English (1700-1830)

The MSt programme consists of four main components, through which you have the opportunity to pursue interests within your chosen MSt strand, as well as across period boundaries. In the first two terms, you will take a core course (A) tailored to your specific programme, a compulsory course in book history and theories of text (B) also tailored to your programme, and choose two courses from a wide range of options (C). Under the guidance of a specialist supervisor you will also research and write a dissertation, which is submitted in the final term.

The MSt programme is assessed via the submission of four pieces of coursework. In addition to the dissertation, you will submit three essays of 6,000 to 7,000 words – 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.

All course work 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.

This is the core course for this MSt. It is formally non-assessed but compulsory. Classes on literature, contexts and approaches introduce representative key texts and current debates on the literature and cultural history of the period. This course is designed to provide a solid foundation for advanced literary study.

This is a compulsory, assessed course, taught via a range of lectures and seminars in each of the first two terms. It is designed to train you for research in English, through the study of bibliography, palaeography, book history and theories of text (appropriate to the relevant period).

The special option courses allow you to develop and pursue your research interests, whether related or unrelated to other work undertaken as part of the MSt degree. You may choose to study any C-course option from any period. The courses are taught in weekly, small group seminars. The list of available C-course options changes from year to year; courses taken by MSt students in this strand have, in recent years, included ‘Wordsworth and Coleridge 1797-1817’, ‘Prose Fiction of the Late Eighteenth Century’, ‘Reading Visual Satire’, ‘The Philosophical Poem: Pope, Wordsworth and Tennyson’, ‘Forming the Critical Mind’, ‘Women’s Poetry, 1680-1830’ and ‘Senses of Humour: Wordsworth to Ashbery’.

You will write a 10,000- to 11,000-word dissertation on a subject of your choice, determined in consultation with your course convenors and dependent on the availability of a suitable academic supervisor. Dissertation supervisors will be appointed towards the end of Michaelmas Term; in Hilary Term, there is a faculty workshop on MSt dissertations.

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.

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, journalism, law, publishing and the civil service.

Changes to this course and your supervision

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. 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 sabbatical leave, parental leave or change in employment.

For further information, please see our page on changes to courses.

Other courses you may wish to consider

If you're thinking about applying for this course, you may also wish to consider the courses listed below. These courses may have been suggested due to their similarity with this course, or because they are offered by the same department or faculty.

All graduate courses offered by the Faculty of English Language and Literature

English DPhil

English (1550-1700) MSt

English (1700-1830) MSt

English (1830-1914) MSt

English (1900-Present) MSt

English (​650-1550) MSt

English and American Studies MSt

English Studies (Medieval Period) MPhil

World Literatures in English MSt

Next
Entry requirements