phd public policy oxford

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• DPhil in Public Policy
• DPhil in detail
• How to apply to the DPhil
• DPhil fees and funding

The course has an emphasis on solving pressing public problems and provides robust training for understanding particular policy challenges and for evaluating, devising or implementing policy solutions.

If accepted onto the DPhil in Public Policy course, you will begin your studies in early October. What you see below is an illustration of the typical timeline and milestones that must be met in order to successfully complete the DPhil.

All DPhil students will be  assigned a supervisor, see below for information on supervision and a list of Blavatnik School faculty who are DPhil supervisors.

The DPhil is structured as a full-time course over three years. However, for candidates in exceptional circumstances, we also have a part-time option.

For those enrolled in the part-time programme, we expect the three year progression to take about six to eight years.

• Identify research training needs and courses.
• Deepen your research skills through the DPhil Research Development seminar series.
• Refine your research proposal and submit your work for your Transfer of Status milestone.
• Review your research and training needs, identifying additional courses run through the School and the University's Social Science Doctoral Training Centre.
• Carry out the research and analysis for your DPhil.
• Continue to develop your policy research findings, insights and approaches.
• Review your research and training needs.
• Submit your work for the Confirmation of Status milestone.
• Develop and share your research further.
• Submit your thesis.
• Start planning for your post-DPhil career development.

There are several steps to get through before you can be awarded your DPhil in Public Policy. Below is an indicative summary of what happens at each stage.

Probationer Research Student status

Students will normally be admitted as Probationer Research Students (PRS). During this period you will work closely with your supervisors to prepare and develop your research. This includes refining your topic and research question, improving your knowledge of applicable research methods and preparing for your transfer to full DPhil status.

Transfer of Status

PRS students are expected to submit material for Transfer of Status by the end of the first year of study. This means going through a formal assessment of your capability to work at doctoral level: the assessors will evaluate whether you are suitably prepared to carry out advanced research and whether your proposed thesis can be completed within the expected time frame.

Confirmation of Status

Once you have successfully transferred to full DPhil status and have carried out a substantial amount of the research required for your thesis, you will apply for confirmation of this status. The purpose of the Confirmation of Status is to determine whether you have made adequate progress and are on track to submit a successful thesis within the expected three-year timeframe. 

Applying for your Examiners

Prior to submitting your final thesis, you can apply for your Examiners and prepare to submit your final thesis. You will be required to nominate internal and external Examiners - the former being an academic within the University of Oxford, the latter an academic working elsewhere.

Submitting your thesis

The DPhil in Public Policy thesis must not exceed 80,000 words. The limit includes abstract, all notes and appendices but not the bibliography.

Final  viva voce

This represents the culmination of the DPhil programme. Examiners will certify whether you possess a good knowledge of the subject of your thesis with an oral discussion and whether the thesis grants you the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

At the heart of Oxford’s DPhil research experience is the relationship between you and your supervisors. We want to give you the best possible guidance during your research and we believe in the benefits of a joint supervision that extends beyond the School. Joint supervision allows you to receive guidance and advice from a wider base of subjects and methodological expertise, and to have exposure and connections with other University departments.

You will typically have at least two supervisors during your DPhil research. The primary supervisor is usually drawn from our faculty and is responsible for the academic development and progress of the student. You will also have a secondary supervisor who could be a faculty member from another department within the University of Oxford. In some cases, you will have the same two supervisors throughout the programme, in other cases, the second supervisor may be added or change at a later stage. There is also an option for special supervision where an expert is drafted in for a particular aspect of your research.

If you are interested in our DPhil, please note that you do not need a confirmed supervisor in order to apply, as we will appoint one as soon as your application is deemed successful. However, we invite you to check the list of our faculty members and indicate who you would ideally like to be supervised by.

The School offers a range of professional skills sessions designed to help its students acquire, develop, and enhance practical and transferable skills necessary for a successful career, whether in academic research or public policy. You are encouraged to reflect upon your own professional experiences and to identify skills that you wish to acquire, develop or enhance during your time on the course. You are also strongly encouraged to draw upon the extensive range of experiences within the student cohort and share your own.

