项目介绍

2021年8月4日

About the course

The Department of Social Policy and Intervention offers an interdisciplinary DPhil in Social Intervention and Policy Evaluation and welcomes students from across the world. Research students are an important part of the department’s community and you will be fully involved and immersed in the life of the department.

The department welcomes DPhil candidates who are interested in a wide range of areas of social intervention and policy evaluation research, including evaluation methodology, and policy and intervention research in areas such as violence and injury prevention, neighbourhood and urban health, reduction of poverty and social inequality, alcohol and drug misuse, mental health and antisocial behaviour in children and youth, parenting and family interventions including those delivered across the perinatal period, school-based interventions, HIV prevention, AIDS-affected children, the Sustainable Development goals, violence against children and cross-cultural adaptation of interventions.

The department’s approach to graduate study emphasises your ability to work independently to explore a new line of research under an academic supervisor. Each member of academic staff has expertise in a particular area of social intervention and policy evaluation and you should try to contact your potential supervisor prior to applying as you will only be accepted for a DPhil if there is an appropriate supervisor available. 

As a doctoral student you will be offered a unique graduate programme tailored to your individual needs. In addition to individual supervision, the department offers a large and diverse range of research groups, seminars, workshops and advanced training opportunities in order to further enhance graduate research experience.

Part-time course arrangements

The DPhil programme in Social Intervention and Policy Evaluation is also available on a part-time basis. The part-time version of the degree has the same high standards and requirements as the full-time degree, but spread over 6-8 years. The degree is particularly well-suited for students who are seeking the flexibility of part-time study. Part-time study also provides an excellent opportunity for professionals to undertake rigorous long-term research that may be relevant to their working life. For more information, please contact admissions@spi.ox.ac.uk.

Supervision

The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Department of Social Policy and Intervention 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 Department of Social Policy and Intervention.

In the case of students who require specific help to adjust to an academic programme or to a new range of skills, the supervisor will work with them to ensure that they have additional support.

Students should normally expect to meet with their supervisor around three to four times a term.

Assessment

The sequence of milestones for a DPhil student are as follows:

1. Admission as a Probationer Research Student (PRS)
2. Transfer to DPhil status (‘Transfer of Status’)
3. Confirmation of DPhil status for DPhil students (‘Confirmation of Status’)
4. Submission of thesis

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 or eight as a full-time PRS student, you will be expected to apply for transfer of status from Probationer Research Student to DPhil status. This application is normally made by the third term for full-time students and by the sixth term for part-time students.

A successful transfer of status from PRS to DPhil status will require the student to show that their proposed thesis and treatment represents a viable topic and that their written work and interview show that they have a good knowledge and understanding of the subject. Students who are successful at transfer will also be expected to apply for and gain confirmation of DPhil status to show that your work continues to be on track. This will need to done within nine terms of admission for full-time students and eighteen terms of admission for part-time students.

Both milestones normally involve an interview with two assessors (other than your supervisor) and therefore provide important experience for the final oral examination.

Full-time students will be expected to submit a substantial thesis that does not exceed 100,000 words after three or, at most, four years from the date of admission. If you are studying part-time, you be required to submit your thesis after six or, at most, eight years from the date of admission. To be successfully awarded a DPhil in Social Intervention and Policy Evaluation, you will need to defend your thesis orally (viva voce) in front of two appointed examiners.

Graduate destinations

Many graduates of the DPhil go on to pursue academic careers in world-leading research universities, while others hold influential positions in government, non-governmental and international organisations, such as the World Bank, the World Health Organisation and the UN.

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.

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