Master of Philosophy in Russian and East European Studies

Differences from 2017/18 to 2023/24

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 Contemporary Russian and East European Studies Part 1.

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

Candidates will also be required to submit one extended essay on History of Russia, the USSR and Eastern Europe in the Twentieth Century of 5,000 words, excluding bibliography. The extended essay should be uploaded to the University approved online assessment platform by 12 noon on Monday of week 1 of Hilary Term in the first year of the course.
.

  • Research Methods for Area Studies: Candidates will submit a 2.,500 Anword examinationmaximum take-home paper on Contemporaryin Russianqualitative andmethods East European Studies Part 1.

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

    • The papers shallto be set on Monday of Week 8 and administeredsubmitted by the12 examinersnoon appointedon Monday of week 9 of Michaelmas Term; and a take-home paper in quantitative analysis to examinebe set on Monday of Week 8 and submitted by 12 noon on Monday of week 9 of Hilary Term. Each of the M.Phil.items inof Russianwritten andwork Eastdescribed Europeanabove Studies. The examination willmust be helduploaded into the eighthUniversity weekapproved ofonline Trinityassessment Full Termplatform.

    Candidates who pass these qualifying papers and the extended essay may proceed to the second year of the course and take the final examination.  atCandidates who fail the endresearch 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 secondfailed 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 1 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 courseprogramme and resitre-sit the failed papers on one subsequent occasion during the final examination. All candidates will also be required to have demonstrated competence in Methods and Language as specified in Methods Requirement and Language Requirement.

    Final Examination

    The final examination shall consist of:

    • (a) aA 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 delivereduploaded to the ExaminationUniversity Schools,approved Highonline Street,assessment Oxford,platform by Noon12 noon on Monday in the fourthof week 4 of Trinity Term in whichthe second year of the final examination is takenprogramme. The thesis must be accompanied by a statement that the thesis is the candidate’s own work except where otherwise indicated. 

    • (b) twoTwo subjects (optionaloption courses) chosen from a list, which is approved annually by the Russian and East European Studies Management Committee and assessed either by written examination or submitted coursework. Coursework assignments must be submitted using the University approved online assessment platform. The selection of subjectsoptions has 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

  • (c) examinersA Russian maylanguage awardexamination a distinction for excellencetaken in Hilary term of the wholesecond examination.

    Methods Requirementyear. EachCandidates candidatewho willon bematriculation requiredare todeemed participateby in training in methodology (quantitative and qualitative) and research skills related tothe Russian and East European Studies andManagement Committee to have achievedan passexcellent marksknowledge forof Russian may take the assessed components, as specifiedexamination in theHilary Notesterm of Guidancetheir first year. Candidates who fail the language examination will be permitted to re-sit the examination in Trinity term of the year of Matriculation of the Candidates.  Two printed copies of each of the written items required for the methods requirement must be submitted to the Examination Schools, addressed to the Chair of Examiners for the MPhil in Russian and East European Studies, c/o the Examination Schools, High Street, Oxford at the times and days specified in the Notes of Guidance. Each submission must be accompanied by a declaration indicating it is the candidate’s own work.

    Language Requirement. Before admission to the final examination all candidates will be required to pass a language qualifying exam in Russian. The specific arrangements for the provision and methods of assessment of language training are governed by the Examination Conventions and Notes of Guidance of thesecond year of matriculation of the candidates.