History of Science, Medicine and Technology

Teaching and examination comprises:

• two core qualifying papers, taught in classes during Michaelmas term, and reinforced by lectures on specific issues with formal assessment through a methodological essay of 3,000 words for each of the papers
  • a paper on methods and themes in the history of science and technology
  • a paper on methods and themes in the history of medicine
• four advanced papers, usually taught in small classes and mostly during Hilary Term - assessment is usually by three-hour written examination, but you may choose to be assessed for one of their advanced papers by two extended essays of up to 5,000 words each
• a dissertation of not more than 30,000 words on a topic of your choice, approved by your supervisor, and submitted at the beginning of Trinity term in the second year of the programme.

If you hope to proceed to doctoral research you will be encouraged to develop your doctoral proposal during the first few months of the second year of the programme, so that you will be well placed to make doctoral applications in January.

You should not apply to both the MSc and MPhil in this research area. Both courses have the same entry requirements.

About a quarter of master’s students proceed to doctoral work at Oxford; others continue academic study at other institutions. Other career destinations are as diverse as, but broadly in line with, undergraduate history career destinations: law, finance, management consultancy, civil service etc.