Modern South Asian Studies
Modern South Asian Studies (M.St.) is a joint programme 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 lasts for nine months (from October to June) and the examination results are normally published by the beginning of July.
The MSt in Modern South Asian Studies can be taken either as a free-standing degree, or as the first step towards one of the research degrees of M.Litt. or D.Phil. Students wishing to proceed to a research programme will be encouraged to develop their master’s and doctoral proposals in tandem during the first few months, so that they will be well placed to make their research applications in January. All students will be encouraged to attend some of the many advanced research seminars in the two faculties. The admission of any candidate for further study at Oxford will depend on his/her overall performance in the master’s programme, together with the viability of any proposed research topic and the availability of appropriate supervision at Oxford.
The examination comprises four elements:
- A compulsory core course in ‘History and Culture of South Asia’ which will be conducted throughout Michaelmas and the first half of Hilary Terms.
- A paper in a South Asian language. Currently in Hindi (or Urdu, or Persian, or Bengali, or Tibetan, or Sanskrit) language and literature. (Not all language options will be available every year). Language teaching will last for all three terms.
- In Hilary Term an Optional Paper, currently chosen from the following: (a) Crises of the Indian Republic:1977-93; (b) Jinnah and the Making of Pakistan, c. 1920-47; (c) Government of Rebels: the Indian Uprising of 1857; (d) Gender in Indian History and Society, c. 1800 to the present; and (e) Societies and Economies in India, c. 1600-1800. This list may change from time to time, depending on teaching availability.
- A dissertation of up to 15,000 words on a topic falling within the scope of the general subject area. It is expected that students will write any submitted essays and the dissertation on different themes, or covering a different sequence of events. The Dissertation is written up during the Easter vacation and the first five weeks of Trinity Term, but it is essential that students begin to formulate and plan their dissertation in conjunction with their supervisors from the beginning of the course.
Programmes
- Research degrees (by thesis only)
- Master of Letters (M.Litt.)
- Doctor of Philosophy (D.Phil.)