Master of Studies in Film Aesthetics

Differences from 2017/18 to 2021/22

  • 1. In order to be considered for admission to the course, applicants must have completed a Bachelors degree, normally in a discipline from the Humanities, Fine Art or the Social Sciences.

  • 2. Candidates must follow a course of instruction in Film Aesthetics at Oxford for a period of three terms, unless the ModernHumanities Languages BoardDivision in exceptional circumstances shall permit an extension of time, and shall when entering for the examination be required to produce from their society a certificate stating that they are following the course of instruction for the period prescribed.

  • 3. The course shall comprise:

    • (a) A specified film workshop during the week preceding Week 0 of Michaelmas Term.

    • (b) Four classes during Michaelmas Term which explore fundamental aspects of film criticism, film analysis, film theory, film form, and film aesthetics.

    • (c) Four classes during Hilary Term on different, specialised areas of film aesthetics.

    • (d) A specified programme of films, to be screened publicly during Weeks 1-8 of Michaelmas and Hilary Terms.

    • (e) Dissertation supervision in Trinity Term.

  • 42. Assessment shall comprise two 6,000 word essays, a 3,000 word essay, and a 10,000 word dissertation, two copies of each piece of written work should be submitted on every occasion.

  • 53. Each essay topic should bear a clear and identifiable relation to a specified part of the course and there should not be substantial overlap between the essay topics.

  • 64. The topic for the first essay shall be drawn from one or more of the four classescourses specified for Michaelmas Term. Each candidate shall submit their essay topic, to the chair of examiners by email for approval by noon on the Friday of Week 7 in Michaelmas Term. Written approval of essay topics will be given to candidates by noon on the Friday of Week 8 in Michaelmas Term.  EssaysThe first essay shall be delivered to the Examination Schools, High Street, Oxford, by noon on Monday of Week 1 of Hilary Term. Essays will be marked by subject tutors and returned to candidates with comments by Week 4 of Hilary Term. Candidates may amend their essays in the light of these comments and shall resubmit their essays within the portfolio containing the first essay and the second essay, each clearly markedsubmitted by noon on the Friday of Week 9 in Trinity Term. 

  • 75. The topic for the second essay shall be drawn from one or more of the four classescourses specified for Hilary Term. Each candidate shall submit their essay topic, to the chair of examiners by email for approval by noon on the Friday of Week 7 in Hilary Term. Written approval of essay topics will be given to candidates by noon on the Friday of Week 8 in Hilary Term. EssaysThe second essay shall be delivered to the Examination Schools, High Street, Oxford, by noon on Monday of Week 1 of Trinity Term. Essays will be marked by subject tutors and returned to candidates with comments by Week 4 of Trinity Term. Candidates may amend their essays in the light of these comments and shall resubmit their essays within the portfolio containing the first essay and the second essay, each clearly marked by noon on the Friday of Week 9 in Trinity Term. 

  • 86. Each candidate shall submit their dissertation topic, with the prior approval of the course coordinator, to the chair of examiners, for approval by noon on the Friday of Week 57 in Hilary Term. Written approval of dissertation topics will be given to candidates by noon on the Friday of Week 68 in Hilary Term. Dissertations shall be delivered to the Examination Schools, High Street, Oxfordsubmitted, by noon on the Friday of Week 6 in Trinity Term.  

  • 97. Candidates shall also submit an essay of 3,000 words entitled The Concept Essay where they will examine an aspect of a concept from philosophical aesthetics or more specifically film aesthetics. This essay shall be submitted within the portfolio which also contains the first essay and the second essay, all of them clearly marked by noon on the Friday of Week 9 in Trinity Term.  

  • 108. TheAssessments examinersmust maybe awardformatted aand distinctionsubmitted foras excellencespecified in the wholehandbook for the MSt in Film Aesthetics. The assessments must be submitted by uploading it to the University approved online assessment platform; no concomitant copy submission may be submitted, for any purpose. Electronic submissions must be received by the deadline; technical problems external to the online assessment platform will not be accepted as grounds for excusing lateness. Written work shall be submitted as word-processed files converted to PDF using the course coversheet as first page of the work, bearing on the front the candidate's examination number but neither their name nor the name of their college.

  • 11. Candidates must presentthemselves themselvesretain a copy of each piece of work and must ensure that they receive the email confirming the submission and that the email is retained for anfuture oralreference. examinationEach ifsubmission requiredof written work must be accompanied by a Declaration of Authorship from the candidate that it is their own work except where otherwise indicated, to dobe socompleted byonline at the examinerssame time as that of submission.