The hardest part about studying at Oxford was getting funding, says Ph.D. student Gor Vartazaryan

If you are planning an Erasmus stay or another internship abroad during your studies, be sure to read this interview.
Gor Vartazaryan is a doctoral student at the Faculty of Law, Department of Constitutional Law. In addition to law, he studied political science at the Faculty of Social Sciences and is currently enrolled in a one‑year MA programme in Socio‑Legal Studies at the University of Oxford. His empirical research focuses on the behaviour of judges at the European Court of Human Rights, in particular on dissenting opinions. What is it like to study at Oxford — and why should you try it, too?

Why did you decide to study this topic at Oxford, and not in Strasbourg, where you’d be directly at the source?

That’s an excellent question. It was my big dream to study at one of the top universities in the world. I considered the Ivy League schools (the eight most prestigious US universities: Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, UPenn, Yale) and Oxbridge (the abbreviation used for the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge).

I found the Centre for Socio‑Legal Studies really interesting because they study law as a social phenomenon and, at the same time, your studies there usually involve collecting data somewhere in the field. That means that my focus on the Strasbourg Court was perfect because that is where I did my fieldwork. I’m going to fly to Strasbourg in a couple of months to collect data for my research. This is why I didn’t really consider Strasbourg itself and, in the end, I only applied to Oxford University.

Was Oxford your own choice, or is it part of the standard offer of the Law Faculty?

It was my own choice. I knew that a study stay abroad is one of the requirements in the doctoral programme, so I decided to make my stay a little bit longer and gain a more valuable international experience.

For me, an MPhil (Master of Philosophy) programme at the Centre for Socio‑Legal Studies was perfect because it only takes one year. That means I will still have enough time for my dissertation while being able to research a topic very close to it. There are overlaps between my dissertation and my Oxford project, which makes it an ideal combination for me.

Tell us a little bit more about your Oxford centre.

The Centre admits students who apply for research degrees. A research degree is designed for students who already have their own research project and focus primarily on it throughout their studies. The courses are meant to help them complete their research at the highest possible level and on time.

In contrast, a taught degree is a traditional programme with compulsory and elective subjects, regular seminars, assignments, and exams. After five years at the Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Social Sciences at Charles University, I felt the need to leave that traditional system. That’s why I chose a research degree.

The Centre hosts both doctoral and one‑year master’s students, as well as visiting scholars from all around the world. Academics come each semester to present their research and contribute to the intellectual environment. Formally, the Centre is part of the Oxford Faculty of Law, but it operates as a relatively independent research unit with its own premises and specialised courses.

How difficult is it to get in?

Statistically, there were 170 applicants in my year, of whom only eight were admitted — three to the one‑year MA programme and five to the doctoral programme. The requirements are very strict, but I believe we have many talented students at our Faculty who could meet them.

The application process itself is quite complex. It has two stages: first, you need to obtain an offer from Oxford; second, you must secure funding, which is often the harder part.

How does the offer process work?

The application deadline is usually at the end of January, and after that you wait several months for the decision. If you receive an offer and accept it, you are legally obliged to pay the tuition fee, which in my case was around £31,000 — roughly 860,000 CZK. That’s a serious commitment, so you really have to think carefully before accepting the offer and starting the search for funding.

Where did you look for funding?

I made a list of all scholarships available to Czech students and applied for them. Many applications were rejected, but I eventually succeeded with support from the Sekyra Foundation, the Law Faculty Foundation in Prague, and mobility funds available to doctoral students. I also received substantial support from the Oxford Faculty of Law.

I should mention a new initiative — the Oxbridge Scholarship for Czech and Slovak students — which aims to make studying at Oxford and Cambridge more accessible. Honestly, securing funding was in some respects more demanding than the admissions process itself.

What is a typical day like for you at Oxford?

It’s very intense. During the day, I attend lectures, work in the office, and meet with my supervisor or other academics. Evenings are often filled with official dinners or social events — but also with reading academic papers, working on assignments, and preparing my research. It’s a challenging but incredibly stimulating combination of academic and social life.

Where are you in your studies right now?

Oxford divides the programme into three semesters. Although I am technically only at the end of the first third, I started in September and will finish next September. By early September, I have to complete my research and then defend it before a board.

Can you describe your research in more detail?

I focus on the case‑law of the European Court of Human Rights in the area of migration and border protection, with a particular emphasis on dissenting opinions. The Court is currently under considerable political pressure: in May 2025, nine Council of Europe member states, and later in December, twenty‑seven member states, formally urged the Court to adopt a more moderate stance in migration‑related cases.

As a result, the Court has become more closed to external scrutiny, which makes this research especially timely. My goal is to understand how judges approach dissenting opinions in these highly sensitive cases.

Is this research connected to your doctoral dissertation?

Yes. My doctoral dissertation at the Faculty of Law in Prague focuses on the reasons why judges decide to dissent. The data I collect in Strasbourg will be highly valuable for both projects, although the Oxford research focuses more on judges’ perceptions of their role in politically sensitive cases.

How would you compare Charles University and Oxford University?

The biggest difference lies in the teaching style. At Oxford, seminars are heavily discussion‑based, and students are expected to contribute actively, drawing on extensive prior reading and their own research. Essays are also a key component and require clear structure and persuasive argumentation. This approach differs significantly from the more traditional format we are used to in Prague.

How would you describe Oxford as a place?

Oxford feels less like a university in a city and more like a city within a university. Many buildings in the city centre belong to the university, and the historical architecture creates a unique, almost fairy‑tale atmosphere.

What would you recommend to students considering studying abroad?

Erasmus is a fantastic opportunity, but for students who dream of studying at top universities, I would advise them not to give up. The admissions process is demanding and there are no shortcuts, but the experience is absolutely worth it and invaluable in the long run.