Greek and or Roman History (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.

MSt
The one year MSt is an intensive and high-pressure course designed primarily for those students who wish to prepare for doctoral work by means of a shorter course than the two-year MPhil in Ancient History.

Course structure
For this degree you will write a dissertation and complete two other options (a language option and one other option).

Teaching of the language option is provided in the form of University classes and/or individual or small-group tutorials. The language option is assessed at the end of the year by written examination.

The second option may be drawn from a list of subjects based on methods and techniques of scholarship or from a second list of topics on specific historical periods or themes. This option is assessed by a pair of pre-submitted essays.

You will have the opportunity to attend seminar talks by visiting speakers as well as the many other academic activities that take place in the Ioannou Centre for Classical and Byzantine Studies.

MPhil
The MPhil in Greek and/or Roman History is an intensive course designed to equip you with a range of knowledge and skills. It is suitable for those aiming to deepen their understanding and provides a foundation for future research in Ancient History.

The MPhil is the course taken by the majority of Oxford's master's students in Ancient History.

Course structure
The course consists of five elements: a graduate seminar, a language option, methods and techniques of scholarship, an option module and a dissertation.

Some students also take advantage of a provision by which you and your supervisor can develop a customised option in a field of ancient history specifically relevant to your needs and interests.

Teaching of these options will be provided through classes, seminars or tutorials as appropriate.

You will also have the opportunity to attend seminar talks by visiting speakers as well as the many other academic activities that take place in the Ioannou Centre for Classical and Byzantine Studies.