Master of Science by Coursework in Political Theory 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 Political Theory Research shall follow a course of instruction in Political Theory Research for twelve months. Each candidate must pass the M.Sc. Examination at the end of Trinity Term in the two compulsory papers. Each candidate must also submit a thesis during the Long Vacation. 

Compulsory papers

• (1) Theory of Politics

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

  A critical examination of political concepts and theories, including social concepts and theories with political relevance. The paper is assessed by a single three hour written examination at the end of Trinity Term.

  (2) Research Methods in Political Theory

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

  The paper is assessed in the following way. The candidate 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. TwoOne copiescopy of the Research Design Proposal, together with a copy on CD or USB flash drive, must be submitteduploaded to the ExaminationUniversity Schoolsapproved assessment platform by noon on the Friday of sixth week of Trinity Term. ItThe 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. Candidate who fail elements of the research methods training coursework are normally permitted to submit a second time (or, if the coursework is assessed by a test, to resit that test) by a date specified in the Student Handbook.

The Thesis

Each candidate 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 or USB,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 submit a separate signed  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.Sc.shall inhave Politicalpower Theoryto Researchrequire 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.

With respect to the 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 any purpose.

For a candidate to pass the degree of M.Sc. in Political Theory Research, the candidate must pass: the Research Methods in Political Theory paper (all elements of coursework and the Research Design Proposal), the Theory of Politics paper, and the thesis.

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