MA by Research Classics

COURSE OVERVIEW

An MA by Research in Classics enables you to undertake a research project led by your own passions and interests.

Your project will take one year full-time or two years part-time. It is suitable if you want to undertake a first research degree as a culmination of taught studies, or if you are considering further research in form of a PhD.

You undertake original research for a thesis up to 40,000 words. This demonstrates original research with a significant contribution to the subject area, and will be related to the languages, literature, philosophy or culture of the classical world, from Homer to the later Roman empire, and the reception of the ancient world in modern culture.

After it is submitted, there is an oral examination of your thesis, a viva voce examination, or viva.

We have considerable experience in supervising a wide variety of topics relating to Greek and Roman literature. Particular research strengths at Swansea include ancient narrative literature and the reception of earlier literature in Hellenistic and imperial fiction, Greek tragedy, ancient philosophy, and Greek and Roman political thought.

Programme Summary

This MA by Research in Classics at Swansea will enable you to undertake a research project led by your own interests. It is a highly respected qualification which can enable a future career in academia or a wider scope for employment in fields such as education, government or the private sector. A thesis of 40,000 words will be submitted for assessment demonstrating original research with a substantive contribution to the subject area. The Masters is examined following an oral examination of the thesis (a viva voce examination or viva). You will acquire research skills for high-level work and skills and training programmes are available on campus for further support.

Programme Aims

This Masters programme will provide students with:

1. The opportunity to conduct high quality postgraduate research in a world leading research environment.
2. Key skills needed to undertake advanced academic and non-academic research including qualitative and quantitative data analysis.
3. Advanced critical thinking, intellectual curiosity and independent judgement.

Assessment

Students for the Masters by Research in Classics are examined in two parts.

The first part is a thesis which is an original body of work representing the methods and results of the research project. The word limit is 40,000 for the main text. The word limit does not include appendices (if any), essential footnotes, introductory parts and statements or the bibliography and index. The second part is an oral examination (viva voce).