Honour School of Oriental Studies

Differences from 2017/18 to 2022/23

A

  • 1. The main subjects of the examination in the Honour School of Oriental Studies shall be Arabic, Chinese, Egyptology, Egyptology and Ancient Near Eastern Studies, Hebrew, Japanese, Jewish Studies, Persian, Sanskrit, and Turkish, together with such other subjects as may be determined by the Board of the Faculty of OrientalAsian and Middle Eastern Studies.

  • 2. Every candidate in the examination shall be required to offer one of the main subjects listed above: candidates offering one of the above languages shall also be required to show an adequate knowledge of the literature and history of the civilization concerned, and candidates offering a history subject listed above shall also be required to show an adequate knowledge of the language concerned.

  • 3. No candidate shall be admitted to examination in this school unless hethey or she hashave either passed or been exempted from the First Public Examination.

  • 4. In the ClassResults List issued by the examiners in the Honour School of Oriental Studies the main subject and (where appropriate) subsidiary language offered by each candidate who obtains Honours shall be indicated.

  • 5. Any candidate whose name has been placed in the ClassResults List, upon the result of the examination in any one of the subjects mentioned in clause 1, shall be permitted to offer himself or herselfthemself for examination in any other of the subjects mentioned in the same clause at the examination in either the next year or the next year but one, provided always that hethey or she hashave not exceeded six terms from the date on which he or shethey first obtained Honours in a Final Honour School, and provided that no such candidate shall offer any of the main subjects already offered by him or herthem in the School of Oriental Studies.

  • 6. The examination in this school shall be under the supervision of the Board of the Faculty of OrientalAsian and Middle Eastern Studies, which shall make regulations concerning it subject always to the preceding clauses of this sub-section.

B

  • 1. Teaching for some option subjects and languages may not be available in every academic year
  •  
  • 2. Candidates, except in the case of Arabic, proposing to offer a Special Subject not included in the lists below must obtain the approval of the board both for their subject and for the treatises or documents (if any) which they propose to offer with it.

     Except in the case of Arabic, Chinese and Japanese, if the candidate so desires and the boardBoard of the Faculty thinks it appropriate, such a Special Subject may be examined in the form of a dissertation.

  • All

  •  
  • 3. dissertation titlesDissertations must be uploaded to the University approved online assessment platform by 12 noon on the BoardFriday of Week 10, Hilary Term of the Faculty of Oriental Studies.  Applications for approval must be made by Monday Week 0 of Hilary Term in thefinal year of the exams. 

    For the submission of all dissertations,  two typewritten copies and an electronic copy in PDF format in a memory stick or CD, of the dissertation and a signed declaration form certifying that the dissertation is the candidate’s own work  must be sent to the Chair of Examiners, Honour School of Oriental Studies, c/o Examination Schools, High Street, Oxford, not later than 12 noon on Friday of the tenth week of the Hilary Term preceding the examination. The dissertation must not bear the candidate’s name, but only the examination number. Dissertations previously submitted for the Honour School of Oriental Studies may be resubmitted. No dissertation will be accepted if it has already been submitted, wholly or substantially, for another Honour School or degree of this University, or for a degree of any other institution. The dissertation shall not exceed 15,000 words. 

  • All

  •  
  • 4. applications for approval by the board must be sent to the Secretary of the Board of the Faculty of Oriental Studies, Oriental Institute, on the date published in the course handbook and must be accompanied by two copies of a list of the treatises or documents (if any) offered.

    All candidates must give notice, on their examination entry forms, of their Special Subjects and choice of books or subjects, where alternatives exist, to the Registrar on or before the Friday in the fourth week of the Michaelmas Full Term preceding the examination. The notice must specify the subject so offered, and, if a subject specially approved by the board, also the treatises or original documents (if any) which it has approved.

    Candidates may be examined viva voce.

    The editions of texts specified in the course handbooks are the ones which will be used for the reproduction of material for examination purposes, not necessarily the ones which provide the most useful material for the study of the texts concerned.

    For those papers where a selection of unspecified texts is to be examined, the selection of texts will be reported to the Undergraduate Studies Committee of the board at its first meeting in Hilary Term for the examination in the year of the examination, and copies of the lists of selected texts will be available for candidates not later than Friday of the third week of the same term in the course handbook.

    Oral examinations for Arabic, Chinese, Hebrew (Course II), Japanese, Persian, and Turkish will be held in the week beforeearly Trinity Full Termterm in the final year in whichof the Honour School examination is taken.

Regulations Concerning Individual Subjects

  • 5. The subjects of the school are arranged below in two sections: (i) main subjects; (ii)  subsidiary languages. 
  •  
  • 6. Within each section subjects are listed in alphabetical order as follows:

    [See Table 22]

    In addition, candidates may offer Classics either as a main subject or as subsidiary language in the Honour School of Classics and Oriental Studies.

