Egyptology

Program Description:
The Oxford University Egyptology programme offers a comprehensive and rigorous exploration of ancient Egyptian civilization, language, history, and archaeology. Designed for students passionate about understanding one of the world's most fascinating ancient cultures, this course provides an in-depth study of Egypt’s past from the earliest periods through to the Greco-Roman era. Throughout the programme, students will engage with a broad range of disciplines including the hieroglyphic language, archaeological methods, and the social and political structures of ancient Egypt.

The curriculum combines language acquisition with detailed historical analysis, enabling students to read original Egyptian texts and interpret archaeological findings. Students will have access to extensive collections of papyri, inscriptions, and artifacts, which they can study firsthand or through digitized archives. Faculty members are leading experts in Egyptology, providing students with guidance on research projects, fieldwork opportunities, and seminars that explore topics such as religious belief and practices, funerary customs, art, and cultural interactions over centuries.

Throughout their studies, students develop critical skills in interpretation, research, and academic writing, preparing them for careers in academia, museum curation, archaeology, or further specialization. The programme also emphasizes transferable skills such as analytical thinking, detailed observation, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. Students benefit from Oxford’s outstanding resources, including access to libraries, collections, and research centers dedicated to Egyptology and ancient history.

Graduates of the programme will be well-equipped to pursue advanced research or careers related to Egyptology, archaeology, or museum studies. They will have gained a thorough understanding of the complexities of ancient Egyptian society, language, and material culture, and will be able to apply this knowledge in a variety of professional contexts. With its combination of language, history, archaeology, and cultural studies, the Oxford Egyptology programme offers an unparalleled opportunity to delve into one of the most enigmatic and influential civilizations in human history.

The MPhil in Egyptology has two paths through the curriculum. The first, Syllabus A, allows those with previous training in Egyptology to pursue their study of the subject to a higher level, to gain specialised expertise, and to begin advanced research in an area of their choice. The second, Syllabus B, enables graduates in another discipline to convert to Egyptology through a graduate level course that offers a certain amount of specialisation, including a significant element of advanced research. In both cases, syllabuses are tailored to the interests of individual students.

The study of ancient Egyptian language and textual culture lies at the heart of Syllabus B and is generally a major component of Syllabus A. The principal focus throughout is on detailed familiarity with the primary sources, studied in the original language and through the original manuscripts where possible, and with various methods and approaches. Use of a range of interpretive and analytical approaches to the primary sources is integral to the course, including, for example, historiographical and/or literary-critical frameworks; overall there is an emphasis on texts as artefacts in a material context.

The syllabus can also be designed with an archaeological and/or material-culture focus. You will have the opportunity to develop your skills in working with Egyptian artefacts from the extensive and diverse collections of the Ashmolean Museum. The MPhil dissertation, written during the second year, will give you the opportunity to identify and design your own research project and to develop advanced research skills.

Both syllabuses of the MPhil are very intensive. For example, you must treat the university vacations as integral parts of your work time and you will be expected to take relatively limited holidays. From the start of your course you should also think about whether you need to do fieldwork in Egypt or elsewhere and when this will best be done. Where possible, if you have not been to Egypt before you should ideally try to visit before the end of the course, even as a tourist.

In the second year, you should expect to spend the Easter vacation finishing your dissertation, which must be submitted half way through Trinity term. Depending on the course design, there can also be a take-home examination by the end of Hilary term of the second year. Research essays that are to be revised and assessed for another element in the course must also be completed and handed in during that term.

The final examinations are sat during and/or after the end of the term. In some cases the syllabus may be varied to enable students to take and be examined in options that are offered at the same time for other courses. Similarly, different examination provision may also be made for students who have chosen options that are offered in other departments, such as Classics or archaeology.

The number of students accepted each year for either pathway through the MPhil in Egyptology is very small. This ensures that teaching can be tailored to the research interests and training requirements of individual students, especially for syllabus A and the second year of syllabus B. Teaching is also very much focused around small groups and one-on-one tutorials and supervisions for which small cohorts are vital. If you are in the first year of syllabus B, you will share language classes and lectures on history and culture with first year undergraduates. For either syllabus, some other classes may also be shared with undergraduates and graduates on other degrees where appropriate for your research training needs.

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 either Egyptology, for applicants wishing to enter on Syllabus A, or in any subject for students wishing to enter on Syllabus B.

For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA sought is 3.5 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 three pages
• 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

The University of Oxford offers a comprehensive program in Egyptology within its Faculty of Classics. This program provides students with the opportunity to explore the history, language, archaeology, and culture of ancient Egypt, one of the most influential civilizations in human history. The course covers a wide range of topics, including the ancient Egyptian language, hieroglyphic writing, religious practices, art, and archaeological methods. Students enrolled in the program have access to extensive resources, including the Bodleian Libraries' specialized collections and the University’s archaeological sites in Egypt, which provide invaluable practical experience in excavation and artifact analysis.

The Egyptology course at Oxford is designed for students with a keen interest in ancient history and language, offering both undergraduate and postgraduate options. Undergraduate students typically undertake a mixture of language training, historical studies, and archaeological fieldwork, developing skills essential for research and careers in museums, academia, or archaeological consultancy. The postgraduate program offers advanced research opportunities, often including supervised fieldwork in Egypt, with an emphasis on original research and thesis writing.

Students benefit from the expertise of leading scholars in the field, participating in seminars, workshops, and conferences that deepen their understanding of Egypt’s history from the earliest periods through the Ptolemaic and Roman eras. Oxford’s program emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach, integrating linguistic, archaeological, and historical disciplines to provide a well-rounded education. The university's strong international partnerships and access to Egyptological collections worldwide support students' research projects.

Graduates of the Egyptology program at Oxford have gone on to successful careers in academia, curatorship, cultural heritage management, and archaeology. The program’s rigorous academic structure, combined with practical archaeological training and access to expert faculty, makes it one of the leading Egyptology courses in the world. Admission requirements typically include strong academic credentials, a demonstrated interest in the subject, and proficiency in relevant languages, especially ancient Egyptian. Overall, Oxford’s Egyptology program aims to cultivate skilled researchers, practitioners, and educators dedicated to the understanding and preservation of ancient Egyptian civilization.