Master of Philosophy in Politics (Comparative Government, Political Theory, European Politics and Society)

(See also the general notice at the commencement of these regulations

• 1. The currentprogramme editionshall ofbe under the Student Handbook contains an elaborated versionsupervision of these regulations.)

  The regulations made by the Politics Graduate Studies Committee areof asthe follows:

  Department of Politics and International Relations.  

Qualifying

•  
• 2. Test

  EachCandidates candidatewill mustbe passrequired to follow a Qualifyingcourse Testof atinstruction thein endeither Comparative Government, European Politics and Society or Political Theory for six terms full-time. 
   
  3. The examinations shall consist of the thirdfollowing: 

• Qualifying termExamination 

  4. fromCandidates thewill beginningcomplete one of the coursefollowing three courses assessed by a written examination:
  • (i) Comparative Government (compulsory for Comparative Government students) 
  • (ii) European Governance (compulsory for European Politics and Society students) 
  • (iii) Theory of Politics (compulsory for Political Theory students)
  •  
• 5. Candidates will complete one of the following two courses assessed by coursework, full details of which will be set out in the twoStudent compulsory papers specified for their course, unless given exemption by the Politics Graduate Studies Committee.
  Handbook:

  In Comparative Government the two compulsory papers are Comparative Government and

  • (i) Research Methods in Political Science.

    In (compulsory for Comparative Government and European Politics and Society the two compulsory papers are European Governance and Research Methods in Political Science.

    students) 

  In Political Theory the two compulsory papers are Theory of Politics and

  • (ii) Research Methods in Political Theory (compulsory for Political Theory students).

  •  
• 6. To pass the qualifying examination and proceed to the second year each candidate must pass both courses. Candidates who fail theeither written examination part of the Qualifying Testcourse will normally be allowedable to retake it before the beginning of the next academic year.
   
   
  

  Compulsory

  Final papers:

  Examination  

  • (a) Research Methods

    • (i) Research Methods in Political Science (Compulsory paper for Comparative Government and European Politics and Society students only)7. Candidates will satisfactorilytake completetwo option papers from a programmelist of corethose and optional research methods training, as specified in the Student Handbook, and will also produce a Research Design Essay of between 4,000 and 6,000 words, excluding bibliography, on the subject of the student’s proposed M.Phil. thesis. Two hard copies of the Research Design Essay, together with a copy on CD, must be submitted to the Examination Schools by noon on the Friday of sixth week of Trinity Term. It must be accompanied by a separate signed declaration that it is the candidate’s own work except where otherwise indicated and that it has not previously been submitted for assessment, either at Oxford or at another institution. The Director of Graduate Studies in Politics shall draw the attention of the examiners to the names of any candidates who have failed to complete their research methods training to a satisfactory level of quality, and the examiners may require candidates to retake the course or a specified part thereof.

    • (ii) Research Methods in Political Theory (Compulsory paper for Political Theory students only). Candidates will satisfactorily complete a programme of core and optional research methods training, as specified in the Student Handbook, and will also produce a Research Design Essay of between 4,000 and 6,000 words, excluding bibliography, on the subject of the student’s proposed M.Phil. thesis. Two copies of the Research Design Essay, together with a copy on CD, must be submitted to the Examination Schools by noon on the Friday of sixth week of Trinity Term. It must be accompanied by a separate signed declaration that it is the candidate’s own work except where otherwise indicated and that it has not previously been submitted for assessment, either at Oxford or at another institution. The Director of Graduate Studies in Politics shall draw the attention of the examiners to the names of any candidates who have failed to complete their research methods training to a satisfactory level of quality, and the examiners may require candidates to retake the course or a specified part thereof.

  • Candidates in European Politics and Society will be required to have a working (i.e. good reading) knowledge of two of the following languages of the European Union: viz. English, and one of French, German, Italian, Polish, or Spanish. Unless exemptedapproved by the Politics Graduate Studies Committee, candidates will be tested in the language or languages they propose to offer by the end of their third term. Candidates who fail the test will normally be allowed to retake the test before the beginning of the next academic year.

  • (b) Comparative Government

    (Compulsory paper for Comparative Government students only)

    The theory and practice of government in modern states.

  • (c) Theory of Politics

    (Compulsory paper for Political Theory students only)

    A critical examination of political concepts and theories, including social concepts and theories with political relevance.

  • (d) European Governance

    (Compulsory paper for European Politics and Society students only)

    The constitutions and formal structure of governments in European states, including the UK, and the theory and practice of integration in Europe.

    The marks achieved by candidates in the two compulsory papers of the Qualifying Test will be carried forward to be considered by the examiners in the second year alongside the marks achieved in the Final Examination.

  • Final examination

  • No candidate shall enter the final examination unless he or she has already passed the Qualifying Test. In the final examination every candidate must offer:

    • (1) A thesis1 of not more than 30,000 words, excluding bibliography. Two hard copies, together with a copy on CD, must be submitted to the Examination Schools by noon on the Monday of first week of Trinity Term. The thesis must be accompanied by a separate signed declaration that it is the candidate’s own work except where otherwise indicated and that it has not previously been submitted for assessment, either at Oxford or at another institution. After the examination process is complete, each successful candidate must deposit one hardbound copy of their thesis in the Bodleian Library.

    • (2) Two subject papers taken from the approved list of optional subjects in Politics, as published in the Student Handbook by the Politics Graduate Studies Committee on Monday of first week of Michaelmas Term each academic year to apply to candidates being examined in the Trinity Term of that year. Candidates should note that the Politics subjects available in any particular year will depend on the availability of teaching resources. Not all subjects will be available in every year and restrictions may be placed on the number of candidates permitted to offer certain subjects in any particular year.

  • Candidates may, withWith the special permission of the Politics Graduate Studies Committee candidates may take an option paper from outside this list. Option papers will be assessed by written examination, offerresearch subjectspaper beyondor essay as set out in the approvedStudent listHandbook.  
     
    8. Candidates will submit a thesis of Politicsnot subjectsmore than 30,000 words by noon on Tuesday of week 1 of Trinity term. 
     
    9. Option Applicationspaper essays or research papers and the thesis must be madesubmitted byusing the lastUniversity Fridayapproved ofonline submission system. Technical information on the Trinityrequirements Termfor precedingonline that in which the examinationsubmissions is to be taken, and must be supported by the student’s supervisor. Supervisors should ensure that applications are submitted as early as possible so that if approval is not given, the candidate has sufficient time to choose an alternative.

  Candidates must present themselves for viva voce examination when requested by the examiners.

  The Examiners may award a distinction for excellenceprovided in the wholeStudent examinationHandbook.  
   
  10. Successful oncandidates will be required to deposit a copy of their thesis in the basisBodleian of the work submitted to them in both the Qualifying Test and the Final ExaminationLibrary.