The Master’s programmes offered by the History Faculty provide an entry route into Oxford research degrees, but may also function as free-standing programmes of study. They provide a grounding in research methods in some given field of historical knowledge.
Taught programmes last for 9, 11 and 12 months (for MSts, MScs) and 21 months (for MPhils). Students completing the substantial dissertation required for an MPhil may apply for readmission to the DPhil programme and develop their MPhil thesis into a doctoral thesis by extending their primary research base in an additional one or two years.
MSt in Medieval History
Course Code | 003780
This programme provides the normal entry route to research degrees for all medieval historians not already holding relevant Master’s degrees, or seeking qualification through an interdisciplinary programme such as the MSt or MPhil in Late Antique and Byzantine Studies or MSt in Medieval Studies. It balances taught classes, language training and independent research. Oxford’s strength in medieval history means that almost any area of medieval European history can be studied. Language training is available in Latin, most modern languages, medieval languages (including Celtic, Romance and Germanic languages), and Greek.
The taught classes consist of a core course in the first term focusing on historical methods, and a choice of optional subjects in the second term, with a chronological spread across the Middle Ages. Candidates will also work towards a dissertation of up to 15,000 words which is to be submitted in August.
MSt in Modern British & European History
Course Code | 000893
This Master’s programme meets the needs of students seeking the experience of graduate study and research in post-medieval history of the area, including those wishing to prepare themselves for doctoral work.
Research training in historical theory, methods, sources and resources is combined with the focussed study of options which showcase recent historiography and approaches.
This class work parallels supervised pursuit of a research project. Candidates will work towards a dissertation of up to 15,000 words which is to be submitted for examination in late May.
MSt in Global and Imperial History
Course Code | 000892
This programme meets the needs of students seeking the experience of graduate study and research in either Commonwealth and Imperial, or South Asian, or East Asian history, including those wishing to prepare themselves for doctoral work. In each stream, research training is combined with broad conceptual approaches that encourage students to learn from the recent historiographies of different periods and areas and with focused studies of periods or themes. This class work parallels supervised pursuit of a research project. Candidates will work towards a dissertation of up to 15,000 words which is to be submitted for examination in late May.
MSt in Modern South Asian Studies
Course Code | 003749
This is a joint course between the faculties of History and Oriental Studies. Students on the course are able to combine intensive language learning with the study of the histories, societies and cultures of South Asia and neighbouring regions.
The course is designed either to be taken in preparation for doctoral work, or to offer a terminal degree in preparation for professional work in which knowledge of the societies and languages of South Asia and their associated intellectual disciplines may be an advantage.
The programme consists of four components: the core course, 'History and Culture of South Asia'; a paper in a South Asian language; an optional paper; a dissertation of no more than 15,000 words.
MSt in US History
Course Code | 000894
This programme meets the needs of students seeking the experience of graduate study and research in the history of the United States and its colonial antecedents, including those wishing to prepare themselves for doctoral work in this field.
Students receive training in methods and evidence in the history of the United States of America and study US historiography and contemporary historical debates. Teaching is through participation in classes and research seminars, enhanced by tutorial sessions.
This class work parallels supervised pursuit of a research project. Candidates will work towards a dissertation of up to 15,000 words which is to be submitted for examination in late May.
MPhil in Modern British and European History
Course Code | 000895
The joint initial theoretical and methodological training with the MSt in Modern British and European History is enhanced for this degree by a class on the contemporary writing of history in the first year. In addition students expand their contextual understanding by choosing from a menu of thematic options which showcase recent historiography and approaches.
The summer vacation and second Michaelmas Term are set aside for individual research which will feed into work towards the completion of a substantial dissertation of up to 30,000 words which in many cases may form the basis of a subsequent doctoral project.
The writing up of the dissertation during the second half of the second year is supported by a master class in which students have the opportunity to address wider historiographical, theoretical and methodological issues through the medium of their own research.
MPhil in History of Science, Medicine, and Technology
Course Code | 000740
This
degree programme is designed to enhance history students’ knowledge and
understanding of the history of science and medicine, and to enhance historical knowledge and insights of students with mainly
science backgrounds.
It shares many resources with its sister
programmes in economic and social history. It provides in-depth training
in the methods and themes of the history of science and technology and
the social history of medicine.
Students will be examined in four
papers, which may comprise either four Advanced Papers focusing on
particular periods and topics, or three Advanced Papers, and one paper
in a related discipline or skill (such as Comparative Social Policy).
In
parallel they will work towards the completion of a substantial
dissertation of up to 30,000 words which in many cases may form the
basis of a subsequent doctoral project.
MSc in History of Science, Medicine, and Technology
Course Code | 000750
This
degree programme is a more concise version of the MPhil, and
provides the usual entry route into research in the fields of history of science and technology or the history of medicine.
