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General Regulations for the Degree of Master of Letters: Part 6 Examination

  • 1. A Student for the Degree of Master of Letters who has fulfilled the applicable residence and other requirements set out in Part 5, and whose status has not expired, may apply for the appointment of examiners and for leave to supplicate for the Degree of Master of Letters.

  • 2. Such applications should be made to the board concerned through the Registrar. They shall include:

    • (i) a certificate from the supervisor that the candidate has pursued their course of study in Oxford in accordance with the provisions of Part 5;

    • (ii) a statement by the candidate of what part, if any, of the thesis has already been accepted, or is being concurrently submitted, for any degree or diploma or certificate or other qualification in this University or elsewhere;

    • (iii) a statement by the candidate that the thesis is their own work, except where otherwise indicated.

  • 3. The supervisor shall consult with the candidate concerning possible examiners, and forward to the board the names of suggested examiners with details of any special considerations which the candidate wishes to make known about any potential examiners.

  • 4. The student shall also submit for examination, at such time as the Education Committee shall by regulation require:

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    • (i) a digital pdf copy of their thesis via the Research Thesis Digital Submissions (RTDS) application. 

      (ii) an abstract of the thesis which should concisely summarise its scope and principal arguments, in about 300 words. The abstract should be placed within the thesis, generally immediately following the Table of Contents.

  • 5. On receipt of an application for the appointment of examiners the board concerned shall appoint two examiners, neither of whom shall be the candidate's supervisor, and whose duties shall be:

    • (i) to consider the thesis and the abstract of it submitted by the student under the provisions of the preceding clause, provided that they shall exclude from consideration in making their report any part of the thesis which has already been accepted, or is being concurrently submitted, for any degree or other qualification in this University or elsewhere (except for the Degree of Bachelor of Civil Law of this University) and shall have the power to require the candidate to produce for their inspection the complete thesis so accepted or concurrently submitted;

    • (ii) to examine the student orally, and also, if they think fit, by a written examination, in the subject of the thesis and in other relevant subjects;

    • (iii) to report to the board through the Registrar;

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    • (iv) to delete all digital copies of the thesis and return to the student any soft-bound copies of the thesis received from Student Registry.

  • The Education Committee shall have power to make regulations concerning the notice to be given of the oral examination and of the time and place at which it may be held.

[For students submitting their thesis for the first time on or after Sunday of Week 1 of MT 2025:

  • 6. In granting leave to supplicate for the Degree of Master of Letters, the examiners must be satisfied, and include statements in their report that:

(i) the student possesses a good general knowledge of the particular field of learning within which the subject of the thesis falls;

(ii) that the candidate has shown competence in investigating the chosen topic;

(iii) the student has made a worthwhile contribution in the particular field of learning within which the subject of the thesis falls;

(iv) the thesis is presented in a lucid and scholarly manner;

(v) in their opinion the thesis merits the Degree of Master of Letters;

(vi) the student has presented a satisfactory abstract of the thesis.

Examiners shall bear in mind that their judgement of the extent of the candidate's contribution to knowledge or understanding of the relevant field of learning shall take into account what may reasonably be expected of a capable and diligent student after two years of full-time study in the case of a full-time student, or twelve terms in the case of a part-time student.

  • 7. The following are the permissible outcomes that the examiners may recommend having completed the examination. Certain outcomes are only permissible after a specified examination attempt. The examiners may recommend:
    • Outcome A. That the candidate be given leave to supplicate for the degree of Master of Letters without any further amendments to the thesis;
    • Outcome B. That the candidate be given leave to supplicate for the degree of Master of Letters following minor corrections of the thesis;
    • Outcome C: That the candidate should make major corrections to the thesis;
    • Outcome D: That the candidate should make major corrections of the thesis, followed by a mandatory viva;
    • Outcome E: Reference back of the thesis for further work followed by re-examination for the degree of Master of Letters;
    • Outcome F: That the candidate’s application for leave to supplicate should be refused (fail). 
  • 8. Having completed the examination of a candidate for the first time, the examiners may recommend any one of the Outcomes A-E given in clause 7 above and described in detail in clause 9.
  • Having completed the examination of a candidate for a second time, the examiners may recommend any one of the Outcomes A-F given in clause 7 above, subject to the previous decisions made, and described in detail in clause 9.
  • Having completed the examination of a candidate for a third time, the examiners may recommend any one of the Outcomes A, B, or F given in clause 7 above, as described in detail in clause 9.
  • Where a candidate is required to revise and re-submit their thesis, the revised thesis and, where required, a report indicating the specific changes made must be submitted via the Research Thesis Digital Submission (RTDS) application.

9. The recommendations available to the examiners are as follows. Further guidance including indicative criteria for all outcomes is available in the Policy and guidance on research degrees.

