MSt in Greek and/or Latin Languages and Literature

The MSt in the main master's course in Classical literature and the one which the faculty recommends unless there are particular reasons for preferring the MPhil in Greek and/or Latin Languages and Literature.

The majority of students take the course as preparation for a research degree, and for such students it might offer, for instance, linguistic training; the opportunity to become acquainted with an ancillary discipline such as papyrology or palaeography; engagement with a particular author's texts at a deeper level; and a first introduction, via the dissertation, to extended research and the extended presentation of a scholarly argument.

You will undertake three modular options, one of which must be from lists B or C. Most students offer a dissertation (option D) as one of those three options, although this is not compulsory.

List A comprises a choice of options on genres, authors or groups of texts, eg historiography, Greek tragedy, comedy, Cicero, Ovid. You may also devise your own option, subject to approval of your set of texts. List B comprises a range of options on methods and techniques of scholarship, eg papyrology, palaeography, reception, linguistics, and textual criticism.

List C comprises language options in Ancient Greek and Latin, for those who have not studied both languages to a high level in the course of their first degree. Only one language option may be taken. Language classes are available in Greek and Latin at both elementary and intermediate levels. Option D comprises a dissertation of up to 10,000 words.

The scheduling of the options depends on the choices you make, but typically you will work particularly on your first two options in the first two terms and particularly on your dissertation in the third. 

There is the possibility of specialising in reception across the course, by choosing the reception module and by working on reception topics in the text option, though you will still sit a translation exam as detailed below.

All students attend a class on research techniques in Classical literature, extending over two to three terms. This looks at aspects of Classical scholarship and its history, and includes direct viewing of papyri, manuscripts, vases, and other resources in Oxford. In the second and third term considerable attention is paid to presentational skills, as the students deliver papers of their own to each other.

Though there are numerous classes and seminars, most of your time will be spent on self-directed study.

Attendance

Resources to support your study

Oxford has academic resources among the most extensive in the world for Classical Languages and Literature. The Ioannou Centre for Classical and Byzantine Studies offers various facilities for graduate students including a common room and a graduate study area. It is also the base for the various research projects based in the faculty.

The faculty is fortunate in having two world-class research libraries close at hand, the Bodleian and the Bodleian Art, Archaeology and Ancient World Library. The Bodleian Art, Archaeology and Ancient World Library is an open-shelf lending library indispensable to anyone studying ancient history, archaeology and art; it is also extremely useful to those studying literature or philology. The library houses the world’s largest collection of literary and documentary papyri; the Bodleian has the UK’s most important collection of Greek and Latin manuscripts.

Supervision

The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Faculty of Classics and it is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff. Where appropriate, supervision can be found outside the Faculty of Classics.

You will be assigned a supervisor, who provides overall direction for your course. Your supervisor will arrange tutors for you for each option.

Most students have the opportunity to meet individually with their supervisor on a weekly or fortnightly basis, in particular for the dissertation and for the text options, as well as attending classes which are typically on a weekly basis.

You will have considerable input yourself in shaping and driving your studies. You also have the opportunity to attend a wide range of lectures, seminars and talks by visiting speakers.

Assessment

Assessment for text options is by two essays, submitted either in Hilary or Trinity (ie second or third) term, and a translation exam in Trinity term. Skills-based options are assessed either by exam or by pre-submitted work, or by a combination of the two. The dissertation is submitted in Trinity term.

Graduate destinations

Many MSt graduates go on to take doctorates, either in Oxford or elsewhere. Many subsequently take up university teaching or research posts after finishing their doctorates. Those who do not take doctorates go into a variety of occupations, including teaching, publishing, administration, business and other professions. We have a Sub-Faculty Placement Officer, and the University Careers Office provides help for classicists.

College preference

The following colleges accept students on the MSt in Greek and/or Latin Languages and Literature: