Program Overview

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MPhil in English Studies (Medieval Period)

The MPhil in English Studies (Medieval Period) is a two-year taught and research course offering advanced study in medieval English language, literature, and culture, with training in manuscript studies and two dissertations.

About the Course

Oxford is now very rare in offering a two-year taught and research postgraduate course in medieval studies. The time and space this affords makes the Oxford MPhil the very best preparation for later specialist research in medieval literary or cultural history. It also stands alone as a thoroughly satisfying qualification indicating significant levels of critical, linguistic, and historical skill, expertise, and research competence, transferable to any future career.

Course Structure

An overview of the course structure is provided below. Details of the compulsory and optional elements of the course are provided in the Course components section.

In the first year, you will follow the MSt in English (6501550). This already includes a broad grounding in medieval literature and culture, technical training in manuscripts, palaeography, and codicology (depending on courses taken), and the opportunity to pursue specific personal interests in coursework essays and in the MSt dissertation.

The first year consists of four main components spread over three academic terms, through which you have the opportunity to pursue interests within the MSt in English (6501550), as well as across period boundaries.

In the first two terms, you will take a core course (A) and a course in book history and theories of text (B), both tailored to your MSt. There is no formal assessment for the A Course, but written work and/or oral presentations may be required.

You will also choose two courses from a wide range of options (C). One is taken in the first term and one in the second term. The courses are taught in weekly, small group seminars. You are not constrained to follow option courses in the designated period and, indeed, option courses often traverse the boundaries of the broad periods and subject groups.

Under the guidance of a specialist supervisor you will also research and write a dissertation, which is submitted in the final term. You will be assigned to a member of academic staff who will act as your supervisor. Students will have the opportunity to present their dissertation ideas at a one-day conference that they organise, usually at the start of Trinity term.

In the second year, students have the opportunity both to broaden and deepen their knowledge, adding further options and taking advantage if they wish of courses offered by specialists in other faculties. Students finally submit a second, longer dissertation, which may form the basis of doctoral research, or a substantial publication.

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 Your 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. It includes the main Bodleian Library and libraries across Oxford, including major research libraries and faculty, department and institute libraries. Together, the Libraries hold more than 13 million printed items, provide access to e-journals, and contain outstanding special collections including rare books and manuscripts, classical papyri, maps, music, art and printed ephemera.

The University's IT Services is available to all students to support with core university IT systems and tools, as well as many other services and facilities. IT Services also offers a range of IT learning courses for students to support with learning and research, as well as guidance on what technology to bring with you as a new student at Oxford.

Supervision

In the first year, dissertation supervision is normally six supervision sessions, not exceeding six hours in total. In the second year, dissertation supervision is normally five supervision sessions, not exceeding seven and a half hours in total. This is indicative of typical supervision and is not a guarantee.

It is your responsibility to attend and take advantage of the support provided during supervisions, and take into consideration their supervisors workload when considering a termly schedule (supervisors will generally not be able to hold meetings and read work at short notice).

The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Faculty of English and it is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff. Under exceptional circumstances a supervisor may be found outside the Faculty of English.

Assessment

The first year is assessed via the submission of four pieces of coursework. In addition to the dissertation, you will submit three essays one at the end of the first term, and two at the end of the second term relating to the B and C courses that have been taken. The B and C coursework will be completed by the end of the second term (Hilary term), leaving the summer term (Trinity term) to complete the dissertation, which is submitted in June. You will also sit a short transcription test, assessed on a pass/fail basis. Candidates must achieve a pass mark on each element before they can proceed to the second year.

The second year is assessed via the submission of four pieces of coursework. Two will be submitted in Michaelmas and one in Hilary OR one will be submitted in Michaelmas and two in Hilary this is decided with your tutors. All three essays will be submitted before the end of the second term of second year (Hilary term), leaving the summer term (Trinity term) to complete the dissertation, which is submitted in June. The outcomes of the MPhil examination are pass, fail, merit, or distinction. Candidates must achieve a pass mark on each element of the examination to be awarded the MPhil.

Graduate Destinations

Many English taught-course students go onto doctoral research, both at Oxford and at other universities worldwide. Other graduates pursue careers in occupations including teaching, librarianship and heritage industries, journalism, law, publishing and the civil service.

Students who progress from an Oxford MPhil in English Studies to the DPhil in English may be able to progress more rapidly through the DPhil, completing in 2-3 years rather than 3-4 years. In all cases, fee liability after the MPhil would be limited to two years only.

Changes to this 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. The safety of students, staff and visitors is paramount and major changes to delivery or services may have to be made if a pandemic, epidemic or local health emergency occurs. In addition, in certain circumstances, for example due to visa difficulties or because the health needs of students cannot be met, it may be necessary to make adjustments to course requirements for international study.

