MSc in Modern Middle Eastern Studies

  • Almost
  • Entry requirements
  • Resources
  • Funding and Costs
  • College preference
  • How to Utilize

About the grade

The MSc in Mod Heart Eastern Studies is a twelve-month, taught master'due south course, offered jointly by the Faculty of Oriental Studies and the Oxford School of Global and Expanse Studies (OSGA).

The MSc in Modern Middle Eastern Studies offers research training for students already familiar with the Middle Due east region and its languages. The course provides a common foundation in the methods and disciplines relevant to the report of the Middle Due east. It provides intensive training in several fields of noesis based on a combination of lectures, tutorials and essay writing allowing students to develop research and writing skills with training in appropriate theoretical and methodological approaches, through supervision of a dissertation on a subject of the pupil's option. The MSc teaches both qualitative and quantitative methodologies through assessed work.

The course offers two tracks: a language and a non-language one.

The language track is designed for students who already take intermediate to avant-garde -level ability in either Standard arabic or Hebrew and who wish to further develop these skills through intensive classes.

The non-language track is designed for students who already have full enquiry fluency in at least one of the languages of the region - Arabic, Hebrew, Persian or Turkish - through existence either a literate native speaker, or possessing a degree in the linguistic communication (a course specifically focusing on language and acquisition of the capacity to read untranslated texts in a Heart-Eastern linguistic communication, not a disciplinary or area studies caste in which the bidder has taken language classes). Non-native speaker applicants who recall they might qualify for the non-language runway who do non have such a degree should explain specifically why they think they qualify, e.thou. through all-encompassing formal study and experience in the region exterior the scope of a degree programme.

Students on the language track take language classes, plus two optional papers. Students on the non-language track accept three optional papers. Students will choose from a list of optional papers published annually which are taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials, and non-assessed essays.

Tutorial options offered on a regular ground include the following:

  • History of the Middle Eastward, 1860-1970
  • Politics of the Middle East
  • Social Anthropology of the Middle Due east
  • International Relations of the Centre E
  • Iranian History from the Constitutional to the Islamic Revolution, 1905-1979
  • History and Politics of the Islamic Republic of Iran
  • Politics of the Maghreb
  • The Maghreb since 1830
  • Main Themes in Israeli Politics and Society
  • The Political Economy of the Centre E and North Africa
  • Political Islam, Islamism, and Modern Islamic Movements
  • Modern Turkish Literature: Texts and Contexts
  • The Arab-Israeli Conflict
  • History from below in the Middle East and Due north Africa
  • Space and Gender in Middle Eastern Literatures: The Harem and the Body
  • History and Politics of the Gulf
  • History of Qajar Iran
  • Hebrew Literature
  • Modern Islamic Thought.

Supervision

The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Faculty of Oriental Studies and it is not e'er possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff. A supervisor may exist found outside the Faculty of Oriental Studies.

Assessment

Students in both tracks take assessed qualitative and quantitative research methodology modules, and both tracks write a 12,000 word dissertation which volition be undertaken independently under the supervision of a member of faculty tutor with relevant expertise. Preparation for the dissertation will have place through the Research Methods form and relevant optional papers and submitted by the beginning of September. Fieldwork for the dissertation is non required, just it is not discouraged for those students able to carry it out.

Optional papers will exist examined through take-dwelling essays at the end of each term.

The language paper for the language track volition be examined past a timed exam at the finish of Trinity term.

Further information on the class, and the examination process, tin can exist constitute in the course handbook via the course webpage on the faculty'southward website.

Graduate destinations

Graduates from the MSc Modernistic Center Eastern Studies may choose to pursue careers in academia, government, business, journalism and the NGO sector. The caste is peculiarly useful in preparing students wishing to continue study at the doctoral level through its provision of both qualitative and quantitative enquiry training.

All graduate courses offered by the Kinesthesia of Oriental Studies

All graduate courses offered by the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies

Entry requirements for entry in 2022-23

Proven and potential academic excellence

Degree-level qualifications

As a minimum, applicants should unremarkably hold or be predicted to achieve the equivalent of the following Britain qualifications:

  • a fantabulous or strong upper second-class undergraduate caste with honours in whatever social science or humanities subject.

For applicants with a caste from the USA, the minimum GPA sought is 3.7 out of 4.0.

GRE General Test scores

No Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or GMAT scores are sought.

Other qualifications, evidence of excellence and relevant experience

Applicants must take the following level of proficiency in a Eye Eastern Language:

Mode A (Language rail)

Intermediate or advanced level proficiency in Hebrew or Arabic. For guidelines on assessing language proficiency applicants are encouraged to consult the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages Proficiency Guidelines in Reading and Writing. Proficiency in speaking and listening is desirable, but for purposes of assessing applications we are specifically concerned with reading and writing proficiency

Mode B (Non-language track)

Full research fluency in at least ane of the languages of the region - Standard arabic, Hebrew, Persian or Turkish - through being either a literate native speaker, or possessing a degree in the linguistic communication (a form specifically focusing on linguistic communication and acquisition of the capacity to read untranslated texts in a Middle-Eastern language, not a disciplinary or area studies degree in which the bidder has taken language classes). Non-native speaker applicants who think they might qualify for the non-language rail who practise not have such a degree should explain specifically why they think they authorize, eg through extensive formal study and feel in the region outside the scope of a degree program.

