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University of Oxford: Philosophy
| Institution | University of Oxford |
|---|---|
| Department | Philosophy |
| Web | http://www.ox.ac.uk/study |
| graduate.admissions@admin.ox.ac.uk | |
| Telephone | +44 (0)1865 270059 |
BPhil
Summary
The information provided on this page was correct at the time of publication (November 2025). For complete and up-to-date information about this course, please visit the relevant University of Oxford course page via www.graduate.ox.ac.uk/ucas.
The BPhil in Philosophy is a two-year taught course combining classes, supervisions, and independent research, with essays and a thesis covering theoretical, practical, and historical philosophy, preparing students for doctoral study.
The BPhil in Philosophy is an intellectually demanding course that requires a great degree of independence of thought from students, both academically as well as organisationally: students have to put together their own programme of classes, supervisions and topics for assessment. It is regarded both as training for doctoral study and a basis for teaching a range of philosophical subjects.
The main purpose of the BPhil is to provide future doctoral students with:
-
a basis of knowledge and understanding of a number of philosophy subjects that they can develop into areas of teaching competence;
-
the skills to conduct independent research in philosophy in their chosen area; and
-
the ability to produce written work that displays sustained argument, independent thought and lucid structure and presentation.
-
Students are encouraged to organise their own seminars and reading groups, and they also run two societies: one invites distinguished speakers from the UK and around the world, while another gives graduates the opportunity to present papers to a graduate audience.
Each year there is an Oxford Graduate Philosophy Conference, in which most graduate philosophy students participate in some way.
Course structure Tuition on the BPhil is through a combination of classes, one-to-one supervisions and independent research.
You will write four essays across at least three subjects (with no more than two essays on any one subject), together with a thesis of up to 30,000 words. During your first four terms of study, you will receive one-to-one supervision on three or four chosen subjects, with four hours of supervision per term.
You may also attend any other classes, seminars and lectures in the Faculty of Philosophy which are of interest to you and any classes, seminars and lectures in other faculties that are open to you. Each term many graduate classes and research seminars are organised by faculty members in which graduate students are full and important participants.
| Study type | Taught |
|---|---|
| Level | RQF Level 6 |
| Entry requirements | For complete and up-to-date information about this course, please visit the relevant University of Oxford course page via www.graduate.ox.ac.uk/ucas |
| Location | University of Oxford University Offices Wellington Square Oxford OX1 2JD |
Summary
The information provided on this page was correct at the time of publication (November 2024). For complete and up-to-date information about this course, please visit the relevant University of Oxford course page via www.graduate.ox.ac.uk/ucas.
The Bachelor of Philosophy (BPhil) in Philosophy is a two-year, full-time taught graduate degree, which is an intellectually demanding course requiring a background in philosophy, usually from undergraduate study.
The BPhil in Philosophy requires a great degree of independence of thought from students, both academically as well as organisationally: students have to put together their own programme of classes, supervisions and topics for assessment. It is regarded both as training for doctoral study and a basis for teaching a range of philosophical subjects.
Course outcomes The main purpose of the BPhil is to provide future doctoral students with:
-
a basis of knowledge and understanding of a number of philosophy subjects that they can develop into areas of teaching competence;
-
the skills to conduct independent research in philosophy in their chosen area; and
-
the ability to produce written work that displays sustained argument, independent thought and lucid structure and presentation.
Course structure Tuition on the BPhil is through a combination of classes, one-to-one supervisions and independent research.
You will write four essays across at least three subjects (with no more than two essays on any one subject), together with a thesis of up to 30,000 words.
You will be required to attend the compulsory Pro-Seminar as well as one other graduate class per term during your first year. The Pro-Seminar covers Theoretical Philosophy in Michaelmas term, Practical Philosophy in Hilary term and History of Philosophy in Trinity term. In the fourth term of your studies you will be required to attend two graduate classes. Graduate classes are normally provided across a range of areas covered by the BPhil syllabus.
You may also attend any other classes, seminars and lectures in the Faculty of Philosophy which are of interest to you and any classes, seminars and lectures in other faculties that are open to you. Each term many graduate classes and research seminars are organised by faculty members in which graduate students are full and important participants.
Graduates are encouraged to organise their own seminars and reading groups, and they also run two societies: one invites distinguished speakers from the UK and around the world, while another gives graduates the opportunity to present papers to a graduate audience.
Each year there is an Oxford Graduate Philosophy Conference, in which most graduate philosophy students participate in some way.
| Study type | Taught |
|---|---|
| Level | RQF Level 6 |
| Entry requirements | For complete and up-to-date information about this course, please visit the relevant University of Oxford course page via www.graduate.ox.ac.uk/ucas |
| Location | University of Oxford University Offices Wellington Square Oxford OX1 2JD |
DPhil
Summary
The information provided on this page was correct at the time of publication (November 2025). For complete and up-to-date information about this course, please visit the relevant University of Oxford course page via www.graduate.ox.ac.uk/ucas.
The DPhil in Philosophy is a research-based degree focused on developing a 75,000-word thesis in a chosen area of philosophy, emphasizing critical analysis, argumentation, and interpretation under expert supervision.
The primary aim of the faculty’s DPhil in Philosophy is to prepare you for an academic career in philosophy.
As a DPhil student, you will research, summarise, present and defend an argument with some of the best scholars in their subject, under the direction of one or more experienced researchers, and you will extend your skills and experiences.
