Program Overview

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Introduction to the DPhil in Medieval and Modern Languages

The DPhil in Medieval and Modern Languages is a research-based course focused on literature, film, and cultural history from the medieval period to the present. This course allows students to explore various topics, including gender, ecology, translation, and cognitive literary studies.

About the Course

The DPhil programme enables students to acquire the research skills necessary to complete a substantial piece of original research. Students will work under the guidance of a supervisor who is a specialist in their subject. In cases where two areas of expertise are essential, joint supervision will be arranged. The faculty has many links with universities in Europe, Africa, and the Americas, and there is an active research culture and a commitment to integrating graduate students into regular research seminars.

Attendance

The course can be studied full-time or part-time, with both modes requiring attendance in Oxford. Full-time students are subject to the University's Residence requirements, while part-time students are required to attend course-related activities in Oxford for a minimum of 30 days each year.

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, and the Taylor Institution Library is specialized in the areas in which the faculty teaches and researches.

Supervision

The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Faculty of Medieval and Modern Languages. You might expect to see your supervisor once a fortnight in the early stages of your research and less often as you become more independent.

Assessment

All students will be initially admitted to the status of Probationer Research Student (PRS). Within a maximum of four terms as a full-time PRS student or eight terms as a part-time PRS student, you will be expected to apply for transfer of status from Probationer Research Student to DPhil status. A successful transfer of status will require submission of a research proposal and a piece of written work.

Graduate Destinations

Many doctoral students go on to take up academic positions in the UK and overseas. Other graduate destinations include teaching, journalism, law, publishing, and the civil service.

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, either before or after registration.

Research Areas

You will have the opportunity to undertake research within the specialized themes of this course, which include:

• Performance and Voice
• Postcolonial and Decolonial Studies
• Gender and Sexuality
• Ecology and Environmental Humanities
• Cognitive Literary Studies
• Medical Humanities and Life Writing
• Comparative Literature and Translation Studies

Entry Requirements

As a minimum, applicants should hold or be predicted to achieve the following UK qualifications or their equivalent:

• A master's degree with distinction or a high pass (a minimum of 67% overall and 67% for the dissertation)
• A first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honors Degree-level competence in at least one modern language is a requirement for admission.

English Language Proficiency

This course requires proficiency in English at the University's higher level. If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence that you meet this requirement.

References

You will need to register three referees who can give an informed view of your academic ability and suitability for the course. At least two of your references should be academic; the third may be professional but should speak to your ability to study language/literature at a high level.

Supporting Documents

You will be required to supply supporting documents with your application, including:

• Official transcript(s)
• Research proposal (a maximum of 1,200 words)
• Written work (either two essays of a maximum of 2,000 words each or one essay of a maximum of 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. You can use the fees, funding, and scholarship search tool to identify opportunities and find out how to apply.

Costs

The fees for this course are charged on an annual basis. For the academic year, the annual course fees are:

• Full-time study: Ł14,180 (Home) and Ł37,080 (Overseas)
• Part-time study: Ł7,090 (Home) and Ł18,540 (Overseas)

Living Costs

In addition to your course fees and any additional course-specific costs, you will need to ensure that you have adequate funds to support your living costs for the duration of your 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. You can express a preference for one of the colleges listed or ask the University to find a college for you.

How to Apply

You should refer to the information on the course page when completing the application form, paying attention to the specific requirements for the supporting documents. You can start or return to an application using the relevant link, and you can find out more about the shortlisting and selection process in the detailed guide to what happens next.