Master of Studies in Oriental Studies

Differences from 2019/20 to 2020/21

    The Regulations made by the Board of the Faculty of Oriental Studies are as follows:

  • §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 lengthaccordance with the regulations under §1.3.

      2. In addition to the papers in §2.1, oreach (B)candidate will be required to offer one of the following two typed copies of a thesis of between 12,000 and 15,000 words in length (excluding bibliography).papers:

        • (a) Option (A)paper may be any two of the following:

          • a. what might 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 thesis 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 the examination papers Units (ii) and (iii)§1.3. 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.

    • 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 Week 0 of Hilary TermStudies.

    • 42.2. ListsFor paper 2(b), each candidate shall submit a paper of setbetween texts12,000 mustand 15,000 words in length, excluding bibliography, on a topic to be submittedapproved toas defined under §1.3. Guidelines for the Facultyscope officeand by Fridaysubmission of Weekthe 7thesis ofare Michaelmaspublished termin the PGT Student Handbook Oriental Studies.

    • 52.3. AllFor workpapers submitted2(a) toand the2(b), Chairproposed of Examinerstitles must be inapproved typewrittenas formdefined under §1. Two copies must be submitted, securely sealed and addressed. An electronic copy of the thesis or essays for unit (i), must be submitted in PDF format in a memory stick or CD with the hard copies of the thesis or essays. 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 own3.

    63. CandidatesEach candidate may be required to attend a viva.   

  • 7. In the case of failure in just one element of the examination, the candidate will be permitted to retake that element of the examination on one further occasion, not later than one year after the initial attempt.