MLitt in Classics

The modules published below are examples of what has been taught in previous academic years and may be subject to change before you start your program.

Compulsory

• Themes and Methods in Classical Research 1: focuses on the sources for the study of the classical world, how to access them (that is, the resources available for classical research), and how to use this material sensitively and appropriately
• Themes and Methods in Classical Research 2: a series of seminars structured around themes in classical research (e.g. the environment, performance, reception).

Optional

Classics students have the opportunity to choose two of the following five overarching modules, one per semester. These modules are designed to give you both a familiarity with the key debates in a given subject area and the opportunity to develop a topic of your own choice with one-to-one supervision. The choice of modules allows you flexibility to develop a range of pathways and to focus, for example, on history, literary culture, philosophy, or archaeology, or to focus on Greek or Roman history and literature in combination.

Semester 1 (choose one)

• Greek History and Material Culture
• Latin Literary Culture

Semester 2 (choose one)

• Greek Literary Culture
• Roman History and Material Culture
• Themes in Greek and Roman Philosophy

Language modules

All students have the opportunity to study Greek or Latin from the beginner’s level or to improve their language skills through more advanced language courses.

Students who take Greek or Latin language modules take alternative versions of the optional modules which follow the same course of study but with a reduced workload and fewer credits.

Dissertation

Each student undertakes a dissertation of 15,000 words on a specialist subject chosen in consultation with the MLitt convenor and a dedicated supervisor who is responsible for guiding you through the research process and commenting on draft sections. The completed dissertation must be submitted by mid-August.

If students choose not to complete the dissertation requirement for the MLitt, there is an exit award available that allows suitably qualified candidates to receive a Postgraduate Diploma. By choosing an exit award, you will finish your degree at the end of the second semester of study and receive a PGDip instead of an MLitt.

Teaching

Teaching format

The MLitt degree requires two semesters of full-time (or four semesters of part-time) coursework, with an average of four to five hours of staff contact per week (more if you choose to do language modules).

The modules are taught through group seminars (with the whole MLitt cohort or in smaller groups) and one-to-one supervision in your areas of specialization.

Assessment

The assessment for the taught modules is primarily based on coursework including:

• Research papers
• Book reviews
• Draft a research proposal on your dissertation topic
• Presentation on your dissertation topic
• Take-home exam for the Themes and Methods in Classical Research 1 module.

Support

If you undertake the MLitt in Classics at St Andrew's, you will benefit from the unique range of expertise of the School's staff.

The School of Classics is one of the major centers for Classics and Ancient History in the United Kingdom.

Distinctive areas of expertise include:

• Achaemenid Persia
• Ancient ecology and landscape studies
• Ancient literary criticism
• Ancient Philosophy
• Ancient religion
• The archaeology and art history of Rome and the Roman provinces
• Classical Reception Studies
• Greek and Roman tragedy and comedy
• Hellenistic and Imperial Greek literature
• Greek and Roman historical writing
• Late Antiquity
• The literature and culture of the Roman Empire
• Military history
• Representations of war and battle in antiquity and beyond
• Visual culture.

Postgraduates from the School of Classics go on to pursue careers in a diverse range of professional careers. For example, recent graduands have gone on to work in:

• Publishing
• Law
• Finance
• Teaching
• University administration
• Museum curatorship

Others have gone on to successful academic careers in the UK, North America, and internationally.

Advice on academic and other career paths is integrated into the MLitt.

Further study

The two-year Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree option in Greek and Latin may be particularly appropriate for those wanting to pursue further work in Greek or Latin language.

The MPhil is identical to the MLitt degree in the first two semesters. MPhil students then proceed to write a 40,000-word dissertation over the next year, but they may (in consultation with the course coordinator) audit further taught modules in the course of their second year.

Many graduates continue their education by enrolling in Ph.D. programs at St Andrews or elsewhere, and preparation for application to Ph.D. programs forms a key component of the MLitt.

The School sets aside funding each year for PhD scholarships, which cover both fees and stipend and are awarded based on academic merit and research promise.

The School also supports many applications for PhD funding each year to the Scottish Graduate School for Arts and Humanities and works closely with all applicants to develop their proposals for this competition.