Master of Philosophy in Modern Languages

1. All candidates must follow a course of instruction in Modern Languages at Oxford for a period of six terms. Candidates must follow a Programme chosen from those listed in the ‘Handbook for Taught-Course Graduate Students’ in Medieval & Modern Languages. 

Unless otherwise stated, candidates will be expected to write in English unless explicit permission is obtained to write in the language (or one of the languages) studied. In the case of Comparative Literature candidates, writing in more than one language in addition to English will not be authorised.

2. All candidates shall be required to offer A, B, C, D, and E as defined in 3 below.

3. The examination shall consist of the following:

(A) One of the Method Options specified in the Handbook for Taught-Course Graduate Students in Medieval & Modern Languages (the course handbook).

Candidates are required to submit an essay on one of the options above of between 5,000 and 7,000 words in total.

The essays should be formatted and submitted electronically as specified in the course handbook, by noon on Thursday of Week 10 of Hilary Term.

The work submitted must be written in English; unless otherwise approved by the Board or Director of Graduate Studies.

(B) A thesis, which may be written in English or, with the approval of the Faculty Board or Director of Graduate Studies, in the language appropriate to the literature concerned, of approximately 20,000 words and not more than 25,000 words, on a subject approved by the Faculty Board or Director of Graduate Studies. The subject of the thesis shall be related either to the fields of study represented by (A) above or to one or more of the candidate’s Special Subjects (C).The thesis should be formatted and submitted electronically as specified in the course handbook, by noon on Thursday of Week 7 of Trinity Term.

(C, D, and E) Three Special Subjects.

Candidates must select three Special Subjects from those listed in the Handbook for Taught-Course Graduate Students in Medieval & Modern Languages as being associated with the programme which they are following; candidates may select a special subject from a different programme subject to availability.

Candidates will be assessed on an essay, or two essays (which may be written in English, or, with the approval of the Medieval and Modern Languages Faculty Board or Director of Graduate Studies, in the language appropriate to the literature concerned), on the topics they have agreed with the supervisor of each Special Subject.

The essay or essays submitted for each Special Subject should be between 5,000 and 7,000 words in total.

The Special Subject should be formatted and submitted electronically as specified in the course handbook. The special subject for Michaelmas Term should be submitted by noon on Thursday of Week 10 of Michaelmas Term of the candidate’s first year. The special subject for Hilary Term should be submitted by noon on Thursday of Week 10 of Hilary Term of the candidate’s first year. The third special subject may be taken in either Michaelmas or Hilary Term of the candidate's second year and is to be submitted by noon on Thursday of Week 10 of the same term. 

4. Candidates for Comparative Literature should ensure that either at least one of the special subjects (C, D, and E) is comparative in scope or the three special subjects are concerned with different languages. The dissertation must deal explicitly with comparative issues.

5. If it is the opinion of the examiners that the work done by a candidate, while not of sufficient merit to qualify for the degree of M.Phil., is nevertheless of sufficient merit to qualify for the Degree of Master of Studies in Modern Languages, the candidate shall be given the option of re-sitting the M.Phil. examination under the appropriate regulation, or of being granted permission to supplicate for the Degree of Master of Studies.

6. In order to pass the degree, a student must pass all its assessed components. A candidate who has failed to satisfy the examiners in any one of the examinations may enter again for that examination and will be required to submit new assessment material for the relevant component(s) by noon of the final Monday of September following their first examination. Candidates may resubmit on one occasion only.