CooCooCachoo

It's a pretty likely school for GWU students to find placement. Very similar ontological priors. I think GWU is a great university and was in a similar position last year, but decided against going both for financial reasons (their funding is really lackluster and uncertain) and reasons of name recognition. But I think the dept is going places and would love to do a semester there.

Although I think you are technically able to apply as an undergraduate, but to be frank I think you have no chance at all of getting in. It would be a complete waste of your resources. I certainly don't know of any DPhil students in the two years I was in Oxford that did not have a graduate degree. MScs can be standalone degrees in some departments, but the DPIR doesn't really offer them; i.e. there isn't an organized curriculum, with mandatory classes etc. Unlike in other departments, you would only work on a thesis project. It is much more advisable to do an MPhil, which many students use as a springboard onto the DPhil. My understanding is also that it is relatively easy to move from the MPhil into the doctoral programme, and you should also be able to shave one year off. Note though my comments on funding in an earlier post. Good luck!

I was in a similar situation last year, although I was only granted the Fulbright after the admissions process for PhDs (deadlines vary across countries, I guess), and just wanted to add that the Fulbright finding might not alter departmental funding at all. At my university all external funding simply comes on top of what the dept. offers. This might obviously vary per university, so it is worth taking into consideration if/when you are deciding between schools. Congratulations in any case!

There is no distinction between domestic and overseas. There simply is a maximum amount that you will be reimbursed for and as an international visitor that is unlikely to cover the full airfare or, in the case of Singapore, to come anywhere close to covering it.

My funding package stipulates teaching obligations throughout the second to fourth years.

Am at a different school than RWBG, but I would have to second this. Within my cohort research interests vary so vastly, both in terms of theoretical affinity and geographical focus, that it seems futile to have a sense of competitiveness. This seems to be the experience of older cohorts as well. Obviously this will not hold true for all, if even most, departments, but when I was applying I would have found it comforting to know that grad school in the US does not necessarily imply a hypercompetitive working environment. Granted, once people start preparing for the job market dynamics might change.

I meant week, obviously

Your dilemma is a very valid one and I'm not sure what to advise you. I'm originally from the EU, so Oxford wasn't as big a leap for me. I was drawn by a combination of factors, including the name (childhood dream), the substantive focus and the set-up of the program. Mind you, I'm doing an MPhil and never considered staying on for a doctorate, partly because I am unhappy with the department and largely because there is little expertise here on my main research interest. I'll in fact be heading to the US for a PhD in August. May I ask you who you applied to be working with? The quality of professors varies so incredibly wildly, and I think that that should factor very highly in your decision, so perhaps I can shed some light on his/her availability, demeanor, expertise etc. Some people that look great on paper really aren't. As for the costs, keep in mind that Oxford is quite an expensive place to live in. Rent is easily 140 GBP per month (of course there are cheaper places, depending a) on your college, should you go for college accommodation and how high maintenance you are). Do note that you could apply to tutor/teach and to be a research assistant, both of which pay fairly well, are not that difficult to come by and look good on your CV. Unlike in the US, there isn't an obligation or expectation for DPhil-students to teach, by the way.

Basically see birdcamp's answer above. In addition, if you are applying for a DPhil/PhD, then you will need an elaborate research proposal, because the set-up of doctoral programs is different (and shorter).

Internal scholarships are extremely difficult to come by. The university-wide Clarendon is really like a needle in a haystack (and I don't know anyone at the DPIR who has one). Some colleges do provide limited funding. They tend to come with very strict eligibility criteria though, and I'm thinking being Canadian won't help your chances. You would also have to be very smart in selecting your preferred college in the application, since many colleges don't have any money available. There are plenty of students on scholarships, but nearly all of them have external funding.

I'm currently an MPhil student at the DPIR. I'm not checking the forum very regularly these days, but if you have any questions, feel free to send me a PM.

Not to state the obvious, but, eh, you're in the Pol. Science forum. Now while the field might be in need of marketing, it isn't quite Marketing.

I agree with everything RLemkin said. I'm currently in Oxford and can assure you that departmental funding is well-nigh impossible to get. The college system is partly why Oxbridge faculties do not have endowments like the leading US universities have. It's worth looking at fellowships that colleges offer, but these will seldom cover more than a small fraction of the costs + living expenses. Aside from the cost factor, you should consider what you want to get out of a doctoral programme. Note that you will be assumed to have a lot of the research skills and foundational knowledge that PhD programmes in the US actually equip you with; Oxbridge DPhils are very heavy on the self-study side (actually, rather to my dismay, even Oxford MPhils are). This could be a pro or a con depending on your background as well as your research and career objectives.

I have just declined an unfunded offer at GWU.

Most schools don't care about AW, this is true, but I'd still think these scores are a clear red flag (and the fact that you've taken it twice doesn't help in this case, as both scores will be visible, suggesting they aren't a fluke). If you want to do quant work, however, this shouldn't matter. But there seems to be little logic in your selection of schools: some rather traditional/positivist schools alongside unis that are more known for qualitative research. Best of luck!