University of Oxford

You should think about the skills, knowledge and interests you have acquired over time and how you want graduate study to take them forward. You may wish to consider factors including:

• Whether you want more research experience
• Your subject focus
• Length of study
• Full-time or part-time.

Most courses require at least a strong upper-second class (2:1) degree in the UK grading system, which is roughly equivalent to a US GPA of 3.5 or above. An 'Upper second' (2:1) typically represents a score of 60%-69%. A 'strong upper second' would typically be taken to mean 65% or more. Some courses require a UK first class degree, which would be equivalent to US GPA of 3.7 or above. A 'First' is the highest classification achievable for a UK undergraduate degree. This typically represents a score of 70% or more. Please note that these qualification grades are considered the minimum to be able to make a competitive application to Oxford, and are only one element of the assessment;a high proportion of successful applicants will hold grades at the top end of this range.

You must supply suitable evidence that you meet the English language requirement for your course unless English is your first language and you are a national of and have been primarily resident in a majority English-speaking country as defined by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). For further information and details of the minimum test scores required, please consult the English Language Requirements section of our Application Guide. Applicants are not required to provide evidence of English language proficiency at the point of application. Your application will still be considered by the academic department without it, as long as all other required documents have been submitted. If you meet the English language test waiver eligibility, it is possible to request a waiver from the requirement to provide English language scores.

Graduate applications to Oxford are submitted using an online application form which can be found on the Graduate Admissions website. In order to apply, you will need to find the course that you are interested in applying for and go to the ‘How to apply’ section of the course page for full details and the link to the application form. Before submitting your application, please carefully check the information on our website, as this contains essential information about courses offered, entry requirements, document specifications and admissions deadlines. Our application guide contains additional information that will help you with making an application.

We offer a range of full-time taught and research courses, as well as a variety of part-time and flexible courses from postgraduate certificates to doctorates. If you choose a taught course (eg Master of Studies, Master of Science, Master of Philosophy), you'll study your chosen subject area at an advanced level usually leading to a master’s-level qualification. Your course will consist of a range of core and optional modules and you will be assigned an academic supervisor who will be on hand to offer advice and support. An Oxford research degree (eg Master of Science by Research or Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) – our name for a PhD) is an opportunity to immerse yourself in your chosen area, pursue your own ideas and make a significant and original contribution to knowledge.

For entry in the 2026-27 academic year, the collegiate University expects to offer over 1,100 full or partial graduate scholarships across a wide range of graduate courses. For the majority of Oxford scholarships, if you submit your application by the December or January admissions deadline and you fulfil the eligibility criteria, you will automatically be considered or contacted directly by the University or college and invited to apply. Use the Fees, Funding and Scholarship Search to find out if you are eligible for any scholarships which require an additional application. Please be aware that receiving an offer of a place to study at Oxford does not necessarily mean that we can also offer you an Oxford scholarship. However, there are a range of other options open to graduate students. Find out more about funding options.