项目介绍

2021年8月4日

About the course

The Department of Zoology maintains a large and interactive group of around 170 DPhil students at any one time, working in the research areas of the department.

As a doctoral student at the Department of Zoology, your primary focus will be your research, which will usually be conducted within one or more of the existing research groups. In addition, you will be encouraged to make the most of the doctoral training and research methods provision available across the Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences Division. The department also provides training to all DPhil students that focuses on developing research skills. 

Doctoral research projects can be based on fieldwork (sometimes in remote places), laboratory experiments, analysis of existing data sets, or mathematical theory, but in all cases must be original and rigorous, leading to publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals.

You will be part of a vibrant educational research community that includes an active set of doctoral student-led events, seminars and workshops. You will have the opportunity to present and discuss your work in progress with your supervisor, other faculty members and peers, informally day-to-day and by attending a variety of seminars and workshops in the department and at conferences elsewhere.

MSc by Research in Zoology

In exceptional cases, the department also takes students who wish to study for a MSc by Research in Zoology, which typically takes two years. Since few students are accepted to this degree, there must be a strong academic case.

The minimum time in which a student can submit their final thesis for an MSc by Research is one year, and the maximum fee liability for an MSc by Research is two years, but the overall course length is three years.

The first step in applying is to contact a potential supervisor or supervisors to discuss potential projects. For further details and to apply to the MSc by Research, please contact Heather Green.

Supervision

The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Department of Zoology 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 Zoology.

Assessment

All students will be initially admitted to the status of Probationer Research Student (PRS). Within a maximum of six terms as a PRS student (and normally by the fourth term) you will be expected to apply for transfer of status from Probationer Research Student to DPhil status.

Transfer of status is assessed based on a report that summarises progress made as a PRS student and outlines the content and structure of the proposed DPhil thesis. Students who are successful at transfer will also be expected to apply for and gain confirmation of DPhil status within nine terms of admission, to show that your work continues to be on track.

Both milestones normally involve an interview with two assessors and therefore provide important experience for the final oral examination.

You will be expected to submit a substantial thesis after three or, at most, four years from the date of admission. To be successfully awarded a DPhil in Zoology you will need to defend your thesis orally (viva voce) in front of one Oxford based and one external examiner.

Graduate destinations

Zoology graduates, like DPhil graduates in biological sciences at Oxford as a whole, continue to a wide range of careers after graduating. Between 2008-13, 84% of DPhil graduates continued in bioscience-related posts, of which almost two thirds involved academic research.

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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