You are viewing: 2018/19 version

Master of Studies in Japanese Studies

This course was withdrawn with effect from the 2017-18 academic year.

  • 1. Before admission to the course, candidates must either have taken Japanese in the Oxford Honour School of Oriental Studies or have taken a comparable degree from another university, or must satisfy the Board of the Faculty of Oriental Studies that they possess the necessary qualifications in the Japanese language to profit by the course.

  • 2. Every candidate must follow for at least three terms a course of instruction in Japanese Studies with reference to one of the following subjects:

    • (i) Japanese Linguistics

    • (ii) Modern Japanese Literature

    • (iii) Classical Japanese Literature

    • (iv) another subject at the discretion of the Board of the Faculty of Oriental Studies.

    The availability of subjects in a given year will be subject to the availability of teaching.

  • 3. Syllabus

    There will be four Units:

    • Unit (i) Context and Background. The examination will be by two take-home exercises, each comprising an essay of not more than 2,500 words on topics to be issued by the Oriental Institute Faculty Office, related directly to the course of instruction each candidate has followed. The exercises will be set not later than noon on Friday on each of Week 6 of Michaelmas Full Term and Week 6 of Hilary Full Term. At the same time as issuing each exercise, the Faculty Office will announce the date by which it is to be submitted, which shall be at least fourteen days later.  Two copies of each typewritten essay must be submitted to the Chair of Examiners, M.St in Japanese Studies, Examination Schools, High Street, Oxford. The work must bear the candidates' examination number (but not the candidates' name.) Candidates must include a signed declaration sealed in an envelope addressed to the Chair of Examiners that the work is the candidates own.

    • Unit (ii) Texts, to be examined by written examination.

    • Unit (iii) Theory and Methodology, to be examined by written examination.

    • Unit (iv) A thesis of not more than 15,000 words (excluding bibliography), on a topic selected in consultation with the candidate's supervisor and approved by the Faculty Board. Applications for such approval should be submitted to the Faculty office by Monday of Week 0 of Hilary Term. Two typewritten copies and an electronic copy in PDF format in a memory stick or CD, of the thesis must be submitted to the Chairman of the Examiners, name of degree, c/o Examination Schools, High Street, Oxford OX1 4BG. not later than 12 noon on Friday of fourth week of Trinity Term.

    • Candidates must include a signed declaration sealed in an envelope addressed to the Chair of Examiners that the work is the candidate’s own.

  • 4. Lists of set texts must be submitted to the Faculty office by Friday of seventh week of Michaelmas Term. 

  • 5. Candidates may be required to attend a viva.