What is the qualifying test?
A test taken at the end of your first year to qualify you as a full MLitt or DPhil student. Until then you are a probationer. In the Law Faculty version of the qualifying test you submit a thesis outline and a sample of your work (e.g. a draft chapter) to two assessors, who check that you are making progress at the right pace and level and report back to the Faculty. Their report will also assist you and your supervisor in making progress afterwards. If you take a one-year research degree such as the MSt or MPhil, and want to proceed to DPhil, you can arrange to have your proposal for DPhil work assessed at the same time as your MSt or MPhil thesis; the MSt or MPhil examination then doubles as your qualifying test.