    Candidates offeringtaking Arabic, Chinese, Hebrew, Japanese, Persian or Turkish as their main subject may offer  take a subsidiary language as specified below;.

  •  
  • 7. candidatesCandidates offeringtaking Sanskrit must offer take a subsidiary language as specified below;.
  •  
  • 8. andCandidates candidatestaking offeringEgyptology or Egyptology and Ancient Near Eastern Studies must offer take either a subsidiary language or Archaeology and Anthropology as specified below.

  •  
  • 9. No candidate shall be admitted to examination in any of these schools unless they have either passed or been exempted from the First Public Examination. 
  •  
  • 10. Candidates offeringtaking Arabic or Turkish or Persian as their main subject will be required to spend a period of at least one academic year on an approved course of language study in the Middle East.

  •  
  • 11. Candidates offeringtaking Chinese or Japanese as their main subject are required to spend a period of at least one academic year on an approved course of language study in East Asia.

  •  
  • 12. Candidates offeringtaking Hebrew shall take oneeither of the following courses:

    Course I: Candidatesor will be examined in accordance with the regulations set out below.

    Course II: Candidates will be examined in accordance with the regulations set out below. Candidates offeringtaking Hebrew Course II as their main subject will be required to spend a period of at least one academic year on an approved course of study in Israel.

  • References

  •  
  • 13. toCandidates Classicsmay inbe theexamined followingviva Regulations are to the syllabus in Classics for the Honour School of Classics and Oriental Studiesvoce.

Main Subjects

Arabic

Arabic Handbook. The Board of the Faculty of Oriental Studies shall issue annually the Handbook by Monday of Week 1 of the first Hilary Full Term of candidates' work for the Honour Schools. The Handbook will include, amongst other things, lists of set texts.

Choice and availability of options. It cannot be guaranteed that teaching will be available on all Further and Special Subjects in every academic year. Similarly, the choice of subject for the dissertation will necessarily depend upon availability of a suitable supervisor. Candidates should therefore consult with their tutors about the availability of teaching when selecting their optional and dissertation subjects.

Either, for Arabic and Islamic Studies

  • 1. Arabic unprepared translation into English and comprehension.

    2. Composition in Arabic.

    3. Oral.1

    4. Arabic literature.

    5. Islamic history, 570-1500.

    6. Islamic religion.

    7. A Further Subject, taught in Year 3, chosen from a list published in the course handbook.

    8. and 9. A Special Subject taught in Year 4 (to be examined in two papers, as outlined below), chosen from a list published in the course handbook.

  • 10. A dissertation.

  • Notes:

    (i) Candidates for all Special Subjects will be examined by means of a timed paper, and by means of an extended essay,. whichThe extended essay shall not exceed 6,000 words (including footnotes but excluding bibliography), and shall be on a topic or theme selected by the candidate from a question paper published by the examiners on the Friday of theweek fourth week4 of Michaelmas Termterm in theof year of examination. Candidates will be contacted with details of how to collect or access the question paper.  Essays should be typed or word-processed in double-spacing and should conform to the standards of academic presentation prescribed in the ‘Guidelines for writers of Theses’ in the course handbook4. Essays (two copies) shall normally be written during the Michaelmas Term in the year of examination and must be deliveredsubmitted by hand to the Examination Schools (addressed to the Chair of Examiners, Honour School of Oriental Studies, Examination Schools, High Street, Oxford) not later than 12 noon on the Friday beforeof  theweek beginning0 of Hilary Full Termterm of the year of examination4. Candidates delivering essays will be required to complete a receipt form, which will only be accepted as proof of receipt if it is countersigned by a member of the Examination Schools staff. Each essay must be accompanied by a sealed envelope (bearing only the candidate’s examination number) containing a formal declaration signed by the candidate that the essay is his or her own work. The University’s regulations on Late Submission of Work will apply.

     
  • (ii)10. AnyA candidate may be examined viva vocedissertation.

or, for Arabic with a Subsidiary Language, Papers 1-6  and  10 above (A dissertation is to be approved by the Board of the Faculty of Oriental Studies. See the ‘Guidelines for writers of theses’ under Arabic and Islamic Studies above for notes concerning the preparation and submission of a dissertation) and 11, 12, 13: three papers from one of the followingapproved subsidiary languages:

  • Akkadian.

  • Aramaic andas Syriac.

  • Armenian.

  • Classicslisted (in the HonourTable Schoolat the end of Classicsthese andregulations. Oriental Studies).

  • Early Iranian.

  • Hebrew.

  • Hindi/Urdu.

  • Persian.

  • Turkish.

Chinese

The Boardpapers of the Faculty of Oriental Studies shall issue the handbookrequired for the Honour School of Oriental Studies (Chinese and Chinese with aeach subsidiary language) noare laterlisted thanbelow under the Mondayrelevant ofsubsidiary first week of the Michaelmas full-term prior to the year in which candidates shall sit their Final Honour School examinationslanguage. The handbook shall include, amongst other information, course details, lists of set texts and regulations regarding the submission of dissertations and long-essays.

