs beyond fees (or, after fee liability ends, continuation charges) and living costs. However, please note that, depending on your choice of research topic and the research required to complete it, you may incur additional expenses, such as travel expenses, research expenses, and field trips. You will need to meet these additional costs, although you may be able to apply for small grants from your department and/or college to help you cover some of these expenses.

Living costs

In addition to your course fees, you will need to ensure that you have adequate funds to support your living costs for the duration of your course.

For the 2024-25 academic year, the range of likely living costs for full-time study is between c. £1,345 and £1,955 for each month spent in Oxford. Full information, including a breakdown of likely living costs in Oxford for items such as food, accommodation and study costs, is available on our living costs page. The current economic climate and high national rate of inflation make it very hard to estimate potential changes to the cost of living over the next few years. When planning your finances for any future years of study in Oxford beyond 2024-25, it is suggested that you allow for potential increases in living expenses of around 5% each year – although this rate may vary depending on the national economic situation. UK inflationary increases will be kept under review and this page updated.

Students enrolled on this course will belong to both a department/faculty and a college. Please note that ‘college’ and ‘colleges’ refers to all 43 of the University’s colleges, including those designated as societies and permanent private halls (PPHs). 

If you apply for a place on this course you will have the option to express a preference for one of the colleges listed below, or you can ask us to find a college for you. Before deciding, we suggest that you read our brief  introduction to the college system at Oxford  and our  advice about expressing a college preference . For some courses, the department may have provided some additional advice below to help you decide.

If you are a current Oxford student and you would like to remain at your current Oxford college, you should check whether it is listed below. If it is, you should indicate this preference when you apply. If not, you should contact your college office to ask whether they would be willing to make an exception. Further information about staying at your current college can be found in our Application Guide. 

The following colleges accept students on the DPhil in Mathematics:

• Balliol College
• Brasenose College
• Christ Church
• Corpus Christi College
• Exeter College
• Green Templeton College
• Hertford College
• Jesus College
• Keble College
• Kellogg College
• Lady Margaret Hall
• Linacre College
• Lincoln College
• Magdalen College
• Mansfield College
• Merton College
• New College
• Oriel College
• Pembroke College
• The Queen's College
• Reuben College
• St Anne's College
• St Catherine's College
• St Cross College
• St Edmund Hall
• St Hilda's College
• St Hugh's College
• St John's College
• St Peter's College
• Somerville College
• Trinity College
• University College
• Wadham College
• Wolfson College
• Worcester College
• Wycliffe Hall

Before you apply

Our  guide to getting started  provides general advice on how to prepare for and start your application. You can use our interactive tool to help you  evaluate whether your application is likely to be competitive .

If it's important for you to have your application considered under a particular deadline – eg under a December or January deadline in order to be considered for Oxford scholarships – we recommend that you aim to complete and submit your application at least two weeks in advance . Check the deadlines on this page and the  information about deadlines and when to apply  in our Application Guide.

Application fee waivers

An application fee of £75 is payable for each application to this course. Application fee waivers are available for the following applicants who meet the eligibility criteria:

• applicants from low-income countries;
• refugees and displaced persons; 
• UK applicants from low-income backgrounds; and 
• applicants who applied for our Graduate Access Programmes in the past two years and met the eligibility criteria.

You are encouraged to  check whether you're eligible for an application fee waiver  before you apply.

Readmission for current Oxford graduate taught students

If you're currently studying for an Oxford graduate taught course and apply to this course with no break in your studies, you may be eligible to apply to this course as a readmission applicant. The application fee will be waived for an eligible application of this type. Check whether you're eligible to apply for readmission .

Application fee waivers for eligible associated courses

If you apply to this course and up to two eligible associated courses from our predefined list during the same cycle, you can request an application fee waiver so that you only need to pay one application fee.

The list of eligible associated courses may be updated as new courses are opened. Please check the list regularly, especially if you are applying to a course that has recently opened to accept applications.

