The MPhil in Slavonic Studies is designed to help those who already possess a good knowledge of Russian or another Slavonic language to acquire grounding in areas of Slavonic Studies which were not part of their first degree course, as a preparation for advanced research in this field. All candidates study at least one Slavonic language which they have not previously studied to degree standard. They take four other subjects chosen from a wide range of philological, literary and historical options, and at least one paper in research methods such as palaeography, linguistics, literary criticism. Candidates also write an MPhil thesis.
See also the 9-month MSt in Slavonic Studies.
Full guidance on how to apply, application deadlines, and entry requirements can be found on the central admissions pages and application guide pages of the University website.
Course Structure
Year 1: a Slavonic language and three other subjects not previously studied.
Year 2: two further subjects; a thesis.
Course Content
Please note: not all the subjects listed below are necessarily available every year. Enquiries can be made to the Graduate Office at graduate.admissions@mod-langs.ox.ac.uk
In the first year, students are required to develop a reading knowledge of a Slavonic language which they have not previously studied to degree standard. The languages normally available are listed in Schedule 1 (see below). Reading competence is tested in the third term of the course by a three-hour examination in unprepared translation from the Slavonic language into English.
| Schedule 1 - Unseen translation from any one of the following languages: | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bulgarian | Croatian | Czech |
| Polish | Russian | Serbian |
| Slovak | Ukrainian | |
In the first year, students also choose, in consultation with their supervisors, three other subjects: one subject from Schedule 2, and two more subjects from Schedules 2-7 with the proviso that, in total, they do not take more than two subjects from Schedule 2 (see below). As a Schedule 2 subject students may choose to write an MSt thesis of 5,000 – 7,000 words on a subject of their choice. Students may not take subjects which they have already studied in a first degree course.
In the second year, students choose two more subjects. Students may not repeat subjects which they have taken in the first year, nor take more than one subject from Schedules from which they have already taken two subjects in the first year. Students also write an MPhil thesis.
| Schedule 2 - Methodology |
|---|
| Cyrillic Palaeography |
| Slavonic Corpus Linguistics |
| Slavonic Literature / Slavonic Languages and Nation |
| Key Questions in Critical Thought (from the MSt course in Modern Languages) |
| An MSt thesis of 5,000 to 7,000 words on an approved subject of the student’s choice within the areas of Slavonic languages and literatures. (The work submitted may subsequently be incorporated in a thesis submitted for the M.Phil. in Slavonic Studies, or it may be used as the basis for the piece of written work required for admission to the status of student for the Degrees of M.Litt. or D.Phil.) |
| Schedule 3 - Slavonic Philology in Context |
|---|
| Byzantine Civilization and its Expansion 913-1204 |
| Old Church Slavonic |
| History of Church Slavonic |
| Schedule 4: The History of Slavonic Languages: | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bulgarian and Macedonian | Croatian | Czech and Slovak |
| Polish | Russian | Serbian |
| Ukrainian | ||
| Schedule 5 - The Structure and Present State of Slavonic Languages: | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bulgarian | Croatian | Czech |
| Polish | Russian | Serbian |
| Slovak | Ukrainian | |
The terms in which Schedule 6 courses are taught are indicated in the table below: Michaelmas term, beginning in October 2025; Hilary term, beginning in January 2026. Please note that it is only possible for students to take two courses from this schedule if one course is being offered in Michaelmas term and the other in Hilary term. Because of scheduling limitations and student workload two courses from Schedule 6 cannot be taken in the same term.
| Schedule 6 - Russian Literature, Culture and History | |
|---|---|
| Michaelmas term 2025 | Hilary term 2026 |
| Russian Lyric Poetry: Themes and Forms | Gender and Representation in Russian Culture from 1800 |
| The Gulag and the Russian Literary Process | Late Soviet and Post-Soviet Russian Literature |
| The Russian Experience of Modernity, 1905-1945 | The Rise of the Russian Novel |
| Schedule 7 - Central European Literature, Culture and History | |
|---|---|
| Czech Prose Fiction and Drama since 1774 | Slovak Literature since 1843 |
| Polish Literature since 1798 | |
Assessment
Year 1:
Schedule 1 (Unseen Translation) is assessed by three-hour written examination in June.
Schedule 2 (Methodology), unless an MSt Thesis has been chosen, is assessed by submission of an essay of between 5,000 and 7,000 words (including footnotes and excluding bibliography). This is due by Week 10 of the term in which the course is taught. If an MSt Thesis has been chosen this must be submitted by Week 6 of Trinity Term (in June).
Schedule 3 (Slavonic Philology in Context) is assessed by three-hour written examination in June.
Schedule 4 (The History of Slavonic Languages) is assessed by three-hour written examination in June.
Schedule 5 (The Structure and Present State of Slavonic Languages) is assessed by three-hour written examination in June.
Schedule 6 (Russian Literature, Culture and History) is assessed by submission of one or two essays together totalling between 5,000 and 7,000 words (including footnotes and excluding bibliography). This is due by Week 10 of the term in which the course is taught.
Schedule 7 (Central European Literature, Culture and History) is assessed by three-hour written examination in June.
Year 2:
Two further subjects assessed either by submission or by written examination (see above), and an MPhil thesis of 20,000-25,000 words (including footnotes and excluding bibliography) to be submitted in Week 6 of Trinity term (in June).