Master of Philosophy in Oriental Studies
Differences from 2017/18 to 2021/22
The regulations made by the Board of the Faculty of Oriental Studies are as follows:
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1.
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(i) Cuneiform Studies.
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(ii) Egyptology (including Graeco-Roman and Christian Egypt).
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(iii) Modern Middle Eastern Studies.
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(iv) Classical Indian Religion.
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(v)
ModernJewish Studies. -
(vi) Jewish Studies in the Graeco-Roman Period.
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(vii) Islamic Art and
ArchaeologyArchitecture. -
(viii) Ottoman Turkish Studies.
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(ix) Islamic Studies and History.
(x
)Modern Chinese Studies.(xi) Tibetan and Himalayan Studies.-
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xii)Modern South Asian Studies. (xiiixi) Traditional East Asia: Classical, Medieval, and Early-Modern.-
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xivxii) Buddhist Studies. -
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xvxiii) Eastern Christian Studies.
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2. Candidates for subject (i) must satisfy the Oriental Studies Board by the time of their qualifying examination that they possess a working knowledge of French and German; candidates for (ii) must satisfy the Oriental Studies Board by the time of their qualifying examination that they possess a working knowledge of French and German, and candidates who wish to offer Greek papyrology must possess a fluent knowledge of Greek; and for subject (v) candidates should possess a working knowledge of either Hebrew or Yiddish
, and a relevant European language.x) Modern Chinese Studies, candidates will normally have a first degree in a discipline relevant to their elective subject. For subject (xiiixi) Traditional East Asia: Classical, Medieval, and Early’’ study or equivalent) in modern Chinese, Japanese, or Korean.3. A candidate who fails any part or parts of the Qualifying Examination may retake such part or parts during the Long Vacation prior to the second year of the course, except
iii) Modern Middle Eastern Studies, (iv) Classical Indian Religion, (v) Modern Jewish Studies, and (xix) Tibetan and Himalayan Studies. A candidate who fails any part or parts of the Qualifying Examination forthesethisfour coursescourse may retake such part or parts during Trinity Term of the first year of study except where stated otherwise in the particular regulations for individual courses. -
4. A candidate who fails any part or parts of the Final Examination may retake such part or parts on one occasion in the following academic year.
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5. Assessed essays and take-home papers must be submitted electronically by the date and time specified in the course handbook. Candidates must include a declaration form declaring that the work is the candidate's own. Instructions on and links to the electronic submission sites will be sent to candidates by the academic administration office.
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6. Subject to such regulations as the board may hereinafter make, every candidate must offer a
Two typewritten copies and anAn electronic copyin PDF format on a memory stick or CD,of the thesisChairelectronicofsubmissionthesitesExaminers,willnamebeofsentdegree,toc/ocandidatesExamination Schools, High Street, Oxford OX1 4BG,by thefollowingacademicsubmissionadministrationdeadlines: for (i), (iii), (iv), (vi), (viii), (x), (xi), (xii), (xv), not later than 12 noon on the Thursday of the second week of the Trinity Term in which the examination is taken, for (ii) and (xiv), not later than 12 noon on the Thursday of the fourth week of the Trinity Term in which the examination is taken; for (v), (vii) , (ix) and (xiii) by 12 noon on Thursday of sixth week of Trinity Termoffice. -
The work must bear the candidate
’’s examination number (but not the candidate’’s name). Candidates must include asigneddeclarationsealedformin an envelope addressed to the Chair of Examinersdeclaring that the work is the candidate's own. For general regulations concerning theses, see the General Regulations for the Degree of Bachelor of Philosophy or Master of Philosophy. Successful candidates will be required to deposit one copy of the thesis in the Bodleian. Work submitted for the degree of M.Phil. may subsequently be incorporated in a thesis submitted for the degree of D.Phil.
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67. Candidates may be required to attend a viva voce, except where stated otherwise in the particular regulations for individual courses in the following pages. 78.TheTeachingexaminersfor some options mayawardnotabedistinction for excellenceavailable intheeverywhole examinationyear.
