OCMS Research Degrees Programme

OCMS Research Degrees Programme

through the Middlesex University

Application for MPhil/PhD by Research

Thank you for seeking admission to the Middlesex University Research Degrees Programme of OCMS. In the following pages you are required to provide information to support your application to this Programe. As a part of the admission process we will contact your referees independently for their recommendations. Once your application file is complete it will be presented to the Admissions Committee for consideration.

Your application will be reviewed by the OCMS Admissions Committee, admissions decisions are based on a composite of information including your previous academic performance, comments from referees and proposed research statements and experience for the OCMS Programme.

If successful, you will be invited to begin your studies within a year of acceptance by attendance at a 5 week Research Induction School, which are held twice a year in April and October.

Please include the following with this application form:

Copies of all academic qualifications, transcripts and certificates. □
A letter from your employers indicating their agreement to your study. □
A passport sized photographs or electronic photograph. □
Proof of linguistic proficiency where appropriate. □
Proof of funding of full academic fees. □
A 750 - 1,000 word essay on your proposed research topic. □
A copy of your passport including UK visa if appropriate. □

In addition, a non-refundable application processing fee of £25 (UK Sterling twenty five pounds/ $60 US Dollars) must accompany your application. If you live in a country where it is difficult to arrange international currency transfers please indicate this on your application and, at the discretion of the Admissions Tutor, this fee may be added to the cost of your first year of enrolment.

Completed applications may be sent to:
Admissions Office / Telephone: / +44 (0) 1865 556 071
OCMS, St Philip and St James Church
Woodstock Road, Oxford,
OX2 6HR
United Kingdom / E-Mail:
Website: /
www.ocms.ac.uk

PERSONAL DETAILS

Surname /Family Name: / First Name:
Title: / First name as known: / Other forenames:
Date of Birth (dd/mm/yy): / Gender: / Marital Status:
Nationality (as stated on your passport): / Ethnic Origin if different from nationality:
Permanent Residential Address:
Country:
Postcode: / Address for Correspondence:
Country:
Postcode:
If you are non-UK/EEA national and currently resident in the UK, please state the date you arrived and any conditions of residence stated on your passport or visa.
Arrival date:
Visa Type:
Visa Expiry date:
Conditions:
Telephone number: / Skype:
Email address:
Spouse’s Given Name: / Gender: / Date of Birth:
Dependent Children
Given Names: / Gender: / Date of Birth:

QUALIFICATIONS

Standard entry

An applicant for registration for the degree of MPhil or MPhil with possibility of transfer to PhD shall normally hold a first or second class honours degree of the University, a university in the UK or a qualification which is regarded by the University as equivalent to such an Honours degree.

Candidates who do not hold such a qualification, but hold a master’s degree relevant to the proposed research project awarded by a university in the UK will also be accepted for standard entry.

Non-standard entry

An applicant holding qualifications other than those above shall be considered on his/her merits and in relation to the nature and scope of the programme of work proposed. OCMS looks for evidence of the candidate’s equivalent ability, research skills, background knowledge and training in relation to the proposed research. Professional experience, publications, written reports or other appropriate evidence of their accomplishment and potential to undertake sound research at postgraduate level are taken into consideration.

Applicants must provide clear documentary evidence of their academic qualifications.

Please list the academic and professional qualifications you have been awarded since leaving secondary School.

University, Institution, College or Professional awarding body, and Country / Qualification / Subject / Result/Level / Language / Date Awarded

RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS

Please provide details of any research publications that you have written / contributed to.

CHURCH BACKGROUND

If you are involved in a Church Community please provide details here.

Church Membership:

Please choose from the following: Anglican/Episcopal; Assemblies of God; Baptist; Evangelical; Independent; Methodist; Orthodox; Pentecostal; Presbyterian/Reformed/Congregationalist; Roman Catholic; Seventh Day Adventist;

If other, please specify:

Role in the church:

LINGUISTIC PROFICIENCY

Applicants must be sufficiently proficient in English to complete the programme of study and to prepare and defend a thesis. English proficiency of candidates can be achieved by;

·  Being a national of a majority English speaking country.

