History of Science, Medicine and Technology
Master
In Oxford
Description
-
Type
Master
-
Location
Oxford
About the course
This two-year programme offers a range of options drawing on the expertise of Oxford large community of scholars working in the history of science, medicine and technology. You may specialise in the history of science and technology or the history of medicine, although the boundaries between these areas are deliberately permeable.
Facilities
Location
Start date
Start date
Reviews
Subjects
- Social History
- Supervisor
- IT
- Technology
Course programme
The history of science, medicine and technology is a long-established discipline in Oxford. R T Gunther and Charles Singer were among the pioneers of the subject early in the twentieth century, and since the 1920s the Museum of the History of Science has housed an outstanding collection of scientific instruments and a fine specialist library. In the early 1970s, the creation of the chair of the history of science and the establishment of the Wellcome Unit for the History of Medicine gave the subject additional strength and allowed important new departures.
The expertise of scholars in Oxford covers most of the main areas and periods of the history of science, medicine, and technology. A varied programme of seminars, lectures, and conferences enables graduate students to obtain knowledge of subjects beyond their chosen speciality and to meet visitors from elsewhere in Britain and abroad.
Teaching and examination comprise:
- a course in Methods and Themes in HSMT, taught in classes during Michaelmas term, and reinforced by lectures on specific issues with formal assessment through a methodological essay of up to 4,000 words;
- four advanced papers, usually taught in small classes and mostly during Hilary term - assessment is usually by two extended essays of 4,000 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.
Please note that not every optional subject listed may be on offer every year, depending in part on levels of student demand. Full details of core and optional papers available are available on the course webpage.
If you wish to apply for the DPhil 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 a doctoral application.
You should not apply to both the MSc and MPhil in this research area. Both courses have the same entry requirements.
More information about the MPhil can be found in the course handbook.
SupervisionThe allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Faculty of History and it is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff. Under some circumstances a supervisor outside the Faculty of History may be nominated.
An Oxford academic’s pre-application indication of willingness to supervise an enquiring applicant is not a guarantee that the applicant will be offered a place, or that the supervisor in question has capacity in that particular year.
Graduate destinationsAbout 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.
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 History
Economic and Social History MPhil
Economic and Social History MSc
Global and Imperial History MSt
History DPhil
History MSt
History MPhil
History (History of Science and Medicine & Economic and Social History) DPhil
History of Art DPhil
History of Art and Visual Culture MSt
History of Science, Medicine and Technology MPhil
History of Science, Medicine and Technology MSc
Late Antique and Byzantine Studies MSt
Late Antique and Byzantine Studies MPhil
Next
Entry requirements
History of Science, Medicine and Technology