Chinese

Either, for Chinese only,

The following papers will be set:

  • 1. Modern Chinese I.

  • 2. Modern Chinese II.

  • 3. Oral.1

  • 4. Classical I.

  • 5. Classical II.

  • 6. Modern China.

  • 7. Dissertation on a subject approved by the Board of the Faculty.3

  •  8. Special Option I: Texts and Essays

  • Special Option II: Texts and Essays

  • 9. Special Option III: Extended Essay

    This will be in the same area as that chosen in Special Options I or II or Linguistics (if available). 

  • The options for8. Special Option I: Texts and Essays

  • 9. Special Option II: togetherTexts withand theEssays

  • 10. relevantSpecial textsOption willIII: beExtended set out in the handbook for the year prior to the year of the examinations.Essay

Or Chinese with a subsidiary language,  

Papers 1-7 above and three papers 11,from 12,one andof 13the belowapproved insubsidiary Japanese, Korean, or Tibetan or Sanskritlanguages as listed in the Table at the end of these regulations. The papers required for Sanskriteach assubsidiary alanguage are listed below under the relevant subsidiary language. 

  • 11. Japanese, Korean, or Tibetan Texts (Subsidiary).

  • 12. Japanese, Korean, or Tibetan History and Culture (Subsidiary).

  • 13. Japanese, Korean, or Tibetan Language (Subsidiary).

Egyptology and Ancient Near Eastern Studies

Either, for Egyptology and Ancient Near Eastern Studies with(language track)

Candidates must take both a subsidiary language 

The languages which may be offered shall be:

As first language: and a second language. 

Candidates must take either Egyptian (Egyptology) or Akkadian or(Egyptology Egyptianand Ancient Near Eastern Studies) as a first language. 

OneCandidates must take one of the approved languages as a second language, as listed in the Table at the end of these regulations. 

Candidates must take ten papers as set out in (a), (b) and (c) below: 

(a) Candidates must take all of the following aspapers second language (which must be different fromin the first language): 

Akkadian

  1.  Translation Pape
  2. Prepared Texts
  3. Text Edition Essay: a submitted essay (take-home paper). 

Early(b) Iranian

Egyptian

Coptic

Hittite

Sumerian

(teaching for some languages may not be available every year)

Candidates willmust be required to offertake the following papers:

  •  
    1. Translation paper (first language).

  • 2. Translation paper (second language).

  • 3.,        4. Literary and historical topics including prepared translation from first language.

  • 5., 6. Literary and historical topics including prepared translation from second language.

    For papers 4 and 6, in each case four passages from a list of prescribed texts will be set for examination by essay. For each paper, candidates must present a translation of and essay on one passage. Papers should be typed and provided with proper scholarly apparatus. The passages for paper 4 will be published at 10 a.m. on Monday of Week 1 in Full Term in the term in which the final examination is to be offered, and must be handed in to the Examination Schools, High Street, Oxford no later than 12 noon on Monday of Week 2. A signedSpecial statement that the essay is the candidate's own work should be submitted separately in a sealed envelope bearing his or her candidate numberOption, to the Chair of examiners (forms are available from the Faculty Office, Oriental Institute). The passages for paper 6 will be published at 10 a.m. on Monday of Week 3 in Full Term in the term in which the final examination is to be offered, and must be handed in to the Examination Schools, High Street, Oxford no later than 12 noon on Monday of Week 4. Essays should not exceed 3,500 words. A signed statement that the essay is the candidate's own work should be submitted separately in a sealed envelope bearing his or her candidate number, to the Chair of examiners (forms are available from the Faculty Office, Oriental Institute). Candidates will be contacted with details of how to collect or access the papers.

    Candidates offering one of the following as the second language in the above papers follow the regulations for ‘Subsidary Languages’ in the Honour School of Oriental Studies:

    Arabic

    Aramaic and Syriac

    Classics (in the Honour School of Classics and Oriental Studies)

    Hebrew (Biblical and Rabbinic)

    and Early Iranian.

    Candidates offering Classics as a subsidiary language in the Honour School of Classics and Oriental Studies must offer in place of papers 2, 5 and 6 three subjects in Classics according to the conditions specified in the syllabus for that School.

  • 7. A field of concentration to be chosen from a list of topics published at the beginning of Michaelmas Term each year by the OrientalSubject Studies Faculty BoardGroup for examination in the following academic year. Candidates may instead propose their own fieldSpecial ofOption, concentration. The choicewhich must be approved by the BoardSubject Group in eachMichaelmas caseTerm of the candidate's final year.

  • 8      5. Selected Egyptian and/or Ancient Near Eastern artefacts together with essay questions on material culture. 

  • 9      6. A General paper, including questionsPaper on Egyptology andeither Ancient Near Eastern Studies todayor Egyptology.

