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Master of Studies in Modern Languages

1. All candidates must follow a course of instruction in Modern Languages at Oxford for a period of three terms. 

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

  • 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. 

  • 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 Faculty Board or Director of Graduate Studies.

  • (B) A dissertation of between 10,000 and 12,000 words written in English, or, with the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies, in the language appropriate to the literature concerned, on a topic connected with those offered in (A) above or (C) below, but distinct from those covered by the essays submitted under (A) or (C), and approved by the Modern Languages Board of Examiners. 

  • The dissertation should be formatted and submitted electronically as specified in the course handbook, by noon on Thursday of Week 7 of Trinity Term.

  • (C and D) Two Special Subjects

    Candidates may select two 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 examined on an essay, or two essays (which may be written in English, or, with the approval of the Director of Masters Courses, in the language appropriate to the literature concerned), on the topics they have agreed with the supervisor of each Special Subject. The length of the work submitted for each Special Subject should be between 5,000 and 7,000 words in total.

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

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

    5. 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.

  • Oxford 1+1 MBA programme 

    Candidates registered on the Oxford 1+1 MBA programme will follow an additional two or three month bridging programme at the end of their third term of the combined programme. 

    Each candidate will be appointed an academic advisor from the Saïd Business School to plan an individual course of study which will include as a minimum, the following two compulsory elements: 

    (i) Normally two meetings during the bridging programme with the senior advisor appointed by the Saïd Business School at the start of the Oxford 1+1 MBA programme. 

    (ii) A formatively assessed Integrative Development Plan of up to 3,000 words. Candidates would be required to critically reflect on their learning from the Masters programme and relate this both to their forthcoming MBA programme as well as to their career goals. The meetings with the advisor will frame the design, delivery and discussion of the plan.