Master of Studies in Oriental Studies

§1. General Regulations

1. Before admission to the course, candidates must satisfy the Board of the Faculty of Oriental Studies that they possess the necessary qualifications to profit by the course. The Board will not permit students to be admitted to the course if an M.St. in a particular subject under the aegis of the Board is considered more appropriate.

2. Candidates shall be required to attend for at least three terms such lecture courses and participate in such seminars as their supervisor shall specify.

3. Applications for approval of options must reach the Senior Academic Administrator, Oriental Institute, on or before Monday of week 0 of Hilary Term.

4. The dates for papers examined by three-hour sit-down examination will be published no later than five weeks before the examination.

5. In the case of failure in at most one examination, candidates may retake that examination at the next opportunity following their initial attempt.

§2. Syllabus

1. Each candidate will be required to offer all of the following three papers:

• (a) Option paper 1; and

• (b) Option paper 2; and

• (c) Research methods and materials.

• There1.1. Papers 1(a) and 1(b) will be fourexamined Units:as three-hour sit-down examinations. They may be any combination of language or non-language papers. Proposed titles of these papers must be approved as defined under §1.3. If a chosen paper is also available to be offered for another degree, the regulations of that other degree will apply to the examination of the chosen paper.

  • Unit1.2. Paper 1(ic) Candidateswill shallbe examined as a take-home examination. The candidate must submit eitheran (A) two typed copies each of two essaysessay of between 5,000 and 7,000 words on research methods and materials relating to the thesis. The essay must be submitted not later than seven days from the date on which the topic was set, and in length,accordance orwith (B)the tworegulations typedunder copies of a dissertation (excluding bibliography)§1.3.

• Option2. (A)In mayaddition to the papers in §2.1, each candidate will be anyrequired twoto offer one of the following two papers:

  • (a.) whatOption mightpaper become part of a thesis for the M.Litt or D.Phil3;

  • (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 of the thesis;

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

  • Option (B) should be equivalent to aA substantial draft chapter or chapters of a proposed thesis for the M.Litt or the D.Phil.

  • The essays or dissertation must be submitted to the Chair of Examiners, M.St in Oriental Studies, Examination Schools, High Street, Oxford, not later than 12 noon on Friday of fourth week of Trinity Term.

• Units (ii) and (iii) Two three-hour examination papers, which may be any combination of language or non-language papers2.1. When the elective papers are shared with another degree, the regulations for theFor paper follow that of the home degree.

• Unit 2(iva) A prescribed essay, preparedeach incandidate propershall scholarlysubmit form,two on research methods and materials relating to the area of study chosen under (i) above,essays of between 5,000 and 7,000 words. Thein length each (excluding bibliography), on a topic of the essay willto be setapproved atas thedefined conclusionunder of§1.3. the two examination papers Units (i) and (ii).The essay must be submitted to the Chair of Examiners, M.St in Oriental Studies, Examination Schools not later than seven days from the date on which the topic was set.

• 4. Candidates must submit titles for their written work (Unit (i) of the examination, above) and subjectsGuidelines for the two examinations (Units (ii)scope and (iii)submission of thethis examination,paper above)are topublished in the FacultyPGT officeStudent byHandbook MondayOriental of nought week of Hilary TermStudies.

• 52.2. CandidatesFor mustpaper 2(b), each candidate shall submit titlesa paper of between 12,000 and 15,000 words in length, excluding bibliography, on a topic to be approved as defined under §1.3. Guidelines for theirthe writtenscope workand (Unit (i)submission of the examination,thesis above)are andpublished subjects forin the twoPGT examinationsStudent (UnitsHandbook (ii)Oriental and (iii) of the examination, above) to the Faculty office by Friday of seventh week of Michaelmas Term. These will be reported to the Faculty Board's second meeting of Michaelmas TermStudies.

• 62.3. ListsFor ofpapers set2(a) textsand 2(b), proposed titles must be submittedapproved toas thedefined Facultyunder office by Friday of seventh week of Michaelmas term and will be reported to the Faculty Board's second meeting of Michaelmas Term§1.

• 73. All work submitted to the Chair of Examiners must be in typewritten form. Two copies must be submitted, securely sealed and addressed. 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 Chair of Examiners that the work is the candidate’s own.

• 8. Every candidate will be examined by oral examination unless he or she shall have been individually excused by the examiners.

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3. Each candidate may be required to attend a viva.