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Our Ancient History MA offers you the opportunity to study Greek, Roman and near-Eastern history at an advanced level. You will also learn and refine the techniques and skills you need to be able to analyse and interpret a variety of historical sources. This is an intercollegiate course that draws on the strengths of King’s, UCL and Royal Holloway and the Institute of Classical Studies. Leads to further research or careers in education, journalism, finance, politics and cultural sectors.
The Ancient History MA course is organised on an intercollegiate basis, so that we combine the expertise of staff in all three of the participating colleges – King’s, UCL and Royal Holloway. The University’s Institute of Classical Studies is at the heart of this course. It not only maintains a world-class research library, but also hosts the richest programme of seminars, conferences and lectures for this subject area in the UK.
Located on the north bank of the River Thames, the Strand Campus houses King's College London's arts and sciences faculties.
King's is regulated by the Office for Students
The course consists of a required module Sources & Methods in Ancient History, two to four optional modules and a dissertation. The first and last of these will provide you with concentrated training in research techniques and methodology. You will also study texts in the original languages as well as in translation. Besides purely ancient historical topics, you may also take modules from our master’s courses in Classics, Classical Archaeology & Art, and Late Antique & Byzantine Studies. You may also be able to take appropriate modules from other master’s courses at King’s.
If you have ambitions to take your study of ancient history further, there are modules on this course that you will find especially valuable: Greek Papyrology, Greek & Roman Epigraphy, and Greek & Latin Palaeography. These will advance your technical skills in the handling of documentary evidence. You can also choose to take modules in Greek and Latin languages at beginners or intermediate level.
Research Seminars
In the Department of Classics, we run a research seminar series (which we encourage MA students to attend), where you will learn about the current research of our academic staff and PhD students. Our Department also regularly hosts major research conferences with speakers from around the world.
Personal Tutor
At King’s, all students on a taught programme are allocated a personal tutor who will play a key role in helping you to get the most out of your studies, providing support and encouragement for your time at university.
Personal tutors provide you with the opportunity to periodically take stock of your learning, academic progress and general wellbeing as you progress through your studies, offering guidance on how to seek further support if you need it, and how to access the range of opportunities available to you as a King's student.
Greek Play
Every year (since 1953), students in the Department of Classics have produced and performed a Greek play – the only production in the UK to be performed annually in the original Greek. Read more about the Greek Play (and its history) at King’s.
Teaching
If you are a full-time student, we will provide six to eight hours of lectures and seminars each week, and we will expect you to undertake 35 hours of independent study.
If you are a part-time student, we will provide two to six hours of lectures and seminars a week, and we will expect you to undertake 17.5 hours of independent study.
For your dissertation, we will provide five hours of supervision, and we will expect you to undertake 575 hours of independent study.
Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work
Your performance will be assessed through a combination of coursework and written/practical examinations. Forms of assessment may typically include coursework essays, individual or group presentations and written examinations.
We will use a delivery method that will ensure students have a rich, exciting experience from the start. Face to face teaching will be complemented and supported with innovative technology so that students also experience elements of digital learning and assessment.
Dissertation Supervision
During your first term at King’s you will need to decide on your MA dissertation subject, if you have not done so before you arrive. The dissertation can be related to work you are doing in a taught module, or it can be in a completely different area. On the basis of your chosen subject area we will assign you a supervisor from the Department of Classics who will discuss the topic with you and oversee your work on it.
You are required to take:
In addition, students are required to choose modules totalling 40 credits from a range of Archaeology modules that typically includes:
King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.
Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.
Our graduates are highly sought after, and they take the skills and knowledge they developed with us to excel in careers in teaching, journalism, cultural management or the financial sector. Others have continued their studies to further research. Read more about our alumni here.
Full time: £11,040 per year (2022/23)
Part time: £5,520 per year (2022/23)
Full time: £24,660 per year (2022/23)
Part time: £12,330 per year (2022/23)
These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King’s terms and conditions.
When you receive an offer for this course you will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure your place. The deposit will be credited towards your total fee payment.
The UK deposit is £500.
The INTERNATIONAL deposit is £2,000.
If you receive an offer on or before 31 March, payment is due by 25 April 2022.
If you receive an offer between 1 April and 30 June, payment is due within one month of receiving the offer.
If you receive an offer between 1 July and 31 July, payment is due within two weeks of receiving the offer.
If you receive an offer between 1 August and 21 August, payment is due within one week of receiving the offer.
If you receive an offer from 22 August onwards, payment is due within three days of receiving the offer
If you are a current King’s student in receipt of the King's Living Bursary you are not required to pay a deposit to secure your place on the programme. Please note, this will not change the total fees payable for your chosen programme.
