Athanasius

Hello all, As an American with M*s from a TT US school and an evangelical seminary who's applying to both UK and US TT programs, this question is very interesting to me. Out of the schools to which I am applying, I prefer at least one UK school over all the US TT programs. However, I've seen a trend on Grad Cafe that is a bit baffling. The "UK PhDs are looked down upon" claim is simply nonsense. This pops up on Grade Cafe often, and I seldomly observe it anywhere else. Let's look at a few issues with this claim: 1. Oxford and Cambridge are well-represented in American TT religion/theology departments. I recently checked most USTTs (Duke, PTS, Emory, ND, Yale, Chicago, CUA, and Harvard). There were 10 profs from Oxford and 6 from Cambridge, plus several from other UK schools (Edinburgh, Aberdeen, St. Andrews) occupying spots in TT US faculties. Many of these were relatively new hires. Excepting the number of profs that any particular school hires from its own program (e.g., PTS hires a lot of PTS PhDs), Oxbridge is better-represented in TT American programs than several TT American programs (certainly more than Emory and CUA). (The reason I except these numbers is because, otherwise, I would have to include the faculties of Oxford and Cambridge in the count to level the playing field.) 2. Oxbridge has some of the greatest scholars in the world. Can anyone actually dispute this? Often times, the faculties at Oxbridge are superior to many of their American competitors. Durham and St. Andrews are also formidable. 3. Ranking: Now, I'm not a big fan of rankings. But, because most rankings rely on reputation, citations/publications, facilities, etc., they are relevant here. Does it matter that Oxford and Durham outrank most all American TTs? I think so. 4. Oxbridge has a high acceptance standard, on par with US TTs. For example, the Oxford DPhil has a 3.8 GPA minimum and—for US students—takes the GRE with expectations similar to that of North American programs. It's true that they can take a few more students than most US TT programs. But it's still very small. Moreover, one must have her/his thesis proposal ready—and defend it in an interview—to gain admission. For US apps, this is not an issue, making the app process easier by comparison. 5. What Prof at Oxford, Cambridge, St. Andrews, etc. is going to hide (or let her advisee hide) from critical questions? What's more, most profs at American evangelical schools (e.g. Fuller, Trinity, Asbury) address historical criticism, redaction, etc. with enthusiasm. Ironically, the TT US program I attended were so concerned with literary criticism that historical criticism was often pushed aside. At my evangelical school, Profs majored in historical criticism. One caveat: although evangelical schools engage with critical issues, they usually do so with an apologetic slant. Will anyone seriously claim that Joel Green, Craig Keener, David DeSilva, and others hide from critical scholarship? Lol. I think some of these criticisms to the contrary come from folks that are simply too unfamiliar with Evangelical schools or UK schools to make a good assessment. 6. The "UK schools are looked down upon" claim usually comes with a criticism of conservative scholars. I may be wrong here but, often times, these criticisms are adjoined to a prejudicial disdain for more conservative scholars. The notion seems to be something like 'conservatives hide out in US evangelical and UK schools because they can't hack it in good (more liberal-friendly) US departments. Of course, that's utter nonsense. The faculties of the best US schools have—sometimes a majority—of scholars who could ideologically fit with most evangelical schools. Does anyone want to argue that Richard Hays, Ross Wagner, Brittany Wilson, Kavin Rowe (Duke) or John Fitzgerald and David Lincicum (ND) or Beverly Gaventa and Clifton Black (PTS) couldn't work comfortably at Oxford or Cambridge in the UK or Fuller, Asbury, or Trinity in the US? Likewise, could John Barclay, Markus Bockmuehl, Rowan Williams, N.T. Wright, etc. not hack it at US TT programs? No: making this a 'conservatives hide in the UK' issue is simply nonsense. 7. UK departments assume that their candidates have done the requisite work to make themselves ready for research and writing. Thus, you're treated like a junior scholar who doesn't need three extra years of hand-holding to ensure that you do your chores. However, if you need time to expand your knowledge of any particular field, you have 3–4 years to 'choose your own adventure.' US programs usually give you a year to write your dissertation (year 4 is usually encumbered with teaching). Thus, at a UK program, you can read well beyond your subject, engage in plenty of seminars, learn more languages, etc. There is more time and more freedom. This makes Americans nervous, I suppose; they would rather be told what to do and prove what they've done via a transcript rather than publications. There is simply no reason to believe that TT UK programs are inferior to TT US programs. Its time to put that bit of snobbery to rest. These are two different systems that appeal to students for different—but valid—reasons. Lastly, I would like to echo what a few folks have said here: I don't think it's possible to do scholarship without engaging with critical scholarship. However, maybe I am misunderstanding your statement. Whatever the case, for job prospects, I suggest choosing an elite UK program (especially Oxbridge) over an American evangelical PhD. Best wishes to you on your choice and future scholarship!

One ND prof told me that the interviewees had already been chosen back in mid-January. Of course, I have no idea when they planned on telling those folks. But, I assume they have already done so. An ND prof also told me that they had cut the number of new PhD students in half. This seems to be the trend at most schools this season.

Congratulations!! You have some great options. Well done!

So sorry to hear about folks who didn't get in to their top choices, or, for some, any choices. Remember that a rejection doesn't reflect your potential or intellect. A couple of notes for encouragement: I did my first masters at a TT school in the US; the Ph.D. program there is notoriously difficult to get into. A sort of true legend floated around there when I was attending. One student who graduated not long before I started was rejected outright from their PhD program in NT. He waited another year and applied again. He was accepted without funding and turned it down. He applied the third year and was accepted. Turns out, he was incredible in the program. He finished quickly, wrote an outstanding diss. and was immediately hired by one of the best schools in the world. He was one of the most successful students in recent years and yet he was rejected. Many of the great scholars that have shared their application stories with me have told me about the many rejections they received. These same scholars have won awards, edited prestigious volumes, written groundbreaking monographs, etc. So, whatever you do, don't allow rejection to knock the air out of you for too long. If you care enough to anguish on grad cafe about this, you probably care enough to be good at this. Take heart fellow sojourners.

Thank you for the response and congratulations! I am finishing up my app for Cambridge at the moment. I know that I missed the funding deadline, but I am going to take my chances with outside funding if I get in. I just wonder whether or not applying after the funding deadline decreases my chances for admission? Edit: did you interview?

Anyone applying to Oxford for New Testament? I saw some results posted but I have no idea whether those apps were for a different subject area than mine. I'm pretty sure Oxford doesn't do interviews. Can anyone confirm or this?

Hello All, I recently submitted a few applications (Phd, New Testament). My writing sample is fairly strong, I think. However, after I submitted it I noticed a few mistakes (a couple typos and repeated words) in the footnotes. I suppose that I left a few redundancies while I was reformatting the paper for submission. Does anyone know if admissions committees usually pay terribly close attention to footnotes or if they are forgiving in this area? Many thanks in advance.

Does anyone have an informed perspective on PhD/DPhil expectations in the UK? I'm an American, but Oxford is my first choice (with funding). Is there any indication that supply and/or demand with wane in the UK or Europe?

I know this thread is a bit old, but I've wrestled with this question for some years. I now have PhD apps coming up and have decided to apply to Oxbridge and about 5 R1 US schools. A few things: 1. There seems to be a good bit of snobbery to look our for on both sides of the Atlantic. Some brits--like one Prof from Cambridge recently told me--are suspicious of many American programs while many American Profs with American PhDs will look down on anything not American. 2. While xypathos is certainly correct that some folks go to Aberdeen--which is a notch of so below Oxbridge--because it's easier to get into than American R1s, it's also often the case that UK schools are the top choice for plenty Americans because those Americans want to work with certain profs. And schools like Aberdeen often have world class scholars. Think, for example, of someone like Joel Green who studied under I. Howard Marshall at Aberdeen or Ben Witherington who studied under the great C.K. Barrett at Durham. 3. When the word 'conservative' comes into play as a negative point, my eyebrow immediately shoots up. "Conservative" in no way indicates a lower bar of academic rigor or competitiveness. Certainly one wouldn't argue that Markus Bockmuehl at Oxford or Simon Gathercole at Cambridge are light weights. Moreover, Notre Dame is notably conservative. You'll find evangelical scholars at Duke (Ross Wagner, for example). But, it seems true that conservatives will have less of a headache at UK PhD programs since A. many of these programs are more conservative and 2. as a purely research degree you'll not have to fight through two or more years of classroom debates, taking classes from Profs that hold animosity toward your convictions, etc. 4. Finding a job should be easier with a degree from Emory. US programs, as xypathos mentioned above, require that you develop a broad base of competency so that you hit the ground running with proven teaching experience and the assurance that you can teach outside of your dissertation topic. However, in the UK, you do have a good bit longer to write your dissertation. You can use that time to pick up adjunct work, tutoring jobs, etc. to make up the difference. And, if you are disciplined, you can attend seminars, read and even publish outside of your dissertation area to demonstrate broad competency. This is an especially likely option if you do a rigorous ThM which should give you a few rough drafts for articles. Thing is--although that most Americans seem unaware of it--UK programs give you ample opportunity to get much of the same exposure as the US programs, but they allow you to gain it on your own time and by your own initiation. In the Uk, it's 'choose your own adventure.' (Some brits may even look down on the extra course work as a kind of extended academic adolescence by which you require hand-holding.) There, it's more of a 'you're an adult and a scholar, you shouldn't need two more years of coursework to make you learn what you need to learn.' How a college or seminary views this latter point is difficult to anticipate. Aberdeen and Durham have pretty good representation in American schools. Oxbridge is found at every level, from the Ivies to small bible colleges. I think much of the question comes down to whether you feel that you would work better (or at least just as well) by yourself so as to produce a substantial CV that will convince schools that you can teach what they need of you. The second issue concerns whether any of the Profs at the UK or American schools provide connections/networking opportunities for the schools that you would like to work at in the future. Typically, American schools are more often conversant with other American scholars. I know it's a bit late, but I wanted to offer what I've gleaned in the last couple of years. Hope all is well and you have peace wherever you go.

This is Great! Thank you for that. Reading through these right now. All the best to you as well! :)

Hello all, I plan on applying to NT PhD programs this upcoming fall season. I'm a bit in the dark on the SOP. Of course, schools usually give a broad description of what they expect. But, does anyone have pointed advice for--or links to examples of--successful SOPs? If it helps, I plan on applying to Duke (Phd and ThD), PTS, Emory, Harvard, Oxford, and Cambridge. Many thanks!