We have organised our MA course in Classics on an intercollegiate basis, so that we can combine the expertise of staff in all three of the participating colleges – King’s, UCL and Royal Holloway. The course centres on the University’s Institute of Classical Studies, which not only maintains a world-class research library, but also hosts the richest programme of seminars, conferences, and occasional lectures for this subject area in the UK. To further add to the breadth of our course, you can also take appropriate modules from other MA courses at King’s.
You will study modules through texts in the original languages as well as through translated texts. Besides purely literary and linguistic topics, you can also take modules in Ancient History, Classical Archaeology & Art and Late Antique & Byzantine Studies, including Latin and Ancient Greek at both a beginner’s and intermediate levels.
If you are looking to pursue further research in Classics, you are likely to find the unique opportunities to acquire technical skills in the handling of documentary evidence, provided by modules in Greek Papyrology, Greek & Roman Epigraphy, and Greek & Latin Palaeography, particularly valuable.
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
We will give you a personal tutor in the Department of Classics, who will advise you and help you decide which modules to take, and can answer any questions or concerns you may have whilst at King’s.
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.
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: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/artshums/depts/classics/about/greek/index.aspx
Teaching
If you are a full-time student we will typically provide you with six to eight hours of teaching each week through lectures and seminars, and we will expect you to undertake 35 hours of independent study.
If you are a part-time student we will typically provide you with two to six hours of teaching each week through lectures and seminars, 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 around 575 hours of independent study.
Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.
Assessment
We typically assess our modules through a combination of coursework and examinations, and the amount of coursework we expect you to produce will be greater for modules which are worth more credits. For your dissertation module you will write a 12,000-word essay.
Regulating body
King's College London is regulated by the Office for Students.