Subjects
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(i) Cuneiform Studies
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A. Qualifying Examination
Each candidate will be required, unless exempted by the Oriental Studies Board, to pass a qualifying examination in
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B. Final Examination
The following papers are assessed by a written examination paper at the end of Trinity Term of the final year.
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Each candidate will be required to offer the following papers:
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1. Prepared translations of Sumerian texts and related essay questions (1 paper)
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2. Prepared translations of Akkadian texts and related essay questions (1 paper)
A list of prepared texts in the Sumerian and Akkadian languages will be provided to the candidate after they have successfully passed the qualifying examination. Lists of set texts
mustwill besubmittedavailableby the examiners tofrom the faculty office by Friday of seventh week of Michaelmas term. -
3. Unprepared translations of Akkadian (1 paper)
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4.
collect oraccess the question paper. The essays must be submitted to the Examination Schools by 12 noon on Thursday of Weeks 9 of Michaelmas Term and Hilary Term respectively. For each essay two printed copies and a signed form certifying that the essay is the candidate’s own work must be delivered in an envelope marked ‘Essay presubmitted for the M.Phil. in Cuneiform Studies’ to the Examination Schools, High Street, Oxford OX1 4BG. -
5.
(a) The Cuneiform World in Context (one half paper)
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(b)
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C. Thesis
Each candidate will be required to present a thesis of not more than 25,000 words on a subject approved by the board. The thesis needs to include a substantial cuneiform-related element.
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(ii) Egyptology
This course covers topics relating to dynastic, Graeco-Roman, and Christian Egypt.
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A. Qualifying Examination
Each candidate will be required, unless exempted by the Oriental Studies Board, to pass a qualifying examination in Egyptian and/or Coptic not later than the end of the Trinity term of the first year. Candidates offering options relating to the Graeco-Roman period may be required to pass a qualifying examination in Greek.
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B. Final Examination
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1. Syllabus A: A candidate who has a first degree in Egyptology or equivalent qualification must offer Section I, three papers from Section II, and a thesis of not more than 25,000 words on a subject to be approved by the board.
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2. Syllabus B: All other candidates must offer Section I, two papers from Section II, Section III, and a thesis of not more than 25,000 words on a subject to be approved by the board.
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3. All applications for approval of options must reach the Senior Academic Administrator, Oriental Institute, on or before Monday in the second week of Michaelmas Term of the second year. For options under Section II applicants must include a detailed definition of the topics offered and a list of primary sources, to be countersigned by their supervisors.
Section I
For the Final Examination the following papers will be set:
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(i) A general paper on Egyptology. Questions will be set on method, theory, bibliography, and the history of Egyptology. Candidates will be expected to answer some questions outside the areas of their fields of specialisation.
(ii) Unprepared translation from Egyptian texts.
Passages may be set for translation from texts of all periods from the end of the Old Kingdom to the Conquest of Alexander. Texts of other periods may be set with the permission of the board.
Section II
A special field selected from a list published in the course handbook of which one will be on an appropriate category of primary source material.
Some special fields may not be available every year.
Candidates for Syllabus A will be examined by methods (i), (ii), and (iii).
Candidates for Syllabus B will be examined by methods (i) and (ii).
The examination methods are as follows:
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(i)
.. Candidates will be informed as to which paper is to be examined as a take-home on Friday of eighth week of the Hilary Term of the second year; conventions for the setting of the paper will be released at the same time. The question paper for the take-home examination will bepublishedmade available to candidatesin the Oriental Instituteat912.00a.m.noon on Monday of first week of Trinity term of the second year. Candidates will be contacted with details on how tocollect oraccess the question paper. The completed examination must be handed in to the Examination Schools, High Street, Oxford no later than 12 noon on Monday of second week of Trinity term. The completed paper should not exceed 5,000 words in length.If candidates for a different degree are taking the same subject and are to be examined in a three-hour examination, M.Phil. candidates may instead take that examination. Applications to take the three-hour examination should be submitted to the Faculty Board by Friday of the first week in Michaelmas Term
(ii) Assessed essays. For a second topic in the special field, candidates will be required to presubmit two essays of not more than 5,000 words each, which between them display command of more than a narrow range of the topic. Supervisors or others are permitted to give bibliographical help and to discuss drafts of essays.
