Master of Science by Coursework in Politics Research

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

• 1. The currentprogramme editionshall be under the supervision 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 forof the M.Sc.Department inof Politics Researchand shallInternational Relations. 

•  
• 2. Candidates will be required to follow for twelve months a course of instruction in Politics Research for three terms full-time. 
•  
• 3. EachCandidates candidatewill mustcomplete passa the M.Sc. Examination at the end of Trinity Termcourse in the two compulsory papers. Each student must also submit a thesis during the Long Vacation.

  Compulsory papers:

  • (a)either Comparative Government

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

    The theory and practice of government in modern states.

  Or

  • (b)or European Governance,

    assessed by a written examination. 

  (Compulsory

  •  
  • 4. paperCandidates takenwill fromcomplete thea M.Phil.course 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

  • (c) Research Methods in Political Science

    (Compulsory paperassessed takenby fromcoursework, thefull M.Phil.details inof Politics)

    Candidateswhich will satisfactorilybe completeset a programme of core and optional research methods training, as specifiedout 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

  • 5. Candidates who fail the test will normallysubmit be allowed to retake the test before the beginning of the next academic year.

  • (e) Aa thesis of not more than 15,000 words, excluding bibliography. Two hard copies, together with a copy on CD, must be submitted to the Examination Schools by noon on the last FridayThursday ofin August following the end of Trinity Full 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  

  •  
  • 6. The thesis must be clearlysubmitted marked withusing the candidate’sUniversity examinationapproved number,online submission system. Technical information on the titlerequirements offor online submissions is provided in the thesisStudent and the words ‘MHandbook.Sc in Politics Research’  
  •  
  • 7. AfterSuccessful thecandidates examinationwill processbe isrequired complete, each successful candidate mustto deposit one hardbounda copy of their thesis in the Bodleian Library.
     

  Candidates must present themselves for viva voce examination when requested by the examiners. The examiners may award a distinction for excellence in the whole examination.