By way of illustration, the opportunities for previous students in the School included: the UK Public Policy Seminar Series – learning first-hand from practising ministers and senior civil servants; one-to-one meetings with senior professionals from a range of organisations to discuss career options; one-to-one training in verbal communication and presentation skills from an award-winning public speaking executive coach; and engaging with distinguished and diverse external speakers.  

Apart from this, the Social Sciences Division offers a wide range of resources and courses around key themes of professional development for researchers. Likewise, the Oxford University Careers Service offers careers information and services for students, including dedicated training and professional skills programmes for DPhil candidates.

Master of Public Policy (MPP)

• Entry requirements
• Funding and costs

College preference

• How to apply

About the course

The Master of Public Policy (MPP) is an intensive one-year taught degree course that offers a distinctive approach to learning about public policy. It is a transformative opportunity for current and future leaders with a commitment to public service.

The course begins with a carefully planned programme of activities during the induction period which provides an introduction to policy making and advice on how to derive the greatest benefit from the MPP experience.

The curriculum for the rest of the course is delivered via a series of lectures, seminars, case studies and workshops across three terms, and the summer project which is an opportunity to apply knowledge and skills learned through the programme in a public policy context. Taught by outstanding academics as well as expert practitioners you will be uniquely positioned to develop academic knowledge and professional skills to address some of this century's most complex public policy challenges.

Policy challenges are becoming more complex every day and public leaders need to be able to use expertise from different specialist fields to find innovative solutions. For this reason, the curriculum integrates insights and approaches from a diverse range of academic disciplines and also includes modules delivered by leading policy practitioners. 

The current curriculum includes the following compulsory modules:

• Evidence and Public Policy
• Foundations (Philosophy and Public Policy)
• Law and Public Policy
• Policy Challenge I
• Policy Challenge II
• The Politics of Policymaking

You can also personalise your learning to meet your professional needs by choosing from a number of options as well as deepen your professional and practical skills through modules such as negotiation, communications, private finance and design thinking. You will also get to further sharpen your skills and exposure to real world policy challenges through a six-eight week policy project after Trinity term. It is expected that MPP students will be fully committed to their studies and take responsibility for their active participation in all aspects of the programme.

Alongside teaching, which can include lectures, case studies, workshops and seminars, you are encouraged to learn from each other, for example by forming study groups and arranging student-led talks and events. You will also be expected to undertake some self-directed study, including required and supplementary readings and case studies. In the case of required readings, you are expected to have read these in advance of the class to which they are assigned. The course page on the school's website provides further information about the course .

Public Policy 1+1 programme

You may also opt to apply for the MSc in Public Policy Research at the same time as applying for the Master of Public Policy (MPP) as part of the  Blavatnik School 1+1 programme . This two-year programme enables you to be accepted onto both degrees at the same time.

In order to be considered for the Public Policy 1+1 you must submit separate applications for the Master of Public Policy (MPP) and the MSc in Public Policy Research in the same admission cycle. You should follow the instructions in the  How to apply  section of each course page, paying particular attention to the personal statement and written work requirements for each course. You should state clearly that you wish to be considered for the Public Policy 1+1 programme in your personal statement.

The course is full-time and requires attendance in Oxford. Full-time students are subject to the University's Residence requirements.

Resources to support your study

As a graduate student, you will have access to the University's wide range of world-class resources including libraries, museums, galleries, digital resources and IT services.

The Bodleian Libraries is the largest library system in the UK. It includes the main Bodleian Library and libraries across Oxford, including major research libraries and faculty, department and institute libraries. Together, the Libraries hold more than 13 million printed items, provide access to e-journals, and contain outstanding special collections including rare books and manuscripts, classical papyri, maps, music, art and printed ephemera.

The University's IT Services is available to all students to support with core university IT systems and tools, as well as many other services and facilities. IT Services also offers a range of IT learning courses for students, to support with learning and research.

