MSc in Digital Scholarship

at University of Oxford

The course is comprised of four main elements, each of which helps you prepare for the dissertation.

Paper 1

This core paper provides a systematic overview of every stage of a digital project and its data life-cycle. Each topic is illustrated by ongoing work in one or more of Oxford's flagship digital scholarship projects, the key problems they have encountered and the solutions they have developed. As such, the series also serves to introduce students to the Division's major projects in the field, with a view to choosing the practicum placement and the dissertation topic.

Paper 2

Methods of Digital Scholarship, running in the first term, will require you to choose two Technical Options Papers which provide the hands-on training needed to equip students with specific methods relevant to their project.

Paper 3

You will choose a Subject-Specific Paper to provide graduate-level work of a more traditional kind in each student's 'home discipline' in the second term. The option will be selected from a list of existing master's papers available in the faculties of the Humanities Division.

Paper 4

The fourth element is a practicum placement in which you will gain experience developing your proposed research topic while working within Oxford's vast array of flagship Digital Scholarship projects and planning their own research projects with potential supervisors.

Paper 5

All of this work culminates in the dissertation, which is formulated flexibly to encourage both traditional academic prose and non-traditional digital outputs. You will work closely with a supervisor, starting at the end of Michaelmas term and continuing through Hilary term, though the bulk of the work will be concentrated in Trinity (summer) term.

Proven and potential academic excellence

Degree-level qualifications

As a minimum, applicants should hold or be predicted to achieve the following UK qualifications or their equivalent:
 

• a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours in a relevant discipline in the humanities.

For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA normally sought is 3.75 out of 4.0.

Entrance is competitive and most successful applicants have a first-class degree or the equivalent. 

GRE General Test scores

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

Other qualifications, evidence of excellence and relevant experience
 

• Publications are not required.

• No previous coding or technical expertise is required. 

English language proficiency

Minimum scores required to meet the University's higher level requirement

IELTS Academic

 7.5  

TOEFL iBT, including the 'Home Edition'

110

Home    
£15,270

Overseas    
£30,910

As this is a new course, it is anticipated that graduates might typically go on into further research within the Humanities, or work in a cultural institution or creative industry. However, the themes covered and skills learned should prepare students for a wide range of jobs and industries; they will be ready to evaluate critically the challenges and opportunities of a digital society.