DPhil in Criminology | University of Oxford Skip to main content Home Home Admissions Undergraduate Graduate Continuing education Research Divisions Research impact Libraries Innovation and Partnership Support for researchers Research in conversation Public Engagement with Research News & Events Events Features Oxford people Oxford and coronavirus Oxford and Brexit News releases for journalists Filming in Oxford Find An Expert About Organisation Facts and figures Oxford people Oxford Access International Oxford Building Our Future Jobs 牛津大学 Search Graduate Student life Why study at Oxford? Careers and alumni About the city Sport, arts and societies Welfare and support Families and childcare Courses Introducing our courses A-Z of courses Courses by department Open days and events Changes to courses Colleges What is an Oxford college? Choosing a college College listing Fees and funding Oxford funding External funding Loans Fees and other charges Living costs Financial Declaration Fees, funding and scholarship search International Our international community Advice for international applicants International qualifications English language requirements Visas and immigration Applying Where do I start? Application Guide Pilot assessment procedure Applicants with disabilities Information for referees University policies After you apply Applicant Self Service Decision timeline Your offer and contract Accommodation Arriving Applicant surveys Graduate access UNIQ+ Wellcome Biomedical Vacation Scholarships at Oxford Academic futures Scholarships and funding for under-represented groups Applicant advice hub Graduate access policies Register as a mentor A row of books (Image Credit: Drew Coffman / Unsplash) Last updated 1 Sep 2021 Share This Tweet Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn Share on Reddit HomeAdmissionsGraduateCoursesDPhil in Criminology DPhil in Criminology About Entry requirements Resources Funding and costs College preference How to apply About the course The DPhil Criminology is offered as either a full-time 3-4 year degree, or a part-time 6-8 year degree. The DPhil entails researching and writing a thesis of between 75,000 and 100,000 words under the guidance of at least one supervisor who will be an acknowledged authority on your chosen topic. After three or at most four years (no later than eight years for the part-time pathway), you are expected to submit your final thesis. As a first-year full-time student, or in your first two years as a part-time student, you will follow courses of instruction in criminological research methods to develop your research skills, unless you have acquired sufficient methods training on a master's degree. The Criminology DPhil programme is offered by the Centre for Criminology to develop academic and transferable skills. You must complete both modules during your DPhil and you can choose which term/academic year it would be most useful for you to take each. Module 1, Intellectual Foundations will help you think theoretically about criminological research and engage with the intellectual foundations of criminology in order to assist you in developing theoretical and conceptual frameworks for your own projects. Module 2, Professional Development will help you with your professional development and to give you opportunities to present your own work ‘in progress’ and learn to critique the work of your peers. The Faculty of Law and Social Sciences Division also offer skills training as appropriate to different stages of the graduate career. There are also opportunities to access advanced and specialist research methods training. The areas in which members of the Centre for Criminology may be able to offer supervision include: policing and security crime and the family border control and the criminalisation of migration the death penalty the politics of crime and justice youth justice sociology of punishment psychology, law and criminal justice crime, risk and justice sentencing victims prisons restorative justice public attitudes and responses to crime race and gender in crime and justice miscarriages of justice crime, criminology and social/political theory. In addition to the DPhil Programme and methods training, you will be encouraged to attend the Oxford criminology and informal research seminars organised by the centre and get involved in the various criminology discussion groups. Research seminars bring you and other students together with academic and other research staff in the department to hear about ongoing research and provide an opportunity for networking and socialising. Further information about studying part-time The faculty's research degrees are not available by distance learning. Although there will be no requirement to reside in Oxford, part-time research students must attend the University on a regular basis (particularly in term-time: October and November, mid-January to mid-March, and late April to mid-June) for supervision, study, research seminars and skills training. In addition, they will sometimes ‘meet’ with their supervisors online. Although the faculty appreciates that part-time research students will have non-standard attendance and work patterns, they are required to attend the centre for a minimum of 30 days during term time in each academic year. To ensure a comprehensive integration into the faculty's and University's research culture and with their full-time peer groups, a pattern of attendance at training events and research seminars would form part of the general study agreement for part-time students, alongside the individualised arrangements between supervisor and student. Supervision