Classical Armenian Studies (Taught)

The information provided on this page was correct at the time of publication (November 2025). For complete and up-to-date information about this course, please visit the relevant University of Oxford course page via www.graduate.ox.ac.uk/ucas.

The MSt in Classical Armenian Studies is a taught course offering intensive training in classical Armenian language, literature, and history, focusing on texts from the 5th to 17th centuries across various Armenian literary genres.

Oxford is the only university in the UK where Armenian may be studied as a main subject. Within the long span of Armenian history, the study of Armenia at Oxford concentrates on the period when Armenian sources give valuable information not only about Armenian culture itself, but also about neighbouring peoples of the Near East.

Emphasis is given to the study of the classical and medieval forms of the language and to Armenian literature from the fifth to the seventeenth centuries.

After an initial introduction to the grammar and syntax of classical Armenian, you will read a variety of texts. An understanding of the literary culture of the period and the historical background is thus obtained directly from the original sources.

The course consists of four papers. The first paper is on the language, literature, history, and culture of Ancient and Medieval Armenia. The remaining three papers are on key Armenian literary genres and you will choose to study texts from three different subjects.

Teaching offered consists of classes and tutorials and may include lectures and seminars.