Such essays (two printed copies) must be delivered in a parcel bearing the words ‘Essays presubmitted for the M.Phil. in Egyptology’ to the Examination Schools, High Street, Oxford OX1 4BG by noon on the Thursday of the eighth week of Hilary Term of the second year.(iii) Examination paper (Syllabus A only). One three-hour examination on an area within the special field.
Section III
Prescribed texts in Middle
mustwill besubmitted by the examiners to the Faculty Office by Friday of seventh week of Michaelmas Term of the first year and subsequentlypublished in the Course Handbook. -
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(iii) Modern Middle Eastern Studies
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A. Qualifying Examination
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Every candidate must pass a qualifying examination
not later thanby the endof the second termof the first year. A candidate with an intermediate level of proficiency (the equivalent of 2-3 years of study) in Arabic, Persian or Turkish may offer respectively Advanced Arabic, Advanced Persian or Advanced Turkish. A candidate with native fluency or who has satisfied the examiners in the Second Public Examination in Arabic or Persian or Turkish or Hebrew, or has passed a similar examination in another university, must offer a different language for examination. The examination will consist of two papers:-
(i) A language examination in Arabic,
or Advanced Arabic orPersian, Hebrew orPersian or Advanced Persian orTurkishoratAdvancedaTurkishsuitable level, (subject to the availability of teaching), based on grammar knowledge and reading comprehension. -
(ii) A
generalqualitativemethodologicalresearch methods paperonintheModern MiddleEastEasternin the twentieth centuryStudies.
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B. Final Examination
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1. All candidates must offer
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(a) one language paper in either Arabic
or, Hebrewor, Persian or Turkish,at the appropriate level (subject to the availability of teaching, based on knowledge of grammar, translation from the Oriental language to English, and reading comprehension or, for candidates who offered Advanced Arabic, Advanced Persian, or Advanced Turkish for the Qualifying Examination, one language paper in Arabic, Persian, or Turkish respectively based on prose composition, translation from the Oriental language to English, and reading comprehension); -
(b) a thesis of not more than 30,000 words on a subject to be approved by the board;
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(c) three papers from a list of options published in the course handbook.
A candidate may offer a paper on a subject not included on the list, with the approval of the board.
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Teaching for some options may not be available in every year. Applicants for admission will be advised whether teaching will be available in the options of their choice.
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2.All applications for special subjects requiring the approval of the board must reach the Senior Academic Administrator, Oriental Institute, on or before the Monday in the second week of the Michaelmas Full Term of the second year.-
(iv) Classical Indian Religion
A. Qualifying Examination
Candidates must pass a qualifying examination in Sanskrit not later than the end of the
secondTrinity term of the academic year in which the candidate's name is first entered on the register of M.Phil. students unless exempted by the Board of the Faculty of Oriental Studies.B. Final Examination
Candidates will be required to offer the following four papers, but a candidate may submit a thesis of not more than 20,000 words on a subject approved by the board13
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(i) Unprepared translation from epic and commentarial Sanskrit
. This written examination will take place at the end of Trinity Term. (ii)and(iii)Translation from the set books in two of the sections.-
Lists of set texts
mustwill besubmittedavailabletofrom the Faculty office by Friday of seventh week of Michaelmas Term. This written examination will take place at the end of Trinity Term. -
(ii) History of Indian Religions I
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(iii) History of Indian Religions II
In Papers (ii) and (iii), each of which is assessed by a three-hour examination, candidates will be expected to show background knowledge of relevant social and political history. Emphasis will be laid on the study of primary sources, which may, however, be read in translation.
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(iv) Approaches to the study of Indian religion: Candidates will be asked to give a critical appreciation of the contributions of different disciplines (theology, anthropology, philology etc.) and to discuss the application of various theoretical approaches (e.g. evolutionism, diffusionism, dialectical materialism, phenomenology, structuralism) to the subject. This written examination will take place at the end of Trinity Term.