Please visit our web pages on fees and funding for more information.
In addition to your tuition costs, you can also expect to pay for:
The Ancient History MA course is organised on an intercollegiate basis, so that we combine the expertise of staff in all three of the participating colleges – King’s, UCL and Royal Holloway. The University’s Institute of Classical Studies is at the heart of this course. It not only maintains a world-class research library, but also hosts the richest programme of seminars, conferences and lectures for this subject area in the UK.
Located on the north bank of the River Thames, the Strand Campus houses King's College London's arts and sciences faculties.
King's is regulated by the Office for Students
The course consists of a required module Sources & Methods in Ancient History, two to four optional modules and a dissertation. The first and last of these will provide you with concentrated training in research techniques and methodology. You will also study texts in the original languages as well as in translation. Besides purely ancient historical topics, you may also take modules from our master’s courses in Classics, Classical Archaeology & Art, and Late Antique & Byzantine Studies. You may also be able to take appropriate modules from other master’s courses at King’s.
If you have ambitions to take your study of ancient history further, there are modules on this course that you will find especially valuable: Greek Papyrology, Greek & Roman Epigraphy, and Greek & Latin Palaeography. These will advance your technical skills in the handling of documentary evidence. You can also choose to take modules in Greek and Latin languages at beginners or intermediate level.
Research Seminars
In the Department of Classics, we run a research seminar series (which we encourage MA students to attend), where you will learn about the current research of our academic staff and PhD students. Our Department also regularly hosts major research conferences with speakers from around the world.
Personal Tutor
At King’s, all students on a taught programme are allocated a personal tutor who will play a key role in helping you to get the most out of your studies, providing support and encouragement for your time at university.
Personal tutors provide you with the opportunity to periodically take stock of your learning, academic progress and general wellbeing as you progress through your studies, offering guidance on how to seek further support if you need it, and how to access the range of opportunities available to you as a King's student.
Greek Play
Every year (since 1953), students in the Department of Classics have produced and performed a Greek play – the only production in the UK to be performed annually in the original Greek. Read more about the Greek Play (and its history) at King’s.
Teaching
If you are a full-time student, we will provide six to eight hours of lectures and seminars each week, and we will expect you to undertake 35 hours of independent study.
If you are a part-time student, we will provide two to six hours of lectures and seminars a week, and we will expect you to undertake 17.5 hours of independent study.
For your dissertation, we will provide five hours of supervision, and we will expect you to undertake 575 hours of independent study.
Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work
Your performance will be assessed through a combination of coursework and written/practical examinations. Forms of assessment may typically include coursework essays, individual or group presentations and written examinations.
We will use a delivery method that will ensure students have a rich, exciting experience from the start. Face to face teaching will be complemented and supported with innovative technology so that students also experience elements of digital learning and assessment.
Dissertation Supervision
During your first term at King’s you will need to decide on your MA dissertation subject, if you have not done so before you arrive. The dissertation can be related to work you are doing in a taught module, or it can be in a completely different area. On the basis of your chosen subject area we will assign you a supervisor from the Department of Classics who will discuss the topic with you and oversee your work on it.
You are required to take:
In addition, students are required to choose modules totalling 40 credits from a range of Archaeology modules that typically includes:
King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.
Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.
Our graduates are highly sought after, and they take the skills and knowledge they developed with us to excel in careers in teaching, journalism, cultural management or the financial sector. Others have continued their studies to further research. Read more about our alumni here.
Full time: £11,040 per year (2022/23)
Part time: £5,520 per year (2022/23)
Full time: £24,660 per year (2022/23)
Part time: £12,330 per year (2022/23)
These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King’s terms and conditions.
When you receive an offer for this course you will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure your place. The deposit will be credited towards your total fee payment.
The UK deposit is £500.
The INTERNATIONAL deposit is £2,000.
If you receive an offer on or before 31 March, payment is due by 25 April 2022.
If you receive an offer between 1 April and 30 June, payment is due within one month of receiving the offer.
If you receive an offer between 1 July and 31 July, payment is due within two weeks of receiving the offer.
If you receive an offer between 1 August and 21 August, payment is due within one week of receiving the offer.
If you receive an offer from 22 August onwards, payment is due within three days of receiving the offer
If you are a current King’s student in receipt of the King's Living Bursary you are not required to pay a deposit to secure your place on the programme. Please note, this will not change the total fees payable for your chosen programme.
Please visit our web pages on fees and funding for more information.
In addition to your tuition costs, you can also expect to pay for:
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