Master of Studies in Islamic Art and Archaeology

1. Before admission to the course, candidates must satisfy the Board of the Faculty of Oriental Studies that they possess the necessary qualifications in Arabic or Persian or Ottoman Turkish to profit by the course.

2. Every candidate must follow for at least three terms a course of instruction in Islamic Art and Archaeology.

3. The examination will consist of the following four units:

• Unit 1.

• Candidates shall submit either

  • 1A: two essays of between 5,000 and 7,000 words in length, which may be any two of the following:

    • a. what might become part of  a thesis for the M.Litt or D.Phil;

    • b. an essay on the theoretical issues raised by the subject which the candidate is proposing for the thesis;

    • c. an essay on a topic relevant to the subject;

    • d. a discussion of the historical and literary background or of the source material which is relevant to the proposed subject.

• or

  • 1B: a dissertation of between 12,000 and 15,000 words in length (excluding bibliography), which should be equivalent to a substantial draft chapter or chapters of a proposed thesis for the M.Litt. or the D.Phil. (For submission, see under 57 below.)

• Unit 2 .

• Candidates shall submit either EITHER

  • 2A: a portfolio containing reports on the practical work completed during the course, according to the schedule given in the Course Handbook. (For submission, see under 56 below.)

  • OR

  • 2B: a report or reports on practical work completed on an objectone or more objects, buildings or sites that will form the part of a proposed thesis for the M.Litt. or the D.Phil., to be selected by the candidate in consultation with the candidate’s supervisor. (For submission, see under 56 below.)

• Units 3 and 4.

• Candidates shall take any one of the following:

  • a. two three-hour examination papers, which may be any combination of language orand non-language papers. When an elective paper is shared with another degree, the regulations for the paper follow that of the home degree.

  • b. two essays of between 5,000 and 7,000 words in length, which may be any two of the following:

    • (i) an essay on the theoretical issues raised by the subject which the candidate is proposing for the thesis for the M.Litt. or D.Phil.;

      (ii) an essay on a topic relevant to the subject of the proposed thesis for the M.Litt. or D.Phil.;

      (iii) an essay discussing the historical or literary background, or the source material, relevant to the proposed thesis for the M.Litt. or D.Phil.

  • c. one examination paper under (a) above and one essay under (b) above.

4. Candidates must submit titlesApplications for theirthe submittedapproval workof (the choice between Unit 1A or 1B2A and Unit 2B and, if applicable, of the title or titles of the reports under 2B, and of the titles of the examination, above)papers and/or subjectsessays for the two elective papers (Units 3 and 4, to the Faculty Office on or before Monday of the examination, above) by Friday of seventhsecond week of Michaelmas Term.

5. These will be reportedApplications for approval by the Boardapproval of the Facultysubject of Orientaltheir Studiesthesis atmust itsbe secondsubmitted meeting into the MichaelmasFaculty Office by Monday of nought week of Hilary Term preceding the examination.

56. Lists of any set texts prescribed for theexamination twounder elective papers (Units 3 and 4 of the examination, above) must be submitted to the Faculty Office by Friday of seventh week of Michaelmas Term and will be reported to the Faculty Board’s second meeting of Hilary Term.

67. All work submitted to the Chair of Examiners must be in typewrittentypewitten form (except for figuresfigure, illustrations, and images). Two printed copies and one electronic copy  in PDF (e.g. on a CD or a USB flashstick drive) of all the submitted work (Unit 1 and, Unit 2 ofand, thewhere examinationapplicable, Units 3 and 4, above) must be submitted, securely sealed and addressed to the Chair of Examiners, MStM.St. in Islamic Art and Archaeology, Examination Schools, High Street, Oxford, not later than 12 noon on Friday of fourth week of Trinity Term. The work must bear the candidate’s examination number (but not the candidate’s name, which must be concealed). Candidates must include a signed declaration sealed in an envelope addressed to the Chairman of Examiners that the work is the candidate’s own.

78. EveryCandidates candidate willmay be examinedrequired byto oralattend examinationa unless he or she shall have been individually excused by the examinersviva.