Course description

Our MA Classics and Ancient History is flexible and wide-ranging.

It reflects the broad, multidisciplinary nature of the subject, which includes Latin and Greek language, the history of Greek and Roman antiquity from archaic times to the beginning of the Middle Ages, and Greek and Roman literature, philosophy, and culture.

The course is designed to introduce you to advanced study in your chosen field and equip you with the skills required for doctoral research.

The course and most units within it allow you to tailor your advanced study and research-preparation to your interests, needs and existing knowledge.

We also offer a specialist route through the MA, the City of Rome pathway. This pathway involves taking a course unit at the British School at Rome, for which you prepare by studying a course on Roman social and urban history.

We expect all students to study Greek or Latin at an appropriate level. However, no existing knowledge of Latin or Greek is required, and we welcome students who want to begin their study of the ancient languages during their MA.

Aims

On successful completion of this MA, you will be able to:

• demonstrate the enhancement of previously acquired skills at a more critical, reflective, and sophisticated level, especially skills involving synthesising information from a variety of sources, historical and/or literary interpretation, exercising independent and critical judgement;
• understand and respect the 'otherness' of the past by developing specialist knowledge about one or more aspect of Graeco-Roman civilisation;
• describe, analyse, and assess ancient sources, including (as appropriate) literary, non-literary, visual, and material evidence;
• design and complete a substantial piece of independent research;
• work effectively as an autonomous scholar;
• understand complex problems and communicate them clearly in oral and written form, with the help, where appropriate, of visual or graphic aids.

Coursework and assessment

Taught units are usually assessed by extended essay, but assessment might also include oral presentations, conference posters, commentary exercises and (particularly for language units) formal examinations.

You will also write a dissertation of between 12,000 and 15,000 words.

Career opportunities

This non-vocational master's degree teaches and develops a wealth of transferable skills, and enables students to keep a very wide range of career options open.

Recent graduates have gone on to vocational MAs (eg in Gallery and Museum Studies), PhDs in Classics or Ancient History, teaching, contract researching or working in local or central government, commerce or industry.