  • 10      7. A dissertation on a topic to be approved by the FacultySubject BoardGroup, of a different character from thatthe topic chosen for paper 74 (the topic will typically relate to the first language but could relate to the second language or Archaeology and Anthropology or to an area of overlap).3 

  • 11.Instead of either paper 4 or paper 7 candidates offering Egyptian artas first language may optionally choose to substitute: 

    1.  Egyptian Art and architecture. This paper is optional and may be taken in substitution for 7. or 10. aboveArchitecture. Selection of this paper is subject to approval by the BoardSubject ofGroup.

    (c) Candidates must take three papers for their second language. The papers required for the Facultysecond oflanguage Orientalare listed below under the relevant subsidiary language.  

    Egyptology, and Egyptology and Ancient Near Eastern Studies.

  •   (Archaeology and Anthropology track) 

    OrCandidates must take papers 1–7 (or 8) as given for Egyptology, forand Egyptology and Ancient Near Eastern Studies with(language Archaeologytrack) above and Anthropology, candidates will be required to offer papers 1, 3-4, and 7-10 above, and the following three papers: 

    1.  The Nature of Archaeological and Anthropological Enquiry.
    2. 12.Either (a) The nature of archaeologicalUrbanism and anthropological enquiry.

    3. Society 13.or  Urbanisation and change in complex societies: comparative approaches or(b) From Hunting and Gathering to States and Empires in South-West Asia.

    4. Either (a) Social Analysis and Interpretation or (b) Cultural Representations, Beliefs, and Practices. 

    14. Social analysis and interpretation or Cultural representations, beliefs and practices.

All candidatesCandidates will be required to undertake a course of practical work, including laboratory work.

Candidates They will be assessed, atby the end of the sixthsecond termyear fromof matriculationtheir course, on their practical ability, under the provisions for Honour Moderations in Archaeology and Anthropology.

Candidates They will also be required to take part in approved fieldwork as an integral part of their course. The fieldwork requirement will normally have been discharged before the Long Vacationend of sixthe termssecond fromyear matriculationof the course. 

Hebrew

Either, for Hebrew only,,

Candidates for Course I will be required to offer seven papers and a dissertation. Candidates for Course II will be required to offer seven papers and a dissertation, and an oral examination. Candidates for Course II are required to spend a year abroad as stated in the Special Regulations for Honour School of Oriental Studies.

  • 1. (for Course I): Hebrew composition and unprepared translation.

    (for Course II): Essay in modern Hebrew and unprepared translation.

    2. Prepared texts I: Biblical texts.

    3. Prepared texts II: Rabbinic and Medieval Hebrew texts.

    4. Prepared texts III: Modern Hebrew literature.

    5.    History, Culture and Society.

    6. and 7. Two optionaloption papers of which at least one must be chosen from any of sections I, II, and III as published in the Jewish Studies papercourse chandbook. Not more than one paper from Section V of the Jewish Studies course handbook..

    8.   Dissertation (Refer to Section B, Special Regulations for the Honour School of Oriental Studies). 

    9. (for Course II) Oral.1

Or, for Hebrew with a subsidiary language, Papers  1-4 and 8 above, and three papers from one of the followingapproved additionalsubsidiary subjects:languages Akkadian,as Arabic,listed Aramaic and Syriac, Classics (in the HonourTable Schoolat the end of Classicsthese andregulations. Oriental Studies), Egyptology, Persian and Turkish.

Japanese

The Boardpapers of the Faculty of Oriental Studies shall issue the handbookrequired for the Honour School of Oriental Studies (Japanese and Japanese with aeach subsidiary language) noare laterlisted thanbelow under the Mondayrelevant ofsubsidiary first week of the Hilary Full Term prior to the year in which candidates shall sit their Final Honour School examinationslanguage. The handbook shall include, amongst other information, course details, lists of set texts and regulations regarding the submission of dissertations and long-essays.

Japanese

Either, for Japanese only,

The following papers will be set:

  • 1. Modern Japanese I.

  • 2. Modern Japanese II.

  • 3. Oral.1

  • 4. Classical Japanese.

  • 5. Dissertation on a subject approved by the Board of the Faculty.3

  • 6. Special text option I.4

  • 7. Special subject option I.4

  • 8. Special text option II.4

  • 9. Special subject option II.4

  • 10. Either Special Text option III or Special subject option III.4

Or, for Japanese with a subsidiary language, Papers 1-7 above andthree papers 11,from 12,one andof 13the approved subsidiary languages as listed in the Table at the end of these regulations. The papers required for each subsidiary language are listed below inunder Chinese,the Korean,relevant orsubsidiary Tibetanlanguage. 

  • 11. Chinese, Korean, or Tibetan Texts (Subsidiary).

  • 12. Chinese, Korean, or Tibetan History and Culture (Subsidiary).

  • 13. Chinese, Korean, or Tibetan Language (Subsidiary).

