Master of Philosophy in Russian and East European Studies

Differences from 2016/17 to 2022/23

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

The regulations made by the Russian and East European Studies Management Committee are as follows:

All candidates will be required to follow a course of instruction in Russian and East European Studies for six terms. 

First year examinations

ThereCandidates will be threerequired to sit written examinations on two compulsory papers, to be taken in Trinity Full Term at the end of the first year of the course.:

  • 1. An examination paper on Twentieth Century Russian, Soviet and East European History.

  • 2. An examination paper on Contemporary Russian and East European Studies Part 1.
    .

  • 32. An examination paper on   Contemporary Russian and East European Studies Part 2..

The papers shall be set and administered by the examiners appointed to examine the M.Phil. in Russian and East European Studies. The examination will be held in the eighth week of Trinity Full Term.

Candidates who pass these qualifying papers may proceed to the second year of the course and take the final examination at the end of the second year. Candidates who fail one or more of the examination papers may, by permission of the Russian and East European Studies Management Committee, proceed to the second year of the course and resit the failed papers during the final examination. All candidates will also be required to havesubmit demonstratedone competenceextended essay on History of Russia, the USSR and Eastern Europe in Methodsthe andTwentieth Language as specified in Methods Requirement and Language Requirement.

Final Examination

  • (a) a thesisCentury of at least 255,000 words but not more than 30,000 words on a subject approved by the Management Committee for Russian and East European Studies, toexcluding bibliography. The extended essay should be delivereduploaded to the ExaminationUniversity Schools,approved Highonline Street,assessment Oxford,platform by 12 Noon on Monday in the fourthfirst week of TrinityHilary Term in whichthe first year of the finalcourse.

    Research examinationMethods isfor takenArea Studies: Candidates will submit a 2,500 word maximum take-home paper in qualitative methods to be set on Monday of Week 8 and submitted by 12 noon on Monday of week 9 of Michaelmas Term; and a take-home paper in quantitative analysis to be set on Monday of Week 8 and submitted by 12 noon on Monday of week 9 of Hilary Term. TheEach thesisof the items of written work described above must be accompanieduploaded by a statement thatto the thesis is the candidate’s own work except where otherwise indicated.

  • (b) two subjects (optional courses) chosen from a list, which isUniversity approved annuallyonline byassessment the Russian and East European Studies Management Committee. The selection of subjects have to be approved by the Russian and East European Studies Management Committee in Trinity Term, Year 1. A candidate who fails the Final Examination may enter again, on one subsequent occasion, usually in Trinity Term, provided that this is still within the twelve terms of his or her registration.

The examiners may award a distinction for excellence in the whole examination.

Methods Requirement. Each candidate will be required to participate in training in methodology (quantitative and qualitative) and research skills related to Russian and East European Studies and to have achieved pass marks for the assessed components, as specified in the Notes of Guidance of the year of Matriculation of the Candidatesplatform.

Language Requirement. Before admission to the final examination allAll candidates will be required to pass a Russian language qualifying exam on the region, which is usually in Russian. In special circumstances permission may be granted for sitting an exam in another language. The specific arrangements for the provision and methods of assessment of language training are governed by the Examination Conventions and Notes of Guidance of the year of matriculation of the candidates.

Candidates who pass these qualifying papers and the extended essay may proceed to the second year of the course and take the final examination at the end of the second year. Candidates who fail the research methods course overall will be permitted to re-submit a new submission for the failed piece(s) of work within four weeks of publication of the failed mark, on a date specified by the Chair of Examiners. Candidates who fail the extended essay will be required to re-submit by 12 noon on Monday of week one of Trinity Term of the same year. Candidates who fail one or more of the examination papers may, by permission of the Russian and East European Studies Management Committee, proceed to the second year of the programme and re-sit the failed papers on one subsequent occasion during the final examination.

Final Examination

The final examination shall consist of:

  • (a) a thesis of at least 25,000 words but not more than 30,000 words on a subject approved by the Management Committee for Russian and East European Studies, to be uploaded to the University approved online assessment platform by 12 Noon on Monday in the fourth week of Trinity Term in the second year of the programme. The thesis must be accompanied by a statement that it is the candidate’s own work except where otherwise indicated.

  • (b) two subjects (optional courses) chosen from a list, which is approved annually by the Russian and East European Studies Management Committee. The selection of subjects has to be approved by the Russian and East European Studies Management Committee in Trinity Term, Year 1.