Master of Philosophy in Theology

Differences from 2014/15 to 2021/22

 1The regulations made by the Board of the Faculty of Theology and Religion are as follows:

Candidates for the M.Phil. Allin candidatesTheology will beare required to follow a course of instruction and directed research for six terms and to present themselves for examination in one of the followingfive subjects: Old Testament; New Testament; Christian Doctrine (one of seven subsections, as presented below); Ecclesiastical History; and Christian Ethics.

2. Candidates will be expected to attend such lectures and seminars as their supervisor shall recommend.

3. The examination shall consist of:

  • (i)I. twoOld Testament

    II. New Testament

    III. Christian Doctrine, specialising in one of seven fields:

    • History of Doctrine: Patristic Theology (c. AD 100-787)

      Issues in Theology with special reference to Theology from 1780 to the present day

  •  IV. Ecclesiastical History, specialising in one of five historical periods:

    • AD 200-600

      AD 400-1100

      AD 1000-1500

      AD 1400-1800

      AD 1800-the present

  • V. Christian Ethics

  • The examination consists of three-hour elements:

  • A. Two written examinations (or in Old Testament, route II, one written examination), as prescribed in the regulations for each courseof three hours’ duration. The specific requirements of each subject may be found below.

  • (ii)B. either threeThree essays of not more than 5,000 words each, or one long essay of not more than 15,000 words,.  The onspecific topicsrequirements proposedof byeach subject may be found below. Each submission will require the candidate withto themake approvala ofdeclaration histhat orthis heris supervisor,their andown accepted by the Theology and Religion Faculty Boardwork.

  • (iii)C. aA dissertation of not more than 30,000 words.

  • The ondissertation aproposal, topicchosen proposedin by the candidateliaison with the approval of his or hercandidate’s supervisor, and accepted by the Theology and Religion Faculty Board. For candidates intending to proceed to doctoral study, the topic of the thesis should be such as to provide a foundation for doctoral research.

4. Proposals for essays must be submitted for consideration by the Faculty’’s Graduate Studies Committee (GSC) not later than Monday of Week 5 of Trinity Term in Year 1. The dissertation proposal must be submitted for consideration by the GSC by Monday of Week 0 of Michaelmas Term in Year 2.  AllThe completed dissertation must be uploaded to the University approved online assessment platform by Friday of theseWeek 8 of Trinity Term.

  • All essay and dissertation proposals should comprise a title, a short statement of how the subject will be treated, a bibliography of core texts (both primary and secondary), and the signature of the supervisor indicating his or her approval. The titles and content of the essays and dissertation should not substantially overlap with each other.

  • 5.All Two copies of the completed essays, together with a signed statement by the candidate that it is his or her ownsubmitted work, mustshould be submitted for examination not later than fourteen days before the first day of the written examinationdouble-spaced in Trinityfont-size Term of Year 2. The written examinations take place in Week 10 or 11 of Trinity Term in Year 212.

    Two copies of the completed dissertation, together with a signed statement by the candidate that it is his or her own work, must be submitted for examination by Friday of Week 8 of Trinity Term.

  • Candidates must not put their names on the written examination papers or on any submitted work. All submitted work must be printed and sent in a parcel bearing the words, ‘M.Phil. in Theology’, to the Chair of Examiners, c/o the Examination Schools, High Street, Oxford. 

    • Each candidate willis bealso required to present himself or herself for an oral (viva voce) examination, whichunless individually dispensed by the examiners.  The oral examination will take place within a few days of the written examination, and may include a discussion of the candidate’’s work in any of the three elements listed above.

    I Old Testament

    Two routes are possible, route I involving two written examinations and route II only one:

    I.

    • (i)I. CandidatesOLD take a written examination in Prescribed Hebrew Texts, and then another in either unseen passages from the Hebrew Bible or the Aramaic portions of the Old Testament or passages from the Septuagint.

    • TESTAMENT

      (ii)A. InThere additionwill they write either a long essay (up to 15,000 words) or three short essays (up to 5,000 words each) inbe one of the following subject areas: the Literature of the Old Testament and Apocrypha in its Historical Setting; Old Testament Theology; the History and Principles of Biblical Study.

    II.

    • (i) Candidates take a written examination in Prescribed Hebrew Texts. The written examination will take place at the end of Trinity Term in Year 2.

