Taught courses
You will take several courses across two semesters of teaching, including a compulsory course and a range of optional courses.
The compulsory course (Skills and Methods in Classics – 20 credits) will provide you with the key methodological and practical skills required of researchers in all Classical subjects, while the 20-credit option courses offer a level of flexibility, allowing you to both develop or cement your language skills and explore a diverse range of in-depth historical topics. You can also take courses in archaeological and literary topics.
Core course
You will take a compulsory course, which will provide a general introduction to graduate study in classics and give you the opportunity to develop your research skills.
Compulsory courses previously offered include:
| Course name | Credits |
|---|---|
|
Skills and Methods in Classics |
20 |
Optional courses
You’ll be required to take 5 option courses (20 credits each), subject to availability. Each year we offer ancient history courses in topics that our staff are currently working, ensuring that we provide Greek, Hellenistic, Roman and Late Antique options. Greek and Latin language courses are always offered.
Option courses previously offered include those listed below. Option courses change from year to year and those available when you start your studies will be different from those shown in this representative list.
Please note: at least three of your option courses must be on ancient history topics.
| Course name | Credits |
|---|---|
|
Elementary Latin (PG) 1 |
20 |
|
Elementary Greek (PG) 1 |
20 |
| Elementary Latin (PG) 2 | 20 |
| Elementary Greek (PG) 2 | 20 |
| Intermediate Latin (PG) 1 | 20 |
| Intermediate Greek (PG) 1 | 20 |
| Intermediate Latin (PG) 2 | 20 |
| Intermediate Greek (PG) 2 | 20 |
| A Period of Ancient History 1 | 20 |
| A Period of Ancient History 2 | 20 |
| A Topic in Late Antique and Byzantine History 1 | 20 |
| The Hellenistic City | 20 |
| Constantinople: The History of a Medieval Megalopolis from Constantine the Great to Suleyman the Magnificent | 20 |
| Archaeology of the Roman Economy | 20 |
| Classical Greek Sculpture | 20 |
| Space, Place and Time: the archaeology of built environments | 20 |
| Byzantine Archaeology: The archaeology of the Byzantine empire and its neighbours AD 500-850. | 20 |
| Conflict archaeology: materialities of violence | 20 |
| Bronze Age Civilisations of the Near East and Greece | 20 |
| Etruscan Italy, 1000 - 300 BC | 20 |
| Gallia from the Third Century BC to Augustus | 20 |
Teaching and assessment
You will develop your skills in critical thinking, clear writing and research, verbal presentation and critical analysis.
Most teaching takes place in small groups with most courses taught via weekly seminars. The majority of the 20-credit courses are assessed by single pieces of coursework, usually essays of 4,500 words.
Further information
You can see more details about the 2023/24 programme structure on the Degree Programme Table for the MSc in Ancient History. We expect the 2024/25 programme structure to be available from May 2024.