Am I eligible to apply for the Clinical PhD Programme?

What happens if English is not my first language?

What does the Wellcome Trust funding cover?

Can I submit supporting materials separately from my application?

Do I need to have my supporting materials in a foreign language translated?

Will you contact my referees on my behalf?

When is the deadline for applications?

How can I apply?

Do I have to submit an application form or can I send my CV?

Where can I attach the Wellcome Trust's Fellowship Application form required

for the Three-Year doctoral programme on the online application?

Is there an application fee?

What do I do if I want to apply for more than one Programme?

What college should I choose?

How are the Four-Year PhD Programmes structured? 

I have a degree from an institution in an English speaking country.  Do I still have to sit TOEFL or IELTS?

If I am unsuccessful in my application, can I receive feedback about the decision?

If applying for Genomic Medicine and Statistics, do I need both a quantitative and biological background?

Am I eligible to apply for the Clinical PhD Programme?

Candidates must be medically qualified, with a strong academic record (preferably with honours or distinction in the MB finals and/or a BSc (or equivalent) with a first or upper second class degree) to be eligible for the three-year Training Fellowship for Clinicians in Basic Sciences (leading to a PhD in Biomedical and Clinical Sciences). It is envisaged that the appointed will have some specialist experience - typically having obtained MPCP or equivalent but not CCT or consultant status. 

What happens if English is not my first language?

If your first language is not English you will be required to supply test certificates stating that your proficiency in English achieves a minimum score for the course you are applying for. The evidence must be in the form of an original certificate that is not more than two years old and issued by the responsible body. Further details of the acceptable test certificates and scores can be found here. 

Please contact us to discuss the language requirements in your case, if your IELTS test is 7.0-7.5 or otherwise borderline. 

What does the Wellcome Trust funding cover?

The Wellcome Trust funding covers living expenses and fees for home/EU students. Students from outside the home/EU will need to secure funding to cover the difference between the two rates. On the university application form you are advised to apply for the Clarendon Fund award and other scholarships for which you are eligible by ticking the relevant boxes in the funding section. Please see the Oxford Funding Search for more information on additional funding available. Please visit the UKCISA website to ascertain whether you will be classified as 'overseas' for fees purposes.

Can I submit supporting materials separately from my application?

You should submit your supporting material together with your application form. Sending materials separately may result in delays in processing your application. If you need to submit materials separately, you should make sure they are clearly marked with your full name, date of birth and Programme to which you are applying. Please click here to visit the University of Oxford Graduate application pages, including the online application form.

Do I need to have my supporting materials in a foreign language translated?

You should submit all of your materials in English.  All official transcripts or certificates should be certified translations.

Will you contact my referees on my behalf?

If you apply using the online application form, you have the option to register your referee's email addresses and they will be automatically prompted to submit a secure electronic reference for your application. It is however your responsibility to approach your referees to ask whether they would be willing to supply a reference and to ensure that they references arrive by the application deadline. We will not contact your referees to request references on your behalf or remind them to submit references. References must be received on or before the application deadline. Your application will not be considered complete without references.

When is the deadline for applications?

The deadline for starting in Michaelmas term 2013 (October 2013) is 4th January 2013. Please click here to visit the University of Oxford Graduate application pages, including the online application form.

How can I apply?

Most people choose to apply by using the online application form, making sure you have also read the application guidance. Of course, if you prefer you can apply using a pre-printed paper application form.  Whichever method you choose there is a small application fee (currently £50) to pay for each programme application that you make. This fee is non-refundable and is payable whether your application is ultimately successful or not.

Do I have to submit an application form or can I send my CV?

The offical university application form must be completed for all programmes. You must also submit a CV (and, for the three-year doctoral programme in Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, the Wellcome Trust Fellowship application form). Please note that only completed applicaitons with application fee and all supporting documentation will be considered.

Where can I attach the Wellcome Trust's Fellowship Application form, required for the Three-Year doctoral programme in Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, on the online application?

You can attach the Wellcome Trust Fellowship Application form where you would attach any supplementary documentation (for instance section 17 of the application form).

Is there an application fee?

Yes, there is a small fee [currently £50, but subject to change without notice] which you must pay for each application that you make. The fee is non-refundable and payable whether your application is ultimately successful or not. We cannot process your application unless we receive payment in full at the same time. We accept the following methods of payment:

Online applications:
- Credit card – VISA/MasterCard only [If you do not have a credit card, some organisations such as banks offer a credit card voucher which can be used online]

We cannot accept payment by postal order, electronic bank transfer or Western Union money transfer.

What do I do if I want to apply for more than one Programme?

Whether you apply online or on paper, if you wish to apply for more than one course, you must provide separate applications, supporting materials and payment for each programme. We recommend you apply for no more than two programmes.

What college should I choose?

Choosing a college is largely a personal choice. In making your choice, you may wish to consider the facilities and resources they college has to offer, the availability of accommodation and its location and distance from the city centre. A full list of colleges can be found here.

You can state a college preference on your application form or, if you have no particular preference, you can let us assign you a college.

How are the Four-Year PhD Programmes structured?

The first year of each Four-Year Programme consists of taught courses and laboratory rotations after which you will be assigned to a department and spend three years of independent research in a single laboratory.

I have a degree from an institution in an English speaking country.  Do I still have to sit TOEFL or IELTS?

If you have gained an undergraduate degree from a university/college in either the U.S.A, Canada, Australia, or the United Kingdom, or if you have lived/worked in either of the previously stated countries for a continuous period of three years or more, you do not need to it either the TOEFL or IELTS.

If your circumstances fall outside of either of these criteria, the TOEFL or IELTS will need to be taken.

If I am unsuccessful in my application, can I receive feedback about the decision?

It is the policy of the University of Oxford not to offer feedback regarding application decisions.  If you are unsuccessful in gaining a place on one of our programmes, you are welcome to submit an application again for the following or subsequent year.

If applying for Genomic Medicine and Statistics, do I need both a quantitative and biological background?

Applicants with either or both biological and quantitative backgrounds are encouraged to apply. There is no requirement for previous training in quantitative methods for those candidates with a biological background, or vice-versa.