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Master of Studies in History (Part-Time)

The regulations of the Board of the Faculty of History are as follows:

1. Candidates must apply for and follow a particular named strand of the programme, chosen from a list published by the Faculty by 1 September of the year before entry.  They may only change to a different strand with the written agreement of their supervisors, and of the Convener of the MSt in History.

2. The final examination for candidates in History shall comprise (I) one extended essay based on the programme’s core component, Historical Methods, (II) and (III) two essays based on two Options, and (IV) a dissertation of not more than 15,000 words.

  • I. Historical Methods: an essay of up to 5,000 words, to be submitted by 12 noon on Thursday of Week nought in Trinity Term of the candidate’s first year. 

  • II. Option 1: An essay of 5,000 words, this essay may complement but must not share significant content with the essay submitted under I. or III. and is to be submitted: 

(a) if the course was undertaken in Michaelmas Term, by 12 noon on Thursday of week nought in Hilary term of the candidate’s first year 

(b) if the course was undertaken in Hilary Term, by 12 noon on Thursday of week nought in Trinity term of the candidate’s first year 

III. Option 2: An essay of 5,000 words. This essay may complement but must not share significant content with the essay submitted under I. or II. and is to be submitted: 

(a) if the course was undertaken in Michaelmas Term, by 12 noon on Thursday of week nought in Hilary term of the candidate’s second year 

(b) if the course was undertaken in Hilary Term, by 12 noon on Thursday of week nought in Trinity term of the candidate’s second year 

  • Candidates wishing to take an Option paper from another programme offered by the History Faculty, and exceptionally, by other Faculties, may do so with the permission of the programme convenor, the person responsible for the delivery of the requested Option paper, their supervisor. Such candidates will be assessed according to the regulations with respect to the form of assessment and deadlines governing that Option (i.e. the regulations of the programme under which the Option paper is offered), but the modes of assessment and deadlines for the other course elements of the programme for which the candidate is registered will remain in force. 

  • IV.  Dissertation: each candidate must prepare a dissertation of not more than 15,000 words on a topic in their chosen subject area. The dissertation must include a short abstract which concisely summarises in about 300 words its scope and principal arguments. The dissertation must be submitted by 12 noon of Tuesday of Week Nine of Trinity Term of the second year. Material submitted under I., II., and III. may be summarised or substantially further developed in the dissertation, but no significant part of the dissertation should reproduce or paraphrase other work submitted for examination.

3. A candidate who has failed to satisfy the examiners in any one of the papers may enter again to be examined on the failed assessment on one, but not more than one, subsequent occasion. This resubmission of a paper will be made within twelve months of the original assessment deadline. No candidate who has satisfied the examiners in any one of the examinations may enter again for the same examination. Candidates who have initially failed any element of assessment shall not normally be eligible for the award of merit or distinction.