Admission to the MSt in Philosophy of Physics

The entry requirements for the MSt in Philosophy of Physics state the following:

"As a minimum, applicants should hold or be predicted to achieve the equivalent of the following UK qualifications:

• a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours in physics (or a closely-related science discipline) or philosophy.

However, entrance is very competitive and most successful applicants have a first-class degree or the equivalent.

Applicants should normally have prior knowledge to (UK) undergraduate level of quantum mechanics, relativity theory, electrodynamics, statistical mechanics and analytic mechanics. They should also have the mathematical background required to study these topics.

For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA sought is 3.6 out of 4.0. However, most successful applicants have a GPA of 3.7 or above."

If your degree is not from the UK, visit the University's International Qualifications page for guidance on the qualifcations and grades that would usually be considered to meet the University's minimum entry requirements. If your degree is from a country not included in that list, then you should contact the UK National Information Centre for the recognition and evaluation of international qualifications and skills (UK ENIC).

Please note that the MSt in Philosophy of Physics is a course that is intended to convert physics graduates (or graduates of other related disciplines) into philosophy students. The entry requirements state that applicants should normally have prior knowledge to (UK) undergraduate level of quantum mechanics, relativity theory, electrodynamics, statistical mechanics and analytic mechanics. They should also have the mathematical background required to study these topics. These are important elements of the entry requirements that you should be considering.

The admissions board may decide to consider you for admission to the MSt in Philosophy of Physics if you have a degree that is not in Physics (or a closely-related subject), but this cannot be guaranteed. The Faculty unfortunately cannot give you an assessment as to whether your current degree(s) make(s) you eligible, as the whole application (including, and especially, the writing sample and references) is reviewed in order to make a decision on admissions to the course. It is therefore impossible to predict the judgement that will be made by the admissions board.

If you have studied Philosophy at degree level, you could also apply for the BPhil in Philosophy at the same time as applying for the MSt in Philosophy of Physics (please see the course page for the BPhil entry requirements to see if you are eligible). This would allow you to study subjects within practical and historical philosophy, while also writing up to two essays and the thesis on Philosophy of Physics and/or Philosophy of Science.

The MSt in Philosophy of Physics entry requirements state that the Faculty usually asks for an undergraduate degree with honours in physics (or a closely-related science discipline) or philosophy. It is not possible to provide a list of degrees that would be considered as closely related to physics as it is not the degree name that is taken into account when considering admissions, but the quantity of relevant modules/topics/content taken as part of the degree. In this regard it is important that the second part of the entry requirements is taken into account: “Applicants should normally have prior knowledge to (UK) undergraduate level of quantum mechanics, relativity theory, electrodynamics, statistical mechanics and analytic mechanics. They should also have the mathematical background required to study these topics.” It is not possible for the Faculty to give you an assessment as to whether your degree is sufficiently closely related to make you eligible to apply for the MSt in Philosophy of Physics as the whole application (including, and especially, the writing sample and references) is reviewed in order to make a decision on admissions to the course. It is therefore impossible to predict the judgement that will be made by the admissions board.

An applicant will not be automatically excluded if they do not meet the minimum degree result(s) or GPA listed in the entry requirements but the Faculty unfortunately cannot give you an assessment as to whether your application would or could result in an offer, as the whole application (including, and especially, the writing sample and references) is reviewed in order to make a decision on admission to the course. It is therefore impossible to predict the judgement that will be made by the admissions board.

Please do note that admissions to our graduate courses is very competitive, so you may want to take this into account when deciding to apply if you hold a degree that falls short of the advertised minimum entry requirements.

Applicants are not required or expected to have any publications in applying for this course.

Please click on the following links for information about funding available for the MSt in Philosophy of Physics:

• MSt in Philosophy of Physics funding page.
• You may also want to check this graduate funding page for relevant funding.

What is the requirement for the written work/writing sample, to be submitted with my MSt in Philosophy of Physics application?

You should submit an academic essay of 4,000 to 5,000 words, or two essays of maximum 2,500 words each, on a philosophical topic. The essay should be typed or word-processed in English and must be clearly marked with your name and the date of composition.

Is it ok if my written work/writing sample is over/under the word limit?

It is in your interest to follow the exact instructions that are written on the admissions pages. We cannot offer you any assurance that the piece will be accepted if it is under or over the advertised length. You may decide to truncate / extend your writing sample so that it reaches the word limit.

Does the word count for the written work/writing sample include footnotes and/or the bibliography?

The word count does not need to include the end bibliography. Footnotes and in-text referencing are included.

Can my writing sample be a selection from a longer piece of work?

Yes, your writing sample may be a part of a larger essay, article or publication, but in this case it is probably wise to use some of the word limit to put the writing sample into context, identifying what is discussed in the rest of the essay, article or publication and how the writing sample fits in with this. 

Can my writing sample be a piece that has been submitted for assessment at my current or a previous institution?