At the Blavatnik School of Government there is a dedicated MPP study area as well as additional study spaces elsewhere in the building, some of which can be pre-booked. Students also have access to the student common room, in addition to the communal facilities such as the café and the Inamori Forum. The school runs an extensive range of events and brings public policy leaders to the school to inspire and mentor students. The Blavatnik School does not have its own library because most reading material is made available electronically. However, you will have access to the Social Science Library in addition to other University libraries and centrally-provided electronic resources. The Blavatnik School benefits from its own ICT team, which provides support and advice to students. Students are expected to bring their own laptop. Students are strongly encouraged and supported to organise their own peer learning and social activities.

Supervision

It is recommended that all students meet with their supervisors at least once a term. The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Blavatnik School of Government and it is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming students to work with a particular member of staff.  Under exceptional circumstances a supervisor may be found outside the Blavatnik School of Government.

Your learning will be assessed for each module in a variety of ways. Current methods include examinations, open-book assessments, essays and in-class testing of a more practical nature.

Graduate destinations

The MPP prepares you to become a change-maker. The skills you acquire on the programme will enable you to find and use evidence effectively, communicate effectively, and make key decisions whether in government, non-governmental organisations or the private sector. You will learn to view uncertainty as opportunity and recognise the benefits of change, as well as recognise and respect the diverse range of perspectives you may encounter and work with.

Our alumni are exceptional achievers and change-makers who share a commitment to improving public service. Please see our Alumni website . When you join the school, you also join an incredible and lifelong community of peers, and an alumni network spread across the globe. These connections serve as powerful reminders for all of us of our shared commitment to public service and our desire to make a real difference in the world. Our alumni hold senior public sector positions in every global region, and include a UAE minister; elected representatives in Panama, Brazil, Ukraine, Canada and Mongolia; and senior civil servants across the world. Many more work in multilaterals and the third sector, including those who have founded NGOs.

In addition, students can benefit from the Blavatnik School’s professional skills programme and in conversation events with leading public policy and political figures, as well as access one-to-one careers advice at the University's Careers Service, which is very close to the Blavatnik School.

The MPP is a degree for professionals that trains people to hone their skills in policy making and analysis and is not designed to prepare you for research-based courses of study, such as the DPhil in Public Policy .

Successful graduates of this course may also progress to the  MSc in Public Policy Research as part of the  Blavatnik School 1+1 programme , provided that successful applications to both programmes were made in the same admission cycle and that all the requirements of the Blavatnik School 1+1 programme (shown on the programme page ) were met.

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 if a pandemic, epidemic or local health emergency occurs. 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 2025-26

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 or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours in any discipline. 

Applicants should have an outstanding academic record with exceptionally high academic results throughout, or should show an impressive upward trajectory in performance. This may be further evidenced by scholarships or prizes awarded because of academic abilities/achievements or glowing academic references ranking you at the very top of your peer group.

For applicants with a bachelor's degree from the USA, the minimum overall GPA that is normally required to meet the undergraduate-level requirement is 3.6 out of 4.0. However, selection of candidates also depends on other factors in your application and most successful applicants have achieved higher GPA scores.

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

You may also submit scores from a standardised test such as the GRE, GMAT or LSAT, though these are not required to complete your application. 

Other qualifications, evidence of excellence and relevant experience

Publications are not expected.

Commitment to public service

In addition to academic and analytical ability, applicants are expected to demonstrate a high level of commitment to public service. You should demonstrate an ethos of public service evident in the trajectory of your chosen career path, whether this be in the public, private or NGO sector, and/or an outstanding record of achievement in volunteering. This ethos and commitment should also go beyond your own life and demonstrate that you are able to show regard for others in the broader community, and recognise why the perspectives of others might differ from your own.

