How to apply for the MSc
Application and Admissions Procedure
All prospective candidates must make their application through the University's Graduate Studies Office, and are advised to consult the University's Graduate Studies Prospectus beforehand. All applications are processed initially by the Graduate Studies Office, and must not be made directly to the OII.
- University Graduate Studies Prospectus
- Application and Admissions Procedure
- Course code: 002245
Application deadlines for 2012/13 entry
- 18 November 2011 (Interviews planned week of 12 December 2011)
- 20 January 2012 (Interviews planned week of 20 February 2012)
- 9 March 2012 (Interviews planned week of 9 April 2012)
Prospective candidates are strongly advised to apply in the first two deadlines if they are planning to apply for funding.
Applicants whose first language is not English must have met the highest level of Oxford University's English language requirements. Please note that it is essential that applicants obtain the higher level score.
All applications will be assessed by more than one member of the academic staff with relevant experience and expertise.
The Oxford 1+1 Programme
The Oxford 1+1 Programme will be offered to students applying for 2012 matriculation at the University of Oxford, allowing them to combine the OII's MSc in Social Science of the Internet with the Oxford MBA. Successful candidates for the Oxford 1+1 Programme will need to meet the admissions requirements for both courses and be admitted separately to both. We are currently taking applications for 2012 entry.
If you are applying for the 1+1 programme, please indicate this on your personal statement. You will be asked to state in detail your reasons for applying to the 1+1 programme on your application to the Said Business School, but may wish to refer to this also in your application to the MSc.
The following colleges accept applications for the 1+1 programme with the MSc Social Science of the Internet: Balliol College, Green Templeton College, Kellogg College, Linacre College, St Cross College, St Hilda's College, St Hugh's College
Admission requirements
- Not less than a 2.1 (or its equivalent) at first degree level and, if applicable, high scores in the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or a grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.5. In exceptional circumstances, applicants with a distinguished record of workplace achievement since graduation may be accepted with lower grades at first degree level.
- Applicants whose first language is not English must have met the higher level of Oxford University's English language requirements.
The course is full time and all students are expected to be resident in Oxford during term time. Under University regulations students are not permitted to work full time alongside their studies.
Candidates must display:
- Outstanding academic ability (as shown by official University transcripts and evidence from the confidential reports of at least three referees)
- Interest and enthusiasm for study of the many social aspects of information, and communication technologies (as evidenced by a personal statement of not more than 500 words showing why the application is being made)
- A research interest in an area of study covered by at least one member of the academic and research staff at the OII, or its associated faculty in departments and Colleges participating in this programme (see supervisors below).
Personal statement
In the 'statement of purpose' in the application for the MSc, candidates will need to describe their specific interest in the programme:
- Why they are interested in study a Master's degree focusing on social aspects of the internet?
- What relevant experience, academic or practical, do they have to engage in research on social aspects of the internet?
- Have they undertaken any research relevant to this area, or do they have ideas about which topics they would like to concentrate on in coursework, or investigate as a potential MSc thesis topic?
Information regarding Interviews
Interviews are held as part of the admissions process, but will normally only be undertaken where there is disagreement between reviewers. If a student clearly exceeds all the admission criteria and their proposed research is innovative and can be supervised at the Oxford Internet Institute then they may be made an offer without an interview.
If interviews are required, these are usually held about 1 month after the application deadline has passed. Interviews can be done in person, by telephone or via Skype with or without video. There is usually only one interview held which lasts up to 30 minutes. You will be asked questions about research interests, interest in the course, and why you think the Oxford Internet Institute would be the best place to conduct your studies.
Admission statistics
| 2010-2011 | 2011-2012 | |
|---|---|---|
| Total number of applications | 88 | 118 |
| Offers | 29 | 33 |
The following factors will govern whether candidates can be offered places:
- There are minimum and maximum limits to the numbers of students who may be admitted onto Oxford's taught programmes.
MSc supervisors
The following OII faculty members can supervise MSc students. The supervision areas are intended as a guide only: please contact us if you would like to discuss a suitable supervisor.
Prof. William H. Dutton, Prof. Helen Margetts, Dr Victoria Nash, Dr Ian Brown, Dr Cristobal Cobo, Dr Rebecca Eynon, Dr Sandra Gonzalez-Bailon, Grant Blank, Monica Bulger, Dr Bernie Hogan, Dr Eric T. Meyer, Dr Anne-Marie Oostveen, Viktor Mayer-Schonberger, Dr Ralph Schroeder, Dr Greg Taylor.
The allocation of graduate supervision is the responsibility of the Oxford Internet Institute and it is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff. Supervisors will be assigned to individual students at the start of the first term.
Selecting a College
Candidates can specify a College preference on their application forms (not necessarily the same College as that of the potential supervisor) or indicate that they have no preference, in which case a college will be selected on their behalf. Whether or not you state a college preference will not affect how the department assesses your application and ultimately whether or not they decide to make you an offer.
The following Colleges accept applications from OII masters students: Balliol College, Brasenose College, Campion Hall, Green Templeton College, Keble College, Kellogg College, Linacre College, Mansfield College, The Queen's College, St Anne's College, St Catherine's College, St Cross College, St Hilda's College, St Hugh's College, Wolfson College.
Funding
Prospective students should note that many scholarships or awards can only be applied for before study begins. Details of fees, living expenses, definitions of home and overseas students, and information about potential sources of funding are available from the Graduate Studies Office Financial Information pages. Selected sources of funding of particular relevance to our students are available on the University of Oxford Student Funding and International Office.
Whether you have yet secured funding is not taken into consideration in the decision to make an initial offer a place, but please note that the initial offer of a place will not be confirmed until the college which gives you an initial offer of a place is satisfied that you have sufficient funding to cover your fees and living costs for the standard period of fee liability for your course.
OII Scholarship
The OII will offer one scholarship equivalent to the amount of annual university fees, allocated on the basis of outstanding academic merit. Candidates wishing to be considered for this must apply no later than the January deadline.
Action: All prospective students with a confirmed place on the OII's MSc programme will be considered automatically, and need not apply.
Availability: This scholarship will be available for 2012/13. Eligible students will not normally hold other substantial awards.
Disability, health conditions and specific learning difficulties
Students are selected for admission without regard to gender, marital or civil partnership status, disability, race, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation, age or social background. Decisions on admission are based solely on the individual academic merits of each candidate and the application of the selection criteria appropriate to the programme of study. Further information on how these matters are supported during the admissions process is available on the University's Equality & Diversity page.
Last updated on: 2 February 2012