Where possible your academic supervisor will not change for the duration of your course. However, it may be necessary to assign a new academic supervisor during the course of study or before registration for reasons which might include illness, sabbatical leave, parental leave or change in employment.

Course Components

Compulsory Study

• A. Core course: Literature, Contexts and Approaches
• B. Core course: Bibliography, Theories of Text, History of the Book, Manuscript Studies
• Dissertations

Options

In your first year, you will choose two courses from a range of options (C). Options change from year to year, depending on the availability of faculty members and on their current teaching and research interests. Recent C course options for this course have included:

• Old English poetry: Cynewulf and the Cynewulf canon
• Old Norse Literature
• After the Conquest: Reinventing fiction and history
• Contemplative Worlds
• Wycliffite and Related Literatures
• Andrewes and Donne: Performing Religious Discourse

In your second year, you will have the opportunity both to broaden and deepen your knowledge, adding further options and taking advantage if you wish of courses offered by specialists in other faculties. Recent options for the second year have included:

• medieval languages
• literatures
• authors
• philosophy
• history
• palaeography

Entry Requirements

Proven and Potential Academic Excellence

The requirements described below are specific to this course and apply only in the year of entry that is shown.

• a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours in English literature and/or English language, or exceptionally a related subject
• For applicants with a bachelor's degree from the USA, the minimum overall GPA that is normally required to meet the undergraduate-level requirement is 3.6

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. The minimum scores required to meet the University's higher level are detailed in the table below.

Test	Minimum overall score	Minimum score per component
IELTS Academic (Institution code: 0713)	7.5	7.0
TOEFL iBT*	110	Listening: 22, Reading: 24, Speaking: 25, Writing: 24
C1 Advanced	191	185
C2 Proficiency	191	185
Oxford Test of English Advanced	165	155

References

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

Supporting Documents

You will be required to supply supporting documents with your application.

Performance at Interview

Interviews are not normally held as part of the admissions process.

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.

Costs

Annual Course Fees

The fees for this course are charged on an annual basis.

Fee status	Annual Course fees
Home	｣17,910
Overseas	｣43,730

Additional Costs

There are no compulsory elements of this course that entail additional costs beyond fees and living costs. However, as part of the course requirements, students may need to choose a dissertation, a project or a thesis topic. Please note that, depending on the choice of topic and the research required to complete it, there may be additional expenses, such as travel expenses, research expenses, and field trips.

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.

College Preference

Students enrolled on this course will belong to both a department/faculty and a college. The following colleges accept students on the MPhil in English Studies (Medieval Period):

• Balliol College
• Blackfriars
• Brasenose College
• Campion Hall
• Christ Church
• Corpus Christi College
• Harris Manchester College
• Hertford College
• Jesus College
• Keble College
• Kellogg College
• Lady Margaret Hall
• Linacre College
• Lincoln College
• Magdalen College
• Mansfield College
• Merton College
• New College
• Oriel College
• Pembroke College
• The Queen's College
• Regent's Park College
• St Anne's College
• St Catherine's College
• St Cross College
• St Edmund Hall
• St Hilda's College
• St Hugh's College
• St John's College
• St Peter's College
• Somerville College
• Trinity College
• University College
• Wadham College
• Wolfson College
• Worcester College
• Wycliffe Hall

How to Apply

Our guide to getting started provides general advice on how to prepare for and start your application, including advice to help you evaluate whether your application is likely to be competitive.

Application Fee Waivers

An application fee of ｣75 is payable for each application to this course. Application fee waivers are available for the following applicants who meet the eligibility criteria:

• applicants from low-income countries
• refugees and displaced persons
• UK applicants from low-income backgrounds
• applicants who applied for our Graduate Access Programmes in the past two years and met the eligibility criteria

Completing Your Application

You should refer to the information below when completing the application form, paying attention to the specific requirements for the supporting documents.

Referees

Three overall, academic preferred. Whilst you must register three referees, the department may start the assessment of your application if two of the three references are submitted by the course deadline and your application is otherwise complete.

Official Transcript(s)

Your transcripts should give detailed information of the individual grades received in your university-level qualifications to date.

Statement of Purpose

A maximum of 1,000 words. Your statement should be written in English and explain your motivation for applying for the course at Oxford, your relevant experience and education, and the specific areas that interest you and/or you intend to specialise in.

Written Work

Either two essays of a maximum of 2,000 words each or one essay of a maximum of 4,000 words. Academic essays or other writing samples from your most recent qualification, written in English, are required.