MSt in Literature and Arts

Based in Oxford, and taking full advantage of the remarkable resources that this university has at its disposal, the Literature and Arts course is designed around three sequential periods of British history: the early modern period (circa 1500-1700), the ‘long’ eighteenth century (circa 1688-1800), and the ‘long’ nineteenth century (circa 1800-1914). British history is understood in an expansive sense that includes Britain’s relationships with the rest of the world.

By studying each period through the lens of multiple disciplines, you will have the opportunity to acquire a multi-faceted picture of the past and explore connections between different aspects of British culture and society. In this framework giant achievements such as Shakespeare’s plays or Turner’s art can be understood not only as uniquely inspired works but also as products of their times and influences on future developments.

The MLA is a two-year, part-time course.

In year one, there are three compulsory five-day residences and one online module consisting of nine units (Core course two).

In year two, there is one compulsory residence and one online module (Core course three).

Although the online modules are not assessed, it is a requirement that students engage with the online modules to the satisfaction of the course director. The online modules are fully supported by a dedicated Virtual Learning Environment.

Students are supported by tutorials with the course director before or during each residence, input from the course director in asynchronous discussions in the online modules, supervision from tutors in relation to each assignment, and supervision from a dissertation supervisor or supervisors. The course director is also able to offer support at any time throughout the course by email/phone.

After taking a broad view of British history and culture in a global context at the first residence (Core course one), the three subsequent residences will enable you to choose from a range of options, each rooted in one of the core disciplines of literature, history, history of art and material culture, and philosophy. You will take two options out of four offered during each residence. Please note that due to timetabling constraints it may not always be possible to allocate you to your first and second choices.

For Residence two, which is focused on the early modern period, the options offered are likely to be ‘Sacred Monsters: Shakespeare in History’, ‘Tudor Monarchy’, ‘The Elizabethan Country House' and ‘Sovereignty and Power in Reformation Britain, 1533-1651’.

For Residence three, which is focused on the ‘long’ eighteenth century, the options offered are likely to be ‘Green Retreats: Nature and Landscape in Eighteenth-Century Literature’, ‘Overseas Trade and the Rise of Britain as a Superpower’, ‘The Rise of Landscape in British Painting’, and ‘Bentham, Hume and Eighteenth-Century British Philosophy’.

For Residence four, which is focused on the ‘long’ nineteenth century, the options offered are likely to include ‘Fiction c 1800-1820’, ‘History, Historiography and Medievalism: The Victorians and the Crusades’, ‘Classical Power: Legacies of Antiquity in British Art, c 1770-1860’, and ‘The British Empire and the Country House’. It cannot be guaranteed that any particular option will be offered.

Each residence will comprise a full timetable of lectures and seminars in the mornings and afternoons. In keeping with the Oxford ethos of tutorial instruction, individual tutorials and supervisions will also be an integral part of the course, most notably with regard to the dissertation. Individual supervision will be undertaken both face-to-face and by email. It is generally expected that the ratio of taught content to self-directed learning will be 1:18.

A computer and reliable internet connection will be required as there are two compulsory online components of the course. The minimum recommended IT specification can be found on the department's online support website. Please note that mobile devices are not compatible with uploading assignments etc.

Attendance

As a part-time student, you will be required to attend four residences in Oxford during the course.

Resources to support your study

The Rewley House Continuing Education Library , one of the Bodleian Libraries, is situated in Rewley House. The department aims to support the wide variety of subjects covered by departmental courses at many academic levels. The department also has a collection of around 73,000 books together with periodicals.
PCs in the library give access to the internet and the full range of electronic resources subscribed to by the University of Oxford. The Jessop Reading Room adjoining the library is available for study.

The department provides various IT facilities , including the Student Computing Facility which provides individual PCs for your use.

Supervision

The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Department for Continuing Education and this role will usually be performed by the course director.

It is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff. Where appropriate a supervisor may be found outside the Department for Continuing Education.

Assessment

Assessment is through four assignments, each assignment following a residential session, and a dissertation. The four assignments contribute 40% of the final mark and the dissertation contributes 60%.

Graduate destinations

Graduates of the programme have progressed to doctorates at the University of Oxford and also at Cambridge, London, Manchester, Roehampton, Southampton, Warwick, and York. In addition, each year a small number of MLA graduates have been offered places on the DPhil in Literature and Arts, which was established by the department to provide a route to part-time doctoral study for graduates of interdisciplinary humanities master's courses.

College preference

The following colleges accept students on the MSt in Literature and Arts: