MSc in Modern South Asian Studies

The MSc in Modern South Asian Studies is an exciting degree bringing together Oxford’s wealth of expertise on South Asia in a single course. You will receive rigorous training in one of two tailored modules in research methods, and subject to timetabling and demand, may have the opportunity to build in Hindi, Urdu, Classical Hindi/Hindavi, Persian, Gujarati, Bengali, Marathi or other language training. You may pursue any combination of interests, including history, literature, language, religion, economy and interstate relations.

The MSc course comprises five components: the core course, a module in research methods, two option papers and the thesis. For much of the course, you will work alongside those taking the 21 month MPhil in Modern South Asian Studies. You will experience a variety of teaching modes, including lectures, seminars, classes, student presentations, and small group teaching. 

All students attend the core course, introducing modern South Asia across the disciplines. Delivered by faculty members with a range of specialisations, the course explores both individual states within the region and the connections and comparisons between them.

You will receive training in research methods through one of the following specially tailored programmes:

• research methods for area studies, both qualitative and quantitative
• research methods in humanities, including qualitative methods in literature, language and history.

For parts of the research methods course, you will be taught alongside those studying for other MSc and MPhil courses offered by the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies, as well as doctoral students, opening up further possibilities for interdisciplinary learning and exchange.

You will also choose two option papers. For a full list of option papers, please see the course pages on the department website. Please note that the options will change from time to time, and not all will be run every year.

Students with at least an intermediate or colloquial knowledge of any South Asian language also have the opportunity to take language training either continuing at an advanced level, to develop reading skills to attain a research proficiency, or beginning a new language. Students interested in taking Persian, either at advanced or beginner level, are asked to mention this in their personal statement.

During the course of Michaelmas term, you will select a topic for your thesis and you will be appointed a thesis supervisor. You will be required to gather relevant materials for your thesis during the course, usually by working in libraries and archives in the UK but potentially also via fieldwork. Applicants are advised to consider the research interests of relevant faculty teaching on the course and to choose a topic where appropriate supervision can be provided. Applicants with a research interest in art history should note that supervision is only available for research that relates specifically to items held in the Ashmolean's collection.

The MSc is jointly taught by staff within the Social Science and Humanities Divisions, who will also assess your application. The application process is administered by the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies. Since the MSc is taught jointly by staff across multiple departments, students will be part of a large community of teachers, researchers and students with interests in South Asia.

Attendance

Resources to support your study

You will have access to the libraries, study spaces, common rooms and IT facilities of the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies, and of the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, as well as to the social and networking events organised by these two university centres.

The Bodleian Libraries offer unparalleled library and archive facilities for South Asia, including one of the richest collections of official archival materials on South Asia in the UK. The main reference collection is accessed via the Charles Wendell David Reading Room at the Weston Library. Other important open shelf collections can be found in the Upper Camera, the Nizami Ganjavi Library and the Social Science Library. Students may access other Bodleian Libraries sites as necessary.

Oxford also offers a wealth of resources for the study of South Asian art and material culture. The Ashmolean Museum contains collections encompassing art from the Islamic world, the Indian subcontinent and South-East Asia. The Pitt Rivers Museum holds important collections of ethnographic material from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Tibet, Nepal and Sri Lanka. The Museum of the History of Science houses an unrivalled collection of historic scientific instruments, including astrolabes and other instruments, with Persian, Arabic or Sanskrit inscriptions, manufactured by artisans in India.

In addition to the faculties and departments who share in teaching for the MSc, Oxford contains outstanding collegiate centres for study and research in relation to South Asia and its many regions, at Somerville College and St Antony’s College. Research seminars at these collegiate centres are open to all students.

Supervision

The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies and the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies and it is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff. Under exceptional circumstances a supervisor may be found outside the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies and the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies.

All students are assigned a general supervisor at the start of term, who is usually a member of the core teaching staff on the MSc in Modern South Asian Studies. The role of the general supervisor is to guide you through your course of study. If your research interests fall outside the expertise of your general supervisor, they will assist you in identifying appropriate expertise within the University, and help you approach suitable scholars for supervision.

Depending on the range of your research interests, therefore, it is possible for you to have more than one supervisor - a general supervisor who oversees your general academic progress, and a different supervisor for your thesis. Your supervisor(s) will discuss your progress, and answer any questions before you submit assessed work. Supervision for the thesis will be offered as a series of individual meetings between you and your thesis supervisor, who will read one draft of your thesis provided this is submitted by the deadline.

In the case of students who require specific help to adjust to an academic programme or to a new range of skills, the supervisor will work with them to ensure that they have additional support.

Assessment

In order to receive the MSc degree, you must obtain pass marks in all five assessment components:

1. Research Methods (comprising two assignments, one in Michaelmas and one in Hilary term)
2. Core Course Essay (submitted at the beginning of Trinity term) 
3. Option 1
4. Option 2
5. Thesis (submitted by Friday of week 6 of Trinity term) 

In addition to this, students are required to undertake formative assessment (essays, presentations etc) throughout the course.

Graduate destinations

The department aims to equip its graduates with a range of valuable skills which will enable them to compete successfully within a number of different careers - in the civil service and policy-making bodies in Britain, Europe and further afield, in non-governmental organisations concerned with development, in the charitable sector, in journalism, public and private sector research and consultancy, law and academia. The MSc is a valuable preparation for students wishing to go on to doctoral research.

College preference

The following colleges accept students on the MSc in Modern South Asian Studies: