MPhil in Literature, Culture and Thought (Research)

This MPhil provides students with the critical and theoretical tools to enable them to undertake an in-depth study of specific aspects of European literatures and cultures and/or Latin American and Francophone contexts. The core course introduces students to a broad range of critical theory concepts and methods of textual analysis (and, if relevant, palaeography). The course allows for in-depth study of specific cultures and contexts and includes writing a thesis based on original research.

This MPhil by Thesis is for students who already have a substantial level of familiarity with the study of literary texts or other material in the relevant culture, who already know the area they wish to research for their thesis, and who wish to focus their studies in that area for the entire year. To be eligible for consideration, a student will need an appropriate level of linguistic and/or cultural expertise, a clear idea of the field in which the thesis will be written, and a documented record of undertaking long independent research and writing projects.

The full-time course runs from October to June, with a submission date of early June.

It is also possible to take a part-time route, in which the expected timeframe is 21 months, with a thesis submission date of early June in the second academic year of the degree.

The main aims of the course are:

• to develop and test the ability to carry out a substantial advanced project of independent research in an area of literary, cultural or film and screen studies falling under the MPhil, presented in the form of a 30,000-word thesis
• to develop and test the ability to make a significant contribution to learning via dedicated Masters-level research that reflects the course length

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the programme students will have:

• developed knowledge of critical theory and methods of textual analysis (and, if relevant, palaeography), and an ability to work with theory or specific critical approaches
• developed a deeper knowledge of one or more areas of Literature, Culture and Thought and of the critical debates within the relevant area(s)
• developed more advanced critical judgement and sensitivity to literary texts or other cultural material
• demonstrated advanced skills in the literary analysis (or the analysis of other cultural material)
• developed intellectual and practical research skills
• managed a sizeable research project, culminating in a 30,000-word word thesis that will prepare students for longer research projects, especially the PhD

Continuing

Continuation from the MPhil by thesis to a PhD is possible, although it is not automatic. All applicants are judged on their merits, and students must demonstrate their suitability to undertake doctoral-level research over the course of the degree. Students wishing to progress to PhD study will be required to pass the MPhil by Thesis.

Open Days

The University hosts and attends fairs and events throughout the year, in the UK and across the world. We also offer online events to help you explore your options:

• Discover Cambridge: Master’s and PhD study webinars - these Spring events provide practical information about applying for postgraduate study.

• Postgraduate Virtual Open Days - taking place in November each year, the Open Days focus on subject and course information.

For more information about upcoming events visit our events pages.

Applicants for this course should have achieved a UK High II.i Honours Degree. If your degree is not from the UK, please check International Qualifications to find the equivalent in your country. Applicants for this course should have achieved a good UK II.i honours degree (or equivalent) in Modern European Language/Culture, with other humanities degrees also considered. In addition to this, applicants should be able to demonstrate an advanced level of familiarity with relevant research methods and topics within their field and readiness for advanced independent research and writing. They would ordinarily demonstrate their readiness to write the MPhil thesis by showing that they have written long independent research essays as part of their undergraduate work (i.e., a final-year 'optional dissertation' or 'senior thesis' of 10,000 words or more). Students who have not undertaken such projects in the past are advised to apply instead to the 'by Advanced Study' version of the MPhil. All shortlisted 'by thesis' applicants will be interviewed. If an applicant is found to be unsuitable, it is a possibility that we may offer a place on the MPhil 'by Advanced Study' instead. A thesis requires research on material in the original language(s). By 'literature and thought', we do not mean studying any or all literatures in English translation. Applicants must show evidence of advanced reading competency in the language of the material proposed for the student's dissertation research, which must fall within the purview of one of the language sections of MMLL. (Prospective students are encouraged to look at the profiles of the Faculty members in the different language sections who might supervise their work.) In cases where one is not a native speaker of the target language, competency ordinarily must be demonstrated by a degree in the related field from a university where instruction was conducted in the language in question or by an undergraduate degree from another university where the student has taken advanced (i.e., final-year) coursework in a relevant field using the material in the target language. If such coursework is not indicated on the student's academic record, the student should submit the results of a formal language assessment of reading proficiency at the time of application (Common European Framework, C1 or higher, or American Council for the Teaching of Foreign Languages, Advanced High or Higher). Students sometimes have this competency in more than one MMLL language, but many students use the MPhil to work solely on primary material from one particular language (e.g., working on Russian primary material alone for all of their written work here). It is sometimes possible to develop the knowledge of one of the dissertation MMLL languages whilst the student is at Cambridge (e.g., via the University Language Centre), though it is not plausible to do so from scratch, as the student will be busy with the core work of the MPhil. University Minimum Academic Requirements Language Requirement

Listening: 7.0, Writing: 7.0, Reading: 7.0, Speaking: 7.0, Total: 7.5, Listening: 25, Writing: 25, Reading: 25, Speaking: 25, Total: 110