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(v)
ModernJewish Studies-
A. Qualifying Examination
Candidates must pass a qualifying examination in Biblical Hebrew or Modern Hebrew or Yiddish not later than the end of the
HilaryTrinity term of the first year of the course unless exempted by the Board of the Faculty of Oriental Studies. The examination will consist of a language examination in Biblical Hebrew or Modern Hebrew or Yiddish based on grammar knowledge and reading comprehension.Candidates, who will submit a take-home essay in their first year of the course to partially fulfil the requirements of (b) in the Final Examination, must enter for this paper in their first year. Marks will not be moderated for Final Examination take-home essays taken in the first year of the course until the end of the second year of the course.
B. Final Examination
All candidates must offer
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(a)
, at a level equivalent to Intermediate or higher. -
(b) Four papers
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Candidates
willmustpresentpassthemselvesafor take-home essayqualifying examination in Modern Hebrew or Yiddish not later than the end of the Trinity term of the first year unless exempted by the Board of the Faculty of Oriental Studies.EssayThe examination will consist of a language examination in Hebrew based on grammar knowledge and reading comprehension.
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For papers to be examined by take-home essay examination this will consist of the electronic submission of two essays of not more than 2,500 words each
for each of the four papers chosen, which must be submitted to the Examination Schools, High Street, Oxford, by 12 noon on the Friday of noughth week of the term following that in which the paper was taught. The essay topics will be published, on Friday of eighth week of the term in which the paper is taught. Candidates will be contacted with details on how to collect or access the question paper. When a paper assessed by take-home essay is taught in the first year of the course, candidates must enter for the paper in the first year. Candidates proposing to offer a paper not included in the list must obtain the permission of the Board of the Faculty of Oriental Studies.All applications requiring the approval of the board must be sent to the Senior Academic Administrator, Oriental Institute, on or before the Monday in the second week of the Michaelmas Full Term of the second year. -
Teaching for some options may not be available in every year. Applicants for admission will be advised whether teaching will be available in the options of their choice.Prescribed texts will be reported to the Faculty Board’’s second meeting of Michaelmas Full Term in the first year of the course.
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C. Thesis
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A
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(vi) Jewish Studies in the Graeco-Roman Period
A. Qualifying Examination
Candidates must pass a qualifying examination in Jewish Studies not later than the end of the Trinity term of the first year unless exempted by the Board of the Faculty of Oriental Studies.
B. Final Examination
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Every candidate shall submit a thesis of not more than 30,000 words and 4
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(vii) Islamic Art and
ArchaeologyArchitecture -
A. Qualifying Examination
Every candidate will be required to satisfy the examiners in a qualifying examination not later than the end of the
(a) a three-hour written examination:
IntroductionHistorytoof Islamic Art andArchaeologyArchitecture, c.550-c.1900.(b) a language examination in Arabic, Persian, Turkish, or
PersiananotherorlanguageTurkishapproved by the Faculty Board. -
B. Final Examination
This shall be taken in the Trinity Term of the
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1. Every candidate must follow for at least six terms a course of instruction in Islamic Art and
ArchaeologyArchitecture. -
2. The examination will include:
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(a) A paper on
aApproachestopic ofto IslamicartArt andarchaeology or related fields (e.g. non-Islamic art, architecture and archaeology; Islamic studies; history; museology)Architecture to be selected by the candidate in consultation with the candidate’’s supervisor. This paper will be examined by an extended essay of between 5,000 and 6,000 words. Applications for the approval of the essay topic should be submitted to the Faculty office by Monday ofsecondeighth week ofMichaelmasHilary Term of thesecondfirst year. -
(b) A language examination in Arabic or Persian or Turkish or another language
examinationapproved by the Faculty Board. -
(c) Prepared Texts in Arabic or Persian or Turkish
preparedortextsanother language approved by the Faculty Board. This is a written examination paper. -
(d
)A three-hour written examination: Approaches to Islamic Art and Archaeology. (e) A portfolio, containing reports on the practical work completed during the course (according to the schedule given in the Course Handbook).(
fe)
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3. Candidates must submit the extended essay in (a) above not later than noon on the Monday of
first0th week ofTrinityMichaelmas TermThe extended essay must be submitted in printed form and an electronic copy in PDF on a memory stick. Two printed copies and the memory stick must be submitted in a securely sealed parcel clearly addressed to the Chair of Examiners, M.Phil. in Islamic Art and Archaeology (Oriental Studies), Examination Schools, High Street, Oxford. The parcels must bear the words 'FINAL EXAMINATION FOR THE M.PHIL. IN ISLAMIC ART AND ARCHAEOLOGY (EXTENDED ESSAY). Each piece of work must bear the candidate’s examination number (but not the candidate’s name, which must be concealed). Candidates must include a signed declaration sealed in an envelope addressed to the Chair of Examiners that the work is the candidate’s own.4. Candidates must submit the portfolio in (d) above not later than 12 noon on Monday of second week of Trinity Term of the second year. The portfolio must be submitted electronically.
