For initial information and application forms, in all cases please consult the University's Graduate Studies Prospectus as well as the Faculty of Theology's guide to Graduate Studies.  These are the only official sources. Other general questions can be directed to the Graduate Assistant at the Theology Faculty Centre, graduate.enquiries@theology.ox.ac.uk. 

What follows below are some informal notes I have found helpful when offering guidance to applicants about the admissions process, and about what sort of student is likely to thrive in the Oxford system.

Generally speaking, the most important supporting evidence for admission is the application form along with transcripts, degree certificates, a carefully worked out and documented research proposal, and academic references written by recognized scholars and which provide a specifically grounded account of a student's talent and research potential (rather than, say, comments about someone's pleasant character or personal life).

Transcripts and GRE scores

GRE scores (taken within the last five years) often serve as a helpful additional benchmarking tool for overseas applicants. No hard and fast ‘cut-off’ measures are laid down, but personally I tend to look ideally for a GPA above 3.8 documenting a range of relevant historical and theological disciplines, as well as a GRE performance of 700 or better in the verbal and 6.0 or 5.5 in the analytical writing section.

Proficiency in English

For candidates with English as a second language, we would normally expect either an IELTS score of 7.5 or a TOEFL score of 270 (with TWE 6, TSE 60), taken within the last two years.

Other Research Languages

Evidence of good competence in relevant ancient or modern languages counts for a good deal. Good (and if possible including some non-biblical) Greek and Hebrew are essential. Aramaic too is highly desirable and languages like Syriac, Coptic or Ethiopic may be worth adding during preparatory studies as required by the proposed research project. 

Among modern languages, good (not patchy) reading competence in German remains vital and should ideally be in place at the time of application. For many topics either French, Spanish or Italian may prove equally important, though it is sometimes possible to acquire adequate competence during the MSt or DPhil. I recommend to all my students a stint (e.g. an intensive summer language course plus at least one semester of coursework) in Germany in their second year of research to deepen their facility in German; this almost invariably proves a major boost to their project and guarantees an invaluable skill for one's future career.  

The MSt/MPhil as a Prerequisite for Doctoral Research

Our one-year M.St. is required of most students not already in possession of an outstanding academic Master’s degree (i.e. excluding professional degrees like the MDiv). This is often a good time to acquire additional language or technical skills. More in-depth preparation is possible through one of our MPhil degrees, of which I regard the MPhil in Judaism and Christianity in the Graeco-Roman World to be particularly valuable. After admission to the DPhil, a one-year probationary period is observed, and followed by a rigorous internal assessment before registration for the DPhil.  

Choice of DPhil Supervisor

The assignment of a DPhil supervisor can sometimes be discussed informally early on, and it is worth identifying and contacting the person you wish to work with. In straightforward cases, an applicant’s declaration of preference may well be taken into account if the person concerned confirms a willingness to supervise. Confirmation of a likely supervisor is, however, possible only after you have been formally accepted by the Graduate Studies Committee.

Number of Admissions

This varies according to circumstances. I typically accept one new DPhil student per year; occasionally two. 

Funding

Funding a British doctorate has long been more tricky than at some of the leading US research institutions that routinely cover fees and a stipend for all doctoral students they admit. Nevertheless, bright and resourceful students willing to engage in some sleuthing and multiple applications are often able to piece together funding packages from a variety of private and public sources, whether in their home countries or in the UK. This situation still pertains even after the unfortunate abolition in England and Wales (though not in Scotland) of the prestigious government-funded ORS scheme. 

• All-inclusive packages like the Rhodes or Commonwealth Scholarships are excellent, but rare and highly competitive.  
• The Oxford Funding search engine is a useful pointer to dozens of other possibilities worth exploring. 
• More generally for the UK, the "PS" website offers perhaps the most comprehensive gateway for postgraduate studentships.
• PhD studentships tenable at specific UK institutions are often advertised here. 

Rev. 9.11.2009