Graduate Studies Prospectus - University of Oxford

How to apply (continued)University of OxfordWe encourage you to apply in advance of one of the applicationdeadlines that are relevant for your chosen programme of study. Pleaseremember that certain programmes offer only one application deadline.Many programmes are able to consider applications submittedafter the last relevant deadline if places are still available. Some alsooperate application deadlines for particular types of candidate whichfall outside the main application cycles. Candidates should thereforecheck departmental websites, and the links given there, for guidance onwhether applications for graduate study can be considered outside themain application deadlines.www.ox.ac.uk/divisions/department_az.htmlYou will not be able to apply online after 17 July 2009 for entry tograduate study from Michaelmas Term 2009 (although you may applyusing the paper form if your department is still accepting applications).Our online application system will reopen again in September 2009 forapplications to study from Michaelmas Term 2010.9. Scholarship applicationsYou will find details about scholarships in the Graduate Finance Guidethat accompanies this prospectus. If you intend to apply for a scholarshipyou must ensure that your application reaches us in time.|| Some subjects require or recommend that scholarshipcandidates apply by the November or January deadlines, even ifthere are later application deadlines for the same programme,so it is essential that you check with the faculty or departmentconcerned.|| Clarendon Fund applicants must apply no later than 23 January2009. Candidates for AHRC, ESRC and EPSRC funding shouldapply no later than 23 January 2009.Some scholarship schemes forward the papers of prospective scholarsto the University direct. However, we still recommend that you confirmwith the scholarship body that a University application form and therequired supporting material has been sent to us in time for the requiredapplication deadline.To find out more about scholarships offered by the University ofOxford please visit the Student Funding Services’ website to use theScholarship Search at www.admin.ox.ac.uk/io/.If you applying in response to an advertised departmental studentshipcompetition you will need to make sure that you quote the code fromthe advert on your print or online application form.11. Other documents supportingyour applicationEach department determines the set of supporting materials that youshould send with your application for each particular programme ofstudy. Precise details are given in the Notes of Guidance and on our webpages at www.admin.ox.ac.uk/postgraduate/apply/ Bear in mind thatif your first language is not English you must also send documentaryevidence of your English proficiency. If you decide to apply using ouronline system, you can upload scanned originals of documents such astranscripts and English language tests. If you apply online and are lateroffered a place we will ask to see the originals; there is no need to postthem to us unless we have requested them.One of the advantages of applying online is that you mayregister your referees’ details in the system and we will contactthem directly to supply a reference on your behalf. Your refereesthen have the option of submitting a reference using our secure andconfidential online system (they may of course submit a referenceby email or post if they prefer). You will be able to look at your onlineapplication and immediately see whether or not your referees havesubmitted a reference to us and can then be confident that we havereceived the supporting documents required for your programme. Thereferences themselves are stored securely and confidentially – you willnot be able to access the content of them.Alternatively, you may submit signed and sealed references with yourapplication by post or request that your referees contact us direct witha reference for you. Please bear in mind that during busy times leadingup to the deadlines that we may not be able to confirm immediately ifreferences sent by post or email have arrived.Whichever method is used, references must be received on or beforethe application deadline. Your application is not complete withoutreferences; if references are received late (irrespective of how they aresupplied) your application will not be considered. It is your responsibilityto ensure that there is enough time for references to be submitted onyour behalf.Certain subjects require you to submit examples of your written work(which must be in English) with your application. If your written workhas been translated into English, you should inform us that that is thecase and also state the person who translated it and the method oftranslation used. The written work may be essays you have written as anundergraduate, chapters of a thesis, published scholarly papers or mayhave been written by you specifically to support your application. Youshould select the work that you send in on the basis that it will enablethe assessors of your application to make a judgement about yoursuitability for the course you are applying to.10. Completing the application formWe produce Notes of Guidance to help you to understand the questionswe are asking in each section of the application form and to answerthem fully.Refer to the Notes of GuidanceThese are available at: www.admin.ox.ac.uk/postgraduate/apply/forms/ and you will be able to link through to the Notes from the onlineapplication system if you are using that method to apply. You may alsorequest a copy of the Notes direct from the Graduate Admissions Office.The standard word limit is normally 2,000 words for a single pieceof written work.Make sure you submit the correct number of pieces of written workrequired for your chosen programme. Sending too much written work,or material that does not give evidence of your academic ability in yourproposed programme will not help your application. The processingand assessment of your application may also be delayed if you providemore written work or supporting materials than are required for thatprogramme.26