    • (ii)B. InCandidates addition theywill write both aone long essay (up to 15,000 words) in one of the following subject areas, and three short essays (up to 5,000 words each) in another:. The topic(s) will be chosen by the Literaturecandidates in liaison with the supervisor. Essay proposals must be submitted for consideration by the Faculty’s Graduate Studies Committee not later than Monday of theWeek Old0 Testamentof andHilary ApocryphaTerm in itsYear Historical1. Setting;The Oldcompleted Testamentessays Theology;must be uploaded to the HistoryUniversity andapproved Principlesonline assessment platform by Monday in Week 8 of BiblicalTrinity StudyTerm of Year 1.

    I. and II.

    • (iii)C. All candidates offer a dissertation of up to 30,000 words.

       The prescribedtopics textsof the essays and the dissertation will be listedchosen by the candidate in theliaison Course Regulations forwith the Master of Philosophy in Theology for the year in which the candidates commenced their coursesupervisor.

  • II New. TestamentNEW TESTAMENT

    • (i)A. There will be two written examinations, oneat the end of Trinity Term in theYear 1:

      1. The Religion and Literature of the New Testament: the Four Gospels and Acts in Greek,.

      2. and the other in theThe Religion and Literature of the New Testament: The Epistles and Apocalypse in Greek. Candidates will be required to translate and to comment on matters of literary, historical and theological importance from a selection of these prescribed texts.

    • (ii) In addition they write either a long essay (up to 15,000 words) or three short essays (up to 5,000 words each) in one of the following subject areas: New Testament Theology. Varieties of Judaism, 200 B.C. – C.E. 200; the History and Principles of Biblical Study.

    • (iii) All candidates offer a dissertation of up to 30,000 words.

    III Christian Doctrine

    Section A. History of Doctrine: Patristic Theology

    • (i) There will be two written examinations:

    1. The Development of Christian Doctrine to A.D. 451. Candidates will be expected to write three essays on different topics, showing knowledge of the main lines of development of Christian Doctrine, and discussing particular developments in relation to the historical conditions which influenced them.

    2B. Either (a) Hellenistic Philosophy and Christian Theology or (b) Christology of the Patristic Era. In each case the examination will consist of two essays on different topics and passages for translation and comment. Candidates may choose whether to translate and comment on Greek or Latin texts.

    The prescribed texts for both examination papers will be listed in the Course Regulations for the Master of Philosophy in Theology for the year in which the candidates commenced their course.

    • (ii) Candidates will write either one long essay (up to 15,000 words) or three short essays (up to 50005,000 words each) on a topic or topics fallingin withinany of the Patristicfollowing erasubject areas: (1) New Testament Theology; (2) Varieties of Judaism, 200 B.C. – C.E. 200; (3) the History and Principles of Biblical Study. The topic(s) will be chosen by the candidates in liaison with the supervisor. Essay proposals must be submitted for consideration by the Faculty’s Graduate Studies Committee not later than Monday of Week 5 of Trinity Term in Year 1. The completed essays must be uploaded to the University approved online assessment platform by Monday in Week 8 of Trinity Term of Year 2.

    • (iii)C. All candidates offer a dissertation of up to 30,000 words.

  • III. CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE

    Candidates will be required to offer one of the following sections:

    • Section BA. History of Doctrine: ScholasticPatristic Theology

        Section B. Issues in Theology with special reference to Patristic Theology

        Section C. Issues in Theology with special reference to Theology from 1780 to the present day

    • Section A. History of Doctrine: Patristic Theology

      (i)A. There will be two written examinations:

    1. The Development of Christian Doctrine and Methods. Candidates will be expected to showA.D. knowledge451in Trinity Term of majorYear theologians in the period 1050-1350 by commenting on passages from prescribed texts in Latin and writing two essays on different topics1.

    2. Either (a) TheHellenistic ThoughtPhilosophy ofand Aquinas.Christian CandidatesTheology

      willOr be(b) expected to display knowledgeChristology of the thoughtPatristic Era in Trinity Term of ThomasYear Aquinas2.

    Candidates bymay commentingchoose whether to translate and comment on passagesGreek fromor prescribed texts inon Latin andtexts. writing two essays on different topics.

    The prescribed texts for both examination papers will be listed in the Course RegulationsHandbook for the Master of PhilosophyM.Phil. in Theology for the year in which the candidates commenced their course.

    • (ii)B. CandidatesIn Year 1, candidates will write either one long essay (up to 15,000 words) or three short essays (up to 50005,000 words each) on a topic or topics falling within the ScholasticPatristic era, chosen by each candidates in liaison with the supervisor; if necessary a special supervisor will be appointed in addition to the overall supervisor. Essay proposals must be submitted for consideration by the Faculty’s Graduate Studies Committee not later than Monday of Week 0 of Hilary Term in Year 1. The completed essays must be uploaded to the University approved online assessment platform by Monday in Week 8 of Trinity Term of Year 1.

