Greece, Rome and the Near East

About

The MA in Greece, Rome and the Near East is principally conceived as a research training programme which aims to build on the skills in independent learning acquired in the course of the student’s first degree and enable them to undertake fully independent research at a higher level. Contact time with tutors for taught modules is typically a total of 5 hours per week (rising to 7 for someone beginning Latin or ancient Greek at this level), with an emphasis on small group teaching, and a structure that maximises the value of this time, and best encourages and focuses the student’s own independent study and preparation. On average, around 2 hours a week of other relevant academic contact (research seminars, dissertation supervision) is also available.

At the heart of the course is a module focused on the range of research methods and resources available to someone working in the field of Classics. This is run as a weekly class, with a mixture of lectures and student-led discussions. Four further elective modules deal with particular specialised subjects. Students must choose one module involving work with a relevant foreign language (ancient or modern), and one dealing directly with research on interaction between the ancient Mediterranean and the ancient Near East. All those offered will form part of the current research activity of the tutor taking the module. Numbers for each module are typically very small (there are rarely more than five in a class). Typically, classes are two hours long and held fortnightly, and discussion is based on student presentations. (Modules for those beginning ancient Latin or Greek are typically more heavily subscribed, but their classes also meet more often: 3 hours per week.) All students write a 15,000-word dissertation, for which they receive an additional five hours of supervisory contact with an expert in their field of interest.

All staff teaching on the MA are available for consultation by students, and advertise office hours when their presence can be guaranteed. The MA Director acts as academic adviser to MA students, and is available as an additional point of contact, especially for matters concerning academic progress. MA students are strongly encouraged to attend the Department’s two research seminar series. Although not a formal (assessed) part of the MA, we aim to instil the message that engagement with these seminars across a range of subjects is part of the students’ development as researchers and ought to be viewed as essential to their programme. In addition, MA students are welcomed to attend and present at the ‘Junior Work-in-Progress’ seminar series organised by the PhD students in the Department. Finally, the student-run Classics Society regularly organises guest speakers – often very high-profile scholars from outside Durham.

Content

This is a programme geared towards preparing students for higher research into the interaction of the classical world with the Near East - partly through direct research training, and partly through modules taught by experts in their field in small-group seminars.

The relationship between the classical world and neighbouring civilisations is among the most important and most rapidly expanding areas of classical scholarship, and we have particular strength in this field: we offer tuition in Akkadian, and can draw on the resources of the Oriental Museum in Durham and the expertise pooled in the recently inaugurated Centre for the Study of the Ancient Mediterranean and the Near East. The programme lasts for one year (two years part-time), and centres around a core module on cultural contact in the Ancient World.

Other key elements of the course include a core research training module, a 15,000 word dissertation, and one elective module, which is offered in the areas of current research interests of members of staff.

Core Modules

• Dissertation
• Classical Research Methods and Resources
• Compulsory language module (Latin for research/Ancient Greek for research/another ancient language/modern language)
• Religious Life in the Roman Near East or Akkadian.

Optional Modules

In previous years, optional modules available included:

• Forms After Plato
• Latin Text Seminar
• Greek Text Seminar
• Akkadian
• Latin Love Elegy
• Religious Life in The Roman Near East
• Monumental Architecture of The Roman East
• Vitruvius, On Architecture: The First Treatise On Architecture, Its Significance and Legacy
• Greek Sacred Regulations
• Ancient Philosophers On Necessity, Fate and Free Will
• The Classical Tradition: Art, Literature, Thought
• Comparative Approaches to Homeric Epic
• Greek Text Seminar On Homeric Epic
• Latin Text Seminar On Roman Epic
• Life and Death On Roman Sarcophagi
• Juvenal's Satires in Context
• Ancient Philosophers On Origins
• Animals in Graeco-roman Antiquity
• The Queen of The Desert: Rise and Decline of Palmyra's Civilization
• The Roman Republic: Debates and Approaches.
• Rewriting empire: Eusebius of Caesarea and the First Christian History

Not all modules will be offered every year, and new modules (both elective and core) are added regularly. Students may also substitute modules offered in other departments, such as Theology, Philosophy, English, Archaeology, or History.

Subject requirements, level and grade

• A good second class honours degree in a relevant subject (typically 2:1 honours) or international equivalent (e.g. USA 3.3 g.p.a.; Greek 6.5 / Lian Kalos).
• Since all postgraduate degrees are meant to build on your undergraduate work, we ask for a previous degree in a 'relevant' subject. For the MA programme in Greece, Rome and the Near East, you must have studied this field at the highest level of your undergraduate course.

