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Research Degrees in Physical Sciences

  • All research students will be admitted to the status of Probationer Research Student in the first instance. Students may hold the status of Probationer Research Student for a maximum of four terms (or eight terms in the case of a student on the part-time Engineering Science). Students will normally be expected to achieve Transfer of Status in their third or fourth term after admission (or sixth to eighth terms after admission for part-time students). 

    Candidates should discuss with their supervisor whether to apply for transfer to M.Sc. status or D.Phil. status, and the most appropriate time at which to apply. In exceptional circumstances, the Board may grant up to two terms’ extension to this deadline (or up to four terms for a part-time student).  

  • 1. Master of Science by Research

    Applicants for admission as students for the Degree of Master of Science by Research shall in addition to the requirements of Regulations for the Degree of Master of Science by Research, §3, cl. 1, be required to undertake such other tests as the department concerned, acting through the candidate's head of department or sub-department shall determine. The Notes of Guidance provided by the department or sub-department will give details of these requirements.

  • 2. Doctor of Philosophy

    The form of written work to be submitted by candidates for admission as Students for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy, and the manner of its examination, as required by Regulations for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy, §3, cl. 2, shall be determined by the department concerned, acting through the candidate's head of department or sub-department. The notes of guidance provided by the department or sub-department will give details of these requirements. All candidates will be examined orally.

  • 3. Confirmation of status of students for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy

    Candidates shall normally apply for confirmation of status in the eighth term from their admission as a research student, and no later than the ninth term from their admission as a research student (or the sixteenth and eighteenth terms respectively in the case of a student on the part-time Engineering Science). In exceptional circumstances, the Board may grant up to three terms’ extension to this deadline (or up to six terms for a part-time student).  

    The Board strongly advises candidates to apply for confirmation of status a minimum of one term before they intend to submit their thesis (two terms for a part-time student).

  • The status of Students for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy will be confirmed by the board under the provisions of Regulations for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy, §4, cl. 1, when it has received a certificate from the candidate's head of department or sub-department that he or she is continuing satisfactorily to conduct research. The candidate and the supervisor will be required to provide a clear indication of the proposed time-table for submission of the thesis.

  • 4. Theses

    (a) Longer abstracts: Earth Sciences, Chemistry, and Engineering

    Candidates for the Degrees of M.Sc. and D.Phil. in Chemistry, Earth Sciences or Engineering may if they wish submit with their theses, in addition to the abstract required of all candidates, a longer abstract of not more than 1,500 words for the M.Sc. and 2,500 for the D.Phil.. Should such an abstract be submitted, a copy of it must be bound into the copy of the thesis which, if the application for leave to supplicate for the degree is successful, will be deposited in the Bodleian Library.

    (b) Word limits

  • Theses submitted by candidates in Chemistry should not normally be longer than 250-300 pages for the D.Phil., excluding appendices, and 150-200 pages, excluding appendices for the MSc(Res). If a candidate believes that their thesis must necessarily exceed these limits, excluding appendices, they must write to the Director of Graduate Studies for permission to submit a longer thesis. The candidate should explain why they believe that an exception should be made for their thesis, and the request should be supported by the supervisor. 
  • Theses submitted by candidates in Materials shall not exceed 25,000 words for the M.Sc. and 40,000 words for the D.Phil., A4 size, double-spaced, but there is no limit on references, diagrams, tables, photographs, computer programmes, etc.

    Theses submitted by candidates for the Degree of D.Phil. in Physics (except Theoretical Physics) must not exceed 250 pages, A4 size, double spaced in normal-size type (elite), the total to include all references, diagrams, tables, etc.

    The text of theses submitted for the degree of D.Phil. in Theoretical Physics must not exceed 150 pages as defined above.

    Theses submitted by candidates for the Degree of M.Sc. in Physics must not exceed 150 pages as defined above.

    Theses submitted by candidates in Engineering Science must not exceed 250 pages for the Degree of D.Phil. or 200 pages for the Degree of M.Sc. They should be double spaced, A4 size, in normal size type (Times New Roman, 12 point), the total to include all references, diagrams, tables, appendices, etc.

    The text of theses submitted for the Degree of D.Phil. in Earth Sciences must not exceed 250 pages as defined above, but there is no limit on diagrams, tables, etc.

    In special circumstances the Graduate Studies Committee of the appropriate department or sub department may, on application made before the thesis is submitted, grant leave to exceed the limit by a stated amount. Applications to exceed these limits must explain why the candidate believes the nature of the thesis is such that an exception should be made, and must be supported by the supervisor.