  • Outcome A: Leave to supplicate for the degree of Master of Letters without any further amendments to the thesis. 
    In making this recommendation, the examiners must be satisfied, and include statements in their report, that the student fulfils the requirements for the award of the Degree of Master of Letters as set out in clause 6 above.
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  • Outcome B: Leave to supplicate for the degree of Master of Letters following minor corrections  
    This outcome should be chosen if the examiners are satisfied that the candidate’s thesis is of sufficient merit to qualify for the degree but consider, nevertheless, that before the thesis is deposited the candidate should make minor corrections. The examiners must require the candidate to correct the thesis to their satisfaction before they submit their report. 
  • A period of two months will be available for a candidate to make the necessary corrections.  
  • Examiners may make a decision to require minor corrections without first recommending this to the relevant Board for approval. The examiners should agree between themselves which of them will consider and sign-off the corrected thesis. 
  • In the unlikely event that an examiner is unhappy to sign-off the corrections and a student is unable or unwilling to make further corrections, the matter will be referred to the other examiner involved in the examination. If the examiners cannot agree on a course of action, the matter should be referred to the relevant Board for a decision. If the Board determines that a student should make the corrections but they are unwilling or unable to do so, then leave to supplicate cannot be granted. Students who are unhappy with such a decision may submit an appeal or complaint if they meet the criteria for consideration as outlined in the respective procedures.
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  • Outcome C: That the candidate should re-submit following major corrections to the thesis
  • This outcome should be chosen if the examiners are satisfied that the candidate's thesis is of sufficient potential merit to qualify for the degree but consider, nevertheless, that before the thesis is deposited the candidate should make major corrections. They should report this preliminary recommendation to the Board with a description of the major corrections which they require the candidate to make before the Board confirms its recommendation.
  • Where the examiners make this recommendation, and the Board, considering the extent and nature of the major corrections, takes the view that the recommendation ought to be reference of the thesis back to the candidate in order that the candidate may revise it for re-examination, the Board may, exceptionally, ask the examiners to review their recommendation.
  • Leave to supplicate following major corrections to the thesis will not normally require a further viva examination (circumstances where a further examination may be required are outlined below). 
  • A period of six months will be available for a candidate to make the necessary changes. The examiners should be provided with the corrected thesis and a summary list of responses to their points from the candidate (if appropriate). Both examiners should confirm that they are satisfied with the changes before recommendations are made to the appropriate Board. If both examiners are content that the required corrections have been satisfactorily addressed, leave to supplicate may be granted without a further oral examination.
  • In cases where the examiners consider that they are unlikely to recommend leave to supplicate for the degree of Master of Letters to the relevant Board, a viva examination must be held.  The examiners should notify the Board of their intent to hold a viva. The same outcomes as for Outcome D below are available as a consequence of the viva.
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  • Outcome D: That the candidate should undertake major corrections of the thesis, followed by a mandatory viva 
  • If the examiners are satisfied that the candidate's thesis is of sufficient potential merit to qualify for the degree but consider, nevertheless, that before the thesis is deposited the candidate should make major corrections and be re-examined, they should report this preliminary recommendation to the Board with a description of the major corrections which they require the candidate to make before they confirm their recommendation.
  • Where the examiners make this recommendation, and the Board, considering the extent and nature of the major corrections, takes the view that the recommendation ought to be reference of the thesis back to the candidate, the Board may, exceptionally, ask the examiners to review their recommendation.
  • A period of six months will be available for a candidate to make the necessary changes. In advance of the re-examination, the examiners should be provided with the corrected thesis and a summary list of responses to their points from the candidate (if appropriate).
  • Following re-examination, no further outcome of major corrections (either Outcome C or Outcome D) is permitted.
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  • Outcome E: Reference back of the thesis for further work followed by re-examination for the degree of Master of Letters
  • This outcome should be selected if the Board considers it necessary to refer the student's thesis back in order that the student may present it for re-examination for the degree of Master of Letters.
  • The revised thesis must be submitted not later than 12 months after the candidate was notified of the outcome of the examination. 
  • If the examiners recommend reference back of the student's thesis, they shall annex to their report to the Board a statement (for transmission to the candidate) setting out the respects in which the thesis falls below the standard required for the degree of Master of Letters. In exceptional cases, if the examiners are unable to state how, within the time allowed, the thesis can be altered to reach the standard of a Master of Letters, they should make this statement and the relevant Board should be notified.
  • Following re-examination, no further outcome of reference back (this Outcome) is permitted.
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  • Outcome F: That the candidate’s application for leave to supplicate should be refused (fail)
  • The examiners may determine that the standard of the thesis is such that a candidate should be refused leave to supplicate for the degree of Master of Letters. In such instances, the examiners should set out their reasons for reaching this conclusion within the report.  
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  • 10. On receipt of the examiners' report the Board shall reach a decision on whether to accept the examiners' recommendation, provided that no candidate shall be given leave to supplicate for the degree of Master of Letters unless the examiners have made the statements required in clause 6 above. ] 