    • (iii)C. All candidates offer a dissertation of up to 30,000 words.

  • Section CB. HistoryIssues of Doctrine: Reformationin Theology with special reference to Patristic Theology

    • (i)A. There will be two written examinations:

      1.Themes in Modern Theology in Trinity Term of Year 1.

      2. Either (a) The Development of Christian Doctrine to 451 A. D., as in Section A.A.1 above;

      or (b) Issues in Theology: Hellenistic Philosophy and Christian Theology (English);

      or (c) Issues in Theology: Christology of the Patristic Period (English) in Trinity Term of Year 2.

      Passages for comment in (b) and (c) will be chosen from the same texts prescribed in Section A.A.2 above, but here in English only.

      B. Candidates will write either one long essay (up to 15,000 words) or three short essays (up to 5,000 words each) on a topic or topics falling within the Patristic era, chosen by each candidate in liaison with the supervisor; if necessary a special supervisor will be appointed in addition to the overall supervisor. Essay proposals must be submitted for consideration by the Faculty’s Graduate Studies Committee not later than Monday of Week 0 of Hilary Term in Year 1. The completed essays must be uploaded to the University approved online assessment platform by Monday in Week 8 of Trinity Term of Year 1.   

      C. All candidates offer a dissertation of up to 30,000 words.

      Section C. Issues in Theology with special reference to Theology from 1780 to the present day

      A. There will be two written examinations in Trinity Term of Year 1:

  • 1. TheologyThemes in WesternModern Europe from Gabriel Biel to Jacob Arminius. Candidates will be expected to write three essays on different topics, showing familiarity with the tenets of the most seminal theologians of this eraTheology and discussing them in relation to the political, social and economic tendencies of the age.

  • 2. ProtestantFigures andin TridentineModern Teaching on the Doctrines of Grace, Freewill and Predestination. Candidates will be expected to write three essays on different topics.Theology;

    • (ii)B. Candidates will write either one long essay (up to 15,000 words) or three short essays (up to 5,000 words each) on a topic or topics falling within Modern Theology chosen by each candidate in liaison with the Reformationsupervisor. era;Essay proposals must be submitted for consideration by the Faculty’s Graduate Studies Committee not later than Monday of Week 5 of Trinity Term in Year 1. The completed essays must be uploaded to the University approved online assessment platform by Monday in Week 8 of Trinity Term of Year 2.

    • (iii)C. All candidates offer a dissertation of up to 30,000 words.

  • Section

    DIV. IssuesECCLESIASTICAL in Theology with special reference to Patristic Theology

    HISTORY

    • (i)

      A. There will be two writtengeneral examinations:

    papers, assessed in Trinity Term of Year 1

    1. MethodsA Written Examination on the Nature and StylesPractice inof TheologyEcclesiastical fromHistory.

  • 2. 1780A toGeneral the Present. Candidates will be expected to write three essayspaper on different topics, discussing problems of theological method, showing a critical understandingone of the main themes in systematic theology, and taking account of the impact on Christian theology of contemporary philosophy, criticalfollowing historical studiesperiods, theassessed natural and social sciences and non-Christian religions and ideologies.

    2. Either (a) The Development of Christian Doctrine to 451 A.D. (as for (i) 1 of Section A above) or (b) Hellenistic Philosophy and Early Christian Thought (as for (i) 2(a) of Section A above) or (c) Christology in the Patristic Era (as for (i) 2(b) of Section A above). In (b) and (c) candidates will be expected to comment on passages from prescribed texts in English, which will be listed in the Course Regulations for the Master of Philosophy in Theology for the year in which the candidates commenced their course.

    • (ii) Candidates will write either one long essay (up to 15,000 words) orby three long essays (up to 50005,000 words each):

      • (a) onAD a200-600

        (b) topicAD or400-1100

        (c) topicsAD falling1000-1500

        (d) withinAD 1400-1800

        (e) AD 1800 - the Patristicpresent

      Essay eraproposals must be submitted for consideration by the Faculty’s Graduate Studies Committee not later than Monday of Week 0 of Hilary Term in Year 1. The completed essays must be uploaded to the University approved online assessment platform by Monday in Week 8 of Trinity Term of Year 1.

    • (iii) All candidates offer a dissertation of up to 30,000 words.

