Modern South Asian Studies MSc

About

 

You will study this important region, with its rich history and its complex present-day societies, from a number of disciplinary and analytical perspectives, culminating in a thesis.

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.

Course structure

An overview of the course structure is provided below. Details of the compulsory and optional elements of the course are provided in the Course components section of this page.

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. 

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.

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.

How to apply
Resources for study

 

As a graduate student, you will have access to the University's wide range of resources including libraries, museums, galleries, digital resources and IT services.

The Bodleian Libraries is the largest library system in the UK. It includes the main Bodleian Library and libraries across Oxford, including major research libraries and faculty, department and institute libraries. Together, the Libraries hold more than 13 million printed items, provide access to e-journals, and contain outstanding special collections including rare books and manuscripts, classical papyri, maps, music, art and printed ephemera.

The University's IT Services is available to all students to support with core university IT systems and tools, as well as many other services and facilities. IT Services also offers a range of IT learning courses for students to support with learning and research, as well as guidance on what technology to bring with you as a new student at Oxford.

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.