The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Centre for Criminology and it is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff. Under exceptional circumstances a supervisor may be found outside the Centre for Criminology. It is expected that you will have at least two substantial supervisions in each term (or for part-time students, at least one each term) and students and their supervisors tend to have other online or in person contact in addition to this, especially when the student is preparing for ‘milestone’ assessments. Assessment All students will be initially admitted to the status of Probationer Research Student (PRS). Within a maximum of four terms as a full-time PRS student (eight terms for part-time pathway), you will be expected to apply for, and achieve, transfer of status from Probationer Research Student to DPhil status. This application is normally made by the third term for full-time students (sixth term for part-time pathway) and involves submitting a research outline and a substantial piece of written work. These are assessed by two members of the Centre for Criminology, who will also interview you about your work. A similar exercise then takes place in your sixth term (twelfth term for the part-time pathway) when you will apply for Confirmation of DPhil status to show that your work continues to be on track. After three or at most four years (no later than eight years for the part-time pathway), you are expected to submit your original final thesis. Your thesis of between 75,000 and 100,000 words will be read by two appointed examiners who conduct an in-depth oral examination with you, known as a viva voce. On the basis of their report, you will either be awarded the DPhil Criminology or referred back to make revisions to the thesis. Graduate destinations Recent graduates of the DPhil Criminology have pursued careers in the following areas: professional careers in criminal justice agencies and the law university research and teaching in academic criminology and law schools research careers government departments voluntary organisations in the crime and justice field. Changes to this course and your supervision The University will seek to deliver this course in accordance with the description set out in this course page. However, there may be situations in which it is desirable or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision, either before or after registration. The safety of students, staff and visitors is paramount and major changes to delivery or services may have to be made in circumstances of a pandemic (including Covid-19), epidemic or local health emergency. In addition, in certain circumstances, for example due to visa difficulties or because the health needs of students cannot be met, it may be necessary to make adjustments to course requirements for international study. Where possible your academic supervisor will not change for the duration of your course. However, it may be necessary to assign a new academic supervisor during the course of study or before registration for reasons which might include illness, sabbatical leave, parental leave or change in employment. For further information please see our page on changes to courses and the provisions of the student contract regarding changes to courses. Other courses you may wish to consider If you're thinking about applying for this course, you may also wish to consider the courses listed below. These courses may have been suggested due to their similarity with this course, or because they are offered by the same department or faculty. All graduate courses offered by the Centre for Criminology Criminology DPhil Criminology DPhil Criminology and Criminal Justice MSc Criminology and Criminal Justice MSc All graduate courses offered by the Faculty of Law Bachelor of Civil Law BCL Criminology DPhil Criminology DPhil Criminology and Criminal Justice MSc Criminology and Criminal Justice MSc Intellectual Property Law and Practice PGDip International Human Rights Law MSt Law DPhil Law MPhil Law DPhil Law and Finance MSc Magister Juris MJur Socio-Legal Research MPhil Socio-Legal Studies DPhil Socio-Legal Studies DPhil Taxation MSc Entry requirements for entry in 2022-23 Proven and potential academic excellence Degree-level qualifications As a minimum, applicants should hold or be predicted to achieve the equivalent of the following UK qualifications: a master's degree with an average mark of 67% or above; and a first-class or a strong upper second class (usually a minimum weighted average of 67%) undergraduate degree with honours. The qualifications above should be achieved in one of the following subject areas or disciplines: law sociology politics economics social policy psychology history; or another social science or humanities subject relevant to criminology. For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA sought is 3.7 out of 4.0. If your degree is not from the UK or another country specified above, visit our International Qualifications page for guidance on the qualifications and grades that would usually be considered to meet the University’s minimum entry requirements. GRE General Test scores No Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or GMAT scores are sought. Other qualifications, evidence of excellence and relevant experience Applicants will normally have: a broad, deep, advanced, and integrated understanding of a subject relevant to criminology such as law, sociology, economics, politics, psychology, social policy or history; outstanding analytical abilities, the ability to separate speedily the relevant from the irrelevant, and the ability to develop and sustain complex arguments under pressure; capacities for accurate observation and insightful criticism, including willingness and ability to engage with other social science disciplines; originality and creativity of thought, open-mindedness, and capacity for lateral thinking; excellent powers of synthesis and economy of thought; willingness and ability to express highly complex ideas clearly and effectively in English, with a particular eye to finesse and economy and an aspiration to professional standards of style and organisation in scholarly writing. Potential applicants should identify any relevant publications which may enhance their application. Publications are not expected. They may, in certain circumstances, advantage an application but it is appreciated that the opportunity to publish may vary considerably depending on factors such as the stage the student has reached in their graduate career and the structure of the course(s) they have studied. Consequently, a lack of publications will not be assessed negatively. Further guidance for part-time applicants Part-time applicants will usually have some experience of working in criminal or social justice professions or in the law. In their applications, they will also be expected to show evidence of the ability to commit time to study and, if applicable, an employer's commitment to make time available to study, to complete coursework, and attend course and University events and modules. Where appropriate, evidence should also be provided of permission to use employers’ data in the proposed research project. Extenuating circumstances If your ability to meet the entry requirements has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic (eg you were awarded an unclassified/ungraded degree) or any other exceptional personal circumstance (eg other illness or bereavement), please refer to the guidance on extenuating circumstances in the Application Guide for information about how to declare this so that your application can be considered appropriately. English language requirement This course requires proficiency in English at the University's higher level. If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence that you meet this requirement. The minimum scores required to meet the University's higher level are detailed in the table below. Minimum scores required to meet the University's higher level requirement Test Minimum overall score Minimum score per component IELTS Academic (Institution code: 0713) 7.5 7.0 TOEFL iBT, including the 'Home Edition' (Institution code: 0490) 110 Listening: 22 Reading: 24 Speaking: 25 Writing: 24 C1 Advanced* 191 185 C2 Proficiency† 191 185 *Previously known as the Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English or Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) †Previously known as the Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English or Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE) Your test must have been taken no more than two years before the start date of your course. Our Application Guide provides further information about the English language test requirement. Supporting documents You will be required to supply supporting documents with your application, including references and an official transcript. See 'How to apply' for instructions on the documents you will need and how these will be assessed. Performance at interview Interviews are not normally held as part of the admissions process, though prospective supervisors may contact you for an online meeting to discuss your research plans before the Admissions Board meets to review applications. Supervision Any offer of a place is dependent on the University’s ability to provide the appropriate supervision for your chosen area of work. Please refer to the ‘About’ section of this page for more information about the provision of supervision for this course. How your application is assessed Your application will be assessed purely on academic merit and potential, according to the published entry requirements for the course. The After you apply section of this website provides further information about the academic assessment of your application, including the potential outcomes. Please note that any offer of a place may be subject to academic conditions, such as achieving a specific final grade in your current degree course. These conditions may vary depending upon your individual academic circumstances. Students are considered for shortlisting and selected for admission without regard to gender, marital or civil partnership status, disability, race, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation, age or social background. Whether you have secured funding will not be taken into consideration when your application is assessed. Admissions panels and assessors All recommendations to admit a student involve the judgement of at least two members of the academic staff with relevant experience and expertise, and must also be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies or Admissions Committee (or equivalent within the department). Admissions panels or committees will always include at least one member of academic staff who has undertaken appropriate training. After an offer is made If you receive an offer of a place at Oxford, your offer letter will give full details of your offer and any academic conditions, such as achieving a specific final grade in your current degree course. In addition to any academic conditions which are set, you will be required to meet the following requirements: Financial Declaration If you are offered