Yes, you are permitted to submit an essay that has been assessed for degree credit, as long as the work is entirely your own.

Is it possible to submit a co-authored piece for my written work/writing sample as part of my application?

Unfortunately, co-authored papers are not permitted to be submitted as your writing sample. You should mention your publications on your CV but your writing sample should be work that is solely written by you.

Does the personal statement require references and a bibliography?

References and an end bibliography are not required in your personal statement, but if you wish to include these, the end bibliography may be discounted from the word count. In-text references and footnotes should be included in the word count. Please ensure that the word count is clearly displayed on the document.

How long should my personal statement be?

Your personal statement should be no longer than 500 words. You must ensure the word count is clearly displayed on the document.

What should I say in my personal statement?

You should explain your motivation for applying to the course, and may wish to consider the following questions:

• Why are you applying to this particular programme of study?
• What relevant academic and/or research experience do you have?
• Which areas of study within the subject interest you?
• Why would you be an excellent candidate for this course?
• How does this course fit in with your future career plans?

Your personal statement will be assessed for evidence of motivation for and understanding of the proposed area of study. Your statement should focus on philosophy, rather than personal, extra-curricular achievements and interests.

What are the English language requirements?

Applicants whose first language is not English are usually required to provide evidence of proficiency in English at the higher level required by the University for all of our graduate courses. Please see the English Language Requirements page for details of the required test scores.

Can I ask for a waiver from the English language requirement?

University policy allows academic departments the discretion to waive the requirement to provide English language scores if an applicant has completed, or is currently completing, a degree-level course that is:

• full-time
• at least nine months in duration
• undertaken at a recognised institution where teaching and assessment throughout the course is undertaken entirely in English; and
• has been completed within 2 years of the start date of the course to which you are applying.

English language waivers are discretionary, and if your application to the course is successful, your offer letter will make it clear whether your language waiver has been granted, or whether you are required to submit satisfactory test scores before taking up your place. Further information on waivers can be found here.

What if I have transcripts that are not in English?

Any non-English transcripts should be accompanied by a certified translation.

Can I submit references that are non-academic?

Academic references are usually required. However, if you have been out of education for a long time, or if you have substantial relevant working experience, then a maximum of one professional reference may replace an academic reference provided that it speaks to your ability to undertake philosophy studies at graduate level.

Can I include my GRE scores in my application?

The entry requirements for all of our graduate courses in Philosophy state ‘No Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or GMAT scores are sought’, which indicates that you are not required to upload any GRE scores to your application. You may choose to upload your scores if you feel they would strengthen your application. Please note, however, that we cannot advise on how GRE scores would impact the assessment of your application, or the minimum scores that it would be advantageous to include.

Do I need to upload a CV?

Yes, as part of your application you will need to upload a 1-2 page CV, which includes your most relevant qualifications, achievements and publications (if applicable). We cannot offer any assurance that the CV will be accepted if it is over the advertised length.

Please click on the following link to see which colleges accept students for the MSt in Philosophy of Physics:

• MSt in Philosophy of Physics college list.

You are not expected to make contact with an academic member of staff before you apply. The allocation of graduate supervision is the responsibility of the Faculty of Philosophy, and it is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff.

Students who achieve a distinction on the MSt in Philosophy of Physics are eligible for progression to the DPhil in Philosophy, provided that the Philosophy Graduate Studies Committee is satisfied that their proposed thesis topic and outline indicate that they can be adequately supervised by members of the Philosophy Faculty. Students who pass the MSt in Philosophy of Physics without a distinction may be admitted to the DPhil at the Committee’s discretion.

The Faculty of Philosophy’s admissions process operates a gathered field. It does not matter when you apply as long as it is before the set deadline. Earlier application does not result in an earlier decision as all applications have to be reviewed and assessed simultaneously, after the deadline has passed.

You can check to see if you are eligible for an application fee waiver on the central Graduate Admissions webpages.

All our graduate courses (DPhil in Philosophy, BPhil in Philosophy, MSt in Philosophy of Physics and MSt in Ancient Philosophy) are offered as full-time in-person courses only.

The Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Oxford does not offer any graduate (master's or doctoral) courses in Philosophy via distance learning/online. All our graduate courses (DPhil in Philosophy, BPhil in Philosophy, MSt in Philosophy of Physics and MSt in Ancient Philosophy) are only available as full-time in-person courses. 

It should also be noted that all graduate courses have a minimum number of terms of ‘statutory residence requirement’ in Oxford. ‘Residence in Oxford’ means residence within twenty-five miles of Carfax in the city centre. A ‘term’s residence’ means forty‑two nights within term, rather than within the shorter period of ‘Full Term’ (Weeks 1 to 8 of term – see Oxford University’s Dates of Term). Nevertheless, since all classes and lectures, and most supervisions, take place within Full Term, it is in practice expected that students are resident in Oxford at least throughout Full Term.

Interviews are not normally held as part of the admissions process for any of the Faculty of Philosophy’s graduate courses.