Women's Studies

The course provides a systematic introduction to feminist theory and highlights women's contribution to culture and history alongside critical analysis and theorisation of the meanings assigned to the category 'woman' in philosophical, literary, socio-cultural and historical thought.

It also provides the practical equipment necessary to engage in original research into topics in the humanities relating to women and to gender, in a university with excellent facilities for both traditional and computer-age research. Teaching is delivered through close individual supervision, as well as a carefully designed programme of lectures and classes led by specialists from a wide variety of disciplines, promoting collaborative work as well as the development of independent and original scholarship.

You will follow an intensive core course, combining introductions to feminist theory and to methodologies/methods of research. You will take two options, drawn from a list of up to thirty covering a very wide range of topics which are then examined by coursework essay. The options allow deepening of skills acquired in a first degree or the development of new skills under specialist teaching, which can be further practised in the third assessed element of the course, a closely supervised dissertation on a subject of your choice.

Five faculties within the Humanities Division contribute option choices and supervision expertise to the degree: the Faculties of English, History, Classics, Philosophy and Modern Languages. The programme does not normally involve departments within the Social Sciences Division but has a close relationship with the International Gender Studies Centre.

Whilst you are pursuing the MSt in Women’s Studies you are also encouraged to go to lectures and seminars organised by individual faculties, which might help you to frame your immediate or future projects.

The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Steering Committee for the MSt in Women’s Studies, in consultation with faculties in the Humanities Division, 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 or co-supervisor may be found outside the faculties in the Humanities Division.

Many of the students who complete the MSt in Women's Studies proceed to doctoral degrees at Oxford and at other universities. Other graduate destinations include teaching, journalism, NGO work, 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.

Interdisciplinary courses offered by the Humanities Division

Comparative Literature and Critical Translation MSt

Film Aesthetics MSt

Late Antique and Byzantine Studies MSt

Late Antique and Byzantine Studies MPhil

Medieval Studies MSt

Women's Studies MSt

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Entry requirements