Master of Science by Coursework in Politics Research

(See also the general notice at the commencement of these regulations. The current edition of the Student Handbook contains an elaborated version of these regulations.)

The regulations made by the Politics Graduate Studies Committee are as follows:

M.Sc. Examination

A candidate for the M.Sc. in Politics Research shall follow for twelve months a course of instruction in Politics Research for twelve months. Each candidate must pass the M.Sc. Examination at the end of Trinity Term in the two compulsory papers. Each studentcandidate must also submit a thesis during the Long Vacation.

 

Compulsory papers:

• (a1) A single three hour written examination paper testing knowledge of the candidate’s core subject (Comparative Government or European Governance).

  Comparative Government

  (Compulsory paper taken from the M.Phil. in Politics)

  The theory and practice of government in modern states.

Or

• (b) European Governance 

  (Compulsory paper taken from the M.Phil. in Politics)

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

and

• (c2) Research Methods in Political Science

  (Compulsory paper taken from the M.Phil. in Politics)

  The paper is assessed in the following way. The candidates must submit:

  • (i) A Research Design Proposal of between 4000 and 6000 words, excluding the title page, contents, bibliography and any methodological appendices, on research design as it bears on the subject of the candidate’s proposed M.Sc. thesis. The Research Design Proposal must be uploaded to the University approved online assessment platform by noon on the Friday of sixth week of Trinity Term. The work must be anonymous and 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.

    (ii) Research methods training coursework. 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.Sc. 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.

  • (d) Where necessitated by a candidate’s choice of subject the Politics Graduate Studies Committee may require a candidate to pass a test of proficiency in a language other than English. Candidates who fail the test will normally be allowed to retake the test before the beginningelements of the nextresearch academicmethods yeartraining coursework are normally permitted to submit a second time (or, of the coursework is assessed by a test, to resit that test) by a date specified in the Student Handbook.

(eThe Thesis)

Each Acandidate must submit a thesis of not more than 15,000 words, excluding the title page, contents, bibliography and any methodological appendices. TwoThe hard copies, together with a copy on CD,thesis must be submitteduploaded to the ExaminationUniversity Schoolsapproved online assessment platform by noon on the last Friday of August following the end of Trinity Full Term. ItOn mustsubmitting the thesis, candidates will also be accompaniedrequired byto asubmit separatean signedonline declaration thatof 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 institutionauthorship. The thesisexaminers mustshall beexclude clearlyfrom markedconsideration withany the candidate’s examination number, the titlepart of the thesis which is not the candidate’s own work or which has been or will be submitted to satisfy the requirements of another course, and the wordsexaminers ‘M.Scshall inhave Politicspower Research’to require the candidate to produce for their inspection the work so submitted or to be submitted. After the examination process is complete, each successful candidate must deposit one hardbound copy of their thesis in the Bodleian Library.

CandidatesWith mustrespect presentto themselvesthe Research Design Proposal and the thesis, only the file uploaded to the University approved online assessment platform constitutes a valid submission; no concomitant hard-copy submission may be submitted for vivaany voce examination when requested by the examiners. The examiners may award a distinction for excellence in the whole examinationpurpose.

For a candidate to pass the degree of M.Sc. in Politics Research, the candidate must pass: the Research Methods in Political Science paper (all elements of coursework and the Research Design Proposal), the written examination paper (Comparative Government or European Governance), and the thesis.