Majority English - speaking countries are defined as follows: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom and USA.

or

·  A minimum IELTS score in academic English of 6.5, with a minimum of 6.5 in the reading and written components.

or

·  Successful completion of a full Bachelors or Masters degree from an approved University that has been taught and assessed in English,

Approved Universities are:

1.Any University accredited by a government of a majority English speaking country

2.The following Universities based in Hong Kong and Singapore

o  Singapore Polytechnic

o  Ngee Ann Polytechnic

o  Nanyang Polytechnic

o  Temasek Polytechnic

o  Republic Polytechnic

Applicants will be asked to provide such evidence as is deemed necessary by OCMS.

First Language:
Other Languages:
Proficiency in English:
For how many years have your educational studies been in the medium of English?
If English is not your first language have you taken an English language test?
If yes, please attach transcript (Language tests are valid for 2 years):
If no, when will you take a test?
Test / Overall Grade/Score / Lowest individual score / Date / Place

CURRENT EMPLOYMENT[1]

Company/Organisation Name: / Address of Employer:
Country
Category of work / Full or Part time:
Job Title: / Date of employment:
Role and brief description of Key Responsibilities:
Skills, training and knowledge gained from your professional work that have equipped you to undertake (or to embark upon) research at post-graduate level:

PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT[2]

Please list your most significant employment history.

Organisation / Address / Job Title / Dates / Responsibilities

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Please indicate in £ Sterling how you propose to finance your research studies at OCMS. Provide either your banking details, information from employer or proof of your scholarship.

(This must be filled in for you to be considered for Admission)

Annual OCMS Fee for 2016/2017 Part time £5,950

There is an institutional subsidy of the standard fee during the OCMS stage for those from the Global South.

Source of Funding / Amount Raised / Percentage of Total
Personal Sources:
Your Employer:
Your local Church / Denomination:
Relatives / Contacts:
Scholarships / Bursaries: applied for / granted
Funding Agency:
Amount still to be raised

Please list any individuals or organisations whom you will contact to request financial support if your application is successful.

Name / Phone number / E-mail address / Postal address

REFERENCES

OCMS requires a minimum of two, and normally three, satisfactory confidential reports that identify those features of the your academic attainment, professional work, training or other experience which demonstrate that you have the aptitude, capability and personal qualities to undertake a research degree and the potential to develop the requisite skills, knowledge and training for research. For example, that you have the capability to critically assess evidence, to think independently and to develop competence in research methods.
To ensure you identify the appropriate referee a sample reference is detailed below. – Please do not send these to the referee this will be sent by the admissions team.

Person 1

Academic or Professional:
Relationship to applicant:
Full Name:
Title:
Position:
Postal address:
Country:
E-mail address:
Telephone number:

Person 2

Academic or Professional:
Relationship to applicant:
Full Name:
Title:
Position:
Postal address:
Country:
E-mail address:

Person 3

Academic or Professional:
Relationship to applicant:
Full Name:
Title:
Position:
Postal address:
Country:
E-mail address:
What evidence have you seen of the applicant’s motivation for and commitment to study?
What evidence have you seen of the applicant’s ability to understand complex problems, to understand, analyse and
interact with others to address critical issues?
What evidence have you seen of the applicant’s ability to express themselves:
• in spoken form?
• in written form?
What evidence have you seen of the applicant’s ability:
• to handle abstract ideas?
• to relate their learning to particular situations?
• to look at issues from a variety of perspectives before reaching a conclusion?
• to carefully gather and use data to present their position logically and coherently?
What evidence have you seen of the applicant’s ability:
• to question assumptions?
• to provide solid evidence to express their convictions?
What evidence have you seen of the applicant’s capacity to understand and to fairly handle ideas and opinions different from their own? Do they show the ability to present their disagreements constructively?
What evidence have you seen of the applicant’s ability to cope with criticism?
What evidence have you seen of the applicant showing particular imagination or originality of mind?
How would you estimate the applicant’s capacity to cope with theological and cultural diversity?
How well is the applicant able to apply biblical material to specific situations that reveal both a scholarly understanding of the Bible and its relevance to the practical situation.
What do you see as the applicant's
• main strengths?
• main weaknesses?

