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Teaching
The MPhil in Modern European History is a nine-month full-time programme combining elements of formal teaching with extensive independent research. Students on the MPhil will join a group of researchers of all levels within the field, allowing them to integrate into the research culture of modern European history at °Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï.
The MPhil involves three assessed components:
- A core course (eight two-hour classes) examined through an essay of 3,000-4,000 words (excluding footnotes and bibliography) worth 10% of the overall mark.
- Two taught option courses (see representative list below; eight two-hour classes for each option), examined through an essay of 3,000-4,000 words (excluding footnotes and bibliography), each worth 10% of the overall mark.
- A dissertation (15,000–20,000 words) worth 70% of the overall mark.
In addition to the above, students will attend the weekly modern European history graduate workshop. Students must present their work once in the academic year at the workshop and offer feedback on the work presented by others.
| One to one supervision | All students admitted to the MPhil in Modern European History will be assigned a Supervisor to work with them throughout the course, but crucially on the dissertation. Students will meet regularly with their Supervisor for one-on-one supervisions throughout the course. The frequency of supervisions will vary depending on the time of year, with the regularity of meetings increasing as the year progresses and the student begins to focus more on the dissertation. Students can expect at least one supervision session per term and normally eight across the year. The °Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï publishes an annual which sets out the University's expectations regarding supervision. |
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| Seminars & classes | All students will take the core course Controversies in Modern European History. The course is run with weekly seminars and key readings throughout the first term (Michaelmas) and aims to help students gain a foundational understanding of the key themes in modern European history, historiography, and methods. Students will also select two taught options from a list offered by the Faculty's seven MPhil courses. Typically, students will select one option in the first term (Michaelmas) and another one in the second term (Lent). The courses offered each year may vary. In recent years, the optional courses offered by Modern European History have included the following:
Students are required to attend and participate in the weekly modern European history graduate workshop. This workshop is an excellent and extremely helpful forum for postgraduates to present work and learn a variety of skills. There are special sessions, for instance, on library and archival research, and on getting published, but it also provides a space for postgraduates to share work formally and informally. |
| Lectures | Although not compulsory, students are encouraged to attend relevant undergraduate lectures as indicated by their Supervisor. |
| Posters and Presentations | All students will present their work at least once during the academic year and will receive feedback from academics and peers on their work in progress. This is not an assessed element of the course but is a valuable feedback tool for the dissertation. |
| Taught/Research Balance | Equal Taught/Research |
Feedback
Students will receive regular constructive feedback throughout the MPhil.
Students can expect to receive:
- regular oral feedback from their Supervisor, as well as termly online feedback reports
- written feedback on essays and assessments
- oral feedback from peers during graduate workshops and seminars
- written and oral feedback on the dissertation proposal essay to be discussed with their Supervisor
- formal written feedback from two examiners after the examination of a dissertation
Assessment
Thesis / Dissertation
The dissertation is Part II of the MPhil in Modern European History.
All students will submit a dissertation of 15,000–20,000 words, worth 70% of the overall mark.
The examiners may decide to include an oral examination on the thesis and the general field of knowledge within which it falls.
Essays
Each of the three options in the first (Michaelmas) and second (Lent) terms (one compulsory core and two taught options) will require a 3,000–4,000-word essay (or equivalent).
Each will count toward 10% of the final degree mark, for a total of 30%. Taken together, these are Part I, and students must receive passing marks in order to move to Part II.
Students will also prepare a 2,000-word dissertation proposal essay due in the second term (Lent). This essay will be unassessed but students will meet with their Supervisor to discuss the essay and get feedback in preparation for the dissertation.
Practical assessment
All students will present their work at least once during the academic year and will receive feedback from academics and peers on their work in progress. This is not an assessed element of the course but is a valuable feedback tool for the dissertation.
