Graduate Admissions Criteria for the Master of Philosophy in Economics for Entry in 2012-13
1. Criteria
Within equal opportunities principles and legislation, applications will be assessed in the light of a candidate’s ability to meet the following criteria:
2. Academic ability
Proven and potential academic excellence
Applicants are normally expected to be predicted or to have achieved a first-class or an upper second class undergraduate degree (or equivalent international qualifications1) in Economics or other approved subject (such as Mathematics), and demonstrate a strong quantitative preparation.
Applicants who do not hold, or will not shortly hold, a UK undergraduate degree must submit the results of a recent Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test. Applicants from UK universities are recommended to submit a GRE. In some cases offers may be made conditional on GRE results. Entrance is very competitive, and most successful applicants have a GRE score of Verbal 600; Quant 790; Analytical 4.5 (before 1 August 2011) or Verbal 160, Quant 164, Analytical 4.5 (test taken after 1st August 2011).
For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA we seek is 3.7 out of 4.0.
Appropriate indicators will include:
- Academic references/letters of recommendation - Which support intellectual ability, academic achievement, motivation, ability to work in a group.
- Written work and/or portfolio produced by the student - Applicants to the MPhil should also provide two (2) relevant academic essays or other writing samples, from their most recent qualification of 2,000 words each or 2,000 word extracts of longer work. This will be assessed for comprehensive understanding of the subject area; understanding of problems in the area; ability to construct and defend an argument; powers of analysis; powers of expression.
- Personal statement - The Personal Statement should be 1-2 pages in length, and should be in English. This will be assessed for your reasons for applying; evidence of motivation for and understanding of the proposed area of study; the ability to present a reasoned case in English.
- Performance at interview(s) - Interviews are not held as part of the admissions process.
3. Other qualifications and experience
N/A
4. Availability of supervision, teaching, facilities and places
The following factors will govern whether candidates can be offered places:
- The ability of the Department of Economics to provide the appropriate supervision, research opportunities, teaching and facilities for your chosen area of work.
- There are minimum and maximum limits to the numbers of students who may be admitted onto Oxford’s research and taught programmes.
The provision of supervision is subject to the following points:
- The allocation of graduate supervision is the responsibility of the Department of Economics and it is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff.
5. English language requirement
Applicants whose first language is not English are usually required to provide evidence of proficiency in English at the higher level required by the University http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/postgraduate_courses/apply/internat_students.html
6. Deadlines and required full set of application materials
Please refer to the Graduate Admissions website http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/postgraduate_courses/apply/application_guide.html#awhen_to_apply for information on the deadlines which must be met, and the full set of supporting materials required, in order for applications to be guaranteed to be considered.
7. Whether you have yet secured funding
This not taken into consideration in the decision to make an initial offer a place, but please note that the initial offer of a place will not be confirmed until the college is satisfied that you have sufficient funding to cover your fees and living costs for the standard period of fee liability for your course.
8. Disability, health conditions and specific learning difficulties
Students are selected for admission without regard to gender, marital or civil partnership status, disability, race, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation, age or social background. Decisions on admission are based solely on the individual academic merits of each candidate and the application of the selection criteria appropriate to the programme of study. Further information on how these matters are supported during the admissions process is available here. http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/postgraduate_courses/about_the_university/graduate_welfare/e_d.html
9. Other information
Those students who pass at the required level may apply to proceed to the Doctor of Philosophy in Economics at the end of their second year.
10. Assessors
All applications will be assessed by more than one member of the academic staff with relevant experience and expertise.
11. Course webpage
http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/postgraduate_courses/course_guide/economics.html
1 If you hold non-British qualifications, you are advised to check with the National Recognition Information Centre for the United Kingdom (UK NARIC) http://www.naric.org.uk how your qualifications match these requirements.