Literature and Arts DPhil

About the course

The DPhil in Literature and Arts is an interdisciplinary part-time doctorate offered by the Department for Continuing Education, focusing on a subject in British history between c. 1450 and c. 1945.

The DPhil in Literature and Arts is an advanced research degree by part-time research. Usually this course is intended for students who have already completed the MSt in Literature and Arts, although other suitably qualified students who have completed an interdisciplinary master’s degree in the humanities may also apply. Students will often be building on research and skills developed during the MSt in Literature and Arts.

The DPhil programme shares the same historical and interdisciplinary scope as the MSt. It is also an interdisciplinary programme which encompasses the disciplines of literature, art and architectural history, history, and history of ideas.

Compared to the MSt, however, students will be working independently towards their own deeply researched 100,000 word thesis, building on sustained independent research over a number of years, and focusing on one specific subject.

Assessment

You will be admitted initially as a Probationary Research Student (PRS), in line with University regulations on doctorates. During the probationary period, you will develop and begin work on the thesis topic. You will develop research skills through a range of training and skills development primarily offered via the Department for Continuing Education Graduate School, as well as across the University.

Students must apply for a Transfer of Status from PRS to DPhil status between the 6th and the 8th academic term after admission, each academic year at Oxford having three terms. This involves the submission of a piece of written work that is examined by two assessors, neither of whom will be supervisors. This process is to ensure that your work is of potential DPhil quality and that the methodology of the research is appropriate and feasible. Upon successful completion of the Transfer of Status, you would usually undertake a period of primary fieldwork/data collection over one to two years.

Graduate destinations

Support in making decisions about graduate destinations will be provided by the course team. Many students at the Department for Continuing Education continue to work full-time or part-time while they study. You will also have access to the University Careers Service.