Evidence of leadership and impact

Applicants should also demonstrate an ability to lead and have impact in their chosen field through devising or initiating projects which are innovative in nature and lead to real and lasting change. This does not necessarily need to be shown through traditional leadership positions. You should bear in mind that leadership often requires enabling and empowering others to succeed. Sometimes the highest-impact work is also the quieter work which takes place behind the scenes, facilitating the more visible contributions of others. These qualities of leadership, drive and entrepreneurialism may be demonstrated through voluntary, professional or other activities.

There is no preferred background for the MPP and applications are welcomed from all academic disciplines and professional backgrounds. Prior full-time or part-time professional experience is viewed favourably, because of the ways in which it can develop and enhance commitment to public service and evidence of leadership and impact.

Please note, in considering applicants’ achievements and their suitability for a place on the MPP, the Blavatnik School of Government takes a holistic approach and a range of contextual factors, looking at each applicant’s individual circumstances, will be taken into account.

Further guidance

• There are no age restrictions on the MPP and you are not required to come with prior professional experience. However the majority of successful candidates often bring at least a year or two of professional experience, if not significantly more. 
• The MPP is an applied degree and students will not be taught in-depth research skills. It will not prepare applicants directly for progression to research-based courses such as the DPhil in Public Policy. 
• In order to be accepted onto the DPhil applicants will be required to have completed a degree that provided the research training and skills necessary for their intended DPhil area of study. For more information on the DPhil entry requirements please see the DPhil in Public Policy .

English language proficiency

This course requires proficiency in English at the University's  higher 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 higher 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.

Supporting documents

You will be required to supply supporting documents with your application, including references and an official transcript. See 'How to apply' for instructions on the documents you will need and how these will be assessed.

Performance at interview

Interviews are not normally held as part of the admissions process.

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.

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.

Blavatnik School of Government

The Blavatnik School of Government is a global school committed to excellence in leadership and public policy education and to pursuing a vision of a world better led, better served and better governed.

Founded in 2010, the Blavatnik School is one of the newest departments at the University of Oxford and it has developed an outstanding reputation for excellence in teaching and research.

The school fosters a dynamic programme of policy-relevant and academically excellent research that has the potential for positive, real-world impact. Through innovative graduate courses, it brings the latest research and practice right into the classroom so that you can be a part of discovering and advancing knowledge on the cutting edge of public policy challenges.

The school is located in a purpose-built, iconic building in the University's Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, near the centre of Oxford.

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For entry in the 2025-26 academic year, the collegiate University expects to offer over 1,000 full or partial graduate scholarships across a wide range of graduate courses.

If you apply by the January deadline shown on this page and receive a course offer, your application will then be considered for Oxford scholarships. For the majority of Oxford scholarships, your application will automatically be assessed against the eligibility criteria, without needing to make a separate application. There are further Oxford scholarships available which have additional eligibility criteria and where you are required to submit a separate application. Most scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic merit and/or potential.

To ensure that you are considered for Oxford scholarships that require a separate application, for which you may be eligible,  use our fees, funding and scholarship search tool  to identify these opportunities and find out how to apply. Alongside Oxford scholarships, you should also consider other opportunities for which you may be eligible including  a range of external funding ,  loan schemes for postgraduate study  and any other scholarships which may also still be available after the January deadline as listed on  our fees, funding and scholarship search tool .

Details of college-specific funding opportunities can also be found on individual college websites:

Select from the list:

Please refer to the College preference section of this page to identify which of the colleges listed above accept students for this course.

For the majority of college scholarships, it doesn’t matter which college, if any, you state a preference for in your application. If another college is able to offer you a scholarship, your application can be moved to that college if you accept the scholarship. Some college scholarships may require you to state a preference for that college when you apply, so check the eligibility requirements carefully.

Further information about funding opportunities for this course can be found on the school's website.

Annual fees for entry in 2025-26

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.

If your application is successful, you will be asked to pay a deposit against your course fees at the application stage as a condition of your offer. The deposit amount and date by which payment must be made are shown below.

The department's website provides  further information about deposits for this course .

