MPhil in Sociology and Demography

About the course

The MPhil introduces students to contemporary theories and research methods on the intersection of sociology and demography. This advanced 21-month programme takes a life-course and multilevel approach, aiming to integrate micro and macro issues in analysing social problems and the causes and consequences of population change.

The MPhil will provide you with a solid foundation for a wide range of careers, including those in academia, preparing you for doctoral work in sociology and demography and research-intense jobs.

The curriculum emphasises.

• population-level analysis and demographic measures
• a life course approach
• sociological analysis as the key approach to explanation
• advanced quantitative methods.

This emphasis is reflected in the compulsory papers. Optional papers and the thesis will reflect either a more specialised topic (eg gender, family and fertility, migration and integration of migrants, health and mortality, intergenerational relationships) or methodological work.

Assessment

The Sociological Analysis paper is assessed by an unseen examination. The Demographic Analysis paper is assessed through a combination of examination and assignments. Statistical Methods is assessed through a combination of a test and assignments. The Life Course Research paper and Research Design paper are assessed via a combination of methods. The two optional papers are assessed by unseen examination or appropriate coursework. The Replication project is assessed via assignments.

At the end of the second year, you will need to submit an MPhil thesis of up to 30,000 words. This must be a new and substantial analysis of a sociological and/or demographic topic.

Graduate destinations

Graduates often continue with a DPhil at Oxford or doctoral studies at highly-ranked US and continental programmes. But the Department of Sociology also celebrates the substantial number of its graduates who find placement in research-intensive occupations in the public sector (eg national statistical offices, government departments and regional/local authorities), in international organisations, think tanks, and in private sector occupations in which quantitative skills are highly valued (consulting, market research, health research, social research, and insurance companies).

As a minimum, applicants should hold or be predicted to achieve the equivalent of the following UK qualifications or their equivalent: a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours in a social science subject. However, entrance is very competitive and most successful applicants have a first-class degree or the equivalent. The department will only consider applicants who have an undergraduate degree in arts, humanities or science subjects if they can demonstrate a strong interest in sociology and demography, as taught at Oxford. For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA sought is 3.5 out of 4.0. However, most successful applicants have a GPA of 3.7 or above.