[For students submitting their thesis for the first time before Sunday of Week 1 of MT 2025: 

  • 11. Having completed the examination of a candidate for the first time, the examiners may make recommendation (i) or (ii) below only. Having completed the examination of a candidate who has revised and re-submitted their thesis, the examiners may make any one of recommendations (i) to (iii). Where a candidate is required to revise and re-submit their thesis, the revised thesis and, where required, a report indicating the specific changes made must also be submitted via the Research Thesis Digital Submission (RTDS) application.

  • The recommendations are:

    • (i) that the candidate should be granted leave to supplicate for the Degree of Master of Letters. In this case the examiners must include in their report statements that:

      • 1. the candidate possesses a good general knowledge of the field of learning within which the subject of the thesis falls;

      • 2. that the candidate has shown competence in investigating the chosen topic;

      • 3. that the candidate has made a worthwhile contribution to knowledge or understanding in the field of learning within which the subject of the thesis falls;

      • 4. that the thesis is presented in a lucid and scholarly manner;

      • 5. that it merits of the award of the Degree of Master of Letters.

    • Examiners shall bear in mind that their judgement of the extent of the candidate's contribution to knowledge or understanding of the relevant field of learning shall take into account what may reasonably be expected of a capable and diligent student after two years of full-time study in the case of a full-time student, or twelve terms in the case of a part-time student.

    • If the examiners are satisfied that the candidate's thesis is of sufficient merit for the degree but consider, nevertheless, that before the thesis is deposited the candidate should make minor corrections (which are not sufficiently substantial to justify reference back for re-examination), they must require the candidate to correct the thesis to their satisfaction before they submit their report. If the candidate has not completed these corrections within one calendar month of the date of the oral examination, their name shall be removed by the Registrar from the Register of Students for the Degree of Master of Letters, provided that the board may, on good cause shown by the candidate, grant an extension of time of one further calendar month in which the candidate may fulfil this requirement before the removal of their name from the Register. No subsequent extension shall be granted, but it shall be open to a candidate whose name has been removed from the Register of Students to apply to the Board for reinstatement as a Student for the Degree of Master of Letters. The application should have the support of their society and supervisor, a copy of their thesis incorporating the required corrections should have been submitted to the relevant Board, and such reinstatement fee as may from time to time be prescribed by Council should have been paid. Leave to supplicate shall not be granted until this fee has been paid.

      Permission for reinstatement to the Register of Students may be granted by the Board within six months of the date the student was notified of the outcome of their examination.

      Exceptionally, a candidate who is not able to apply for reinstatement within that timeframe may make an application to Council’s Education Committee for reinstatement to the Register of Students. Such candidates must meet the requirements for reinstatement by the Board and in addition must provide a statement explaining why it is reasonable for Education Committee to permit their reinstatement and outlining the circumstances that have prevented earlier submission. For such applications, Education Committee will consider the length of time since the student was last examined, the seriousness of the causes for the delay, and the views of the student’s department/faculty, supervisor and college. Education Committee will not normally consider applications if sixty months or more have elapsed since the notification of the outcome of the examination.

    • (ii) that the board should refer the thesis back to the student in order that the student may revise it for re-examination. If the examiners so recommend they shall annex to their report to the board a statement (for transmission to the student) setting out the respects in which the thesis falls below the standard required for the degree. If the board adopts this recommendation the student shall retain the status and obligations of a Student for the Degree of Master of Letters, and may apply again for the appointment of examiners, in accordance with the procedure laid down in this subsection, not later than the third term after that in which the board gave permission so to reapply. If such permission shall have been given by a board during a vacation, it shall be deemed to have been given in the term preceding that vacation. On re-submission of the thesis, students should submit a separate report indicating the specific changes made. The word limit for the accompanying report shall be 1,000 words.

    • If the student is unable to apply again for the appointment of examiners within three terms, no subsequent extension shall be granted, but it shall be open to a candidate whose name has been removed from the Register of Students to apply to the Board for reinstatement as a Student for the Degree of Master of Letters. The application should have the support of their society and supervisor, a copy of their thesis incorporating the required changes should have been submitted to the relevant Board along with a separate report indicating the specific changes made, and such reinstatement fee as may from time to time be prescribed by Council should have been paid. Leave to supplicate shall not be granted until this fee has been paid.

