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MSt in Philosophy of Physics

The MSt in Philosophy of Physics aims to attract students whose undergraduate degree is primarily in physics and who therefore lack the philosophical background and training to apply for the BPhil, or who also have a background in philosophy but wish to specialise in Philosophy of Physics in a way that the BPhil as presently constituted does not allow. The course will offer a graduate education in Philosophy of Physics of the highest possible quality, providing a foundation on which candidates can go on to pursue doctoral work in the area.

Oxford is currently the premier centre in the world for Philosophy of Physics, as ranked by the Philosophy Gourmet Report. The Faculty intends to admit between four and six students for this course each year.

The course
Continuing to the DPhil
How to apply
Further details
More about Philosophy of Physics at Oxford
Funding
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The course

The course consists of three components: philosophy of physics, philosophy of science, and an elective philosophy option. All three are to be taught via a combination of one-on-one supervisions, attendance at undergraduate lectures, and through specialist graduate classes. Supervisions will be based around topics covered in classes and lecture courses.

Philosophy of Physics component
Philosophy of physics concerns the conceptual analysis of the content and meaning of physical concepts and theories, particularly relating to the fundamental and established theories of quantum mechanics, quantum field theory, statistical thermodynamics, and special and general relativity. If it differs from foundations of physics, it is because its scope includes historically important theories in physics (like Newtonian gravity), and because it engages more deeply with contemporary philosophy. Central problems in the field include the measurement problem of quantum mechanics, relationalism vs absolutism in the philosophy of space and time, and the arrow of time in statistical mechanics.

This subject is taught via (i) the undergraduate lecture courses in Intermediate and Advanced Philosophy of Physics; (ii) a dedicated graduate class running once per week across the first two terms; and (iii) eight individual supervisions, once a fortnight across the first two terms.

Philosophy of Science component
Philosophy of science concerns both scientific method and the philosophical examination of the nature and scope of scientific knowledge, as well as the content of specific sciences, principally physics, but also mathematics, neoroscience, evolutionary biology, and linguistics. As such it overlaps with metaphysics and epistemology, in which it has always played a central role, particularly in the early modern period, and in the history of analytic philosophy. It is taught with special emphasis on this context in philosophy.

This subject is taught via (i) the undergraduate lecture courses in philosophy of science; (ii) four individual supervisions; and (iii) the BPhil philosophy of science course, to be held regularly during the second term.

Elective component
Students will be required to select one subject from the following list:

  • Metaphysics and the Theory of Knowledge;
  • Philosophy of Mind and Action;
  • Philosophical Logic and the Philosophy of Language;
  • Philosophy of Mathematics.

Each subject will be taught via (i) undergraduate lecture courses and BPhil classes, as available; and (ii) four individual supervisions, held during the final term.

Continuing to the DPhil

The course will allow candidates the opportunity to continue to the Faculty’s DPhil programme, initially as a Probationary Research Student (PRS). Candidates who receive a mark of 68 or above in all parts of the MSt examination will normally be offered a place as a PRS, subject to the availability of supervision. Candidates who receive passing marks of 67 or less in all parts of the examination may apply to the Philosophy Graduate Studies Committee for discretionary admissions as a PRS. All candidates intending to continue to PRS status would be required to submit an appropriate DPhil thesis proposal. During their PRS year students will be required to satisfy certain formal conditions, to be determined by the time of their application. They will then progress to apply for confirmation of DPhil status (see the University's Examination Regulations for details). It is envisaged that a typical student might finish a doctoral thesis within three years of passing the MSt.

Further details

If you have any further questions about the MSt course in Philosophy of Physics please contact:

Ms Iris Geens
Academic Administrator for Graduate Studies
Faculty of Philosophy
10 Merton Street
Oxford, OX1 4JJ
UK

Tel: + 44 1865 276928
Fax: + 44 1865 276932
Email: graduate@philosophy.ox.ac.uk

How to apply

The deadline for candidates applying for entry in October 2012 has now passed. Late applications will not be considered. Applications for October 2013 entry will open in September 2012 and the deadline will be 4th January 2013 (tbc).

Applications for admission to the MSt in Philosophy of Physics will be assessed on similar criteria to, and along the same timescale as those for the other courses.

Candidates will be required to submit two recent essays on topics within physics or philosophy of physics, not of a primarily expository nature, between 2,000 and 2,500 words each. As is the case for the BPhil, either or both essays could be part of a longer work, but, if so, a section of not more than 2,500 words must be unambiguously identified for particular consideration by the assessors.

Applications will be assessed by the Graduate Studies Committee as a gathered field and offers made on a strictly comparative basis. Letters of reference should give evidence of the candidate's intellectual potential and aptitude for postgraduate study in foundations of physics or philosophy of physics.

The candidate's plans for study or research should be coherent and realistic and there should be a suitable supervisor for them at Oxford.

Written work will be assessed according to depth of understanding of physical theories and concepts; clarity and accuracy of thought and writing; intellectual independence; willingness and ability to reach conclusions by reasoned argument rather than assertion; imaginative flair; breadth of knowledge of physics; and knowledge of mathematics and/or of philosophy.

Forms and other application information are available from the Graduate Admissions Office. An application pack can be downloaded on-line at: http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/gsp/, or by contacting:

Graduate Admissions Office
University Offices
Wellington Square
Oxford OX1 2JD
E-Mail: graduate.admissions@admin.ox.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0) 1865 270059
Fax: +44 (0) 1865 270049

International applicants should take into account the English Language Test Requirements for admissions to graduate courses at the University of Oxford, as well as the visa advice, available on the University’s International Student webpages.

More about Philosophy of Physics at Oxford

Oxford is currently the premier centre in the world for Philosophy of Physics, as ranked by the Philosophy Gourmet Report. For an overview of Philosophy of Physics at Oxford visit the Philosophy of Physics website.

Members of the Faculty with a primary research interest in Philosophy of Physics include Harvey Brown, Oliver Pooley, Simon Saunders, Christopher Timpson, and David Wallace. Active research interests include the foundations of quantum mechanics, especially the Everett interpretation, quantum field theory, quantum information theory, statistical mechanics and thermodynamics and space-time theory, especially Newtonian gravity, Machian gravity, and general relativity. They also include general theories of symmetries, structuralism, the history of classical space-time theory and of modern physics, and topics in the foundations of probability.

The Philosophy of Physics community at Oxford meets weekly at the Thursday Research Seminar, which invites guest speakers from inside and outside Oxford. For listings for the Seminar series in recent years visit the Philosophy of Physics Research Seminars webpage.