Application process
Basic requirements for an application in anthropology
For research degrees (DPhil, MLitt), a full taught-course degree (graduate or undergraduate) in social or cultural anthropology (NB: a degree in another discipline with some anthropology courses is not normally sufficient to satisfy this requirement). For taught-course degrees (MSt, MSc, MPhil; not Visual Anthropology), an undergraduate degree in any subject at good upper-second standard or better (UK system) or GPA of 3.6 or better (US system) or appropriate equivalent. Other suitably qualified candidates without these specific backgrounds but with equally strong equivalents may be considered exceptionally, but they should nonetheless be able to demonstrate clearly their ability to follow the course they are applying for.
The application should contain:
- A completed application form
- For the taught-course degrees only (MSt, MSc, MPhil), a personal statement of 1-2 pages, which should give some information about the applicant’s reasons for wishing to study anthropology at Oxford, as well as an idea of how this fits in with both his or her career so far and future long-term plans
- For the research degrees only (DPhil, MLitt), a research proposal of 2-4 pages, which should cover the topic being proposed and the reasons for pursuing it, the intellectual background to it, methods, and a basic timetable for the researc
- A curriculum vitae (c.v.)
- Transcripts or other evidence of previous degree results
- Three letters of reference, at least two of which and preferably all three should be academic-related
- Two pieces of academically related written work in English, within any discipline and of up to 2,000 words each, which may be entirely separate, or consist of two passages from a dissertation or similar piece of work
- For applicants whose mother tongue is not English, a certificate stating that they have passed an English-language test at the higher level (see 5, below) within the two years prior to the application (NB: older certificates are not acceptable). At the department’s sole discretion, this requirement may be waived for applicants who have already successfully completed a previous degree of at least two years duration at a recognized English-medium university. However, we reserve the right to insist on a test being taken even in these cases if there are genuine doubts about an applicant’s English-language abilities
Applicants should note that there are now restrictions on admitted students deferring a place granted in one year to the following year. We also reserve the right not to consider incomplete applications.
Criteria against which applications for degrees in social and cultural anthropology are assessed:
1. Consistently high levels of academic performance:
Predicted or actual minimum of an Upper Second class honours degree at the undergraduate level, or its equivalent; for those applying to be admitted as Probationer Research Students, this background must be within the field of social and cultural anthropology; OR Non-academic experience relevant to the proposed field of study.
2. Evidence of motivation for, and understanding of, the proposed area of study.
3. Evidence of commitment to the subject, beyond the requirements of the degree course.
4. References support:
Intellectual ability;
Academic achievement;
Motivation;
Ability to work in a group (where appropriate).
5. Native English speaker, or approved test at the "higher level", i.e. TOEFL 630 with a Written English score of 5. Applicants who have taken the computer-based TOEFL test must achieve an overall score of 267 with an essay-writing score of 5, or IELTS 7.5 (with a minimum of 7.0 in each test). The minimum score for the internet-based TOEFL test is 109. The minimum Cambridge Proficiency Grade is "B".
6. Appropriate supervision available.
7. The written work submitted is assessed against the following criteria:
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.
Once they have been considered by the department, applications may be 1) approved, either conditionally or unconditionally; 2) rejected; or 3) held over to a later date for re-evaluation. While every effort will be made to provide decisions as soon as possible, we cannot guarantee to do so, and in the case of re-evaluations especially, decisions may be considerably delayed. Decisions are based purely on academic grounds and are made rigorously in accordance with all anti-discrimination and equality legislation and practice. Especially for the DPhil and MLitt, please note that applications may be rejected on grounds of a lack of suitable supervision within ISCA, as well as of insufficient academic quality.
We reserve the right not to consider or to defer considering incomplete applications, processing of which is always likely to be delayed in any case. While we accept that applicants may not have complete control over the provision of documentation by others (e.g. letters of reference, transcripts and English-language tests), it is ultimately the applicant’s own responsibility to ensure that applications are submitted in complete form. Nonetheless, in exceptional cases we may choose to accept an applicant conditional on the provision of one or two missing items (at the most).
Potential applicants should also note that there are restrictions on applicants deferring a place offered in one year to the following year. This is only possible once the applicant has fulfilled his or her financial, academic and any other conditions, i.e. on “compassionate” grounds such as illness or significant family problems. In particular, it is not possible for an admitted applicant to defer a place simply because he or she has not managed to obtain the necessary funding for the course. The only option in such circumstances is to withdraw and reapply again the following year (NB: there is no guarantee that an applicant admitted in one year but subsequently withdrawing will be successful in a subsequent year).
Colleges collect both their own and university fees and will therefore need proof of an applicant’s ability to pay for the course. Fees are not a departmental matter, nor is ISCA in a position to provide funding for students as a general rule. Departmental financial awards are very limited, though the university has a range available.
Admitted students are normally expected to start in Michaelmas Term, i.e. the autumn term of the academic year immediately following that in which they applied (e.g. for those who applied in the 2007-8 academic year, entry in October 2008 is expected). Students admitted as Probationer Research Students may, in exceptional circumstances and with special permission, start the following Hilary or spring term. Starting in Trinity or the summer term is not encouraged, since this would be too close to the end of the teaching year.
Once ISCA has accepted an applicant, a college place is guaranteed, though it may be on a membership basis only and not include accommodation, and it may not conform to the applicant’s choices as declared on the application form. Students need to belong to a college in order to study in the university. Below is a list of the colleges that currently take students for ISCA degrees (NB: subject to change without notice).
* = college taking graduate students only
[A] = takes for the standard MSc only
[B] = takes for the MSc (Research Methods) only