Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) - Department of Education’s doctoral programme

DPhil in Education at the University of Oxford

You will be offered a fully funded PhD place at the Department of Education at the University of Oxford to carry out your own educational research. The standard duration of study is four years on a full-time basis or up to eight years on a part-time basis. The scholarships associated with the programme amount to around 24,000 EUR per year. This amount corresponds to the UKRI scholarship rate (approximately £20,780 for 2025–26), the annual living costs allowance that accompanies the fully-funded places. Several scholarships are available through the programme, including the University of Oxford’s Clarendon Scholarships and the ESRC Grand Union Scholarships. Most cover both your tuition fees and this annual living costs allowance. You will work in one of three research areas: Language, Cognition and Development; Politics, Economics and Society; or Education, Learning and Knowledge. You will study on-campus in Oxford. The programme cannot be completed online.

Who can apply

• Degree: You must hold a Master’s degree in a relevant subject area, as well as a Bachelor’s degree with a grade of ‘First Class’ or ‘Strong Upper Second’. Applicants from the USA must have a GPA of at least 3.6 out of 4.0.
• Field: Your field of research falls within the scope of educational science or a related social science.
• Research plan: You are submitting a research proposal, i.e. a brief description of the project you wish to carry out.
• English: You meet Oxford’s requirements for advanced English.
• Nationality: Applicants of all nationalities are welcome. The students come from more than 40 countries.
• Admission tests: Not required. No GRE or GMAT.

How to apply

Applications are made via the University of Oxford’s central application system for postgraduate programmes. You will need to submit samples of your work, a personal statement and your research proposal. Apply by 9 January to be considered for funding. A later application deadline of 3 March applies only to admission; if you apply after January, you will miss out on most of the University of Oxford’s scholarships. The selection process includes interviews with two examiners in the later stages. Between March and June, you will find out whether you have been shortlisted for a scholarship.

How realistic are your chances?

Admission is extremely competitive, and funding is the biggest bottleneck. Each year, only one or two candidates from the department are awarded a Clarendon Fellowship, and fellowships are awarded exclusively at the start of the degree programme. It is helpful to have a strong academic record, a well-defined research proposal that clearly aligns with the supervisor’s interests, and to submit your application by the January deadline. If this deadline is missed, funding is virtually out of the question.