Jewish Studies

TheCandidates must take the following papers will be set.:

a1. One paper on one of the following languages: Biblical and Rabbinic, Medieval Hebrew, Modern Hebrew or Yiddish.  Papers for Biblical and Rabbinic Hebrew, Medieval Hebrew and Modern Hebrew are the same papers for subsidiary languages under Hebrew a(1), (b)1 and (c)1.  Refer toas sectiongiven onbelow under Subsidiary Languages.  Teaching for some language options may not be available in every year.  

b2. Hi Historystory, Culture and Society 

c3.- 7. Five options, of which at least one must be chosen from each of sections I, II, and III as published in the course handbook. At least three must be chosen from papers which require study of set texts in the original language. Not more than one paper may be chosen from section V. The list of options will beas published in the course Handbook by Monday in the Week 1 of Michaelmas Term in the year preceding the examinationshandbook.  

Papers in section V will be examined in the form of two essays  not exceeding 5,000 words in total. The subjects will be published at 10 a.m. on Monday of secondweek week2 of the Trinity term in the termfinal inyear whichof the finalHonour examination is to be offeredSchool, and must be handed in to the Examination Schools, High Street, Oxfordsubmitted no later than 12 noon on Monday of thirdweek week.3 Candidates will be contacted with details on how to collect or accessof the questionsame paperterm. A signed statement that the essays are the candidate's own work should be submitted separately in a sealed envelope bearing his or her candidate number, to the Chair of Examiners (forms are available from the Faculty Office, Oriental Institute).  

d. A dissertation (see the regulations for dissertations set out under B, SPECIAL REGULATIONS FOR THE HONOUR SCHOOL OF ORIENTAL STUDIES).

Special subjectsSubject may be offered instead of one of the five options in (c) above subject to the approval of the OrientalAsian and Middle Eastern Studies Board. 

Some8. A options may not be available in every year.dissertation  

Candidates may obtain from the Oriental Institute information about which options may be offered for examination the first Monday of Michaelmas Full Term of the academic year preceding that in which the papers will be set.

Applications for the approval of options must be submitted by the deadline published in the course handbook.

Persian

The following papers will be set. Candidates will be required to offertake ten papers.

  • Either, for Persian only,

  • 1. Unprepared translation from Persian.

  • 2. Translation into Persian and essay

  • 3. Oral.1

  • 4. Persian literature: 1000 1400

  • 5. Persian literature: 1400 1900

  • 6. Persian literature: 1900 the present

  • 7. Themes in Iranian history

  • 8. and 9. OptionalOption subjects in Iranian and Middle Eastern History and Culture. The list of available optionaloption subjects will be available in the Course Handbook

  • 10. Dissertation3Dissertation

  • or, for Persian with a subsidiary language,

  • (a) Papers 1., 2., 3., 7., and 10. as given for Persian above and 11. and 12. 

  • (b) Two papers from a choice of papers 4., 5., and 6 as given for Persian above 

  • 13.,  14.,  and 15. Subsidiary language.(c) Three papers onfrom one of the followingapproved subsidiary languages: Arabic,as Armenian, Hebrew, Early Iranian, Classics (in the Honour School of Classics and Oriental Studies), Hindi/Urdu, and Turkish.

  • Applications for the approval of options in papers, 8., 9., 13., 14., and 15. must be submitted to the Faculty Office by the deadlinelisted in the CourseTable Handbookat the end of these regulations. The papers required for each subsidiary language are listed below under the relevant subsidiary language. 

Sanskrit

The following papers will be set:

  • 1. Sanskrit unprepared translation.

  • 2. Essay questions on the history of classical Indian literature, history and civilizationculture.

    This paper may include questions on the visual arts in ancient India.

  • 3. Ancient Indian linguistics.

  • 4. For candidates offering Hindi, Early Iranian, Pali, Prakrit, or Tibetan as additional language: The historical philology of Old Indo-Aryan, with particular reference to:

    • (a) Selected sūktas from the Ṛ g Veda (ed. Müller). A list of sūktas is available in the course handbook.

    • (b) Selected passages of prose from the Yajurveda Samhitâ and Brahmanas, and from the early Upanisads. A list of passages is available in the course handbook.

      For papers 5 and 6, two papers in a chosen area of Sanskrit studies approved by the Board of the Faculty. Applications for approval must be submitted by the Monday of the sixth week of the Trinity Term of the academic year preceding the examination. (Note: These papers are intended to allow candidates to specialise in a particular area of Sanskrit studies such as kāvya, dharmaśāstra, philosophy, grammar, or religion.)

  • 5. UnpreparedChosen translationarea fromof Sanskrit textsstudies. Chosen area to be approved by the Subject Group. 

  • 6. EssayA questionsspecial onsubject as approved by the chosenSubject areaGroup.

