Marking conventions for master's programmes are to be found at: http://www.history.ox.ac.uk/postgrad/pg_sect_b3_new.htm#marking

The qualifying test

The Qualifying Test for the M.Sc. and the M.Phil. is based on coursework and written papers over the first two terms of the course, as specified in the relevant sections of the course booklet. Candidates who fail a qualifying course are permitted to take it once again, not later than one year after the initial attempt. Work submitted for the qualifying courses is marked, and a pass/fail statement is passed on to the examiners.

The degree examination

At least two of the four advanced papers in the M.Phil., and at least one of the two advanced papers in the M.Sc., must be taken as a three-hour unseen written examination. For the remaining papers you may choose to be assessed either by written examination or by two 5,000-word essays (for further details regarding the essays see below). Papers selected from some other Master’s course follow the Examination Regulations of the paper’s parent course in both modes of assessment and submission deadlines (N.B., most courses do not offer a choice of modes of assessment.)

If you are taking the M.Phil., you may if you wish choose to be examined by a written examination or essays on either one or two of the four advanced papers at the end of your first year. The marks on these papers will be carried forward to your final year.

Essays in lieu of examinations

The two 5,000-word essays submitted in lieu of one examination paper must be the work of the candidate alone. You may consult your supervisor about the subject of the essays, but you must not consult any other person, including your supervisor, in any way concerning the method of handling the themes chosen. The essays must clearly relate to the subject of the paper on which you are being assessed, and should each of them address a well-defined question.

The themes you choose must be specified and submitted for approval by the chairman of examiners on the official examination entry form not later than the Friday of fourth week of Hilary Term. If you wish to clarify or change your essay titles after submission of your examination entry form, you may ask for the approval of such a change until Monday of fourth week of Trinity Term (using the faculty form and sending to the Chairman of Examiners, c/o Graduate Office, Faculty of History, Broad Street). You will be informed within two weeks whether the topics submitted have been approved. Please note that this constraint means that it is not practicable to submit essays for advanced papers taken exclusively in the Trinity term.

Two typed copies of each of the finished essays must be delivered to the Clerk of the Examination Schools, High Street, Oxford, by noon on Monday of the sixth week of Trinity Full Term. The essays must be presented in proper scholarly form, and each must be accompanied by a certificate signed by the candidate to the effect that the essay is the candidate’s own work.

Candidates who have not delivered essays as prescribed by the due date on any of their subjects must sit the written examination in those subjects. A selection of the candidates who submit essays may be examined viva voce on the subjects on which they submit essays.

Dissertations

The dissertation of not more than 15,000 words for the M.Sc. must be submitted not later than noon on the last Monday in September of the year in which the examination is to be taken.

The dissertation of not more than 30,000 words for the M.Phil. must be submitted not later than noon on Monday of the first week of the Trinity Full Term in which the examination is to be taken.

Dissertations must not exceed the permitted length. If they do, the examiners will reduce the marks awarded.

Assessment

In arriving at the overall mark, assessment is as follows:

	For entry from 2009
	M.Sc.	M.Phil.
What happened and why?	pass/fail	pass/fail
Quantitative methods	pass/fail	pass/fail
Advanced paper 1	30	15
Advanced paper 2	30	15
Advanced paper 3		15
Advanced paper 4		15
Dissertation	40	40

As stated in the Regulations, all candidates must achieve a Pass in the qualifying courses. 

Marks of 70 or better in the dissertation and in at least half of the advanced papers are required for a Distinction, provided that the remaining marks do not fall below 64.

An average mark of 60 or higher on the advanced papers and the dissertation is required for a Pass (provided that an agreed mark of 54 or lower in half or more of the advanced papers, or in the dissertation counts as failure and cannot be compensated for by the other marks). 

A dissertation mark of 58 or lower cannot normally be compensated for by better marks in the advanced papers: 

As M.Phil. dissertations are deposited in the Bodleian Library for public consultation they must show a defendable standard both in presentation and in content. 

Resits

For either the M.Sc. or the M.Phil., a candidate who fails the examination is permitted to retake it on one further occasion only, one year after the initial attempt.

A candidate who has reached a satisfactory standard on the dissertation but not the written papers is required to retake the written papers, but may re-submit the same dissertation (or ask for the dissertation mark to be carried over).

A candidate who has reached a satisfactory standard on the written papers but not the dissertation must submit a revised dissertation, but is not required to retake the written papers (ask for the paper marks to be carried over).

A candidate for the M.Phil. whose work is judged by the examiners to be of sufficient merit to qualify for the M.Sc. but not for the M. Phil. will be given the option of either resitting the M. Phil. or of being awarded the M.Sc.

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