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Graduate Admissions Selection Criteria

Exeter College admits around 100 graduates each year across a wide range of subjects. We aim for approximately two-thirds of our graduate body to be students admitted to research degrees, the remainder being students on postgraduate taught courses. These targets determine the number of offers which can be made to applicants. Some applicants have previously completed an undergraduate or postgraduate degree at the College, or at other Oxford Colleges, but most come from other universities from across the world. Our vibrant and diverse graduate community provides a wonderful environment in which to pursue your studies.

Applications are considered for any of the courses in which the College offers admission. Please use the course search tool to see if your proposed course is one that Exeter College offers.

Applications are usually considered by our Fellows and lecturers in the relevant subject area, and by the Academic Dean.

The factors we normally consider in making our admissions decisions are these:

  • Applicants must first have been accepted by a Department or Faculty of the University of Oxford before any college or permanent private hall may consider them.
  • Applications are considered for any of the courses in which the College offers admission. Please consult the relevant course listing for details.
  • Applications are usually considered by academic staff in the relevant subject area or the Academic Dean
  • Preference will normally be given to applicants whose area of study overlaps with the academic interests of the College’s academic staff.
  • The College aims to admit a certain number of graduate students each year spread across the range of subjects in which it accepts graduate students, and this will determine the number of offers which can be made to applicants. Where there are more applicants than offers which can be made, the relative academic merit and potential of the applicants may be taken into account. It may not be possible to make offers to applicants whose applications are received late in the admissions round, when places are full.
  • The possession of competitively-won funding may be taken into account as an indicator of the applicant’s academic merit and potential.
  • The final decision on whether to offer a place in the light of the overall competition for graduate places and the spread of those places across subject areas is usually taken by the Academic Dean.
  • Please note that any offer of a place will be subject to satisfactory completion of the financial declaration form that will be sent to the applicant as part of the offer of a place. Please consult the financial declaration guidance for more details.
  • Preference may be given to current or past students of the College who meet the selection criteria described above.

It may not be possible to admit applicants whose applications are received late in the admissions round, when places are full.

If you have questions about applying to the University please see the University’s FAQ and contact information.

If you have any questions about studying at Exeter College, or the College’s Graduate Scholarships, please contact the Admissions Officer, Verity Skirrow, via admissions@exeter.ox.ac.uk or +44 (0)1865 279668.