Master of Science by Coursework in Russian and East European Studies

Differences from 2015/16 to 2024/25

  • 1.The Eachregulations candidatemade will be required to follow a course of instruction for three terms and to present himself or herself for examination inby the three compulsory papers in Week Eight of Trinity Term, as well as to present a thesis for examination. In addition, each candidate will be required to participate in training in methodology (quantitative and qualitative) and research skills related to Russian and East European Studies andManagement Committee are as follows: 

    Candidates will be required to havefollow achieveda pass marks for the assessed components, as specified in the Notescourse of Guidance of the year of matriculation of the candidate. Two copies of a thesis should be delivered to the Chair of Examiners for the M.Sc.instruction in Russian and East European Studies, c/ofor Examinationthree Schools,terms Highand Street,to Oxford,sit bywritten noonexaminations on thetwo Fridaycompulsory ofpapers, the sixth week of Trinity Term in the calendar year in which the examination is taken.

  • 2. Candidates who fail a written examination mayto be allowed to retake it in the following year. In the case of a failed thesis, this may be resubmittedtaken in Trinity Full Term of the following year. Only one resubmission is permitted. In special circumstances, the Examiners may allow a marginal failure in one component in accordance with the rules outlined in the Examination Conventions.:

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

Schedule of Papers

  • 1. Twentieth-CenturyAn Russian,examination Sovietpaper andon East European History.

  • 2. Contemporary Russian and East European Studies Part 1.

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

4Candidates 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. AThe extended essay should be uploaded to the University approved online assessment platform by 12 Noon Monday in the first week of Hilary Term.

Research Methods for Area Studies: Candidates will submit a 2,500 word maximum take-home paper in qualitative methods to be set on Monday of Week 8 and submitted by 12 noon on Monday of week 9 of Michaelmas Term; and a take-home paper in quantitative analysis to be set on Monday of Week 8 and submitted by 12 noon on Monday of week 9 of Hilary Term. Each of the items of written work described above must be uploaded to the University approved online assessment platform.

Candidates will be required to submit a thesis of at least 12,000 words but not more than 15,000 words on a subject approved by the Management Committee for Russian and East European Studies, to be uploaded to the University approved online assessment platform, by 12 Noon on Monday in the sixth week of Trinity Term.

Candidates who fail 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.

Candidates who fail the extended essay will be required to re-submit by 12 noon on Monday of week one of Trinity term of the same year. Candidates who fail one or more of the examination papers will be permitted to retake it on one subsequent occasion the following year.


Oxford 1+1 MBA programme 

Candidates registered on the Oxford 1+1 MBA programme will follow an additional two or three -month bridging programme at the end of their third term of the combined programme.

Each candidate will be appointed an academic advisor from the Saïïd Business School to plan an individual course of study which will include as a minimum, the following threetwo compulsory elements:

  • (i) AttendanceNormally oftwo onemeetings during the bridging programme with the senior advisor appointed by the Saïd Business School at the start of the summerOxford elective1+1 programmesMBA offeredprogramme.

    (ii) forA theformatively Masterassessed Integrative Development Plan of Business Administrationup to be3,000 published by the MBA Director before the first Monday of the preceding termwords. Candidates would be required to undertakecritically allreflect assessmentson their learning from the Masters programme and receiverelate feedback,this butboth wouldto nottheir obtainforthcoming creditMBA towardsprogramme as well as to their career goals. The meetings with the MBA.advisor Candidateswill are not permitted to subsequently undertakeframe the samedesign, electivedelivery asand partdiscussion of the MBA programme the following yearplan.

  • (ii) A formatively assessed assignment of no more than 5,000 words (including all prefatory matter and appendices) supervised by the Saïd Business School academic advisor, which will relate the Master’s degree learning to an appropriate area of the MBA programme. Candidates would also be required to present a work plan related to this assignment to the 1+1 programme class.

  • (iii) Attendance of the MBA pre-course as described in the joining instructions for the MBA class, unless granted exemption by the MBA Committee on the grounds of prior formal study or work experience.