Oxford DPhil residency rules

[QueryAQueation]

Reposted from mature students - hope this is ok, as you might have the answer.

Hi, I’m looking at (hopefully) undertaking a Dphil at Oxford (full time). I’m wondering about the residency requirements. I understand that for postgraduate research, the requirement is within 25 miles of Carfax for at least 6 weeks / 6 terms.

How can this work in reality? We live about double that distance away, on a direct train line. I’m guessing I would need to stay in college for the specified time, but is it expected to be in Oxford over weekends? My children are teenagers so I have some flexibility and willingness to do what it takes, but for practical reasons, it would be useful to know what the expectations and limitations are.

Does anyone have any experience of this?

Thank you

A kind poster said to ask the college for an exemption - would that allow me to go home during weekends, or to fully commute, does anyone know? Thank you

My experience of this (DPhil at Wolfson College 10 years ago) is that as long as you fulfil those requirements by paying for a room in college for those 6 terms, you have ticked the box and are fine. Nobody is going to police how many nights you sleep in that room. I spent a lot of time away from Oxford - weeks on end - and my supervisor was completely fine with that as long as I did my work and attended the in-person requirements eg Confirmation of Status. Wolfson did not do any kind of bed-check!

It may have changed in the past 10 years but I very much doubt it. Perhaps more relaxed at graduate colleges like Wolfson…

I hope this helps.

That’s a lot of money though, so I’m guessing from that an actual accommodation contract is necessary?

Ask the college directly and explain how you would travel in/the reason for you wanting to live out.

Not the same uni or course, but as a mature student on a post-grad taught course at Cambridge, I didn't want to disrupt my family and my college were really understanding.

Thank you

The assumption is that everyone lives in, but I believe exemptions are possible. It's something to discuss with your department/potential supervisor and your college in advance. As I understand it, it's the Proctors' Office that ultimately approves residency exemptions, and you will need your department and college to sign off on it for them to approve. Have a look on the Proctors' Office website for the forms, or ask them to send you a copy, so you'll have some idea on what criteria you might be excused residency.

I think a lot will depend on whether you're planning to commute in daily, and what your field is. Some of my science DPhil friends essentially lived in their labs for days and weeks at a time when they had some experiment running. I can't see that working as a commute.

Oh, and I think the regulations might be different if you're a PRS.

Thank you very much. It’s social sciences so no lab work.