a place, you will be required to complete a Financial Declaration in order to meet your financial condition of admission. Disclosure of criminal convictions In accordance with the University’s obligations towards students and staff, we will ask you to declare any relevant, unspent criminal convictions before you can take up a place at Oxford. Resources As a new full-time DPhil student you will be offered a desk at the Centre for Criminology, however it may not be possible to accommodate every student who requests a desk, and the centre cannot guarantee the availability of workspace in future years. Within the Faculty of Law, there is a dedicated graduate reading room available in the Bodleian Law Library. This includes 50 study spaces, many of which are equipped with an Ethernet socket. Wireless access is also available. You will have access to the Bodleian Law Library and Bodleian Social Science Library (in addition to other University libraries, and the centrally provided electronic resources). Training on how to use the library’s legal and journal database is jointly provided by the Faculty of Law and the Bodleian Law Library. You will have the opportunity to attend a variety of skills training sessions and you will be required to successfully complete research methods training provided by the centre, as a condition of your transfer/admission to DPhil student status. There are also opportunities to access advanced and specialist research training provided through the Social Sciences Doctoral Training Centre. The Social Sciences Division also organises an academic and professional development programme covering a range of relevant generic transferable skills which you will be encouraged to attend. You will be encouraged to attend the Oxford criminology and informal lunchtime seminars organised by the centre and you will also have the opportunity participate in the criminology discussion group, criminological research workshops, and other relevant discussion groups which are held during term time. You will also have access to seminars organised by the Faculty of Law as well as other faculty discussion groups. Funding The University expects to be able to offer around 1,000 full or partial graduate scholarships across the collegiate University in 2022-23. You will be automatically considered for the majority of Oxford scholarships, if you fulfil the eligibility criteria and submit your graduate application by the relevant December or January deadline. Most scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic merit and/or potential. For further details about searching for funding as a graduate student visit our dedicated Funding pages, which contain information about how to apply for Oxford scholarships requiring an additional application, details of external funding, loan schemes and other funding sources. Please ensure that you visit individual college websites for details of college-specific funding opportunities using the links provided on our college pages. Further information about funding opportunities for this course can be found on the faculty's website. Costs Annual fees for entry in 2022-23 Full-time study Fee status Annual Course fees Home £8,910 Overseas £25,430 Further details about fee status eligibility can be found on the fee status webpage. Part-time study Fee status Annual Course fees Home £4,455 Overseas £12,715 Further details about fee status eligibility can be found on the fee status webpage. Course fees are payable each year, for the duration of your fee liability (your fee liability is the length of time for which you are required to pay course fees). For courses lasting longer than one year, please be aware that fees will usually increase annually. For details, please see our guidance on changes to fees and charges. Course fees cover your teaching as well as other academic services and facilities provided to support your studies. Unless specified in the additional information section below, course fees do not cover your accommodation, residential costs or other living costs. They also don’t cover any additional costs and charges that are outlined in the additional information below. Following the period of fee liability, you may also be required to pay a University continuation charge and a college continuation charge. The University and college continuation charges are shown on the Continuation charges page. For more information about course fees and fee liability, please see the Fees section of this website. EU applicants should refer to our detailed fee status information and the Oxford and the EU webpage for details of the implications of the UK’s exit from the EU. Additional information Full-time study There are no compulsory elements of this course that entail additional costs beyond fees (or, after fee liability ends, continuation charges) and living costs. However, please note that, depending on your choice of research topic and the research required to complete it, you may incur additional expenses, such as travel expenses, research expenses, and field trips. You will need to meet these additional costs, although you may be able to apply for small grants from your department and/or college to help you cover some of these expenses. Part-time study Please note that you are required to attend in Oxford for a minimum of 30 days each year, and you may incur additional travel and accommodation expenses for this. Also, depending on your choice of research topic and the research required to complete it, you may incur further additional expenses, such as travel expenses, research expenses, and field trips. You will need to meet these