The MPhil is a two-year course designed for students wishing to attain a thorough grounding in medieval English language and literature and related subjects at an advanced level, either as a preparation for doctoral research or as an autonomous qualification.

Oxford is now very rare in offering a two-year taught and research postgraduate course in medieval studies. The time and space this affords makes the Oxford MPhil the very best preparation for later specialist research in medieval literary or cultural history. It also stands alone as a thoroughly satisfying qualification indicating significant levels of critical, linguistic, and historical skill, expertise, and research competence, transferable to any future career.

Course structure

In the first year, you will follow the MSt in English (650–1550). This already includes a broad grounding in medieval literature and culture, technical training in manuscripts, palaeography, and codicology (depending on courses taken), and the opportunity to pursue specific personal interests in coursework essays and in the MSt dissertation.

In the second year, students have the opportunity both to broaden and deepen their knowledge, adding further options in medieval languages, literatures, authors, philosophy, history and palaeography, taking advantage if they wish of courses offered by specialists in other faculties.

Students finally submit a second, longer dissertation, which may form the basis of doctoral research, or a substantial publication. Those intending to proceed to doctoral work after their MPhil should consult with their course convenors about their second-year option choices early in their first year of study. They may also wish to consult the Director of Doctoral Studies.

The extra time involved in the two-year MPhil allows for internationally-recognised standards of expertise. The opportunities for interdisciplinary engagement are multiple, and the depth of research possible is unparalleled at master's level.