Primarily a training in research but also designed to complement and complete undergraduate study in Classics, teaching for this course is provided in the form of seminars, lectures, classes and individual supervised study. It is usually possible for students to follow a course of study that reflects very closely their own interests and specialisms, selecting one of our research areas as the main focus for the dissertation and other work. One of the three essays, however, can deal with another area within the classics, or another related discipline. Students can also offer an examination in a classical language or an exercise in a specialist subject (eg numismatics) in place of the third essay.AssessmentThesis8,000–12,000 words and an oral examination.EssaysThree essays of about 4,000 words each or two essays of about 4,000 words each and a language paper in another ancient language or an exercise.Written examinationA language paper in Greek or Latin may be required.By the end of the course students should have:developed a deeper knowledge of their chosen area of Classics and of the critical debates within itcome to a conceptual understanding that enables the evaluation of current research and methodologiesacquired or consolidated linguistic, technical and ancillary skills appropriate for research in their chosen areademonstrated independent judgement, based on their own researchpresented their own ideas in a public forum and learned to contribute constructively within an international environment.