HEALTH/HEALTH INSURANCE

How would you describe your general state of health?
Have you suffered any serious illness or undergone medical treatment in the last five years? If yes, please explain:
Are you currently on any prescribed medication? If yes, please explain:
If you are not eligible for free health care benefits in the UK (if unsure, please refer to note and website below), you are required to submit documentation of private health insurance coverage with your application.
Note: Access to free health care in the UK is restricted to people who qualify under UK law. If you, or any dependents who accompany you, are not entitled to free health care in the UK each person must take out private health insurance for the duration of their travel and time in the UK. Please refer to https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-overseas-visitors-hospital-charging-regulations
Please specify any physical or learning disability which might necessitate special arrangements or facilities:
Physical disability
Learning disability

MODE OF STUDY

Due to UKVI visa regulations OCMS cannot offer Tier 4 students full-time enrolment into OCMS during the OCMS Stage. Instead we offer flexible residency to all students, the only proviso being that they fulfil the 6 weeks per annum minimum residence requirement, or submit an approved alternative residence plan and fulfil a minimum 2 weeks residence.

Upon registration for a University research degree, a student can register either as a full-time or as a part-time student.

Preferred mode of study upon registration with university:

Part time □ Full time □

EXTERNAL RESEARCH RESOURCES

To pursue research externally please provide evidence that you will have access to adequate facilities and resources to pursue your research in their locality, including IT, internet and library facilities.

YOUR PROPOSED RESEARCH INTEREST AREA

Your proposed research interest or question must be related to the broad definition of mission studies and fall within the aims of OCMS and the Programme.

The research interest or question must have the potential to develop into a viable research proposal that is capable of completion within the normal registration periods for a research degree.

Please give below an outline of what you would propose to work on as a research student at OCMS. Please state the area, the research question, and why you would want to work on it. Note also any work that you may already have done on this topic.

(NB: whilst this proposal will not be binding on you it will give us an indication of your thinking at this stage.)

Please answer the following questions in a short academic essay, including bibliography (750-1000 words)

·  What is it that you wish to research? – Please state this in the form of a research question as you begin your essay.
·  Why is this research important to you, or to others? – Tell us how your topic is connected to literature and other research you have done. How do you expect this research to make a contribution to the wider body of knowledge in your discipline.
·  What motivates you to do this research? – If your research is practitioner based explain how that is relevant to your study.
·  Have you done any previous research / study / reading / writing in this area? If so give a brief description of your progress please include a bibliography of at least 25 sources relevant to your topic.
Title:
Type your essay here:

ADMISSION INTERVIEW

All applicants for enrolment into OCMS are to be interviewed either face-to-face, by Skype, or by telephone conference. Interviews are normally conducted by 2 members of faculty, of whom has research experience relevant to the applicant’s research interest.

A written report of the interview is included in the applicant’s portfolio for consideration by the Admissions Committee.

Dates for Research Induction School are below; please indicate if you have date preference for enrollment

3rd April – 5th May 2017 □

2nd October –3rd November 2017 □

DECLARATION

I confirm that the information provided in this application is true, accurate and complete: No information requested or other material information has been omitted.

I consent to the OCMS contacting the referees supplied. (Please tick the box) □

Data Protection statement: I consent to the processing of this data for educational purposes under the provisions of the 1998 Data Protection Act. I agree that OCMS may store and process by computer or otherwise, all personal information supplied with this form for the purpose of enrolment at OCMS and registration for a research degree. (Please tick the box) □

If I am submitting my application online, I will post a hand signed form with application fees and other documents after completing the online application. (Please tick the box) □