Faculty of Classics - University of Cambridge

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Applying for the MPhil

The M.Phil. course begins in October each year, and applications open on September 1^st in the previous year. If you are applying for specific sources of funding (e.g. from the Gates Trust or AHRC) you must submit your application by the relevant deadline (deadlines are listed on the Graduate Applications Front Page).  Even if you are not seeking funding from Cambridge sources, you are strongly urged to meet the deadline of 11 January 2013 if at all possible, as the number of applicants we can take is capped centrally, we review applications as a gathered field, and if you apply later than that you may well find our places are already committed.

No applications for the academic year starting October 2013 will be considered after 31 May 2013.

Course requirements

(i) Normally the minimum standard for admission as an M.Phil. student is a first-class or high 2.1 degree (i.e. a 2.1 with evidence of some first-class achievement) from a British university, or the equivalent from an overseas university. The qualification need not be entirely in classical subjects, but you will need to have some proven expertise relevant to your preferred area of specialisation.

(ii) If English is not your first language, you will also need to satisfy the Faculty’s English language condition (as follows) prior to your admission being confirmed.  You must achieve the minimum requirements in the same sitting, and no more than two years before the start of your course.

IELTS: Overall band score of 7.5, with not less than 7.0 in individual elements.

TOEFL paper-based test: 637 with 6.0 in the Test of Written English.

TOEFL: internet-based test: 110 with no less than 25 in each element.

(iii) We are frequently asked whether a knowledge of Greek and Latin is indispensable for admission to the M.Phil. course.  The answer depends in part on the area in which an individual student wishes to specialise.  While it may be feasible successfully to take the M.Phil. in Classical Archaeology without knowledge of the ancient languages, for example, it would be difficult, if not impossible, to tackle a literary topic without expertise in Latin and/or Greek. Candidates who have already studied some Latin and/or Greek, but need to develop their knowledge of the languages, may pursue them further.  Scrutiny of applications always involves careful consideration of whether a candidate's linguistic proficiency is appropriate for the topics they are intending to study; for this reason, it is helpful if candidates lay out in some detail in their application the extent of their knowledge of ancient (and modern) languages. At the same time we would also take into account other relevant expertise, such as (for example) knowledge of philosophy other than that of the ancient world, or archaeology other than Classical Archaeology.

The application procedure

Applications are made, electronically, through the University’s Graduate Admissions website:  

http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/offices/gradstud/prospec/apply/

Applicants from outside Cambridge

If you are applying from outside Cambridge, you will need to supply the following, alongside your online application form and the appropriate payment:

-     two academic references;

-     a personal reference (if you wish to be considered for funding from the Gates Trust);

-     transcripts or degree certificates;

-     an English Language score report if available (if English is not your first language);

-     a research proposal of no more than 500 words (see note 1);

-     summary of attainments in Classics and other relevant areas (see note 2);

-     two writing samples of approx. 5,000 words each, or one of approx. 10,000 words (see note 3).

Applicants from within Cambridge

If you are applying from within Cambridge, you will need to supply the following, alongside your online application form and the appropriate payment:

-     two academic references;

-     a personal reference (if you wish to be considered for funding from the Gates Trust);

-     a research proposal of no more than 500 words (see note 1)

NB: If you are applying from inside Cambridge you DO NOT need to provide EITHER transcripts OR information about your attainments in Classics OR samples of written work.  Please ignore any request for this information on your self-service page.

Notes:

1: For all applicants it will greatly improve your chances of acceptance if you specify on your application form what your particular area of interest is in the classical world, and also submit a research proposal of no more than 500 words. This should explain what specific aspects of the subject you wish to study and how that might fit within the framework of the M.Phil. course.  It does not need to be very detailed, and we are well aware that interests change and projects develop, but a rough outline of the areas, the themes and questions, you wish to explore is essential.

2: Please supply detailed information about your previous attainments in Classics (including Greek and Latin language) and in other relevant subjects; this is particularly important if your qualification is not entirely in Classical subjects.

3: Those applying from outside Cambridge should submit samples of their work in relevant areas. The Faculty has no rigid requirements for the written work to be submitted in support of an application, though we typically receive two essays of up to 5,000 words each, or a single piece of up to 10,000 words. Ideally, this work should have been written recently and be on a subject related to that which you propose to work on in Cambridge.  It is obviously a great help if the work is written in (or translated into) English.

After your application is submitted......

When the application reaches the Faculty, it will be reviewed by two members of academic staff with expertise in the relevant area.  Applicants based in the UK may be invited for an interview in Cambridge; those based outside the UK may be interviewed by telephone or Skype.  The Faculty’s Degree Committee then considers the application, in the context of a gathered field, and makes a recommendation to the Student Registry as to whether an offer of a place on the course should be made, and if so with what academic conditions. 

Please be aware that this process may take several months.  You can check the status of your application at any time via your self-service page but if you have any particular queries or concerns please contact Sarah Sheldrick, the Graduate Administrator (graduate.secretary@classics.cam.ac.uk)