MPhil in Classics

The Classics MPhil is intended to give students with relevant experience at first-degree level the opportunity to carry out focused research in Classical subjects and acquire or develop skills and expertise relevant to their research interests. These objectives are achieved by:

1. Giving students the experience and guidance necessary for them to be able to formulate a realistic research proposal and to prepare written work based on such a proposal to a strict timetable.
2. Showing students how to marshal and understand relevant bibliography (including the use of computer technology) to broaden their appreciation of the principal issues that shape a given field and to encourage them to develop insights which might form the basis of an original contribution to the debates in question.
3. Giving students the experience of attending and contributing to at least one weekly postgraduate seminar to present their own work and discuss the issues that arise from it with an audience of senior and junior members of the Faculty.
4. Where relevant:

• providing teaching in a range of technical/specialist skills central to research in the different branches of Classics (e.g., numismatics, epigraphy) and giving students the opportunity to base some of their essay work or an assessed exercise on the knowledge so acquired
• providing students with the teaching necessary to bring an elementary knowledge of Greek and/or Latin to a standard adequate for research purposes and giving them the opportunity to take an appropriate examination
• providing students with the opportunity to learn the basics of ancient languages related to Greek and Latin (e.g., Linear B), and to take an appropriate examination
• encouraging students to improve their knowledge of the modern languages in which research relevant to their principal field of interest is normally written

This degree is also designed to complement, extend and complete undergraduate study in Classics. More information is available on the MPhil in Classics page on the Faculty of Classics website.

Learning Outcomes

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 it
• come to a conceptual understanding that enables the evaluation of current research and methodologies
• acquired or consolidated linguistic, technical, and ancillary skills appropriate for research in their chosen area
• demonstrated independent judgment based on their own research
• presented their ideas in a public forum and learned to contribute constructively within an international environment

Continuing

In order to proceed to a PhD, the Faculty's normal requirement (which will be a condition of continuation) is that students must achieve an overall Distinction in the MPhil. Further details on how to achieve an overall Distinction can be found in the MPhil Handbook, available on the Faculty of Classics website's Postgraduate Students page.  

All applications to PhD study are considered on their own merit.

Open Days

The University hosts and attends fairs and events throughout the year, in the UK and across the world. We also offer online events to help you explore your options:

• Discover Cambridge: Master’s and PhD study webinars - these Spring events provide practical information about applying for postgraduate study.

• Postgraduate Virtual Open Days - taking place in November each year, the Open Days focus on subject and course information.

For more information about upcoming events visit our events pages.

The Faculty of Classics will host its annual Postgraduate Open Day on Saturday, 16 November 2024.  To get an idea of the day's programme, visit the Faculty's Postgraduate Study page.