Publications are non expected.

Interviews are not normally held as role of the admissions process.

Resources

The Middle East Centre (MEC) serves every bit both the Academy's Middle East Studies heart and equally a Centre of St Antony'southward College. Information technology hosts a weekly seminar, and an annual lecture - The George Antonius Annual Lecture in Trinity (summer) term. The resources of the MEC are bachelor to all members of the Faculty of Oriental Studies. Its library holds some 35,000 books in Western and Middle Eastern languages, with an emphasis on the 18th century to the present. The MEC holds an extensive drove of journals and periodicals, and receives newspapers in Arabic, Western farsi, Turkish and Hebrew. It holds a rare book collection and an all-encompassing microfilm and microfiche collection. The MEC Archive is home to the Private Papers Collection and photographic archive.

Bated from the MEC, there are iii other libraries that will be of use to students on the MSc Modern Middle Eastern Studies course. The Nizami Ganjavi Library at the Oriental Constitute houses the collection of books and periodicals in Western and Centre Eastern languages with a particular accent on the period from the ascent of Islam to the early modernistic period. The Oriental Reading Room of the New Bodleian Library (entry on Parks Route) is the means of admission to the all-encompassing Oriental manuscript collection as well as reference works and secondary sources received on deposit by the Bodleian Library. Finally, Wadham College Library houses a drove of Persian books.

You volition take access to the University'south centrally provided electronic resources, the Kinesthesia of Oriental Studies' It Officer, and other bibliographic, archive or material sources as appropriate to the topic. There is a calculating room for the apply of graduate students in the Oriental Institute, as well as a common room where tea and coffee are available and staff and students can meet.

Further information about funding opportunities for this course can be found on the following faculty websites:

  • Funding information from the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies
  • Funding information from the Faculty of Oriental Studies

Annual fees for entry in 2022-23

There are no compulsory elements of the MSc in MMES that entail additional costs beyond fees and living costs. However, every bit part of students' grade requirements, they cull a dissertation. Depending on their choice of topic and the inquiry required to complete it, this may incur additional expenses, such as travel expenses, inquiry expenses, and field trips, although this is considered unlikely for MSc students. Graduates will need to run into these boosted costs, but may be able to apply for small grants to assist them cover some of these expenses.

College preference

The following colleges accept students on the MSc in Modern Middle Eastern Studies:

How to apply

You lot are not expected to brand contact with an academic member of staff before you employ.

Official transcript(s)

CV/résumé

Statement of purpose/personal statement:
A maximum of 1,500 words

Your statement should be written in English and explain your motivation for applying to the form at Oxford, your relevant feel and teaching, and the specific areas that interest you lot/or you lot intend to specialise in.

Non-native speaker applicants who think they might qualify for the non-linguistic communication track and who do not have a degree in the language (a course specifically focusing on linguistic communication and conquering of the chapters to read untranslated texts in a Centre-Eastern language, not a disciplinary or expanse studies degree in which the applicant has taken language classes) should explain specifically why they think they authorize, eg through extensive formal study and experience in the region exterior the scope of a degree programme.

This will be assessed for:

  • your reasons for applying, specially to Oxford
  • prove of motivation for and understanding of the proposed area of written report
  • your ability to present a coherent example in proficient English
  • your commitment to the subject, beyond the requirements of the degree class
  • your preliminary knowledge of the subject surface area and research techniques
  • your chapters for sustained and intense work
  • reasoning ability
  • ability to absorb new ideas, often present abstractly, at a rapid pace.

Written piece of work:
Two essays of a maximum of ii,000 words each

Bookish essays or other writing samples from your most contempo qualification, written in English language, are required. You can submit an extract or excerpted sections from a longer essay every bit your written work as long as you include a brief notation to give the context of the extract, eg to explicate that it comprises two chapters of a research dissertation that comprised twelve chapters in all, giving the full title of the dissertation.

The word count does non need to include any bibliography or brief footnotes.

This will exist assessed for:

  • a comprehensive understanding of the subject surface area, including issues and developments in the subject
  • your ability to construct and defend an statement
  • your aptitude for analysis and expression
  • your power to nowadays a reasoned case in skilful academic English.

References/letters of recommendation:
3 overall, of which at least two should normally be academic

Your references volition support your academic achievement, your motivation and interest in the course and discipline area, and your ability to piece of work effectively both in a group and independently.

Application GuideApply