BPhil in Oxford without a 1st: should I apply?

[PhilosophyMatters]

I’m currently doing my 4th year undergraduate degree in the University of Edinburgh. My average last year has been only 61% and this year it has been 70% so far. I think in the best case scenario I can graduate with 65% which is below their minimum requirements. 

I have some extenuating circumstances because of mental illness. I have been taking medication for the oast 3 years and also have been doing counselling. 

Should I bother applying to Oxford? How can I improve my chances? I don’t have much to stand out. I’ve not received any awards or been published or anything. All that I have is work experience in my university as a resident assistant. Also a deep and sincere live for philosophy of course. I’m also an international student if that matters. 

[Scoots]

You probably won’t get funding, but if your recommendations and writing sample are good enough, you stand a chance of getting in. Ask your recommenders to mention the extenuating circumstances, rather than explaining them yourself. Good luck!

[PhilosophyMatters]

7 hours ago, Scoots said:

You probably won’t get funding, but if your recommendations and writing sample are good enough, you stand a chance of getting in. Ask your recommenders to mention the extenuating circumstances, rather than explaining them yourself. Good luck!

 

thank you for your reply. Btw I am very new to this website, is it mostly centred around American students? Or is the content also relevant to people who are from the UK?  Many thanks for your help 

[Duns Eith]

14 hours ago, PhilosophyMatters said:

thank you for your reply. Btw I am very new to this website, is it mostly centred around American students? Or is the content also relevant to people who are from the UK?  Many thanks for your help 

Most users are from US/Canada, but we have enough users from UK, Australia, NZ, etc. to not ignore a UK system question (as yours was explicitly).

That said, I think the advice was sufficiently sensitive to your question.