Special Regulations for the Preliminary Examination in History of Art

A

The Preliminary Examination in History of Art shall be under the supervision of the Board of the Faculty of History. The subjects of the examination, the syllabus, and the number of papers shall be as prescribed by regulation from time to time by the Board of the Faculty of History.

B

The History Faculty Board shall issue annually the Handbook for the Preliminary Examination in History of Art by Monday of noughth week of Michaelmas Term for the academic year ahead.

Each candidate shall offer four papers as follows:

1. I. Introduction to the History of Art Candidates will be examined by three-hour unseen examination.
2. II. Antiquity after Antiquity Candidates will be examined by three-hour unseen examination.
3. III. European Art 1400–1800: Meaning and Interpretation
4. Candidates will be examined by three-hour unseen examination.
5. IV. Objects, Images and Buildings in Oxford

Candidates will be examined by a 5,000 word extended essay, including footnotes but excluding bibliography. A list of potential extended essay advisers will be presented to the candidates at the beginning of the academic year. A candidate may propose to study any object, but this object must be approved by the appointed extended essay adviser, and the Preliminary Extended Essay Co-ordinator. Approval will depend on the object's accessibility and the availability of source material and curatorial expertise. Candidates will have no more than the equivalent of five one-hour meetings with their assigned extended essay advisor. A first draft of the extended essay may be commented on by the extended essay adviser during one of these meetings. Candidates must submit the title of the extended essay to the Chairman of Examiners, Preliminary Examination in History of Art, Department of History of Art, Littlegate House, St. Ebbes, Oxford, by midday on Monday of the second week of the Hilary Term preceding the examination. Essays should be typed or word-processed in double spacing and should conform to the standards of academic presentation prescribed in the course handbook. Essays must be delivered by hand to the Examination Schools (addressed to the Chairman of Examiners, Preliminary Examination in History of Art, Examination Schools, Oxford) not later than noon on Friday of third week of the Trinity Term in the academic year in which the candidate is presenting himself or herself for examination. Candidates delivering essays will be required to complete a receipt form, which will only be accepted as proof of receipt if it is counter-signed by a member of the Examination Schools staff. Each essay must be accompanied by a sealed envelope (bearing only the candidate's examination number) containing a formal declaration signed by the candidate that the essay is his or her own work. The University's regulations on Late Entries will apply.

[Until 1 October 2013: Candidates who fail one or more of papers I, II, III or IV above may resit that subject or subjects at a subsequent examination.] [From 1 October 2013: Candidates who fail one or two of papers I, II, III or IV above may resit only that paper or papers at a subsequent examination. Candidates who fail three of papers I, II, III or IV above will be asked to resit all papers, including the one they passed, unless the paper they passed is the essay, in which case they will resit only the three written examination papers. Candidates who fail all four of papers I, II, III and IV will be required to resit all four at a subsequent examination.] In the case of failure to reach the required standard in the Preliminary Extended Essay, candidates must resubmit the essay by Monday of noughth week of Michaelmas Term of the second year. Candidates are entitled to one further meeting with their extended essay adviser.