MSt in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies

at University of Oxford

The course is aimed at students who need some additional training before applying for doctoral studies. Only specified teaching staff in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies accept students for this degree (a list of these staff is available on the faculty’s course webpage). Once you and your prospective supervisor have agreed on your course of study, it is not normally possible to make any changes.

The MSt in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies is designed for students who hold a first degree in the same field as that of their proposed research, or one closely related. As an example, most students who wish to study Arabic for this MSt will have either a BA in Arabic or one in which Arabic has been a majority of the course. The decision on whether a candidate's first degree qualifies for the course is taken by the Faculty Board.

The precise content of the course is devised by your supervisor in consultation with yourself in order to provide the most useful training for you. The course content is in each case designed to advance your progress towards a research degree after the completion of the MSt. You may therefore be required by the supervisor, under the direction of the Faculty Board, to attend lecture courses, seminars, language classes and tutorials, and also to write more extended pieces of written work.

The course may be taught in a variety of ways, depending on your needs. If you wish to learn a language these are normally taught in classes. If you wish to concentrate on historical issues, these may be taught primarily in regular tutorials for which you are expected to write essays.

Proven and potential academic excellence

Degree-level qualifications

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

• a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours in a field relevant to the proposed area of study.

For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA sought is 3.5 out of 4.0.

GRE General Test scores

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

Other qualifications, evidence of excellence and relevant experience
 

• For the MSt in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, the course content is in each case designed to advance your progress towards a research degree after the completion of the MSt, and the topic of the MSt dissertation will normally be chosen in preparation for a subsequent DPhil. You should therefore also demonstrate clear potential for DPhil level work in your application.

• Publications are not required.

English language proficiency

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

IELTS Academic (Institution code: 0713)     

7.5 

TOEFL iBT, including the 'Home Edition'

110

Home    
£19,950

Overseas    
£30,910

Graduate destinations

Asian and Middle Eastern studies graduates have found employment in many and diverse fields including business, finance law, civil service, journalism, government and industry.

Many graduates have also undertaken further research into subjects linked with Asian and Middle Eastern studies and have pursued successful careers in the academic world, education and in museums.