part time phd law oxford

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18% of Oxford's graduate students are undertaking a part-time degree. The University of Oxford offers a wide range of high-quality and flexible part-time graduate courses, with over 70 programmes to choose from.

To find out more about graduate study at Oxford, visit: http://www.graduate.ox.ac.uk/parttime .

DPhil programmes

Oxford's Department for Continuing Education offers part-time DPhil programmes in the following disciplines:

• Archaeology
• Architectural History
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
• English Local History
• Evidence-Based Health Care
• Literature and Arts
• Sustainable Urban Development

What is a DPhil?

The term 'DPhil' stands for 'Doctor of Philosophy', sometimes referred to as a 'doctorate' or 'PhD'. This is an advanced research degree awarded on the basis of a thesis and an oral examination called the viva voce. The thesis must be a significant and substantial piece of research, make an original contribution to its field, and be presented in a lucid and scholarly manner. In the viva, the candidate is required to defend their thesis and to demonstrate a good general knowledge of their field of study.

A DPhil is the highest level of a degree that a student can achieve.

Level and demands

All DPhil applications are considered on their academic merits. 

As guidance, you should have achieved at least 2.1 honours, 3.5 GPA, or equivalent in an undergraduate degree. On some programmes, successful applicants have also normally achieved a distinction in a master’s degree. More information about entry requirements can be found on each individual programme page.

DPhil students are not required to be resident in Oxford, but will normally be required to attend for at least 30 days per year and to meet their supervisors at least once per term.

College affiliation

All students studying for a degree (including DPhil) must be a member of a college. There is single application process to the DPhil programme within which you can specify a college choice. Your choice of college is up to you, and does not affect the academic viability of your application to the DPhil itself.  A number of Oxford colleges accept applications from part-time postgraduates, whereas others do not: please consult the graduate prospectus or enquire with  individual colleges . (Even if you are accepted onto the degree, please note that you are not guaranteed a place at your first choice of college).

Applicants may wish to note that the majority of students on part-time degree programmes are members of Kellogg College and most of the tutors and lecturers are Fellows of the College. Kellogg is dedicated to graduate part-time students and has developed a unique expertise in attending to the intellectual, social, IT and welfare needs of part-time, mature graduate students. The College is based a short distance from the Department on the Banbury Road.

Libraries and computing facilities

Registered students receive an Oxford University card, valid for one year at a time, which acts as a library card for the Departmental Library at Rewley House and provides access to the unrivalled facilities of the Bodleian Libraries which include the central Bodleian, major research libraries such as the Sackler Library, Taylorian Institution Library, Bodleian Social Science Library, and faculty libraries such as English and History. Students also have access to a wide range of electronic resources including electronic journals, many of which can be accessed from home. Students on the course are entitled to use the Library at Rewley House for reference and private study and to borrow books. More information about the Continuing Education Library can be found at the  Bodleian website . 

The University card also provides access to facilities at Oxford University Computing Service (OUCS), 13 Banbury Road, Oxford. Computing facilities are available to students in the Students' Computing Facility in Rewley House and at Ewert House.

DPhil student spotlights and profiles

Discover what our students have to say about their experience of undertaking a part-time DPhil programme with the Department.

Graduate School

The Graduate School facilitates a stimulating and enriching learning and research environment for all of the Department’s diverse range of graduate students.

The Department has an active interdisciplinary research community, with a strong focus on the humanities and social sciences.

Student spotlights

Discover how others have used their Oxford DPhil for further study, career progression or personal enrichment. 

You can also view current DPhil research projects here .

Paul Schoon

Steve edwards, aditi khodke, rosemary yallop, further information.

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Postgraduate student

Postgraduate study

Our postgraduate courses are world-renowned and serve students in a variety of legal fields. Courses are of a high academic standard and students are expected to analyse complex material, involve themselves in debate and self-lead their learning.

Applications

All applications to Graduate degrees at Oxford are done through a central Graduate Admissions process.  You will find information about courses, our people and background on this website.  For conditions and to apply please see the Graduate Admissions website .  

Why not also explore our  Postgraduate Research Degrees ?

Our postgraduate taught courses

The BCL is our world-renowned taught graduate course in law, designed to serve outstanding law students from common law backgrounds. As a masters level degree, its academic standard is significantly higher than that required in a first law degree, such as a BA, LLB, or JD, and only those with outstanding first law degrees are admitted.

Find out more about the BCL

The Magister Juris, or MJur, is a counterpart to the BCL, and offers much the same provision as the BCL, but for students from a  civil law  background. 

Find out more about the MJur

The MSc in Criminology equips its graduates with an advanced understanding of crime and criminal justice. The degree comprises core courses in criminological theory and the study of criminal justice, provides training in research design and methodology, and offers students the opportunity to take optional courses in a wide range of subject areas.

Find out more about the MSc in Criminology and Criminal Justice (full-time)

A 21-month part-time programme which equips its graduates with an advanced understanding of crime and criminal justice.

Find out more about the MSc in Criminology and Criminal Justice (part-time)

The Oxford MSc in Intellectual Property is a postgraduate course for recently qualified lawyers who wish to specialise in intellectual property law.  It is a one-year, part-time course taught by senior practitioners and academics in the Oxford Law Faculty. The course builds on the foundations of the  Postgraduate Diploma in Intellectual Property Law and Practice .   

Find out more about the MSc in Intellectual Property

The MSc in International Human Rights Law is a part-time degree offered over two academic years, involving a combination of distance learning and summer residences.  The course is designed in particular for lawyers as well as other (non-law) human rights advocates who wish to pursue advanced studies in international human rights law but may need to do so alongside work and/or care responsibilities.

Find out more about the MSc in International Human Rights Law

The MSc in Law and Finance, MLF, is taught jointly by the Faculty of Law and the  Saïd Business School . It is a full-time, ten-month programme offering students with a prior background in law the chance to develop an advanced interdisciplinary understanding of relevant economic and financial contexts.

Find out more about the MLF

The Oxford  MSc in Taxation  is a two-year part-time postgraduate degree offered by the Faculty of Law, and is taught in association with the  Oxford University Centre for Business Taxation  based at Saïd Business School. Unusual among Masters in Taxation degrees, the MSc in Taxation has been designed by a combination of lawyers and economists.   

Find out more about the MSc in Taxation

The Oxford Diploma in IP Law and Practice is a postgraduate vocational course for people embarking on a career in IP law and practice.  It is a one-year, part-time course designed to give junior practitioners a grounding in the fundamentals of IP law and practice.  It is taught by senior practitioners and academics, and represents a unique collaboration between the Oxford Law Faculty and the Intellectual Property Lawyers’ Association.

Find out more about the Postgraduate Diploma in Intellectual Property Law and P…

MSt in Legal Research

Our postgraduate research degrees

The DPhil in Law can be undertaken on a full- or part-time basis

Full-time doctoral study

Part-time doctoral study

Part-time DPhil in Criminology

The DPhil in Socio-Legal Studies can be undertaken on a full- or part-time basis

A 1-year research degree comprising a course in legal research methods and a supervised thesis.

A one year research degree

MPhil in Socio-Legal Studies

Graduate Life at Oxford

Students who make the best of Oxford join in the life of the city, their college and Faculty networks, events and seminars.

Life as a taught graduate student FAQs

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