Reliquary of 'Holy Cross of Khotakerats', 1300, from The Mother See of Holy Ejmiadsin.

The M.Phil. in Eastern Christian Studies is a two-year degree which is intended to give students experience in reading and interpreting a wide range of Eastern Christian texts in one of three options; A. Greek; or B. Armenian with Greek; or C. Syriac with Greek. All students also prepare a 30,000 word thesis. This degree can be a stand-alone qualification or preparation for doctoral research.

The standard requirement is a First Class or a good Second class Honours Degree (or equivalent qualification), a working knowledge of Greek and (for those taking options B or C) some basic knowledge of either Armenian or Syriac.

The list of set texts in each language is to be found in the Course Handbook, which can be downloaded from this page. By mutual agreement between students and teacher(s), and with the approval of the Faculty Board, set texts different from those set out in the Examination Decrees and Regulations may be chosen. Teaching takes the form of text classes, supervisions and/or seminars, and background lectures. The Armenian and Syriac set texts are read in the first year in text classes (for which students are expected to prepare), while the Greek set texts are normally left to the student to work through alone. Students will also be required to write and present essays, either for supervisions or for seminars. The second year is normally left for work on the thesis (the subject of which must be approved by the Faculty Board), and for this the student's supervisor will provide general guidance.

Post-card of celebration at the Syriac Orthodox Monastery in the Iraqi northern city of Mosul

The examination (towards the end of the Trinity Term in the second year) takes the form of four papers. These consist of (1) essay questions on the development of doctrine and the history of the Church in the Christian East to AD 717; (2) specified Armenian or Syriac historical texts; (3) specified Armenian or Syriac theological texts. In (2) and (3), besides passages for translation and comment, there may also be essay questions associated with the set texts; (4) Greek ecclesiastical texts (this will include some passages from unspecified, as well as specified, texts). The thesis (of not more than 30,000 words) must be presented at the end of the second week of the same Trinity Term. Every candidate will be examined viva voce unless s/he shall have been individually excused by the examiners. In taught graduate degrees the pass mark is 60. In the M.Phil. final examination a distinction will be awarded for a final overall mark of 70 or above. The final mark is arrived at as a numerical mean of the marks on individual papers and thesis, with the qualification that the candidate must also pass on each paper and the thesis individually.