5. Candidates must submit the thesis in (e) above not later than 12 noon on
FridayThursday offourthsixth week of Trinity Term of thefirstsecond year.Two printed copies and one digital copy on a memory stick must be submitted in a securely sealed parcel clearly addressed to the Chair of Examiners, M.Phil. in Islamic Art and Archaeology (Oriental Studies), Examination Schools, High Street, Oxford. The parcels must bear the words 'FINAL EXAMINATION FOR THE M.PHIL. IN ISLAMIC ART AND ARCHAEOLOGY (PORTFOLIO)’. The portfolio must bear the candidate’s examination number (but not the candidate’s name, which must be concealed). Candidates must include a signed declaration sealed in an envelope addressed to the Chair of Examiners that the work is the candidate’s own.
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(viii) Ottoman Turkish Studies
A. Qualifying Examination
Every candidate will be required, unless exempted by the Board of the Faculty of Oriental Studies
Board, to pass a qualifying examination in Ottoman Turkish not later than the end of theB. Final Examination
Every candidate will be required to offer the following four papers and a thesis
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(1) Essay questions on Ottoman history and institutions, 1453-1699.
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(2) Ottoman historical texts.
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(3) Ottoman texts in modern transcription and post-1928 Ottomanising texts.
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(4) Ottoman documents
Teaching for the course may not be available in every year: applicants for admission will only be accepted if teaching is available.
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(ix) Islamic Studies and History
A. Qualifying Examination
Each candidate will be required, unless exempted by the Board of the Faculty of Oriental Studies
Board, to pass a qualifying examination in Arabic or Persian or Ottoman Turkish or any other language approved by the Faculty Board not later than the end of the
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B. Final Examination
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1. The examination shall take place not later than the end of the
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2. The Final Examination shall consist of the following
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(1) A language examination in Arabic, or Persian, or Ottoman Turkish, or any other language approved by the Faculty Board. This written examination will take place at the end of Trinity Term of the second year.
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(2)
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(3) Islamic Studies. Candidates are required to submit an essay of not more than 5000 words in length (excluding bibliography but including footnotes). The question paper will be published by the examiners by 12 noon on Friday of eighth week of Hilary Term of the second year.
Two copies of the essay must be submitted to the Examination Schools, High Street, Oxford by 12 noon on Friday of noughth week of Trinity Term of the second year. -
(4) and (5) Two option papers which will be examined either as a written examination paper at the end of Trinity Term or by means of a take-home research paper of up to 5,000 words.