Candidates specialising in the history of medicine may be eligible for
Wellcome Trust funding in addition to other general funding sources.
Students receive an in-depth induction
into the methods and themes of the history of science and technology and
the social history of medicine. They are examined on two specialist
papers, either two Advanced Papers focusing on particular periods and
topics, or one Advanced Paper and one paper in a related discipline or
skill (such as Comparative Social Policy).
Candidates will also work towards a dissertation of up to 15,000 words which is to be submitted in September.
MPhil in Economic and Social History
Course Code | 000570
This degree programme is designed both to educate historians in the methods of social science research, and to expose students with social science backgrounds to the challenges of historical enquiry.
It offers, in addition to economic and social history in the strict sense, a choice of papers covering the history of science and technology, the social history of medicine and historical demography.
Students take two core papers on the methodologies of economic and social history and four advanced papers, selected from a wide range of options, which may include up to two papers in a related discipline or skill (such as Economics or Sociology).
In parallel they will work towards the completion of a substantial dissertation of up to 30,000 words which in many cases may form the basis of a doctoral project.
MSc in Economic and Social History
Course Code | 000580
This degree programme is a more concise version of the MPhil, and provides the usual entry route into research for candidates who seek funding from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) in the field of Economic and Social History.
Students take two core papers on the methodologies of economic and social history and two advanced papers, selected from a wide range of options, which may include one paper in a related discipline or skill (such as Economics or Sociology).
Candidates will also work towards a dissertation of up to 15,000 words which is to be submitted in September.
MPhil in Late Antique and Byzantine Studies
Course Code | 003770
The structured teaching for the programme provides a multipurpose introduction to the Roman world in Late Antiquity, to Byzantium, and to neighbouring peoples and cultures. Although the two components (Late Antiquity and Byzantium) are conjoined, graduate students are expected to concentrate on one of the fields. There are two alternative pathways into each of the fields:
(i) intensive training in one of the following ancient and medieval languages, with special reference to a selection of prescribed texts (Greek, Latin, Slavonic, Armenian, Syriac, Coptic, Arabic) and a Special Subject paper - including the opportunity to train and be examined in a second medieval language - in the second year, or
(ii) instruction in one or two specialist Auxiliary Disciplines (papyrology, epigraphy, palaeography, numismatics, sigillography, or artefact studies) and study of one Special Subject each year in their preferred subject area (History, Art and Archaeology, Literature, or Religion).
All those taking the course (on both pathways) are required to undertake a core programme of directed study on History, Art and Archaeology, either in the Late Antique or the Byzantine field. In parallel they will work towards the completion of a substantial dissertation of up to 30,000 words which in many cases may form the basis of a subsequent doctoral project.
MSt in Late Antique and Byzantine Studies
Course Code | 003760
The structured teaching for the programme provides a multipurpose introduction to the Roman world in Late Antiquity, to Byzantium, and to neighbouring peoples and cultures. It allows for the same two alternative pathways into each of the fields as the MPhil. Candidates who intend to continue into doctoral research, may wish to make use of the assessment option of substituting a 10,000-word dissertation for the two Special Subject essays; this provision allows students to test and demonstrate their aptitude for research.
MSt in Medieval Studies
Course Code | 003781
This interdisciplinary programme can be taken either as a freestanding degree or as the first step towards a research degree in one of the participating disciplines. The degree provides a generic introduction to medieval studies, allowing candidates from differing backgrounds to broaden their acquaintance with medieval topics and issues as well as ensuring some in-depth exposure to specialist areas of research in the field, culminating in a final interdisciplinary dissertation of up to 12,000 words. It is aimed explicitly at students who wish to follow classes in more than one discipline, and who are keen to extend the range of their study and research skills.
How to ApplyThe deadlines for the taught courses in History listed above are 22 November 2013 and 24
January 2014. Courses in Economic and Social History and the History of Science and Medicine also use a deadline of 14 March 2014. All those seeking funding from Research Council, University, Faculty,
or Faculty-College linked resources must apply by the January deadline at the latest. The standard set of materials you should send
with any application to a taught course comprises: In addition to the standard documents above,
applicants to any of the taught courses in History listed above should provide two (2) relevant academic essays or other writing samples from their most recent qualification of 2,000 words each,
or 2,000-word extracts of longer work. Alternatively, applicants to any of the above programmes may provide one (1) longer writing sample of 4,000 to 5,000 words. The statement of purpose for applicants to any of the taught courses in
History listed above is expected to indicate what optional or advanced
paper classes you are
interested in taking and give enough of an indication of your
intended dissertation project to make it possible for the Faculty to
identify an appropriate supervisor. Please follow the detailed
instructions in the Application
Guide, and
consult the History website
for any additional guidance. |
