Greek and-or Roman History

This two-year MPhil is the course taken by the majority of master's students in Ancient History. It is a research training degree designed to equip you with a range of both knowledge and skills in Greek and/or Roman history.

Most MPhil graduates go on to take doctorates, either in Oxford or elsewhere. Many subsequently take up university teaching or research posts after finishing their doctorates. Those who do not take doctorates go into a variety of occupations, including teaching, publishing, administration, business and other professions.

For the MPhil you will produce a thesis of up to 25,000 words (D), two pieces of work based on graduate seminars run by members of the faculty in Greek and Roman History (E) and three options, one from the list of options in A, one from B and one from either B or C:

A. Classical and modern languages

These options give you the opportunity to acquire or reinforce knowledge of ancient languages or the modern languages of scholarship. Teaching is provided in the form of University classes and/or individual or small-group tutorials. These options are assessed by a 3-hour written examination.

B. Methods and techniques of scholarship

These options are usually assessed by a pair of pre-submitted essays.

C. Specified historical topics

All of the options in this section are examined by a pair of pre-submitted essays.

D. Dissertation

Your dissertation can be up to 25,000 words long. You decide on a subject in consultation with your supervisor. The dissertation enables you to work in greater depth on a subject that particularly interests you and is particularly valuable if you are hoping to go on to work for a doctorate.

E. Graduate Seminar Series

There are two graduate seminar series in ancient history, one covering Greece and the East and the other Rome and the West. These working seminars, organised by members of the faculty in areas of current interest to them, run fortnightly in Michaelmas and Hilary terms. As a master’s student you are required to attend and participate in them. You will produce two pieces of written work derived from the seminars as part of your submission for the degree.

Applicants are normally expected to be predicted or have achieved a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours (or equivalent international qualifications), as a minimum, in Classics or a similar course of academic study with substantial course components in the area of ancient history. 

Most successful applicants have, or go on to obtain, a first-class or high upper second-class honours undergraduate degree.

For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA sought is 3.7 out of 4.0.

If you hold non-UK qualifications and wish to check how your qualifications match these requirements, you can contact the National Recognition Information Centre for the United Kingdom (UK NARIC).

No Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or GMAT scores are sought.

• Official transcript(s)
• CV/résumé
• Statement of purpose/personal statement:Up to 700 words
• Written work:Two essays of 2,000 words each
• References/letters of recommendation:Three overall, generally academic

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Higher level

• Global Education
• Hill Foundation Scholarships
• Ertegun Scholarship Programme