Classical Archaeology

The MPhil in Classical Archaeology is designed for those interested in continuing to a doctorate in Classical archaeology, and for those with experience in other areas of classical studies wishing to develop an understanding of the material culture.

Most graduates from the MPhil in Classical Archaeology continue to further degree programmes in Classical Archaeology either at Oxford or at leading universities elsewhere, predominantly in the UK and the USA. Others find careers in education, museums, commercial archaeology and the heritage industry.

The MPhil combines the flexibility of the MSt in Classical Archaeology, which allows you to choose from a wide range of broad periods - from Prehistoric Aegean through Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic and various Roman periods to Later Antiquity - and detailed options, with the opportunity to research a topic of your choice in the form of a 25,000-word thesis.

In the first year, at least one period option must be chosen, and one subject option, while the choice for the third option can be from either group. You may also be allowed to study an unlisted topic within Classical archaeology, or directly related to it, provided that the topic is appropriate and teaching is available, or a subject from among those offered in a number of cognate disciplines. In the second year, you take a fourth taught subject from within Classical archaeology, and work on your thesis.

You will have a supervisor in your main area of interest, normally your MPhil thesis supervisor, who may also provide other of your teaching but will advise on option choices and monitor overall progress. Each member of the academic staff in Classical archaeology offers a different subject in his or her areas of specialism in each of the first two terms, so students can normally choose from about eight different subjects each term, covering major topics from the Bronze Age to the Late Roman period.

Not all courses listed will be available every year. Teaching is mainly through small-group tutorials or classes of one to five students, for which you will prepare short essays on a weekly basis, supplemented by a wide range of lecture courses and graduate seminars.

The three subject options are examined by pairs of pre-set essays, submitted early in the following term, and the period paper, which is the focus of the final term of the first year, is assessed by written three-hour examination at the end of that term. The thesis subject is decided by the end of the first year, with any fieldwork taking place in the long vacation, and the research and writing occupy the second and third terms of the second year. There is also a compulsory viva voce examination each year of the course.

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 Classical archaeology or related fields (eg Classics, ancient history).

For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA sought is 3.5 out of 4.0.

However, entrance is very competitive and most successful applicants have a GPA of 3.7 or above, a first-class degree or the equivalent.

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 300 words
• Written work:Two essays of 2,500 words each
• References/letters of recommendation: Three overall, all of which must be academic

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Higher level

• Global Education
• Hill Foundation Scholarships
• Ertegun Scholarship Programme