additional costs, although you may be able to apply for small grants from your department and/or college to help you cover some of these expenses. Living costs In addition to your course fees, you will need to ensure that you have adequate funds to support your living costs for the duration of your course. For the 2022-23 academic year, the range of likely living costs for full-time study is between c. £1,215 and £1,755 for each month spent in Oxford. Full information, including a breakdown of likely living costs in Oxford for items such as food, accommodation and study costs, is available on our living costs page. When planning your finances for any future years of study in Oxford beyond 2022-23, you should allow for an estimated increase in living expenses of 3% each year. If you are studying part-time your living costs may vary depending on your personal circumstances but you must still ensure that you will have sufficient funding to meet these costs for the duration of your course. College preference All graduate students at Oxford belong to a department or faculty and a college or hall (except those taking non-matriculated courses). If you apply for a place on this course you will have the option to express a preference for one of the colleges listed below, or you can ask us to find a college for you. The Colleges section of this website provides information about the college system at Oxford, as well as factors you may wish to consider when deciding whether to express a college preference. Please note that ‘college’ and ‘colleges’ refers to all 45 of the University’s colleges, including those designated as Permanent Private Halls (PPHs). For some courses, the department or faculty may have provided some additional advice below to help you to decide. Whatever you decide, it won’t affect how the academic department assesses your application and whether they decide to make you an offer. If your department makes you an offer of a place, you’re guaranteed a place at one of our colleges. Full-time study The following colleges accept students for full-time study on this course: Balliol College Brasenose College Campion Hall Christ Church Corpus Christi College Exeter College Green Templeton College Harris Manchester College Hertford College Keble College Kellogg College Lady Margaret Hall Linacre College Lincoln College New College Oriel College Pembroke College Reuben College St Anne's College St Antony's College St Catherine's College St Cross College St Hilda's College Wadham College Wolfson College Worcester College Wycliffe Hall Part-time study The following colleges accept students for part-time study on this course: Balliol College Campion Hall Exeter College Keble College Kellogg College Lady Margaret Hall Linacre College New College Reuben College St Anne's College St Antony's College St Catherine's College St Hilda's College Wadham College Wolfson College Worcester College Wycliffe Hall How to apply Supervision is arranged by the department at the point of admission and you do not need to contact potential supervisors before an offer is made. The set of documents you should send with your application to this course comprises the following: Official transcript(s) Your transcripts should give detailed information of the individual grades received in your university-level qualifications to date. You should only upload official documents issued by your institution and any transcript not in English should be accompanied by a certified translation. More information about the transcript requirement is available in the Application Guide. CV/résumé A CV/résumé is compulsory for all applications. Most applicants choose to submit a document of one to two pages highlighting their academic achievements and any relevant professional experience. Research proposal: A minimum of 1,000 words up to a maximum of 2,000 words Your proposal should give details of the topic you propose to investigate, why it is legally or sociologically significant, and how you would carry out the research. It should also reflect the research interests and expertise of academics in the centre (see the list of areas in which members of the centre are able to offer supervision in About the Course). The proposal should be written in English, and the word limit does not need to include any bibliography or brief footnotes. This will be assessed for: the coherence of the proposal the originality of the project understanding of the proposed area of study the ability to present a reasoned case in English the feasibility of successfully completing the project in the time available for the course preliminary knowledge of research methods. It will be normal for your ideas subsequently to change in some ways as you investigate the evidence and develop your project. You should nevertheless make the best effort you can to demonstrate the extent of your research question, sources and methods at the time of application. Your proposal should focus on the proposed research project rather than personal achievements, interests and aspirations. However, you can make reference to any directly relevant personal achievements, interests or experiences that speak to the feasibility of the proposed project and to your motivations for research. Written work: Two essays, a maximum of 2,000 words each Academic essays or other writing samples from your most recent qualification, written in English, are required. Applicants for part-time study may include a report, or sections of a report, or other relevant document, they have written in their professional roles. Extracts from longer pieces are welcome but should be prefaced by