Faculty of Classics - University of Cambridge

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PhD in Classics

The Ph.D. is a three-year research degree, examined by a dissertation of up to 80,000 words. The criteria for obtaining the degree are that the dissertation represents a 'substantial contribution to knowledge', and that it also represents a realistic amount of work for three years' study.

Candidates work closely with their supervisor, a senior member of the Classics Faculty (Faculty members and their research interests), and also have a secondary supervisor.  The secondary supervisor is involved in the registration process which must be completed by all students in their first year, and the annual review of progress thereafter; and may be consulted more often, if desired, for informal advice.

Ph.D. students spend most of their time working independently, researching their own specialist topic, but there is a wide variety of graduate seminars offered in the various subject areas - Greek and Latin Literature, Philosophy, History, Art and Archaeology, Philology and Linguistics, and Interdisciplinary Approaches to the Ancient World - and you will be encouraged to participate actively in one or more each term.  If you need to acquire any further specialist skills, you will be entitled to attend any lectures you wish from the University's extensive undergraduate lecturing programme, in Classics or any other discipline; and the Faculty currently offers training in palaeography, epigraphy, Linear B and numismatics, and classes in a range of ancient and modern languages.

When you have submitted your thesis, it will be examined jointly by two experts in the relevant area, one of them from Cambridge, one from another university, and discussed at a viva with the two examiners.  Many successful theses go on to become the basis for significant publications.

Applying for a Ph.D. 

 

 

Illustration: Livy, Ab urbe condita, i-x, 15th century.  By kind permission of the Master and Fellows of Trinity College, Cambridge