    Section EB. Issues in Theology with special reference to Scholastic Theology

    • (i) There will be two written examinations:

    1. Methods and Styles in Theology from 1780 to the Present (as for (i).1 of Section D above);

    2. Either (a) Doctrine and Methods (as for (i) 1 of Section B above) or (b) The Thought of Aquinas (as for (i) 2 of Section B above). In (b)Year 2, candidates will be expected to comment on passages from prescribed texts in English, which will be listed in the Course Regulations for the Master of Philosophy in Theology for the year in which the candidates commenced their course.

    • (ii) Candidates will write either one long essay (up to 15,000 words) or three short essays (up to 5000 words each) on a topic or topics falling within the Scholastic era.

    • (iii) All candidates offer a dissertation of up to 30,000 words.

    Section F. Issues in Theology with special reference to Reformation Theology

    • (i) There will be two written examinations:

    1. Methods and Styles in Theology from 1780 to the Present (as for (i) 1 of Section D above).

    2. Either (a) Theology in Western Europe from Gabriel Biel to Jacob Arminius (as for (i) 1 of Section C above) or (b) Protestant and Tridentine Teaching on the Doctrines of Grace, Freewill and Predestination (as for (i) 2 of Section C above).

    • (ii) Candidates   will write either one long essay (up to 15,000 words) or three short essays (up to 5,000 words each) on a topic or topics fallingin withinecclesiastical history, chosen by each candidate in liaison with the Reformationsupervisor.  eraStudents may choose to write their long essay or one or more of their short essays on a topic which falls outside their primary period of study, provided that they obtain the prior written permission of their supervisor and the course coordinator. Essay proposals must be submitted for consideration by the Faculty’s Graduate Studies Committee not later than Monday of Week 5 of Trinity Term in Year 1. The completed essays must be uploaded to the University approved online assessment platform by Monday in Week 8 of Trinity Term of Year 2.

    • (iii)C. All candidates offer a dissertation of up to 30,000 words.

    Section

    GV. ModernCHRISTIAN Theology (1780-the present)

    ETHICS

    • (i)A.  There will be two written examinations in Trinity Term of Year 1:

    1. MethodsChristian Moral Concepts and Styles in Theology from 1780 to the Present (as for (i) 1 of Section D above)Methodology.

    2. EitherSelect (a) Modern Theology or (b) TheologyTexts and ModernPractical European Thought from 1780 to the Present or (c) Theology and Literature from 1780 to the Present. In each case candidates will be expected to write three essays on different topics.

    • (ii) Candidates will write either three short essays (up to 5000 words each) or one long essay (up to 15,000 words) on a topic or topics falling within one of the three options specified under (i) 2 above;

    • (iii) All candidates offer a dissertation of up to 30,000 words.

    IV Ecclesiastical History

    • (i) There will be two general papers, assessed either by two written exams, or by one written examination and three essays of up to 5,000 wordsIssues in length

    1.Christian General paper on the Nature and Practice of Ecclesiastical History. Candidates will be expected to write three essays on different topics, discussing the nature of ecclesiastical history as a sub-discipline within History through study both of the writing of the history of the Church from the Early Church to the modern day and of shifts in historical method, with particular reference to methodological debates within History since the mid-nineteenth centuryEthics.

    2B. A General paper, in which candidates will be expected to write three essays on different topics within one of the following fields: (a) The Early Church, A.D. 200-476; (b) The Western Church, A.D. 476-1000; (c) The Western Church, A.D. 1050-1400; (d) European Christianity A.D. 1400-1800; (e) European Christianity A.D. 1800-2000.

    • (ii) Candidates will write either one long essay (up to 15,000 words) or three short essays (up to 5,000 words each) on a topic or topics in ecclesiasticalChristian historyethics, chosen by each candidate in liaison with the supervisor. Essay proposals must be submitted for consideration by the Faculty’s Graduate Studies Committee not later than Monday of Week 5 of Trinity Term in Year 1. The completed essays must be uploaded to the University approved online assessment platform by Monday in Week 8 of Trinity Term of Year 2. 

    • (iii)C. All candidates offer a dissertation of up to 30,000 words.

    V Christian Ethics

    • (i) There will be two written examinations:

    1. Christian Moral Concepts and Methodology. Candidates will be expected to write three essays on different topics, showing understanding of basic conceptual and methodological issues as these are discussed in relevant classical and contemporary texts.

    2. Select Texts and Practical Issues in Christian Ethics. Candidates will be expected to write three essays on different topics, showing careful interpretation of classic texts and a capacity to analyse a range of moral issues arising in practical fields.

    • (ii) Candidates will write three essays (up to 5,000 words each);

    • (iii) All candidates offer a dissertation of up to 30,000 words.