a note which puts them in context and it should be indicated with square brackets which elements have been omitted from the original piece of work. Ideally the works should relate to the proposed area of study. The word count does not need to include any bibliography or brief footnotes. If possible, please ensure that the word count is clearly displayed on the document. This will be assessed for a comprehensive understanding of the subject area, an understanding of problems in the area, an ability to construct and defend an argument, your powers of analysis and powers of expression. References/letters of recommendation: Three overall, generally academic Whilst you must register three referees, the department may start the assessment of your application if two of the three references are submitted by the course deadline and your application is otherwise complete. Please note that you may still be required to ensure your third referee supplies a reference for consideration. Academic references are strongly preferred, provided by individuals familiar with the applicant's academic performance but a professional reference will be accepted as long as you also provide two academic references. Part-time applicants can submit two professional references but should also include an academic reference where possible. Your references will support exceptional academic motivation; capacity for sustained and intense work; developed ability to organise time and set own agenda for study; and an intrepid attitude towards investigation and learning. Start or continue an application Step 1: Read our guide to getting started, which explains how to prepare for and start an application. Step 2: Check that you meet the Entry requirements and read the How to apply information on this page. Step 3: Check the deadlines on this page and the deadline information in our Application Guide. Plan your time to submit your application well in advance - we recommend two or three weeks earlier. Step 4: Check if you're eligible for an application fee waiver. Application fee waivers are available for: UK applicants from low-income backgrounds who meet the eligibility criteria; residents in a country on our low-income countries list (refer to the eligibility criteria); current Oxford graduate taught students applying for readmission to an eligible course; and additional applications to selected research courses that are closely related to your first application. Step 5: Start your application using the relevant link below. As you complete the form, consult our Application Guide for advice at each stage. You'll find the answers to most common queries in our FAQs. Application GuideApply - Full time Apply - Part time Was this page useful?* Yes No Please tell us what you want to see on this page, the more specific you can be the more likely it is that we can add it. ADMISSION STATUS Open to applications for entry in 2022-23 Deadlines 12:00 midday UK time on: Friday 21 January 2022 Latest deadline for most Oxford scholarships Final application deadline for entry in 2022-23 Key facts Full Time Part Time Course code RD_CG1 RD_CG9P1 Expected length 3-4 years 6-8 years Places in 2022-23 c. TBC c. TBC Applications/year* 28 7 Expected start Late September 2022 English language Higher level required *Three-year average (applications for entry in 2018-19 to 2020-21) Further information and enquiries This course is offered by the Centre for Criminology within the Faculty of Law Course page and FAQs on the faculty's website Funding information from the faculty Academic and research staff in Criminology Research at the faculty and centre Social Sciences Division Residence requirements for full-time courses Postgraduate applicant privacy policy Course-related enquiries Due to COVID-19, please use primarily email as staff may not have access to telephones. ✉ tracy.kaye@crim.ox.ac.uk ☎ +44 (0)1865 274444 Application-process enquiries See the application guide Coronavirus Read more about the University COVID-19 response, including: Information for prospective students Frequently asked questions for applicants Information for offer holders Frequently asked questions for offer holders Share This Tweet Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn Share on Reddit Connect with us iTunes YouTube Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Weibo Instagram Medium The Conversation Information About Oxford University Strategic plan Oxford's research Course fees and funding Libraries Museums and collections Open days Oxford glossary Freedom of speech statement Statement on Modern Slavery Data privacy / GDPR Sport at Oxford Conferences at Oxford 牛津大学 Information For Prospective undergraduates Prospective graduate students Prospective Continuing Education students Prospective online/distance learning students Current Oxford students Current Oxford staff Oxford residents/Community Visitors/Tourists Media Alumni Teachers Parliamentarians Businesses/Partnerships Quick Links Any questions? Jobs and vacancies Term dates Map Nexus365 email Giving to Oxford Oxford University Images This website contains a wide variety of images relating to the University’s activities. Many of those images were originally photographed or filmed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions and preventative measures that have been put in place since. The images may therefore not be representative of the current requirements and practices on campus in relation to social distancing, face covering and restricted gatherings. © University of Oxford 2021 Contact us About this site Legal Privacy policy Cookie settings Accessibility Statement