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 and living costs. However, as part of your course requirements, there may be costs associated with the summer project, depending on the type and location of the placement, such as travel and accommodation expenses. You can find out more about the summer project on the Blavatnik School of Government website. You will need to meet any additional costs, although you may be able to apply for small grants from the school or your college to help you cover some of these expenses.

Living costs

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

Living costs for full-time study

For the 2025-26 academic year, the range of likely living costs for a single, full-time student is between £1,425 and £2,035 for each month spent in Oxford. We provide the cost per month so you can multiply up by the number of months you expect to live in Oxford. Depending on your circumstances, you may also need to budget for the  costs of a student visa and immigration health surcharge and/or living costs for family members or other dependants that you plan to bring with you to Oxford (assuming that dependant visa eligibility criteria are met).

Further information about living costs

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. For study in Oxford beyond the 2025-26 academic year, it is suggested that you budget for potential increases in living expenses of around 4% each year – although this rate may vary depending on the national economic situation. For further information, please consult our more detailed information about living costs , which includes a breakdown of likely living costs in Oxford for items such as food, accommodation and study costs.

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 . 

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. 

If you are applying for the Public Policy 1+1 programme and wish to state a college preference, you will need to choose a college from the list of colleges that accept applicants for the Public Policy 1+1 programme.

Master of Public Policy

The following colleges accept students for study on this course:

• Balliol College
• Blackfriars
• Brasenose College
• Campion Hall
• Christ Church
• Exeter College
• Green Templeton College
• Harris Manchester College
• Jesus College
• Kellogg College
• Lady Margaret Hall
• Linacre College
• Lincoln College
• Mansfield College
• New College
• Nuffield College
• Oriel College
• Pembroke College
• The Queen's College
• Regent's Park College
• Reuben College
• St Anne's College
• St Antony'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
• University College
• Wadham College
• Wolfson College
• Wycliffe Hall

The following colleges accept students for this course when studied as part of the Public Policy 1+1 programme:

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 is important for you to have your application considered under a particular deadline – eg under the 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.

Do I need to contact anyone before I apply?

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 . 

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.

Referees: Three overall, academic and/or professional

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.

References are invited to evaluate the applicant’s achievements within the selection criteria of academic and analytical excellence, commitment to public service and leadership and impact. It is recommended that you seek out referees that are familiar with your achievements and who can provide substantial personal evidence in support of your application.

You must submit at least one academic reference from your current or most recent institute of study. The other two may be either academic or professional but each must speak to your analytical ability and suitability for the course.

Current master’s students, or those who have completed a master’s degree, are required to submit a reference from their supervisor or course director on the master’s programme. If you do not provide an academic reference that meets the criteria listed above, you may be asked to do so before your application is assessed.

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.

A CV/résumé is compulsory for this course. Most applicants choose to submit a document of one to two pages highlighting their academic achievements and any relevant professional experience.

Personal statement/statement of purpose: A maximum of 800 words

Your personal statement must be structured as follows, and answer each of the four questions in individual separate sections:

• What motivates you to apply for the MPP? Why is it critical for your next steps in public service? (200 words)
• Outline your career plan for the next 5-10 years and explain how your work will serve others and drive positive change (200 words)
• Describe the most significant and impactful work you have done. What could you have done differently to be more impactful? (200 words)
• Describe a situation where you had to lead a project and/or a team. What was the outcome and what did you learn from the experience? (200 words)

In your answers to the above, please be as specific and detailed as possible.

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

Please include the question as headings to each section. The question itself need not contribute towards the word count. You may also use your personal statement to explain any special circumstances relating to any element of your application that you wish to bring to the attention of the assessors.

If you would like to be considered for the Public Policy 1+1 programme you should state this clearly in your personal statement (in addition to making a separate application for both courses). You will need to upload a separate personal statement specific to each application when you apply. Details on what should be included in each personal statement can be found in the How to apply section of each course page.

The personal statement should be written in English and will be used to assess:

• your commitment to public service
• evidence of proven or potential leadership and impact
• general suitability for the MPP programme.

