About the course

The MPhil in Celtic Studies is designed to give students the opportunity to concentrate on the study of aspects of the history and culture of Celtic peoples from antiquity to the present day. As well as core options in language, literature and linguistics, a wide range of optional subjects are available, including archaeology, art, history, and law. The MPhil in Celtic Studies is suitable if you wish to proceed to a research degree or if you would like to spend only two years at Oxford on a free-standing degree.

This two-year course is normally restricted to those who have taken a first degree in a relevant subject area; however, it is also suitable for students with no previous background in Celtic, but with sufficient linguistic ability to acquire grounding in Welsh and/or Irish quickly.

Generally, student numbers in the MPhil programme are relatively small and this allows the teaching to be tailored to the particular choice you may make. Teaching is provided through a mixture of classes and tutorials.

You may be required to take an intensive course in a modern Celtic language as a condition of admission, either in the long vacation prior to the admission or in the long vacation following the third term of your course of instruction.

The MPhil in Celtic Studies provides an appropriate introduction for you if you are contemplating higher research in a DPhil or PhD programme in this area.

Students are required to take two core options, from a choice of: (i) Celtic linguistics; (ii) Welsh literature; or (iii) medieval Irish literature; plus one special option, which may develop one of these areas in more depth; or may be another ancient or modern Celtic language and its associated culture; or may be on a historical or other relevant topic. You will write a dissertation that typically arises out of one of the options studied; and will also be required to develop a reading knowledge of a modern Celtic language which you have not previously studied to degree level.

Assessment

The course assessment consists of the following elements:

three option papers (either by essay or written examination)
a dissertation of between 20,000 and 25,000 words on an approved topic.

The option papers allow you to focus on both Irish and Welsh or on only one of the two. If you wish, you may also select aspects of the archaeology or history of the Celtic-speaking peoples, as well as linguistic and literary options. Although the regulations are flexible enough to allow for individual preferences, there is a compulsory language element requiring the close study of texts in the original language(s).

Graduate destinations

Many MPhil students proceed to doctoral degrees at Oxford or at other universities. Other graduate destinations include teaching, journalism, law, publishing, and the civil service.