(Statutes and Ordinances, pp. 476, 487, and 488)
The General Board and the Board of Graduate Studies have approved a proposal from the Degree Committee for International Studies to reorganize the courses for the above examinations as options within one course for the examination in International Relations. The special regulations for the examinations in Contemporary European Studies and in International Studies have been rescinded with effect from 1 October 2007; the special regulations for the examination in International Relations have been amended with effect from 1 October 2008 so as to read:
1. The fields of study in International Relations shall consist of the following:
1. International theory
2. International politics
3. International law and international organization
4. International history
5. International economics
6. Foreign policy and security studies
provided that the Degree Committee for International Studies shall have power to amend the list of fields of study by notice given in the Reporter not later than the end of the Michaelmas Term. The Degree Committee shall give notice of the form of examination for each of the fields of study not later than the end of the Michaelmas Term.
2. The scheme of examination for the course of study in International Relations for the degree of Master of Philosophy shall consist, at the choice of the candidate, of either Option 1A or Option 1B or Option 2, as follows:
Option 1A
| (a) | three examined courses from the above list of fields of study, provided that the topics shall be chosen from at least two different fields; |
| (b) | a thesis, of not more than 20,000 words in length, including tables, footnotes, and appendices, but excluding bibliography, on a subject approved by the Degree Committee. |
Instead of three examined courses and the submission of a dissertation of not more than 20,000 words a candidate may offer four examined courses from the above list of fields of study, provided that the topics shall be chosen from at least two different fields, and a dissertation of 10,000 words in length, including tables, footnotes, and appendices, but excluding bibliography, on a subject approved by the Degree Committee.
Option 1B
| (a) | four examined courses from the above list of fields of study, provided that the topics shall be chosen from at least two different fields; |
| (b) | a thesis, of not more than 20,000 words in length, including tables, footnotes, and appendices, but excluding bibliography, on a subject approved by the Degree Committee for International Studies; |
| (c) | the satisfactory completion of a research methods course. |
Option 2
The course of study for this option shall extend over two academical years. The examination shall consist of
| (a) | four examined courses from the above list of fields of study, provided that the topics shall be chosen from at least two different fields; |
| (b) | one essay, of not more than 6,000 words in length, on research methods on topics announced by the Degree Committee; |
| (c) | the satisfactory completion of research training courses approved by the Degree Committee; |
| (d) | a thesis, of not more than 30,000 words in length, including tables, footnotes, and appendices, but excluding bibliography, on a subject approved by the Degree Committee. |
3. At the discretion of the Examiners, the examination may include an oral examination on the work submitted by the candidate under Regulation 2 and on the general field of knowledge within which it falls.
European Studies
4. A candidate who chooses from the European options announced by the Degree Committee for at least three examined courses will be deemed to have completed the scheme of examination for the course of study in International Relations (European Studies) for the degree of Master of Philosophy.