year. Teaching for some options may not be available in everyyear. All candidates must obtain the approval of the Board of the Faculty of Oriental Studies for the papers they wish to offer. All applications requiring approval of the Board must reach the Senior Academic Administrator, Oriental Institute, not later than the Monday in the second week of Michaelmas Term of the second year.For options assessed by means of a take-home research paper, the question paper will be published by the examiners by 12 noon on Friday of eighth week of the term in which the option is taught, and
two copies oftheessaysessay must be submittedto the Examination Schools, High Street, Oxfordby 12 noon on Friday of the following week. Candidates will be contacted with details of how tocollect oraccess the questions.(6)
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(x
)Modern Chinese Studies Candidates in Modern Chinese Studies must follow EITHER Track A (Social Science) OR Track B (Humanities) throughout the entire course. Candidates are required to spend a period of at least three months on an approved course of language study in China or Taiwan after the qualifying examination at the end of the Trinity Term of the first year, and before the start of the Hilary Term of the second year.A.Qualifying ExaminationThe examination shall take place not later than the end of the Trinity term of the first year. Candidates who fail one or more parts of the Qualifying Examination may be allowed to retake that part or parts once at the end of the Long Vacation of the first year of the course, except forStudy of Contemporary Chinawhich may be retaken at the end of Trinity Term of the first year of the course. Candidates who fail the Final Examination elective paper taken with the Qualifying Examination in the first year of the course may be allowed to retake that part with the remainder of the Final Examination papers offered at the end of the second year of the course.The Qualifying Examination shall consist of three parts for Track A and two parts for Track B, as follows:(1)Study of Contemporary ChinaEach candidate will be required to follow a course of instruction on modern China. Candidates will present themselves for examination in the core course Study of Contemporary China at the beginning of Hilary Term of the first year.(2)Modern Chinese language (written and oral)All candidates must offer one written and one oral Chinese examination. Candidates will be examined in Chinese I or Chinese II. Those who have followed the Chinese II course will not be permitted to enter for the Chinese I examination. Candidates shall present themselves for examination in Chinese language at the end of Trinity Term of the first year.(3)Research Methods for Area Studies(Track A only)All candidates are required to undertake an assessment in research methods for Asian studies, which is a series of assignments and/or unseen written examinations as published in the course handbook. The forms of assessment, and the dates and times of submission, where applicable, will be published in the course handbook.Candidates shall also be required to offer one Final Examination Elective Paper at the end of Trinity Term of the first year (see below).
B.Final ExaminationNo candidate can pass the Final Examination unless they have already passed all parts of the first-year Qualifying Examination. The examination shall take place not later than the end of the third term of the second year, with the exception of the first of the two elective papers that shall be taken at the end of the first year of the programme. In order to pass the degree all parts of the Final Examination must be passed. A candidate who fails the Final Examination will be permitted to retake it on one further occasion in the following year and only have to retake those parts of the examination that were failed.The Final Examination shall consist of:(1)ThesisThe thesis will not be more than 20,000 words on a subject approved by the Oriental Studies Faculty Board.(2)Two Elective papersCandidates will be required to choose two elective papers offered as option courses under the M.Phil. or M.Sc. in Contemporary Chinese Studies or under another Master’s (M.Phil., M.Sc. or M.St.) degree programme in the University. The latter must be approved by the Board. The first elective paper will be taken at the end of the first year of the course, while the second paper will be taken at the end of the second year of the course. A list of papers approved for this purpose by the Oriental Studies Faculty Board will be available from the Course Director. The paper elected in the second year may not be the same as that taken in the first year. The examiners may, at their discretion, either require candidates to sit the standard examination paper for these elective papers, or offer a paper set specifically for students on the M.Phil. in Modern Chinese Studies.(3)Modern Chinese language (written and oral)Candidates will be required to take the written examination and an oral examination at the end of the Trinity Term of their final year. Candidates will be examined in Chinese I or Chinese II. Those who have followed the Chinese II course will not be permitted to enter for the Chinese I examination.(4)Modern China Humanities(Track B only)Candidates will be required to take a final written examination in the study of Modern China.
(xi) Tibetan and Himalayan Studies-
A. Qualifying Examination
Candidates must pass a qualifying examination in Tibetan language at the end of the Hilary Term of their first year. This will consist of a written and an oral examination.
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B. Final Examination
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All candidates will be required to offer four written examination papers at the end of Trinity Term of the second year, an extended essay of 5,000 words, and a thesis of not more than 25,000 words.