  • 7. A special subject from among the following, or such other special subjects as may be approved by the board of the faculty:

    • (a) Comparative grammar of Sanskrit and Old IranianDissertation.

    • (b) Indian art and archaeology.

    • (c) Composition in Sanskrit prose and/or verse.

    • (d) Practical criticism and appreciation, including translation from the Sanskrit.

  • Either

  • 8. and 9. Two papers on one of the following additional languages: Hindi, Early Iranian, Pali, Prakrit, Tibetan.

  • Or 8., 9., 10. Three papers on Classicsone (of the approved subsidiary languages as listed in the HonourTable Schoolat the end of Classicsthese andregulations. OrientalThe Studies)papers asrequired anfor additionaleach subsidiary language are listed below under the relevant subsidiary language.

     

Turkish

Turkish Handbook. The Board of the Faculty of Oriental Studies shall issue annually the Handbook for the Honour Schools of Oriental Studies (Turkish and Turkish with a Subsidiary Language) by Monday of Week 1 of the first Hilary Term of candidates’ work for the Honour School. The Handbook will include, amongst other things, lists of the set texts prescribed for particular papers.

The following papers will be set:

Either, for Turkish only,

  • 1. Unprepared translation from Ottoman and modern Turkish.

  • 2. Translation into Turkish and essay in Turkish.

  • 3.  Oral.1

  • 4. Ottoman historical texts.

  • 5. Turkish political and cultural texts, 1860 to the present.

  • 6. Modern Turkish literary texts.

  • 7., 8., 9. Three papers from  a list of options published in the course handbook.

  • 10.    A dissertation.3

or, for Turkish with a subsidiary language,  Papers 1-6 and 10 above (A dissertation is to be approved by the Board of the Faculty of Oriental Studies. See the ‘Guidelines for writers of Theses’ under Arabic and Islamic Studies above for notes concerning the preparation and submission of a dissertation) and

  • t11., 12., 13. Threehree papers onfrom one of the followingapproved subsidiary languages: Arabic,as Armenian,listed Classics (in the HonourTable Schoolat the end of Classicsthese andregulations. OrientalThe Studies),papers Earlyrequired Iranian,for Hebrew,each Hindi/Urdu,subsidiary Persianlanguage are listed below under the relevant subsidiary language. 

Subsidiary Languages  

Akkadian (for candidates offering Arabic, Classics (in the Honour School of Classics and Oriental Studies) or Hebrew as main subject).

The following papers will be set:

1. Translation paper. 

2. Prepared texts.

3. Text edition essay: a submitted essay (take-home paper).

Instead of either paper 2 or paper 3, 2,candidates 3may =offer Papersone 2of papers 4, 5, and6, 6or 7 as specified for Akkadian in the Honour School of Oriental Studies (Egyptology and Ancient Near Eastern Studies) above. (InsteadAny such substitution will be subject to the approval of either paper 5 or paper 6, candidates may offer one of papers 7, 9, or 10 as specified for the Honour School of Oriental Studies (Egyptology and Ancient Near Eastern Studies) Subject Group.

Arabic (for candidates offering Classics (in the Honour School of Classics and Oriental Studies), Egyptology and Ancient Near Eastern Studies, Hebrew, Persian, or Turkish as main subject).

The following papers will be set:

  • 1. Arabic prose composition and unprepared translation.

  • 2. Additional Arabic: literary texts.

    Selected classical and modern Arabic prose texts (lists available in the course handbook).

  • 3. Additional Arabic: Islamic texts.

    Selected Arabic religious texts (list available in the course handbook).

    Papers 2 and 3 may contain general and linguistic questions.

Aramaic and Syriac (for candidates offering Arabic, Classics (in the Honour School of Classics and Oriental Studies), Egyptology and Ancient Near Eastern Studies, Hebrew or Persian as main subject).

The following papers will be set:

  • 1. Syriac prose composition and Aramaic and Syriac unprepared translation.

  • 2. Aramaic prepared texts.6

  • 3. Syriac prepared texts.6

    Papers 2 and 3 may contain general and grammatical questions.

Armenian

The following papers will be set:

either

A. Classical Armenian7

  • 1. Classical Armenian prose composition and unprepared translation.

  • 2. Prepared religious texts.6

  • 3. Prepared historical and other texts.6

or

B. Modern Armenian8

  • 1. Modern Armenian prose composition and unprepared translation.

  • 2. Prepared texts from the sixteenth to nineteenth centuries.6

  • 3. Prepared texts from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.6

Papers 2 and 3 will include questions on the subject-matter and grammar of the texts offered, and Paper 3 will also include questions on Armenian language, literature, and history.

Chinese (for candidates offering Japanese as main subject)

The following papers will be set:

  • 1. Chinese Prescribed Texts. (Lists of texts will be available in the course handbook.)

  • 2. Either (a) Unprepared translation and prose composition, or (b) Classical Chinese. (Texts will be as prescribed for paper 3, ‘Classical texts’ of Moderations in Oriental Studies (Chinese).) 

