Department of Classics & Ancient History | Masters by Research (MLitt) Classics

Masters by Research (MLitt) Classics at Durham University

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As a centre of world-class research, we have a strong commitment to postgraduate provision, and welcome applications to the taught MA programme, or applications for MA by Research and PhD work in any of the (many) research specialities represented in the Department. With one of the largest bodies of permanent staff of any Classics Department in the UK or worldwide, we have an unusually wide range of expertise and, of course, unusually wide scope for cross-disciplinary work. We are widely known for innovative work in the study of Ancient Philosophy & Science, Augustan Poetry, The Social & Intellectual History of the Greco-Roman World & the Near East, Architecture and Urbanisation & Reception. We are also proud to support postgraduate research through our four interdisciplinary Research Centres:

Research Master's Programmes

We offer two research master's programmes which allow you greater autonomy than the taught MA without demanding the length of commitment required for a PhD:

• MA by Thesis: a one-year programme (two-years part time), examined by a thesis of not more than 50,000 words.
• MLitt: a two-year programme (three-years part time) examined by a thesis of not more than 70,000 words.

The admissions process for these programmes is essentially identical to that for the PhD. (You should, for example, identify and discuss your plans with a prospective supervisor.) Subject to satisfactory performance it is possible to upgrade to the PhD from either of these programmes (though this is not a route we recommend if the PhD is really what you have in mind).

Over the past five years, graduates of our taught MA programmes have gone onto receive funded offers to pursue doctorates at institutions including Cambridge University, Durham University, Georgia State University, Oxford University, Stanford University, University of Edinburgh, University of Exeter, University of Oklahoma, University of St Andrews and University of Warwick.

Others have gone on to pursue successful careers in a variety of fields from accountancy to teaching, bringing with them the added prestige of a higher degree and the advanced analytical, communication, and research skills an MA offers.

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