Written work: Two essays, one of a maximum of 1,500 words and one of a maximum of 400 words

You must not submit work which was produced in conjunction with others. You should also appropriately reference your work, using the  university’s guidance on referencing .

The word count must be adhered to and listed at the end of the body of written work. The total word count should exclude any footnotes, annotations or bibliography used.

Reflective policy essay (maximum 1,500 words)

You are required to submit a reflective policy essay based on the following brief, answering each of the two questions in individual separate sections:

• Write about a situation you experienced where a lack of good policy and/or poor implementation created an undesirable outcome (300 words)
• Write an analysis from the perspective of a public servant, citizen or commentator – whichever you feel is closest to your experience – of what went wrong, what could have been done differently, and propose recommendations that would produce better outcomes going forward (1,200 words)

This must be entirely your own work and written in English.

If you are applying as part of the Public Policy 1+1 programme, please note that the documents required to apply for each of these two programmes are different. Please make sure you refer to the ‘How to apply’ instructions on both course pages for further information on the application requirements.

Public service essay (maximum 400 words)

You are also required to submit a short essay relating to public service. The Blavatnik School cares greatly about nurturing people who want to commit fully to public service. Your second piece of written work should therefore give us an example of a situation where you have demonstrated this and how you plan to further your commitment in the future.

This written piece will be assessed for evidence of your commitment to public service and your ability to articulate the contribution your work has made and the impact it has had.

Detection of plagiarism

Plagiarism is presenting someone else’s work or ideas as your own, with or without their consent, by incorporating it into your work without full acknowledgement. All published and unpublished material, whether in manuscript, printed or electronic form, is covered under this definition. Plagiarism may be intentional or reckless, or unintentional. The test for determining if plagiarism has taken place is quite simple: has material been included in this piece of work without adequate referencing? If the answer to this is ‘yes’, then plagiarism has occurred. Therefore, when taking information from a source it is important that the source is fully acknowledged.

Plagiarism and collusion are serious offences and in order to protect the credibility of the application process applicants are required to submit an electronic copy of their work. All applications are put through plagiarism detection software to identify applicants submitting an application that is not their own original work.  More information about plagiarism  can be found on our plagiarism page. 

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 .

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After you've submitted your application

Your application (including the supporting documents outlined above) will be assessed against the entry requirements detailed on this course page. Whether or not you have secured funding will  not  be taken into consideration when your application is assessed. You can  find out more about our shortlisting and selection process  in our detailed guide to what happens next.

Find out how to manage your application after submission , using our Applicant Self-Service tool.

ADMISSION STATUS

Open to applications for entry in 2025-26

12:00 midday UK time on:

Thursday 9 January 2025

Latest deadline for most Oxford scholarships Final application deadline for entry in 2025-26

*Three-year average (applications for entry in 2022-23 to 2024-25)

Further information and enquiries

This course is offered by the Blavatnik School of Government

• Course page on the school's website
• Funding information from the school
• Academic and research staff
• Current students and alumni
• Research  at the school
• Social Sciences Division
• 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 614343

Application-process enquiries

Application guide

Other courses to consider

You may also wish to consider applying to other courses that are similar or related to this course:

You can study this course as part of our  public Policy 1+1 programme , combining the Master of Public Policy and MSc in Public Policy Research.

Oxford 1+1 MBA

You can study this course in combination with our MBA, as part of our  1+1 MBA programme .

Sofia, Bulgaria - Apr 15 2021: Overview of National Assembly hall with seated members participating in the first sitting after the elections. View from the top. By  Circlephoto  / Shutterstock.

Course: DPhil Politics

The first year of DPhil training is intensive but prepared me well for the next steps of my research.

The DPhil in Politics is a three- to four-year course of full-time doctoral study, or six to eight years of part-time study, which is intended for students who would like to undertake detailed research in preparation for an academic career in political science or political theory. Note that the part-time option is not a distance-learning programme; part-time students are required to attend face-to-face teaching in Oxford on one or two separate days each week during term.

