Supervisors

Supervisors, rotations and the final project 

Supervision arrangements are developed through the first-year rotation process. You will be given information about available rotation projects and eligible supervisors during induction. You will choose two rotation projects with different lead supervisors. One or both of these rotations may grow into your substantive DPhil or PhD project, or it may lead to a new project developed with that group.  

Supervision across institutions 

ILESLA is collaborative. You may work with a supervisory team that includes more than one ILESLA organisation. You may also conduct research in more than one location. However, one member of your supervisory team must be based at the university where you are registered, and you cannot transfer between institutions after acceptance.  

Do I need to contact a supervisor before applying? 

No. You are not required to contact a supervisor before applying. It can be useful, especially if you already have a clear research interest or want to understand whether a particular area might fit ILESLA. But you do not need to secure a supervisor before applying. 

If there are supervisors, groups or partner organisations whose work interests you, you are invited to mention them in your application. This helps us understand your research interests. It does not guarantee that you will work with the supervisors you name, and it is not a requirement for admission. 

How to use the supervisor list

The supervisor list provides a way to explore the ILESLA network. You can use it to see which research themes have supervisors close to your interests; understand which admitting university or partner organisation a supervisor is connected to, and think about whether Oxford, Oxford Brookes and/or The Open University is the right admitting route.

What if I already know who I want to work with? 

Mention them in your application. If you already have a supervisor, group or partner organisation in mind, explain why their research connects with your interests. However, please note that we cannot guarantee that you will be able to work with specific supervisors who are named in your application.