Master of Science by Coursework in Modern South Asian Studies

1. The course shall be under the supervision of the Modern South Asian Studies Teaching Committee. The Course Director(s) will, where possible, rotate between members of the Faculty of OrientalAsian and Middle Eastern Studies and the Oxford School of InterdisciplinaryGlobal and Area Studies.

2. Each candidate will be required to follow a full-time course of instruction in Modern South Asian Studies for three terms. Candidates may specialise in Contemporary India by selecting combinations of courses and options as set out in the Course Handbook.

3. Candidates will complete the core course in Modern South Asian Studies. The course will be assessed by two take-homeone 5,000 word maximum essaysessay. TheEssay first essayquestions will be issued on Friday of Week 8 of Michaelmas Term and should be submitted by 12 noon on Monday of Week 1 of Hilary Term, and the second essay will be issued on Friday of Week 8 of HilaryMichaelmas Term and should be submitted by 12 noon on Monday of Week 1 of Trinity Term.

Research Methods

4. All candidates will submit a 2,500 word maximum ‘What is South Asia?’ essay by 12 noon on Monday of Week 5 of Michaelmas Term, and a 2,500 word maximum individual research proposal by 12 noon Monday of Week 9 of Hilary Term.

In addition, candidatesCandidates will complete one of the following threetwo courses in Research Methods:

(i) Research Methods for Area Studies: Candidates will submit a 2,500 word maximum practicalsubmitted exerciseassignment in thequalitative collectionmethods to be set on Monday of Week 8 and analysis of qualitative datasubmitted by 12 noon on Monday of Week 9 of Michaelmas Term; and a 2,500 word maximum take-home test in quantitative analysis to be set on Monday of Week 8 and submitted by 12 noon on Monday of Week 9 of Hilary Term.

(ii) Qualitative and HistoricalResearch Methods in Humanities: Candidates will submit a 2,500 word maximum practicalsubmitted exerciseassignment in thequalitative collectionmethods to be set on Monday of Week 8 and analysis of qualitative datasubmitted by 12 noon on Monday of Week 9 of Michaelmas Term; and a 2,500 word submitted essay on Historicalqualitative Methodsmethods in literature, language and history to be set by Monday of Week 54 of Hilary Term and submitted by 12 noon on Monday of Week 9 of Hilary Term.

(iii) Qualitative Methods, Literature and Language: Candidates will submit a 2,500 word maximum practical exercise in the collection and analysis of qualitative data by 12 noon on Monday of Week 9 of Michaelmas Term; and a 2,500 word essay on Literature and Language to be set by Monday of Week 5 of Hilary Term and submitted by 12 noon on Monday of Week 9 of Hilary Term.

54. Candidates will choose threetwo option papers from a list approved by the Modern South Asian Studies Teaching Committee. eachThe list of whichoptions willand bemethods assessedof by one three-hour written examination in Trinity Term. This listassessment will be published by the Course Director(s) in the Course Handbook at the beginning of each academic year. The availability of options in any one year will depend on teaching resources and the level of student interest. Students should select threetwo of these papers in consultation with their supervisor. Native speakers or advanced learners may substitute one option paper with an appropriate advanced language option (further details are provided in the Course Handbook). With special permission of the Modern South Asian Studies Teaching Committee, candidates may choose papers offered by other relevant Master’’s degrees in the University, subject also to permission by the relevant Graduate Studies Committee. Candidates will take the standard assessment for such options.

65. Candidates will complete a 12,000 word thesis (full details of what is included in the word count are provided in the Course Handbook). The title of the thesis must be approved by the Course Director(s) by 12 noon on Friday of Week 31 of Hilary Term in the academic year in which the examination is taken. The thesis must be submitted by 12 noon of the weekday on or nearest to 1 September in the year in which the examination is taken. The thesis must be accompanied by a statement that the thesis is the candidate’’s own work except where otherwise indicated.

76. Two printed copies of eachEach of the items of written work detailed above and, in addition, an electronic copy in PDF format on a memory stick or CD,  must be delivereduploaded to the ExaminationUniversity Schools,approved addressedonline toassessment the Chair of Examiners for the MSc in Modern South Asian Studies, c/o the Examination Schools, High Street, Oxford platform at the times and days specified for each paper. Each submission must be accompanied by a declaration indicating it is the candidate’’s own work.    Successful candidates may be required to deposit a hard copy of the thesis in the Bodleian Library.

87. Students wishing to transfer from the MSc in Modern South Asian Studies to the MPhil in Modern South Asian Studies (non-language track) must normally apply to the Course Director(s) by 12 noon of Monday of Week 4 of Hilary Term. Candidates will need the support of their supervisor(s), and must satisfy the Teaching Committee that they have good reasons for wishing to change and well thought-out plans for the second year of the MPhil including the thesis.

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

10. A candidate who fails 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. A candidate who fails either of the core course essaysessay will be permitted to re-submit the essay(s) on one further occasion, normally at the beginning of the September following the term in which the written papers are first taken but at the latest within one year of the original submission. If a candidate fails anyeither of the written papers or the thesis, they may re-sit/resubmit one further time on the next occasion when examined.   

9. Candidates may be required to attend an oral examination on any part of the examination.