  • 3. History and Culture of China.

Coptic (for candidates offering Classics (in the Honour School of Classics and Oriental Studies) or Egyptology as main subject).

The following papers will be set:

  • 1. Translation paper (Coptic unprepared translation and grammar).

  • 2. Prepared texts I(Coptic).6

  • 3. PreparedText textsedition II,essay with(Coptic): generala questionssubmitted essay (take-home paper).6

Early Iranian

Candidates offeringmust Classics (in the Honour School of Classics and Oriental Studies), Egyptology and Ancient Near Eastern Studies, Arabic, Persian or Turkish as main subject will offertake three papers, from those listed below with at least one but no more than two from group (a). Candidates offering Sanskrit as main subject will offer two papers: either one paper from group (a) and one paper from groups (b) or (c), or one paper from group (a) and paper (d).

(a) Old and Middle Iranian Language

  • 1. Avestan Textstexts

  • 2. Old Persian texts

  • 3. Middle Persian texts

(b) Religion and Philology of Ancient and Late Antique Iran

  • 4. Zoroastrianism

  • 5. Indo-Iranian Philology

(c) History of Ancient and Late Antique Iran

  • 6. The Achaemenid HistoryEmpire, 550-330 BC

  • 7. The Sasanian HistoryEmpire, 224-651 AD

(d) Early Iranian Texts and Topics:

  • 8. Texts and Topics

CandidatesFor paper 8, candidates will choose two of the subjects 1 to 7 above. Candidates may not choose under (d) a subject which they are also offering from groups (a)-(c), and in addition may not choose under (d) a subject from group (a) if they are already offering two subjects from group (a).

EgyptologyEgyptian  (for candidates offering Classics (in the Honour School of Classics and Oriental Studies) or Hebrew as main subject).

The following papers will be set:

1. Translation paper.

2. Prepared texts.

3. Text edition essay: a submitted essay (take-home paper).

Instead of either paper 2 or paper 3, 2,candidates 3may =offer Papersone 2of papers 4, 5, and6, 67, or 8 as specified for Egyptian in the Honour School of Oriental Studies (Egyptology and Ancient Near Eastern Studies) above. (InsteadAny such substitution will be subject to the approval of either paper 5 or paper 6, candidates may offer one of papers 7, 9 or 10 as specified for the Honour School of Oriental Studies (Egyptology and Ancient Near Eastern Studies) Subject Group.

Hebrew (for candidates offering Arabic, Classics (in the Honour School of Classics and Oriental Studies) or Egyptology and Ancient Near Eastern Studies, Persian or Turkish as main subject).

Candidates taking Arabic, Persian or Turkish may offer either (a) Biblical and Rabbinic or (b) Medieval or (c) Modern Hebrew. Candidates taking Classics (in the Honour School of Classics and Oriental Studies) may offer either (a) Biblical and Rabbinic or (b) Medieval Hebrew. Candidates taking Egyptology may offer only Biblical and Rabbinic Hebrew. Biblical texts will be set from Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia (ed. Elliger and Rudolph). 

The following papers will be set:

  • (a) Biblical and Rabbinic Hebrew:

  • 1. Prose composition and unprepared translation.

  • 2. Prepared texts I: Biblical texts.6

  • 3. Prepared texts II: Rabbinic texts.6

    Papers 2 and 3 may contain general and grammatical questions.

    (b) Medieval Hebrew:

  • 1. Unprepared translation.

  • 2. Prepared texts I.6

  • 3. Prepared texts II.6

    Papers 2 and 3 may contain general and grammatical questions.

  • (c) Modern Hebrew:

  • 1. Prose composition and unprepared translation.

  • 2. Prepared texts I.6

  • 3. Prepared texts II.6

Papers 2 and 3 may contain general and grammatical questions.

Hindi (for candidates offering Sanskrit as main subject)

The following papers will be set:

  • 1. Hindi unprepared translation.

  • 2. PreparedHindi prepared texts,.

  • 3. with questionsQuestions on Hindi language and literature.

     

Hindi/Urdu (For candidates offering Arabic, Persian, or Turkish as main subject)

The following papers will be set:

  • 1. Hindi and Urdu prose composition and unprepared translation;

  • 2. Hindi prepared texts with questions on language and literature;

  • 3. Urdu prepared texts with questions on language and literature.

Japanese (for candidates offering Chinese as main subject)

The following papers will be set:

    1. Japanese texts
    2. 1.Japanese History and Culture
    3. Japanese Prescribed Texts.6

      Language

    2. Either Unprepared translation, Prose Composition, and Grammatical Questions, or any Special Subject set for paper 8 of the syllabus in Japanese only [see the list of Special Subjects for Paper 8 set out under SPECIAL REGULATIONS FOR THE HONOUR SCHOOL OF ORIENTAL STUDIES, REGULATIONS CONCERNING INDIVIDUAL SUBJECTS, MAIN SUBJECTS, Japanese, Japanese only]

  • 3. Essay questions on Japanese Culture.

