MPhil in Classics

Course Structure

Specialist seminars form the core of the Cambridge MPhil experience. All MPhil students in Classics attend a series of research skills seminars on key topics, intellectual and practical. Seminars are targeted to evolving student needs, starting – for example – with sessions on finding a topic, identifying a question and getting the most from one’s supervisor, through fundamental training in handling and, if appropriate, building databases, interpreting primary sources and so on, to writing research proposals and preparing for the next career stage.

In addition, each MPhil student enrols in two sets of weekly ‘Text and Topic’ seminars (one in Michaelmas Term, and one in Lent). This year's topics can be found in the MPhil handbook. In Easter Term, all students give short presentations on their thesis topics in small-group work-in-progress seminars. Together, these seminars are a great forum for exchanging ideas, experimenting with arguments, and getting to know fellow students and Faculty.

These MPhil seminars are supplemented by optional postgraduate classes in Greek and Roman Epigraphy, Greek and Roman Numismatics, Mycenaean Epigraphy, and Palaeography and Textual Criticism. MPhil students are also warmly invited to attend undergraduate lecture courses in Classics (current undergraduate courses) and encouraged to take part in the Faculty’s weekly research seminars (including a postgraduate-run interdisciplinary seminar).

For those who need more or less intensive instruction in ancient Greek or Latin, this is available at beginner and intermediate levels. There is also (unexamined) training available in academic German, and (through the University's Language Centre) in a wide range of modern languages at different levels.

Assessment

Most students enrolled on the Cambridge MPhil in Classics write two essays (max. 5,000 words) and a thesis (max. 12,000 words) over nine months. Some will substitute a language exam or exercise (e.g. in Mycenaean epigraphy) for one of the essays. For each essay you will work one-to-one with your supervisor (a Cambridge academic with expertise related to your topic), who will guide you through your individual research. For each submitted piece of written work, you will receive a mark and detailed feedback from two Examiners.

Course requirements

Normally the minimum standard for admission as an MPhil student is a high 2.1 degree (normally with evidence of first-class achievement) from a British university, or the equivalent (e.g. GPA of 3.7 or above) from overseas. 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.

English language: 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)
• CAE (Cambridge English Advanced):  A grade (plus an assessment by our language centre)
• CPE (Cambridge English: Proficiency):  A or B grade
• TOEFL: Overall score of 110 (with not less than 25 in individual elements)

This condition is waived if you have completed a course equivalent to a UK Bachelor's degree, running for three years or more at an English-language institution in the last two years. For full information, please refer to the University website.

Other languages: We are frequently asked whether admission to the MPhil in Classics demands knowledge of Greek and Latin. The answer depends in part on the area in which you wish to specialise. While it might be feasible successfully to take the MPhil 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.

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 you lay out in some detail in your application the extent of your knowledge of ancient languages. At the same time we also take into account other relevant expertise, such as knowledge of philosophy other than that of the ancient world, or archaeology other than Classical Archaeology. Students who have already studied some Latin and/or Greek, but need to develop their knowledge of the languages, may pursue them further during the MPhil year.

Proficiency in other modern languages of scholarship (primarily French, German and Italian) is advantageous but not required for MPhil admission or in MPhil work. If you intend to carry on to doctoral work, all three are worth cultivating. In some instances, knowledge of a certain language may be considered indispensable for a given topic at MPhil level; if so, you will be advised and given the chance to change topic if necessary. 

Greek and Latin language papers:

MPhil students who take the MPhil Greek or Latin language paper join the Faculty Intensive course taken by undergraduates for the whole of Michaelmas and Lent term and the first four weeks of Easter Term. This course requires mandatory attendance at 5-6 one-hour classes in each week of termtime. In addition, attendance is required at a short course early in September (for Latin) or just before the Michaelmas Term (for Greek).

Although both courses are aimed at beginners, a substantial amount of preparation is required in advance. Attendance at a Summer School (e.g. the JACT Greek Summer School that takes place in late July and early August) is recommended. Further details are available on request from the MPhil language co-ordinator, Mr Franco Basso.