Philosophy (Research)

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