Residency Requirements

[Hashem1]

I'm in the process of looking at and, I hope, eventually applying to grad programs in medieval middle eastern studies (or history, religion, et al). One of my top picks is Oxford. The major draw back with Oxford, like any other international school, is the price tag; it's possible, but I wouldn't be able to stay in Oxfordshire for the duration of the MPhil and DPhil (i.e., 5 years).

However, I was looking over Oxford's residency requirements and it looks like I only have to live in Oxfordshire (and within a certain radius from the University at that) for three years; two years for the MPhil (=MA) and one year during the three to four year-long DPhil (=PhD), assuming I were to transition directly from the MPhil to the DPhil.

Does this mean that I can return to the US and complete my DPhil at "home" (with the 2-3 years remaining)? It would save a TREMENDOUS amount of money on college fees (these are additional to the normal University tuition and fees) and living costs, and I could continue research at Yale or Harvard, etc. (I live in New England), as a visiting research student.

Is this kind of flexibility allowed with schools that have such residency requirements?

[didelot]

It is for mine. Many people, especially if you apply for outside funding to complete your dissertation writing years, will relocate. I'm planning on doing this after my residency requirements are up.

[DPhilBound]

I am considering obtaining a DPhil in Management Research starting Fall 2012. Residency is a significant issue because I currently live with my wife and family, and work for a large firm in the U.S. I plan to continue working for this firm while completing the DPhil as a significant part of this work applies directly to my planned DPhil research and thesis.

Oxford U residency requirements could become onerous (time from my job and family, plus the added expenses). I understand residency is a means to bind the student to the activities of the university and fellow students -- and I accept this social and academic obligation. That said, is there some advice about what are my minimum residency obligations, and how I might minimize the 'sting' of the residency requirement?

Some things I do know but need to have confirmed. First, there is a dispensation form that if approved reduces residency from 6 terms to 3 terms. I understand that for each term, residency is required for 6 weeks. This is a total of 18 weeks during an expected two year effort to obtain a DPhil.

Do I understand the requirements correctly? If not, then please advise. Who can I write at Oxford U to receive confirmation of the residency requirements?

Thank you in advance.

[2400]

Hashem1,

You can live outside of Oxford once you complete the residency requirement. You could then have supervision meetings with your supervisor via skype, if this is something your supervisor is comfortable with. I also have some friends who work on their dissertations from 'home' and come to campus a few times a year for supervision meetings. It is possible.

It is also possible, in some cases, to be away from campus during the residency requirement. For example, if you were working on fieldwork in another country during the second year.

[DPhilBound]

Thank you for your answer Hashem1.

I understand that my School is considering placing a limit on the amount of time that students can work during the DPhil program. Does anyone know about this requirement?

DPhilBound

[2400]

DPhilbound,

I think your school's secretary would be the best person to ask about a possible limit to a students working hours since each department has its own rules. I would think it would depend where you are at in the DPhil. If you have finished the residency requirement and are working on writing up the dissertation from 'home' I'm not sure the school could impose a limit to your working hours. However, there are usually time limits for submitting parts of the DPhil (again this varies by program), so if you can make the milestones toward the degree and hold down a job, it doesn't seem like there would be a problem. Also, if your school does have a requirement about working hours, it is possible that this requirement could be negotiated or waived with your supervisor. So, I would check first with the school, then if you already have a supervisor you could check with him/her.

If you are talking about living in Oxford as an international student, then there are a limited number of hours you can work on an international student visa. As far as I know, that limit is 20 hours/week. But, this may have changed recently, so I would double check with the student immigration officers at Oxford who know all the rules.

[DPhilBound]

Thanks Caffeinated. Any other thoughts out there?