Preferred Tests:

a. IELTS: 6.5 (no component under 6.0)

b. TOEFL iBT (internet based test): 92 (no component under 23)

c. Cambridge Proficiency (CPE): Grade C

d. Cambridge Advanced (CAE): Grade A

e. Cambridge IGCSE First Language English at Grade C or above [not normally acceptable for students who require a Tier 4 student visa]

f. Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language at Grade B or above [not normally acceptable for students who require a Tier 4 student visa]

g. GCSE English Language at grade C or above

h. Pearson Test of English (overall score 62 (with no score less than 56 in each component))

Alternative accepted tests when those listed in a.-h. above are unavailable to the applicant (if the applicant requires a Tier 4 visa to study, advice on the suitability of these alternatives must be sought from the Student Recruitment and Admissions Office):

i. Certificate of Attainment (Edexcel)

j. GCE A-levels (AQA, CIE, Edexcel, CCEA, OCR, WJEC) at grade C or above in an essay based, humanities or social science subject from the following list: History, Philosophy, Government and Politics, English Language, English Literature, Geography, Religious Studies, Economics, Business Studies, Law and Sociology. Modern or Classical Languages are not acceptable in meeting this requirement.

k. International Baccalaureate with a minimum of grade 5 in Standard Level English or a minimum of grade 5 if taken at Higher Level.

l. NEAB (JMB) Test in English (Overseas)

m. Singapore Integrated Programme (SIPCAL) at grade C or above in an essay based, humanities or social science subject from the following list: History, Philosophy, Government and Politics, English Language, English Literature, Geography, Religious Studies, Economics, Business Studies, Law and Sociology. Modern or Classical Languages are not acceptable in meeting this requirement.

n. Singapore Polytechnic Diploma and Advanced Diplomas at GPA 3.0 or above

o. WAEC and NECO Grade B3 or above from Nigeria and Ghana

Funding options for degree programmes in Greece, Rome, and the Near East at Durham University are diverse and designed to support both domestic and international students. Scholarships are available through university-specific awards, government grants, and external funding bodies. The Durham University Jordan, Greece, and Rome Scholarships provide financial assistance to students demonstrating outstanding academic achievement and financial need. Additionally, the Al Qasimi Foundation offers scholarships for students from the Arab Gulf region, which can be applied to relevant programmes.

Students are encouraged to explore the Durham University Financial Support Office’s resources for detailed information on scholarships, bursaries, and loan options. For UK students, the availability of government-funded loans such as the Student Loans Company covers tuition fees and living costs, subject to eligibility criteria. International students may seek funding from their home countries, as well as from external scholarship programs, some of which are specific to students studying ancient history, archaeology, or related disciplines.

In certain cases, students may be eligible for departmental scholarships based on academic merit or subject-specific excellence in Greece, Roman, and Near Eastern studies. Work opportunities during the academic year offer additional financial support, with the university providing guidance on part-time employment options both on and off campus.

The university also provides access to research grants and teaching assistantships for postgraduate students pursuing masters or doctoral degrees within these fields. It is recommended that prospective students contact the university’s financial aid office well in advance of application deadlines to ensure they access the full range of available funding.

Overall, students pursuing programmes in these ancient civilizations at Durham University benefit from a comprehensive array of financing options tailored to their academic and personal circumstances, helping to make their educational journey more accessible and achievable.

The programme in Greece, Rome and the Near East at Durham University offers students an in-depth exploration of ancient civilizations, focusing on their history, culture, languages, and archaeology. This interdisciplinary course provides a comprehensive understanding of the political, social, and religious developments that shaped these regions from the earliest times through to late antiquity. Students engage with a wide range of primary sources, including inscriptions, manuscripts, artifacts, and ancient texts, allowing them to develop critical analysis skills essential for understanding ancient societies. The curriculum covers key topics such as the rise and fall of city-states, the Roman Empire’s expansion and administration, the complex pantheon of deities in these cultures, and the influence of these civilizations on later cultures and modern society.

Teaching methods include lectures, seminars, and practical archaeological workshops, enabling students to acquire both theoretical knowledge and practical skills. Field trips to archaeological sites and museums are integral to the programme, providing hands-on experience with artifacts and excavation techniques. Students are encouraged to develop language skills in Latin, Greek, or other relevant ancient languages, which are essential tools for direct engagement with primary sources. The programme typically emphasizes critical thinking, comparative analysis, and historical interpretation, preparing graduates for careers in academia, archaeology, museum curation, heritage management, and related fields.

Durham’s resources support the programme extensively, with access to world-class libraries, archives, and archaeological collections. The faculty comprises specialists in ancient history, archaeology, and classical languages, ensuring high-quality supervision. Graduates of the programme often pursue further research through postgraduate study or enter professional roles in cultural heritage organizations, educational institutions, or research institutions. The degree combines historical inquiry with archaeological methods, offering a well-rounded education in the ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern worlds, fostering a deep appreciation of their enduring legacy.