      Permission for reinstatement to the Register of Students may be granted by the Board within twenty-four months of the date the student was notified of the outcome of their examination.

      Exceptionally, a candidate who is not able to apply for reinstatement within that timeframe may make an application to Council’s Education Committee for reinstatement to the Register of Students. Such candidates must meet the requirements for reinstatement by the Board and in addition must provide a statement explaining why it is reasonable for Education Committee to permit their reinstatement and outlining the circumstances that have prevented earlier submission. For such applications, Education Committee will consider the length of time since the student was last examined, the seriousness of the causes for the delay, and the views of the student’s department/faculty, supervisor and college. Education Committee will not normally consider applications if sixty months or more have elapsed since the notification of the outcome of the examination;

    • (iii) that the board should refuse the candidate's application for leave to supplicate.

  • 12. In each case the examiners must embody in their report, in support of their recommendation, an account of the scope, character, and quality of the candidate's work.

  • 13. On receipt of the examiners' report the board shall reach a decision on whether to accept the examiners' recommendation, provided that no candidate shall be given leave to supplicate unless the examiners have made the statements required in clause 6 (i) above.

  • 14. A candidate who has been granted leave to supplicate by a board must submit a finalised electronic copy of the thesis, as approved by the examiners, to the Oxford Research Archive in line with the requirements of the General Regulations governing Research Degrees. This copy must be submitted no later than the end of the fifth day before the date of the degree ceremony booked by the candidate for conferral of their degree. Permission to supplicate shall in all cases be conditional upon fulfilment of these requirements. No corrections, changes or additions of any kind shall be made to the thesis after the board has granted a candidate leave to supplicate.

  • 15. In an exceptional case in which a board is unable to accept the examiners' recommendation, or in which the examiners cannot reach an agreed recommendation, the board shall have power to appoint one or two new examiners as it deems necessary, to conduct such further examination of the candidate as the board may require. This additional examination is a continuation of the examination process and the outcomes that were available to the original examiners, as defined in clause 8 above (clause 11 for students submitting before MT 2025) are available to the new examiners. The board shall make a report on any such case to the Education Committee.

[For students submitting their thesis for the first time before Sunday of Week 1 MT 2025: 

  • 16. The board may exempt a candidate who is being re-examined under the provisions of clause 11 (ii) above from the oral examination, provided that the examiners are able to certify that they are satisfied, without examining the candidate orally, that they can recommend to the board in the terms required by clause 11 (i) above that the candidate be given leave to supplicate for the Degree of Master of Letters.]

[For students submitting their thesis for the first time on or after Sunday of Week 1 MT 2025:

  • 17. If the candidate has not completed the required corrections or amendments to the thesis within the timeframe specified, their name shall be removed by the Registrar from the Register of Students for the Degree of Master of Letters. It shall be open to a candidate whose name has been removed from the Register of Students to apply to the Board for reinstatement as a Student for the Degree of Master of Letters. The application should have the support of their society and supervisor, a copy of their thesis incorporating the required corrections should have been submitted to the relevant Board, and such reinstatement fee as may from time to time be prescribed by Council by regulation should have been paid. Leave to supplicate shall not be granted until this fee has been paid. In addition, those students who were required to make major corrections or whose thesis was referred back shall be required to submit a separate report, via the Research Thesis Digital Submission (RTDS) application, indicating the specific changes made.
  • Permission for reinstatement to the Register of Students may be granted by the Board within the timeframes given in the table below. In each case, the period should be calculated from the date the student was notified of the outcome of their examination. 
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  • Outcome of the examination Time permitted for resubmission Reinstatement permitted by the Board within
    Minor corrections 2 months 6 months
    Major corrections 6 months 12 months
    Reference back 12 months 24 months
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  • Exceptionally, a candidate who is not able to apply for reinstatement within the timeframes given in the table above may make an application to Council’s Education Committee for reinstatement to the Register of Students. Such candidates must meet the requirements for reinstatement by the Board and in addition provide a statement explaining why it is reasonable for Education Committee to permit their reinstatement and outlining the circumstances that have prevented earlier submission. For such applications, Education Committee will consider the length of time since the student was last examined, the seriousness of the causes for the delay, and the views of the student’s department/faculty, supervisor and college. Education Committee will not normally consider applications if sixty months or more have elapsed since the most recent notification of the outcome of the examination. 
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  • 18. It shall be the duty of the Registrar to notify the candidate of the board's decision as soon as may be. The Registrar shall also be responsible for publishing at the end of each academic year the names of those candidates to whom permission to supplicate has been granted during that year, together with a statement of the subject of the thesis written by each.
    19. When, on the conclusion of the investigation of a complaint made by a candidate, the Proctors recommend that a candidate be re-examined, the board shall have power to hold a new examination.