Program Overview

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MPhil in History (Women's, Gender and Queer History)

The MPhil in History (Women's, Gender and Queer History) is a two-year full-time course that explores the different strengths of each of these approaches and provides a foundation for independent research into any aspect of these histories.

About the Course

The course has a sustained period devoted to archival research and writing, and is designed to give students a thorough training in historical research, improve their ability to conceptualise and engage with historical problems, and enlarge their understanding of the historical and historiographical context in which their own research is set. The course can serve as either a free-standing graduate qualification or as a springboard to doctoral study.

Course Structure

• The course consists of two compulsory core courses, a research masterclass, two optional subject courses, and an original research project.
• Courses and research are supported by a skills programme for general historical or field-specific training.
• Additional lectures, classes, and tutorials take place in Michaelmas and Hilary terms to provide general and specific training.
• Students will discuss what training they need to undertake their research project with their supervisor.

Attendance

• The course is full-time and requires attendance in Oxford.
• Full-time students are subject to the University's Residence requirements.

Resources to Support Study

• As a graduate student, you will have access to the University's wide range of resources, including libraries, museums, galleries, digital resources, and IT services.
• The Bodleian Libraries is the largest library system in the UK, with over 13 million printed items and access to e-journals.
• The University's IT Services is available to support students with core university IT systems and tools.

Supervision

• The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Faculty of History.
• Offers will only be made if appropriate supervision is available.
• Students will have one supervisor, but a co-supervisor may be appointed if additional specialist knowledge is required.

Assessment

• The Historical Methods course is assessed by an essay on historical methods submitted at the end of Hilary term of year one.
• The Writing History course is assessed by an essay submitted at the end of Trinity term of year one.
• The Research Masterclass is assessed by a seminar presentation given in year two.
• The research project is examined by a 30,000-word dissertation submitted in week six of Trinity term of year two.

Graduate Destinations

• About a quarter of masters students proceed to doctoral work at Oxford.
• Others continue academic study at other institutions or pursue careers in law, finance, management consultancy, civil service, etc.

Changes to the Course

• The University will seek to deliver this course in accordance with the description set out in this course page.
• However, there may be situations in which it is desirable or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision.

Course Components

Compulsory Study

• Students will take three core courses and undertake a research project.
  • Core course: Historical Methods
  • Core course: Writing History
  • Core course: Research Masterclass
  • Research project

Options

• Students will take two subject courses chosen from a list of around 30 offered each year.
• Recent subject courses particularly relevant to Women's Gender and Queer History include:
  • Approaches to Queer and Trans Histories: Britain
  • Slavery and Gender in the Antebellum US South
  • Gender, Capitalism, and Slavery in the Black Atlantic
  • Youth culture, generational revolt and sexual politics in Britain and Europe since 1945
  • Saints and Sanctity in Late Antiquity and the early Middle Ages

Entry Requirements

Proven and Potential Academic Excellence

• Applicants should hold or be predicted to achieve a minimum of 68% overall and 68% for the dissertation in a relevant discipline in the humanities or social sciences.
• For applicants with a bachelor's degree from the USA, the minimum overall GPA normally required is 3.6 out of 4.0.

English Language Proficiency

• This course requires proficiency in English at the University's higher level.
• The minimum scores required to meet the University's higher level are:
  • IELTS Academic: 7.5 overall, with at least 7.0 per component
  • TOEFL iBT: 110 overall, with at least 22 in Listening, 24 in Reading, 25 in Speaking, and 24 in Writing
  • C1 Advanced: 191 overall, with at least 185 per component
  • C2 Proficiency: 191 overall, with at least 185 per component

References

• Students will need to register three referees who can give an informed view of their academic ability and suitability for the course.

Supporting Documents

• Students will be required to supply supporting documents with their application, including:
  • Official transcript(s)
  • Statement of purpose and research proposal
  • Written work: an academic writing sample of no more than 4,000 words

Funding

• For entry in the academic year, the collegiate University expects to offer over 1,100 full or partial graduate scholarships across a wide range of graduate courses.
• Students can use the University's fees, funding, and scholarship search tool to identify opportunities and find out how to apply.

Costs

Annual Course Fees

• The fees for this course are charged on an annual basis.
• For the academic year, the annual course fees are:
  • Home: Ł17,910
  • Overseas: Ł43,730

Additional Costs

• There are no compulsory elements of this course that entail additional costs beyond fees and living costs.
• However, students may need to choose a dissertation, a project, or a thesis topic that may incur additional expenses, such as travel expenses, research expenses, and field trips.

Living Costs

• In addition to course fees and any additional course-specific costs, students will need to ensure that they have adequate funds to support their living costs for the duration of their course.
• The range of likely living costs for a single, full-time student is between Ł1,405 and Ł2,105 for each month spent in Oxford.

College Preference

• Students enrolled on this course will belong to both a department/faculty and a college.
• The following colleges accept students for the MPhil in History (Women's, Gender and Queer History):
  • Balliol College
  • Blackfriars
  • Brasenose College
  • Campion Hall
  • Christ Church
  • Corpus Christi College
  • Jesus College
  • Lady Margaret Hall
  • Linacre College
  • Lincoln College
  • Magdalen College
  • Mansfield College
  • Oriel College
  • Pembroke College
  • The Queen's College
  • Regent's Park College
  • Reuben College
  • St Catherine's College
  • St Cross College
  • St Hilda's College
  • St Hugh's College
  • St John's College
  • Somerville College
  • University College
  • Wadham College
  • Wolfson College
  • Worcester College
  • Wycliffe Hall

How to Apply

Before You Apply

• Students should refer to the University's guide to getting started for general advice on how to prepare for and start their application.

Completing Your Application

• Students should refer to the information on the course page when completing the application form, paying attention to the specific requirements for the supporting documents.
• The application form will include questions that collect information that would usually be included in a CV/résumé.
• Students should not upload a separate document, as it will be removed from their application.

Proposed Field and Title of Research Project

• Under the 'Field and title of research project' section, students should enter their proposed field or area of research if this is known.

Proposed Supervisor

• It is not necessary for students to identify a potential supervisor in their application.
• However, students should check that a supervisor with expertise in their proposed area of research is available before applying.

Referees

• Students must register three referees who can give an informed view of their academic ability and suitability for the course.
• References should generally be academic, though if students are returning to study after extended periods of non-academic employment, they are welcome to nominate professional referees.

Official Transcript(s)

• Students' transcripts should give detailed information of the individual grades received in their university-level qualifications to date.
• Students should only upload official documents issued by their institution, and any transcript not in English should be accompanied by a certified translation.

Statement of Purpose and Research Proposal

• The statement of purpose and research proposal should be written as one combined piece, with a minimum of 500 to a maximum of 1,000 words.
• Students should convince the faculty that they have the right intellectual qualities, academic knowledge, and skills to undertake the course.

Written Work

• Students should submit an academic writing sample of no more than 4,000 words in total length.
• The work should be from their current or most recent completed qualification, but does not need to relate closely to their proposed area of study.