What the updated Oxford site has to say about the SOP

I'm going to add this to the designated section of the site on applying, but it might be helpful to have it out and front here too.

 STATEMENT OF PURPOSE 

If you are applying for a taught programme, i.e. any PGDip, PGCert or Masters (incl. BPhil, BCL and MJur) other than the MSt programmes in Legal Research and Socio-Legal Research, you should submit a brief ‘statement of purpose’ explaining your motivation for graduate study at Oxford. You may wish to consider the following when writing your statement:

• What relevant academic, research, or practical experience do you have?
• Why are you applying to this particular programme of study?
• Which areas of study within the subject interest you?

The statement of purpose should be one page long. There is no specific word limit, unless otherwise stated by the department, and there are no restrictions on font size or line spacing, although the document should be clearly legible. 

The statement must be written in English, unless otherwise permitted by the department. An English translation by a third party from your own work is not acceptable unless explicitly permitted by your own department. The statement must be entirely your own original work, except where clearly indicated.