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 thesis 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.)

  • orOR

  • 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 thesis or essay titles for Unit 1A or 1B by Monday noughth weekapproval of Hilarythe Term.choice The title forbetween Unit 2A orand Unit 2B and, subjectsif applicable, of the title or titles of the reports under 2B, and of the titles of the examination papers and/or essays for the two elective papers (Units 3 and 4, ofto the examination,Faculty above)Office byon Fridayor before Monday of second week of Michaelmas Term.

5. Applications for the approval of the subject of their thesis must be submitted to the Faculty Office by Monday of nought week of Hilary Term.

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.

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.  Candidates may be required to attend a viva.