Do I need to contact anyone before I apply?

You do not need to make contact with the department before you apply but you are encouraged to visit the relevant departmental webpages to read any further information about your chosen course.

However, if you would like to speak to an academic member of staff involved in your preferred area of research, you may get in touch with them directly or via the course administrator using the contact details provided on this page.

Completing your application

You should refer to the information below when completing the application form, paying attention to the specific requirements for the supporting documents .

For this course, the application form will include questions that collect information that would usually be included in a CV/résumé. You should not upload a separate document. If a separate CV/résumé is uploaded, it will be removed from your application .

If any document does not meet the specification, including the stipulated word count, your application may be considered incomplete and not assessed by the academic department. Expand each section to show further details.

Proposed field and title of research project

Under the section titled 'Field and title of research project', you are strongly encouraged to name at least one but no more than three research groups that you would like your application to be seen by.  More information about the Research Groups in the Mathematical Institute  can be found on the department's website.

You should not use this field to type out a full research proposal. You will be able to upload your research supporting materials separately if they are required (as described below).

Proposed supervisor

If known, under 'Proposed supervisor name' enter the name of the academic(s) whom you would like to supervise your research. Otherwise, leave this field blank.

You can enter up to four names and you should list them in order of preference or indicate equal preference. 

Referees: Three overall, academic preferred

Whilst you must register three referees, the department may start the assessment of your application if two of the three references are submitted by the course deadline and your application is otherwise complete. Please note that you may still be required to ensure your third referee supplies a reference for consideration.

Your references should generally be academic, though up to one professional reference will be accepted.

Your references should describe your intellectual ability, academic achievement, motivation, and aptitude for advanced research.

Official transcript(s)

Your transcripts should give detailed information of the individual grades received in your university-level qualifications to date. You should only upload official documents issued by your institution and any transcript not in English should be accompanied by a certified translation.

More information about the transcript requirement is available in the Application Guide.

Contextual statement

If you wish to provide a contextual statement with your application, you may also submit an additional statement to provide contextual information on your socio-economic background or personal circumstances in support of your application.

Submit a contextual statement

It is not necessary to anonymise this document, as we recognise that it may be necessary for you to disclose certain information in your statement. This statement will not be used as part of the initial academic assessment of applications at shortlisting, but may be used in combination with socio-economic data to provide contextual information during decision-making processes.

Please note, this statement is in addition to  completing the 'Extenuating circumstances’ section of the standard application form .

You can find  more information about the contextual statement  on our page that provides details of the continuing pilot programme to improve the assessment procedure for graduate applications.

Statement of purpose/personal statement: A maximum of 1,000 words

Your statement should be written in English and explain your reasons for applying for the course at Oxford, your relevant experience and education, and the specific areas that interest you and/or you intend to specialise in. This will be assessed for evidence of motivation for and understanding of the proposed area of study and whether a suitable supervisor can be found.

If possible, please ensure that the word count is clearly displayed on the document.

Start or continue your application

You can start or return to an application using the relevant link below. As you complete the form, please  refer to the requirements above  and  consult our Application Guide for advice .

Application Guide   Apply

ADMISSION STATUS

Closed to applications for entry in 2024-25

Register to be notified via email when the next application cycle opens (for entry in 2025-26)

12:00 midday UK time on:

Wednesday 8 January 2025

Latest deadline for most Oxford scholarships

Tuesday 4 March 2025

Final application deadline for entry in 2025-26

*Three-year average (applications for entry in 2021-22 to 2023-24)

Further information and enquiries

This course is offered by the Mathematical Institute

• Course page on the Mathematical Institute's website
• Academic and research staff
• Departmental research  
• Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences
• Residence requirements for full-time courses
• Postgraduate applicant privacy policy

Course-related enquiries

Advice about contacting the department can be found in the How to apply section of this page

✉ [email protected] ☎ +44 (0)1865 615208

Application-process enquiries

See the application guide