Master of Philosophy in Slavonic Studies

1. Candidates will be required to satisfy the examiners in a Qualifying Examination identical with that for the M.St. in Slavonic Studies, in their first year, before proceeding to the final examination for the M.Phil. in their second year. Holders of the M.St. in Slavonic Studies are exempt from this Qualifying Examination.

2. In the final examination for the M.Phil. each candidate will be required to take two subjects from the Schedules listed in A - C, excluding the thesis in Schedule 2. Candidates may not repeat subjects which they have taken for the M.St. or for the Qualifying Examination, nor take more than one subject from Schedules from which they have already taken two subjects for the M.St. or for the Qualifying Examination. Candidates may not take subjects which they have already studied in a first degree course. The list of options in each Schedule will be available in the handbook for that year.

• A.

  • Schedule 1 — Unseen translation

  B.

  • Schedule 2 – Methodology

  C.

  • Schedule 3 – Slavonic Philology in Context

    Schedule 4 – The History of a chosen language

    Schedule 5 – The Structure and Present State of a chosen language

    Schedule 6 – Russian Literature, Culture and History

    Schedule 7 - Central European Literature, Culture and History

3. Each candidate will be required to present a thesis of approximately 20,000 words and not more than 25,000 words. The subject of the thesis should fall within the area of Slavonic languages and literatures. The MPhil thesis should be submitted electronically as specified in the course handbook by noon on Thursday of sixth week of Trinity Term in the second year. Work submitted in the thesis for the Degree of M.Phil. may subsequently be incorporated in a thesis submitted for the Degree of D.Phil.

4. Candidates will be expected to be able to read secondary literature in at least one European language other than English and the Slavonic languages, and may be required to demonstrate this ability. 

An average of 65, i.e. the equivalent of a merit, is required in the first year MPhil Qualifying Examination for progression to the second year. 

A candidate who achieves an average of at least 50 but less than 65 in the Qualifying Examination for the MPhil course may be given the option of being granted permission to supplicate for the Degree of Master of Studies.  

Should a candidate fail any element of the examination, that element may be re-submitted, or re-sat as applicable, once, and once only. For re-submissions, candidates may re-submit that element by noon on the final Monday of September following their first examination. Re-submitted work may be a reworked version of the original submission or a completely new submission. Written examinations may be re-sat the next time they are offered, normally in the year following first examination. The highest mark that may be awarded for re-sat papers or for re-submitted work is 50% (i.e. it is capped at the pass mark). Candidates who have failed any element of assessment shall not be eligible for the award of merit or distinction.