The DPhil in Politics is intended for students who would like to undertake detailed research in preparation for an academic career in political science or political theory. 

At DPIR we look to teach you how to be rigorous in your research methods, and support you to produce high-quality and enquiring, original research. As a DPhil student, you will be at the heart of the Department’s research community and you will have rich opportunities for connecting with fellow-students, postdoctoral fellows, and academic staff involved in disciplinary and cross-disciplinary research. 

How to look for information on the course

Further information a bout this course (including entry requirements) is on the University of Oxford Politics DPhil course page . 

This webpage aims to give you a flavour of the Politics DPhil and its student and alumni community. You can also explore political theory research at DPIR  and  research in comparative politics and government at DPIR , for an idea of the cutting-edge research methods, questions and themes explored by our academic networks.

Research examples

You can explore current Politics DPhil students research and profiles, with the ability to filter and view  students who specialise in political theory or students who focus on comparative politics and government . Examples of previous successful theses are also listed below. 

• Resuscitation of German Strategy
• Economic Reforms in Saudi Arabia: Transformation of the Rentier State
• On Cultural Rights
• "This is People's Water!": Water Services Struggles and the Emergence of the New Social Movements in Mpumalanga, Durban; 1998 2005
• Chinese Nationalism and Chinese Foreign Policy Making: A Camouflage?
• The Quest for Land Reform: Forced Removals, Land NGO's and Community Politics in Kwazulu Natal, South Africa, c.1950 to 2000
• Property and the Power to Say No: A Freedom based Argument for basic income
• Bringing Desert into Liberal Egalitarian Justice
• Blame Avoidance and the Politics of Public Inquiries in the UK 1984 2003
• A Justified Claim? Reparations, Historical Injustice and the Case of American Slavery
• The Presidency of the Council of Ministers of the European Union and its Agenda Setting Powers
• Social Democracy in Latin America. The Post Transition Politics of the Left in Chile and Uruguay
• Islamic Doctrines of Citizenship in Liberal Democracies: The Search for an Overlapping Consensus
• Immigration Policy and Party Organization: Explaining the Rise of the Populist Right in Western Europe
• Anarchism and Political Theory: Contemporary Problems
• Magic Numbers? Women, Men and the Representation of Women in the British Parliaments
• The Political Economy of the Budget Making Policy in Venezuela, 1974-1999
• New Party Success and Failure in Japan: The Experiences of the Liberal Party, 1998 2003
• The Concept of Luck and Responsibility in Contemporary Theories of Justice

Graduate stories

DPhil Politics students and alumni

The majority of graduates from our DPhil programmes move on to careers in academia. But there are other career paths: some proceed to careers in the law; in public service, whether with national civil services or international organisations; in thinktanks or NGOs; management consultancy, the media, banking, and business. Whatever the career choice that those who gain a DPhil make, the combination of intense preparation, closely-focussed analytical abilities, rigorous research methods, and clarity of exposition are qualities which are as desirable in many other demanding professional careers as they are necessary in academia.

Applying to Oxford

Detailed information regarding the application process are available on the University's Politics DPhil course page .

You are advised to review the  profiles of academic staff  before you apply as successful applications always depend on the DPIR's capacity to offer appropriate supervision. You must identify one or two potential supervisors and state their names in the ‘proposed supervisor’ field on your application form. However,  you do not need to contact academic staff members before you apply .

Please read about funding options and find links to further University guidance on our  graduate fees and funding  webpage.

All applications are processed by the University's Graduate Admissions Office. Most information regarding how to apply is available through the Graduate Admissions website.

Where next?

Introduction to DPIR Graduate Research Degrees

Introduction

Why study with us

Opportunities for students.

Information

Graduate fees and funding

QS WORLD RANKINGS FOR POLITICS & INT’L STUDIES: 2

BEST UK UNIVERSITIES FOR POLITICS – THE GUARDIAN: 1

THE WORLD UNIVERSITY RANKINGS FOR POLITICS AND INT’L STUDIES: 1 IN THE UK