Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) - Department of Sociology's doctoral programme

Benefit

You will be offered a place on the research PhD (DPhil) programme at the Department of Sociology at the University of Oxford. You will write a doctoral thesis under the supervision of one or two academic supervisors. The programme lasts 3 to 4 years full-time or 6 to 8 years part-time; in both cases, you must live in Oxford. You will conduct independent research in areas such as inequality, education, health, gender, crime, political sociology and computer-assisted methods, with weekly seminars and a supervisor with whom you will meet at least three times per term.

The programme does not provide for automatic funding, but the University of Oxford lists several full scholarships for which you can apply. These include the university-wide Clarendon Fund (approximately 170 scholarships per year, which cover tuition fees and living costs) as well as the ESRC Grand Union and the AHRC Open-Oxford-Cambridge Doctoral Training Partnerships, which provide a living allowance (a regular payment to cover living costs) in addition to tuition fees. This is important because the annual tuition fees for a full-time degree programme range from approximately 15,000 euros (domestic) to 38,000 euros (international).

Eligibility

• Degree level: You hold a Master’s degree with a ‘High Pass’ (2.1) or ‘Distinction’ and a first Bachelor’s degree with a ‘First Class’ or a very good ‘Upper Second Class’ (2.1). Most successful applicants have a ‘First’ classification. For a US Bachelor’s degree, a GPA of 3.5 or higher is generally required (often 3.7+).
• Field of study: You must hold a degree in sociology or a related social science. If you hold a Master’s degree in the humanities or natural sciences, you must demonstrate a keen interest in sociology as well as sufficient methodological knowledge.
• English: You need an overall IELTS score of at least 7.5, with a minimum score of 7.0 in each component, or an equivalent test result.
• Nationality: Anyone can apply. Applicants from abroad are charged higher fees than those from within the country.
• Supervisor: You should provide the name of your preferred supervisor and discuss your research plan with them before applying.

How to apply

You apply via the University of Oxford’s postgraduate application form and submit a research proposal. The application deadline for the 2026-27 intake has passed. You can register to receive an email notification as soon as the 2027-28 intake opens. To be considered for the main scholarships, please submit your application by the relevant deadline. For the ESRC or AHRC partnerships, please also complete their separate application forms.

How realistic are your chances?

Admission is extremely competitive: Oxford accepts around 14 full-time students each year from roughly 61 applicants, and most of those who are admitted hold a first-class honours degree. Securing a place at university is only half the battle, as the major scholarships are also highly competitive and you need one of these to cover the high tuition fees. If you have excellent grades in a humanities or social sciences subject, a clear research proposal and a suitable supervisor, apply early and ensure you meet the deadlines for funding applications.