Korean (for candidates offering Chinese and Japanese as main subject)

The following papers will be set:

  • 1. Korean texts.6

  • 2. Korean History and Culture.

  • 3. Korean Language.

Pali and Prakrit (for candidates offering Sanskrit as main subject).

The following papers will be set:

  • 1. Unprepared translation from Pali unpreparedand/or translationPrakrit literature.

  • 2. Prepared texts.

    23. Questions on PaliMiddle Indic language and, literature, on Theravāda Buddhist doctrine, and on the early history of Buddhism in South Asiaculture.

Pali (for candidates offering Classics (in the Honour School of Classics and Oriental Studies) as main subject).

The following papers will be set:

  • 1. Pali unprepared translation.

  • 2. Questions on Pali language and literature, on Theravāda Buddhist doctrine, and on the early history of Buddhism in South Asia.

  • 3. Prepared texts, with questions on contents.

Persian (for candidates offering Arabic, Classics (in the Honour School of Classics and Oriental Studies), Hebrew or Turkish as main subject).

The following papers will be set:

  • 1. Persian Language.

  • 2. Pre-Modern Persian Literature.

  • 3. Modern Persian Literature.

PrakritSanskrit (for candidates offering Sanskrit as main subject).

The following papers will be set:

    1. 1. PrakritSanskrit unprepared translation.

    2. 2Sanskrit prepared texts.

    3. Essay Questionsquestions on Prakritclassical languageIndian, literature, history, and literature and on the doctrine and early history of the Jainsculture.

SanskritSumerian (for candidates offering Classics (in the Honour School of Classics and Oriental Studies) and Chinese (in the Honour School of Oriental Studies) as main subject.)

The following papers will be set:

  • 1. SanskritTranslation unprepared translationpaper.

  • 2. Questions on Sanskrit language and literature.

  • 3. Prepared texts

    3. Text edition essay: a submitted essay (take-home paper).

Tibetan (for candidates offering Chinese or Japanese as main subject)

  • 1. Tibetan prose composition and unprepared translation.

  • 2. Prepared texts, with questions.6

  • 3. Questions on Tibetan culture and history.

Tibetan (for candidates offering Sanskrit as main subject).

The following papers will be set:

  • 1. Tibetan prose composition and unprepared translation.

  • 2. Prepared texts, with questions on Tibetan culture and history.

Turkish (for candidates offering Arabic, Classics (in the Honour School of Classics and Oriental Studies), Hebrew or Persian as main subject).

The following papers will be set:

  • 1. Turkish prose composition and unprepared translation.

  • 2. Either (a) Additional Turkish: Late Ottoman and modern Turkish literary texts.6

Or (b) Additional Turkish: Modern Turkish literary texts:6

  • 3. Either (a) Additional Turkish: Political and cultural texts, 1860 to the present.6

  •  
  • Or (b) Additional Turkish: Political and cultural texts, 1920 to the present.6

Table of permitted combinations 

Table 22

Main Subjects

 Subsidiary Languages

 

ArabicMain subject  

Akkadian

EgyptologyLanguage options  

ChineseArabic  

Arabic

HebrewAkkadian  

Aramaic and Syriac  

Classical or Modern Armenian  

Biblical and Rabbinic, Medieval, or Modern Hebrew   

Early Iranian  

Hindi/Urdu  

Persian  

Turkish  

Chinese  

Japanese  

Korean  

Sanskrit  

Tibetan  

Egyptology 

Akkadian 

Arabic 

Aramaic and Syriac 

Early Iranian 

Coptic 

Biblical and Rabbinic Hebrew  

Hittite 

Sumerian 

Egyptology and Ancient Near Eastern Studies   

Aramaic and Syriac

HindiArabic 

Hebrew

Armenian

HittiteAramaic and Syriac 

Japanese

Chinese

JapaneseEarly Iranian 

Jewish Studies

Coptic

KoreanEgyptian 

Persian

Persian

Early IranianCoptic 

Sanskrit

Prakrit

PaliBiblical and Rabbinic Hebrew  

Turkish

Sanskrit

TibetanHittite 

 

Sumerian 

SumerianHebrew  

Akkadian  

Arabic  

Aramaic and Syriac  

Egyptian  

Persian  

Turkish 

Japanese  

Chinese  

Korean  

Tibetan  

Persian  

Arabic  

Aramaic and Syriac  

Classical or Modern Armenian  

Early Iranian  

Hebrew  

Hindi/Urdu  

Turkish  

Sanskrit  

Early Iranian   

Hindi 

Persian  

Pali   

Prakrit  

Tibetan  

Turkish  

Arabic  

Classical or Modern Armenian  

Early Iranian  

Hebrew  

Hindi/Urdu  

Persian