Oxford's MPhil in English (medieval)

For the medieval period (650-1550) there is also a two-year Masters course, the M.Phil. in English Medieval Studies. Students will follow the same programme in the first year as the one year course and in the second year will be able to choose from a range of additional options, including other medieval languages and literatures and historical and intellectual background, and will write an augmented dissertation.

This tantalising little bit of information is all I can find about this course and I was wondering if anyone on here knows anything else about it, has done the course, or can point me towards some more detailed information that I in my absentmindedness am missing. It sounds like it could be delightful ... either that or very, very dull. (I have a schizophrenic attitude towards mediaeval studies - it's an extreme love-hate relationship ...)

This course-choosing business is tough. I'm not even totally sure where I should be specialising. Maybe I should do the American PhD after all ... :confused:

Reply 1

flugestuge

So you want to be poor the rest of your life ? :rolleyes:

Reply 2

loeffel

No, I just want to find out about this course. Run along. :wink:

Reply 3

rottcodd

The only information on it is from the departmental website, and also the graduate admissions page entry for it. If there is specific information that you want, you're better off contacting the graduate admissions people ( [email protected]) as I don't think there is anyone on these boards that has ever studied it.

I know what you mean about finding it difficult to choose what to specialise in. Couldn't you find a more general degree where you could mix and match different topics so you still have the chance of leaving medieval studies behind? I chose to go to Bristol for my MA because I can study old english and twentieth century poetry alongside each other. Likewise, if you wanted to study medieval literature, you could study that alongside Shakespeare, Romanticism or whatever . There's no point applying to that course at Oxford if you're not 100% into it, so you might be better having a look around at more flexible places (Durham is another uni that lets you study quite a general path).

Reply 4

loeffel

Thanks for the links - it is weird that there is not more information. I feel like that course could be perfect for me - but then I am a little scared of specialising quite that much, and it would probably be better to do Medieval and Renaissance.

Thanks for your advice. It's great that you could study Old English and 20th-century poetry together - I mean, in many ways they are ideal for study side by side. Have you read Chris Jones's 'Strange Likeness'? It's hot. Do you like Bristol, then? Are you going to do a PhD now?

I looked at the Bristol MA and was a little perturbed by the idea of a "pathway in Shakespeare and English Literature" instead of a more general early modern course - Shakespeare is awesome and all, but there is so much more to that period!! (Of course I'm sure that is taken into account, but I get so irritated that so many English departments seem to encourage students to study Shakespeare in isolation with a ridiculous amount of reverence - not that it is not deserved, but it is not a helpful approach, I feel ...)

I like the look of Durham's MA as well, I was salivating vilely over the module options just recently. I'm very excited about postgrad, wherever I happen to end up. The other major consideration is heading out to the States and starting a PhD program straight away. That would probably suit me really well because you are encouraged to specialise in three areas, rather than just the one. Downside - it takes forever. They have money out there, though ...

AARGH! So many decisions. Thanks a lot for your help though :biggrin:

Reply 5

rottcodd

loeffel

Thanks for your advice. It's great that you could study Old English and 20th-century poetry together - I mean, in many ways they are ideal for study side by side. Have you read Chris Jones's 'Strange Likeness'? It's hot. Do you like Bristol, then? Are you going to do a PhD now?

I have indeed read that book :smile:

- It was the first thing I read after I discovered you could study such a combination at Bristol. I don't start my MA there until this September.

I looked at the Bristol MA and was a little perturbed by the idea of a "pathway in Shakespeare and English Literature" instead of a more general early modern course - Shakespeare is awesome and all, but there is so much more to that period!! (Of course I'm sure that is taken into account, but I get so irritated that so many English departments seem to encourage students to study Shakespeare in isolation with a ridiculous amount of reverence - not that it is not deserved, but it is not a helpful approach, I feel ...)

Yeah, their renaissance specialism doesn't look too hot. What about York? I would imagine they would have a course where you could mix up renaissance with medieval.

I like the look of Durham's MA as well, I was salivating vilely over the module options just recently. I'm very excited about postgrad, wherever I happen to end up. The other major consideration is heading out to the States and starting a PhD program straight away. That would probably suit me really well because you are encouraged to specialise in three areas, rather than just the one. Downside - it takes forever. They have money out there, though ...

It does indeed take forever. For me, it was either hang around for a couple of years until I make up my mind on what specialism to take or take the risk and cheat death by getting the PhD sooner. And I'd much rather take the risk even if it does mean I have to take a fairly vague MA course. Hopefully the course will help make my mind up anyway, afterall that's the point of doing the MA in the first place. It's not as if you're stuck in that one area for the rest of your life if you do a PhD in it.

Still, for you it sounds like an American PhD would be a viable option, so I'd go for that. Are you applying in the next academic year?

Reply 6

loeffel

I'm not sure - I'm thinking about doing an MA in the UK before decamping westward - this may seem pointless as a Masters is incorporated into a US PhD program BUT the places I want to go to are so competitive that getting in straight after undergrad will be a trial, to say the least. Still, I might put in a few applications nonetheless and try my luck. I should brush up on my languages, though ...

Did you seriously consider an American PhD? The idea of applying to the States hasn't even occurred to anyone I know, but it is an attractive option for many reasons.

However, if I did that medieval MPhil, I'm sure I'd want to go straight onto doctoral work and not piss around with seminars for two years as I would have to in the States!!

Reply 7

rottcodd

No, I didn't seriously consider it - I just had a brief ganders when I was looking at places. The idea of a couple of years of general further study does sound attractive, but I really don't want to lose any more years, so it's the uk for me. Plus, it's not like you can't read outside your subject and carry on with languages and things alongside a UK PhD (at least that is what I keep telling myself :p:

)

I suppose if you're going to get an MA from the UK anyway, regardless of whether you end up going to do the PhD in the US or the UK, you don't really have to worry about it too much at this stage. By the time you're in the middle of your MA you might suddenly find a particular area you want to specialise in and find the perfect supervsior here in the UK. You'll probably have a clearer idea then of what you would want to do.

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