Research Degrees in Oriental Studies

Differences from 2015/16 to 2019/20

  • 1.M.Litt. in Oriental Studies

    The first year of study in the Oriental Studies Faculty will be regarded as a qualifying period, during which the student shall be registered as a Probationer Research Student. Application for transfer to M.Litt. status should be made by the end of the third term. All students will normally be expected to submit:

    • (a) a piece of formal written work related to the field of their proposed thesis of approximately 5,000 words in length;

    • (b) a satisfactory outline (of not more than 500 words) of the proposed subject of the thesis.

    The written work shall be assessed by two assessors (neither of whom may be the supervisor), appointed by the board, and they shall normally be expected also to discuss the submission with the student in person. They must do so if they are not able to make a positive recommendation. When examiners make a positive recommendation to the board, they shall be required explicitly to state in their report that they have satisfied themselves on the basis of their discussion with the student and/or their consideration of the submitted material that the student has the linguistic competence necessary to carry out the proposed research. If on the basis of the evidence available to them they are not able to make such a statement, they shall recommend to the board that the results of a formal written language test arranged by the board for this purpose should be submitted to them for consideration before their recommendation on the student's application is made.

    On the basis of the results of the examination the faculty board will decide whether the student should be accepted for admission to M.Litt. status.

    Candidates who have successfully completed the M.St. in Oriental Studies may be recommended for admission to M.Litt. status on the basis of the results of the examination, subject to the submission of a satisfactory outline (of not more than 500 words) of the proposed subject of the thesis.

  • 2.D.Phil. in Oriental Studies

    The first year of study in the Oriental Studies Faculty will be regarded as a qualifying period, during which the student shall be registered as a Probationer Research Student. Application for transfer to D.Phil. status should be made by the end of the third term. All students will normally be expected to submit:

    • (a) a piece of formal written work related to the field of their proposed thesis of between 5,000 and 10,000 words in length;

    • (b) a satisfactory outline (of not more than 500 words) of the proposed subject of the thesis.

    The written work shall be assessed by two assessors (neither of whom may be the supervisor), appointed by the board, and they shall normally be expected also to discuss the submission with the student in person. They must do so if they are not able to make a positive recommendation. When examiners make a positive recommendation to the board, they shall be required explicitly to state in their report that they have satisfied themselves on the basis of their discussion with the student and/or their consideration of the submitted material that the student has the linguistic competence necessary to carry out the proposed research. If on the basis of the evidence available to them they are not able to make such a statement, they shall recommend to the board that the results of a formal written language test arranged by the board for this purpose should be submitted to them for consideration before their recommendation on the student's application is made.

    Candidates who have successfully completed the M.St. in Oriental Studies may be recommended for admission to D.Phil. status on the basis of the results of the examination, subject to the submission of a satisfactory outline (of not more than 500 words) of the proposed subject of the thesis.

    Candidates who have successfully completed the M.Phil. in Oriental Studies may be recommended for admission to D.Phil. status on the basis of the results of the examination, subject to the submission of a satisfactory outline (of not more than 500 words) of the proposed subject of the thesis. In exceptional cases, such candidates may be recommended for admission to confirmed D.Phil. status.

    The board requires from each applicant for confirmation of D.Phil. status a written statement of the manner in which he or she proposes to treat the subject. The board will approve such applications only if the assessors appointed by the board shall have certified that a piece of work written by the applicant (of 10,000-15,000 words in length) is of the requisite standard to justify the confirmation. Assessment of the application shall include a viva voce examination of the candidate by two persons appointed by the board.

  • 3.Theses

    Theses submitted for the Degree of M.Litt. should not exceed 50,000 words and those for the Degree of D.Phil. should not exceed 100,000, exclusive of any text that is being edited, and of bibliography, but including notes, glossary, appendices, etc. Leave to exceed this limit will be given only in exceptional cases.

  • 1. Admission as a Probationer Research Student

    Candidates must apply for admission as Probationer Research Student on a full-time basis.

    2. Transfer to M.Litt. and D.Phil. status

    All students will normally be expected to submit:

    • (a) a piece of formal written work related to the field of their proposed thesis of between 5,000 and 10,000 words in length;

      (b) a satisfactory outline (of not more than 1000 words) of the proposed subject of the thesis.

  • 3. Confirmation of D.Phil. status

    Candidates must submit the documents detailed in the Divisional regulations, above. The piece of written work is expected to be a draft chapter or two chapters of the candidate’s thesis, approximately 10,000-15,000 words in total.

    4. Theses

    Theses submitted for the Degree of M.Litt. should not exceed 50,000 words and those for the Degree of D.Phil. should not exceed 100,000, exclusive of any text that is being edited, and of bibliography, but including notes, glossary, appendices, etc. Leave to exceed this limit will be given only in exceptional cases.