Master of Philosophy in Oriental Studies

The regulations made by the Board of the Faculty of Oriental Studies are as follows:

• 1. All candidates must present themselves for a written examination in one of the following subjects.

  • (i) Cuneiform Studies.

  • (ii) Egyptology (including Graeco-Roman and Christian Egypt).

  • (iii) Modern Middle Eastern Studies.

  • (iv) Classical Indian Religion.

  • (v) Jewish Studies.

  • (vi) Jewish Studies in the Graeco-Roman Period.

  • (vii) Islamic Art and Architecture.

  • (viii) Ottoman Turkish Studies.

  • (ix) Islamic Studies and History.

  • (x) Tibetan and Himalayan Studies.

  • (xi) Traditional East Asia: Classical, Medieval, and Early-Modern.

  • (xii) Buddhist Studies.

  • (xiii) Eastern Christian Studies.

• 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. For subject (vi), candidates must satisfy the Oriental Studies Board before admission to the course that they possess a working knowledge of Hebrew. For subject (viii) and the Turkish option in subject (ix) candidates should possess a sound reading knowledge of Modern Turkish or Arabic or Persian. For subject (xi) Traditional East Asia: Classical, Medieval, and Early-Modern, candidates should possess a good proficiency (normally at least two years’ 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 candidates for (iii) Modern Middle Eastern Studies, (iv) Classical Indian Religion, (v) Jewish Studies, and (x) Tibetan and Himalayan Studies. A candidate who fails any part or parts of the Qualifying Examination for thesethis four 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.

• 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.

• 6. Subject to such regulations as the board may hereinafter make, every candidate must offer a thesis on a subject approved by the board (or by a person or persons to whom it may delegate the power of giving such approval), and as far as possible falling within the scope of the subject offered by the candidate in the examination. Applications for approval of the thesis subject must reach the Board of the Faculty of Oriental Studies, Oriental Institute, on or before Monday of noughth week of Hilary Term in the second year of the course. A title approval form is available on the Oriental Studies website. An electronic copy of the thesis   must be uploadedsubmitted tovia the University approved online assessment platform, by the followingsubmission deadlines given in the course handbook: instructions on and links to the electronic submission deadlines:sites forwill (i),be (iii),sent (iv),to (vi),candidates (viii), (x), (xiii), not later than 12 noon onby the Thursdayacademic ofadministration the second week of the Trinity Term in which the examination is taken, for (ii), (vii) and (xii), not later than 12 noon on the Thursday of the fourth week of the Trinity Term in which the examination is taken; for (v), (ix) and (xi) 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 confirminclude a declaration form declaring 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.

• 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.

• 8. Teaching for some options may not be available in every year.

Subjects

• (i) Cuneiform Studies

  • A. Qualifying Examination

    Each candidate will be required, unless exempted by the Oriental Studies Board, to pass a qualifying examination in Akkadian Texts and Akkadian Grammar and Unprepared Translation not later than the end of Trinity term of the first year.

  • B. Final Examination

    The following papers are assessed by a written examination paper at the end of Trinity Term of the final year.

  • Each candidate will be required to offer the following papers:

    • 1. Prepared translations of Sumerian texts and related essay questions (1 paper)

    • 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 be submittedavailable by the examiners tofrom the faculty office by Friday of seventh week of Michaelmas term.

    • 3. Unprepared translations of Akkadian (1 paper)

    • 4. History and Civilization of Ancient Mesopotamia (1 paper)

      Candidates are required to submit two essays, each of not more than 2,500 words in length, which display knowledge of more than just a narrow range of the topic. The subject of the essays will be published by 12 noon,  Thursday of Week 8 of Michaelmas Term of the second year of the course for the first essay and by 12 noon, Thursday Week 8 of Hilary Term of the second year of the course for the second essay. Candidates will be contacted with details on how to collect or access the question paper. The essays must be uploaded to the University approved online assessment platform by 12 noon on Thursday of Weeks 9 of Michaelmas Term and Hilary Term respectively. For each essay a signed declaration that the essay is the candidate’s own work must be uploaded at the same time.

    • 5. The Cuneiform World in Context and Ancient Near Eastern Inscribed Artefacts;

      (a) The Cuneiform World in Context (one half paper)

    • A list of options will be published in the course handbook.  Candidates must specify which of these options they will pursue no later than the end of the third term of the first year. Not all options may be available every year.

      (b) Ancient Near Eastern Inscribed Artefacts (one half paper)

  • 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.

