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Master of Studies in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies

The Regulations made by the Board of the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies are as follows:

§1. General Regulations

1. Before admission to the course, candidates must satisfy the Board of the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern 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. 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.

  • 1.1. Papers 1(a) and 1(b) will be examined either by timed written examination or by submission, depending on the option taken. They may be any combination of language or non-language papers. 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.

  • 1.2. Paper 1(c) will be examined by coursework submission. The candidate must submit an essay 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 as outlined in the course handbook.

2. In addition to the papers in §2.1, each candidate will be required to offer one of the following two papers:

    • (a) Option paper 3;

    • (b) A substantial draft chapter or chapters of a proposed thesis for the M.Litt or the D.Phil.

  • 2.1. For paper 2(a), each candidate shall submit two essays of between 5,000 and 7,000 words in length each (excluding bibliography), on a topic to be approved as defined in the course handbook. 

  • 2.2. For paper 2(b), each candidate shall submit a paper of between 12,000 and 15,000 words in length, excluding bibliography, on a topic to be approved as defined in the course handbook. 

3. Each candidate may be required to attend a viva.