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1. The four written examination papers will be:
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(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
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2.
to the Examination Schools, High Street, Oxford,electronically by 12 noon on the Friday of Week 0 of the term following that in which formal teaching for this paper is completed. When the paper is taught in the first year of the course, candidates must enter for the paper in the first year.3. Candidates must submit a thesis of not more than 25,000 words on a topic selected by the candidate in consultation with their supervisor and approved by the Faculty Board.
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xii)Modern South Asian Studies
A.Qualifying ExaminationCandidates must pass a qualifying examination in Modern South Asian Studies not later than the end of the Trinity term of the first year. Unless exempted by the Board of the Faculty of Oriental Studies candidates will be required to offer the following papers:1.A language examination in Hindi (Beginners or Advanced), Brajbhasha and Old Hindi Texts I, or a substitute core language, based on knowledge of grammar, translation and reading comprehension. (Teaching for some languages may not be available every year).2.A general methodological paper on the history and culture of South Asia, to be assessed by three-hour examination.Candidates, who will submit a take-home essay in their first year of the course to partially fulfil the requirements of (c) in the Final Examination, must enter for this paper in their first year. The mark for such essays will not be moderated until the candidate’s final year of the course.
B.Final Examination1.All candidates must offer:(a)one of the following language papers in Hindi (Advanced), Hindi and Urdu, Literary Hindi, Literary Hindi and Urdu, Bengali, Brajbhasha & Old Hindi Texts, Sanskrit, Tibetan or Persian, based on knowledge of grammar, translation and reading comprehension. (Teaching for some languages may not be available every year).(b)a thesis of not more than 20,000 words on a topic selected by the candidate in consultation with their supervisor and approved by the Faculty Board.(c)three papers from a list published in the Course Handbook. Instead of one of the papers on the list, a candidate may offer a paper on a subject with the approval of the board. Teaching for some optional subjects may not be available in every year.The papers can be assessed either by a three hour examination paper at the end of the second year or a take-home examination paper. The method of examination will be published in the course handbook. Candidates are required to submit two essays of no more than 5000 words each, on topics selected by the candidate from a list on the take-home examination paper. The list of topics will be published by 5pm on the last Friday of term in which teaching for the paper is completed. Candidates will be contacted with details of how to collect or access the questions. The essays must be submitted to the Examination Schools, High Street, Oxford, by 12 noon on the Friday of noughth week of the term following that in which formal teaching for the Option Subject is completed. When a paper assessed by essay is taught in the first year of the course, candidates must enter for the paper in the first year. Candidates are not allowed to enter for papers already chosen as unit 1 in the Qualifying Examination and I(a) in the Final Examination.
(xiiixi) Traditional East Asia: Classical, Medieval, and Early Modern-
A. Qualifying Examination
Every candidate will be required, unless exempted by the Board of the Faculty of Oriental Studies, to satisfy the examiners in an examination, to be known as the Qualifying Examination for the M.Phil. in Traditional East Asia: Classical, Medieval, and Early Modern, not later than the end of the third term after that in which the candidate
’’s name is first entered on the Register of M.Phil. Students. All candidates must offer:-
1. A language examination in modern Chinese or modern Japanese or modern Korean
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2. A language examination in classical Chinese or classical Japanese or middle Korean
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3.
’’s best written performance in that term. Each essay must be submittedto the Examination Schools, High Street, Oxford,by 12 noon on the Friday of ninth week of the term in which the paper is taught.
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B. Final Examination
This shall be taken in the Trinity Term of the academic year following that in which the candidate
’’s name is first entered on the Register of M.Phil. Students or, with the approval of the faculty board, in a subsequent year. All candidates must offer:-
1. Prescribed texts in one of the following: (i) Classical Chinese; (ii) Classical Japanese; (iii) Middle Korean; (iv) Classical Chinese and Classical Japanese; (v) Classical Chinese and Middle Korean; (vi) Middle Korean and Classical Japanese. This is a written examination paper.
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2.