During the DPhil you will learn new or hone existing intellectual, practical and transferable skills, as follows:
-
analyse and clarify an abstract question, grasp and critically compare different approaches to answering it, and develop an approach of your own
-
put complex arguments together for and against a position and take them apart
-
interpret difficult historical texts produced within a historical context
-
construct extensive pieces of writing that provide a clear overview of a subject and a sustained independent argument about it, presented in a lucid, objective and scholarly manner
-
demonstrate excellent oral presentation
-
have effective time organisation (since you must produce extensive pieces of written work at regular intervals and to tight deadlines)
-
sustain intensive work to a deadline over an extended period
-
make effective use of libraries, information technology and other sources of information
Each year, the Faculty of Philosophy welcomes students from a range of courses who have already completed substantial graduate work in philosophy. Typically, students who are successfully admitted to the DPhil course have already completed a master's-level degree in philosophy (for example, the University of Oxford’s BPhil in Philosophy).
Students often progress from a more specialised master's course, for example the MSt in Philosophy of Physics, the MSt in Ancient Philosophy or the MSt in Practical Ethics.
As part of your doctoral research you will produce a substantial 75,000-word thesis. Students proceeding to the DPhil programme via the BPhil will normally write a DPhil thesis which is an expansion of their BPhil thesis and may be able to incorporate the full contents of their 30,000-word BPhil thesis into the 75,000-word DPhil thesis. However, this is not a formal requirement; sometimes the BPhil thesis topic is not suitable for expansion into a DPhil thesis, or you may wish to write your DPhil thesis on a different topic.
Each term, many graduate classes and research seminars are organised by faculty members in which graduate students are full and important participants.
Graduates are also encouraged to organise their own seminars and reading groups, and they also run two societies: one invites distinguished speakers from the UK and around the world, while the other gives graduates the opportunity to present papers to a graduate audience.
The faculty runs a teaching scheme, lecturing scheme and a Graduate Teaching Register with the aim of providing teaching experience for those DPhil students who intend to pursue an academic career. In the case of the teaching scheme and Graduate Teaching Register, you will do a certain amount of teaching and marking under the guidance of a college fellow. If you are accepted into the lecturing scheme, you will be allowed to give an undergraduate lecture course of your own choice and design, consisting of four one-hour lectures.
For the full description, please visit the relevant University of Oxford course page via www.graduate.ox.ac.uk/ucas
| Study type | Research |
|---|---|
| Level | RQF Level 8 |
| Entry requirements | For complete and up-to-date information about this course, please visit the relevant University of Oxford course page via www.graduate.ox.ac.uk/ucas |
| Location | University of Oxford University Offices Wellington Square Oxford OX1 2JD |
Summary
The information provided on this page was correct at the time of publication (November 2024). For complete and up-to-date information about this course, please visit the relevant University of Oxford course page via www.graduate.ox.ac.uk/ucas.
The primary aim of the faculty’s DPhil in Philosophy is to prepare you for an academic career in philosophy.
As a DPhil student, you will research, summarise, present and defend an argument with some of the best scholars in their subject, under the direction of one or more experienced researchers, and you will extend your skills and experiences.
During the DPhil you will learn new or hone existing intellectual, practical and transferable skills, as follows:
-
analyse and clarify an abstract question, grasp and critically compare different approaches to answering it, and develop an approach of your own
-
put complex arguments together for and against a position and take them apart
-
interpret difficult historical texts produced within a historical context
-
construct extensive pieces of writing that provide a clear overview of a subject and a sustained independent argument about it, presented in a lucid, objective and scholarly manner
-
demonstrate excellent oral presentation
-
have effective time organisation (since you must produce extensive pieces of written work at regular intervals and to tight deadlines)
-
sustain intensive work to a deadline over an extended period
-
make effective use of libraries, information technology and other sources of information
Each year, the Faculty of Philosophy welcomes students from a range of courses who have already completed substantial graduate work in philosophy. Typically, students who are successfully admitted to the DPhil course have already completed study that is equivalent or nearly equivalent to that required for Oxford’s BPhil in Philosophy. The faculty’s Graduate Studies Committee recommends progression from Oxford's BPhil in Philosophy to the DPhil course, considering the BPhil offers the opportunity to study a wide range of philosophical topics over two years as well as to focus on a narrower field of research interest (unlike most one-year masters in a specialised subject, as offered elsewhere).
Students may also progress from one of the following three specialised MSt courses at Oxford: the MSt in Philosophy of Physics, the MSt in Ancient Philosophy and the MSt in Practical Ethics.
As part of your doctoral research you will produce a substantial 75,000-word thesis. Students proceeding to the DPhil programme via the BPhil will normally write a DPhil thesis which is an expansion of their BPhil thesis and may be able to incorporate the full contents of their 30,000-word BPhil thesis into the 75,000-word DPhil thesis. However, this is not a formal requirement; sometimes the BPhil thesis topic is not suitable for expansion into a DPhil thesis, or you may wish to write your DPhil thesis on a different topic.
Each term, many graduate classes and research seminars are organised by faculty members in which graduate students are full and important participants.
Graduates are also encouraged to organise their own seminars and reading groups, and they also run two societies: one invites distinguished speakers from the UK and around the world, while the other gives graduates the opportunity to present papers to a graduate audience.
The Masters of Letters (MLitt) in Philosophy is awarded on the basis of a thesis of maximum 50,000 words. In practice, applicants are admitted for the MLitt only in exceptional cases, and few students submit a thesis for the MLitt. The MLitt is more often an exit award for DPhil students who fail or withdraw from the DPhil degree but meet the requirements for the MLitt.
For the full description, please visit the relevant University of Oxford course page via www.graduate.ox.ac.uk/ucas
| Study type | Research |
|---|---|
| Level | RQF Level 8 |
| Entry requirements | For complete and up-to-date information about this course, please visit the relevant University of Oxford course page via www.graduate.ox.ac.uk/ucas |
| Location | University of Oxford University Offices Wellington Square Oxford OX1 2JD |
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