• (ii) Egyptology

  This course covers topics relating to dynastic, Graeco-Roman, and Christian Egypt.

• 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.

• B. Final Examination

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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:

    • (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:

    • (i)  Take-home examination. One paper in the special field will be set as a take-home examination. The answer or answers for this examination should be typed and presented in proper scholarly form. 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 be publishedmade available to candidates in the Oriental Institute at 912.00 a.m.noon on Monday of first week of Trinity term of the second year. Candidates will be contacted with details on how to collect or access the question paper. The completed examination must be uploaded to the University approved online assessment platform 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 of the second year.

    (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 must be uploaded to the University approved online assessment platform 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 Egyptian and one other phase of Egyptian (either Old Egyptian, Late Egyptian, Demotic or Coptic) (one paper). Some languages may not be available every year. Lists of set texts mustwill be submitted by the examiners to the Faculty Office by Friday of seventh week of Michaelmas Term of the first year and subsequently published in the Course Handbook. 

• (iii) Modern Middle Eastern Studies

• A. Qualifying Examination

• Every candidate must pass a qualifying examination not later thanby the end of the second term of 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 Intermediate Arabic or Advanced Arabic orPersian, Hebrew or Persian or Advanced Persian or Turkish orat Advanceda Turkishsuitable level, (subject to the availability of teaching), based on grammar knowledge and reading comprehension.

  • (ii) A generalqualitative methodologicalresearch methods paper onin theModern Middle EastEastern in the twentieth centuryStudies.

• B. Final Examination

  • 1. All candidates must offer

    • (a) one language paper in either Arabic or, Hebrew or, 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;

    • (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. 

  • 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.

• 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 instead of Paper (iv).

  • (i) Unprepared translation from epic and commentarial Sanskrit and Translation from the set books in two of the sections.

  • Lists of set texts will be available from 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

  • (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.

  • (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.

• (v) Jewish 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

    • (a)  one language paper in Biblical Hebrew or Modern Hebrew or Yiddish based on grammar knowledge, reading comprehension, and translation into English.

    • (b) Four papers from a list published in the course handbook, to be examined either by three-hour written examination held at the end of Trinity term of the second year of the course or by take-home essay examination, as set out in the course handbook. 

  • Candidates must pass a qualifying examination in  Modern  Hebrew or Yiddish not later than the end of the HilaryTrinity term of the first year unless exempted by the Board of the Faculty of Oriental Studies. The examination will consist of a language examination in Hebrew based on grammar knowledge and reading comprehension.  

  •  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. The essays must be uploaded to the University approved online assessment platform, 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. 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. 

  • 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.

  • C. Thesis

  • A candidate shall submit a thesis of not more than 30,000 words on a topic selected in consultation with their supervisor and approved by the Faculty Board. 

• (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

• Every candidate shall submit a thesis of not more than 30,000 words and 4 written examinations. The written examinations shall consist of one paper on Jewish literature, history, and institution from 200 BC to AD425 and three further papers from a list published in the course handbook.

• (vii) Islamic Art and Architecture

• A. Qualifying Examination

  Every candidate will be required to satisfy the examiners in a qualifying examination not later than the end of the Trinity term of the first year. The examination will include:

  (a) a three-hour written examination: History of Islamic Art and Architecture, c.550-c.1900.

  (b) a language examination in Arabic, Persian, Turkish, or Persiananother orlanguage Turkishapproved by the Faculty Board.

• B. Final Examination

  This shall be taken in the Trinity Term of the second year.

• 1. Every candidate must follow for at least six terms a course of instruction in Islamic Art and Architecture.

• 2. The examination will include:

  • (a) A paper on aApproaches topic ofto Islamic artArt and architecture or related fields (e.g. Islamic archaeology; 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 of sixtheighth week of Hilary Term of the first 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 preparedor textsanother language approved by the Faculty Board. This is a written examination paper.

  • (d) A portfolio, containing reports on the practical work completed during the course (according to the schedule given in the Course Handbook).

    (e) A thesis of not more than 30,000 words on a subject to be approved by the Faculty Board.

• 3. Candidates must submit the extended essay in (a) above not later than noon on the Monday of first0th week of Michaelmas Term of the second year. 

• The extended essay must be be uploaded to the University approved online assessment platform. 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 declaration 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 MondayThursday of fourthsixth week of Trinity Term of the second year. One digital copy must be uploaded to the University approved online assessment platform. The portfolio must bear the candidate’s examination number (but not the candidate’s name, which must be concealed). Candidates must include a declaration that the work is the candidate’s own. 

• (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 the Trinity term of the first year.

  B. Final Examination

  Every candidate will be required to offer the following four papers and a thesis of not more than 30,000 words. Lists of set texts will be available in the Course Handbook.

  • (1) Essay questions on Ottoman history and institutions, 1453-1699.

  • (2) Ottoman historical texts. 

  • (3) Ottoman texts in modern transcription and post-1928 Ottomanising texts.

  • (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.

• (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 Trinity term of the first year. The content of the examination shall be of such nature as to satisfy the board that the candidate is capable of using pre-modern texts in the respective language.

• B. Final Examination

• 1. The examination shall take place not later than the end of the Trinity term of the second year.

• 2. The Final Examination shall consist of the following six units (1-6).

• (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.

• (2) Islamic History. This written examination will take place at the end of Trinity Term of the second year.

• (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. The essay must be uploaded to the University approved online assessment platform 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.  A list of options and how they will be assessed will be available in the course handbook by noughth week of Trinity Term in the first year.  Teaching for some options may not be available in every year. 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 the essaysessay must be uploadedsubmitted to the University approved online assessment platform by 12 noon on Friday of the following week. Candidates will be contacted with details of how to collect or access the questions.  The examination for at least one of these optional papers, whether conducted in the Examination Schools or as a take-home essay, must require the student to demonstrate the ability to use Arabic, Persian, or Turkish primary sources.

  (6) A thesis of 25,000 words on a subject approved by the Oriental Studies Faculty Board.

• (x) 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.

• B. Final Examination

• 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.

  • 1. The four written examination papers will be:

  • (i) Language and grammar

    (ii) Modern Tibetan prepared translation

    (iii) Classical Tibetan prepared translation

    (iv) History and civilisation of Tibet and the Himalayas. Topics covered will include the history, politics, religion, and anthropology of the region.

  • 2.  Candidates are required to submit one essay of no more than 5,000 words on aspects of the history and civilisation of Tibet and the Himalayas. The topic will be published by 5pm on the last Friday of term in which teaching for the paper is completed. The essay must be uploadedsubmitted to the University approved online assessment platform,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.

• (xi) 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

  • 2. A language examination in classical Chinese or classical Japanese or middle Korean

  • 3.  Three submitted essays on traditional East Asia. The essays, which must be of not more than 2,500 words each, must be written by the candidate, one in each of the three terms of the first year, and must be chosen by the candidate to represent the candidate’s best written performance in that term. Each essay must be uploaded to the University approved online assessment platform,submitted by 12 noon on the Friday of ninth week of the term in which the paper is taught.

• 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.

  • 2.  Research Bibliography and Methodology on one of the following: (i) China; (ii) Japan; (iii) Korea. This paper will be set as a take-home examination. The answer or answers should be typed and presented in proper scholarly form. The question paper will be published to candidates at 1012.00 a.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 to collect or access the questions. The completed examination must be uploadedsubmitted toelectronically the University approved online assessment platform 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.

• (xii) Buddhist Studies

• A. Qualifying examination

  Each candidate must pass a qualifying examination not later than the end of the Trinity term of the first year. The examination will consist of two papers:

  • (i) A three-hour examination in the chosen primary Buddhist Language (either Sanskrit, Tibetan, or Classical Chinese).

  • (ii) A three-hour examination on basic aspects of Buddhist thought and history.

• B. Final examination

  In the Trinity Term of their second year, all candidates must offer:

  • (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

  • (iii) a paper on Approaches to the study of Buddhism, to be assessed by three-hour examination

  • (iv) Either

    • (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.

  • Or

    • (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 orno beforelater 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.

  (xiii) Eastern Christian Studies

  • I. Every candidate shall be required

    • (a) to sit a written examination, as prescribed below;

    • (b) to submit a thesis of not more than 30,000 words on a subject approved by the Faculty Board.

    • (c) to attend a viva voce examination, unless individually dispensed by the examiners.

  • II. The written examination shall consist of four papers. Lists of set texts will be available in the Course Handbook.

    • (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. 

      • A. Greek 

        • (i) The philosophical background of the Greek Fathers.

        • (ii) The history of the Church in the Byzantine Empire, AD 717- 886.

        • (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

        • (i) Armenian historical texts.

        • (ii) Armenian theological and ecclesiastical texts.

        • (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 

        • (i) Syriac historical texts.

        • (ii) Syriac theological texts.

        • (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.

      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.