1012.00a.m.noon on Tuesday of ninth week of the Trinity Term in which the Final Examination is to be taken. Candidates will be contacted with details of how tocollect oraccess the questions. The completed examination must be submittedto the Examination Schoolselectronically no later than 5 p.m. on Friday of the same week. -
3. Thesis. Candidates must submit a thesis of not be more than 30,000 words on a subject selected by the candidate in consultation with
his or hertheir supervisor and approved by the Board of the Faculty of Oriental Studies. -
4. The examiners will examine every candidate by viva voce unless excused.
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xivxii) Buddhist Studies -
A. Qualifying examination
Each candidate must pass a qualifying examination not later than the end of the
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(i) A three-hour examination in the chosen primary Buddhist Language (either Sanskrit, Tibetan, or Classical Chinese).
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(ii) A three-hour examination on basic aspects of Buddhist thought and history.
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B. Final examination
In the Trinity Term of their second year, all candidates must offer:
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(i) an advanced language paper consisting
inof a translation from seen and unseen texts in the chosen primary Buddhist Language, to be assessed by a three-hour examination -
(ii) a thesis of not more than 20,000 words on a subject approved by the Board
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(iii) a paper on Approaches to the study of Buddhism, to be assessed by three-hour examination
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(iv) Either
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(a) a language paper in a second primary Buddhist language (either Sanskrit, Tibetan, or Classical Chinese), to be assessed by three-hour examination. The second primary Buddhist language can be studied either at a basic or at an advanced level. The former will be assessed by a three-hour examination in the chosen second primary Buddhist language (as for paper (ii) of the Qualifying examination); the latter by a translation from seen and unseen texts in the chosen second primary Buddhist language, to be assessed by a three-hour examination (as for paper (i) of the Final examination). Students who intend to study a second primary Buddhist language at an advanced level must satisfy the Faculty Board that they possess an adequate knowledge of the chosen language.
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Or
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(b) A paper chosen from a list published in the course handbook, assessed as specified by the course instructor. Applications for approval of the chosen topic must be sent to the Senior Academic Administrator
ornobeforelater than the Monday in second week of Michaelmas Full Term preceding the examination.A paper chosen from a list published in the course handbook, assessed as specified in the course handbook. Applications for approval of the chosen topic must be sent to the Senior Academic Administrator on or before the Monday in second week of Michaelmas Term of the second year.
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(
xvxiii) Eastern Christian Studies -
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I. Every candidate shall be required
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(a) to sit a written examination, as prescribed below;
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(b) to submit a thesis of not more than 30,000 words on a subject approved by the Faculty Board.
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(c) to attend a viva voce examination, unless individually dispensed by the examiners.
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II. The written examination shall consist of four papers. Lists of set texts will be available in the Course Handbook.
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(1) A general paper on the development of doctrine and the history of the Church in the Christian East to AD717.
(2), (3), (4) Three papers on one of the following options.
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A. Greek
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(i) The philosophical background of the Greek Fathers.
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(ii) The history of the Church in the Byzantine Empire, AD 717- 886.
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(iii) Byzantine ecclesiastical texts.
The three papers will include passages for comment as well as general questions relating to the set texts.
B. Armenian with Greek
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(i) Armenian historical texts.
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(ii) Armenian theological and ecclesiastical texts.
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(iii) A translation paper from Greek ecclesiastical texts. Passages for translation will be set from unspecified texts and set texts.
Papers (i) and (ii) will include passages for translation and comment as well as general questions relating to the set texts.
C. Syriac with Greek
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(i) Syriac historical texts.
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(ii) Syriac theological texts.
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(iii) as Paper B (iii) above.
Papers (i) and (ii) will include passages for translation and comment as well as general questions relating to the set texts.
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Teaching in all three options (Greek, Armenian with Greek, Syriac with Greek) may not be available every year, and applicants for admission will be advised whether teaching will be available in the option of their choice.Note. Candidates with sufficient knowledge of Greek may offer Paper A (i) in place of Paper B (iii)/C (iii). Except in the case of Papers A (i) and B (iii)/C (iii), and subject to the approval of the faculty boards, a candidate may offer texts
—— or, in the case of Paper A (ii), a period of Greek church history—— other than those specified in the regulations. -
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