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Classics MA

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Overview

This course gives you the opportunity to study the classical world in one of the UK’s largest Classics departments, with a focus on Greek and Latin language and literature. It is an intercollegiate course enabling you to take a wide range of options taught at King’s, UCL and Royal Holloway. You can take advantage of our close links to the Institute of Classical Studies, one of the UK’s best Classics libraries.

It leads to further research or careers in education, journalism, finance, politics and cultural sectors.


Key benefits

  • Study in one of the UK’s largest and oldest departments of Classics. Classics has been taught on the Strand for over 200 years.
  • Unrivalled location for the study of the ancient world thanks to London’s unique range of specialist libraries, museums and galleries.
  • Extraordinarily wide choice of modules, drawing on the resources of the whole of the University of London.
  • King’s graduates enjoy one of the best employment rates in the UK. King’s was ranked 4th in the UK for graduate employability (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2017).

Key information

Application status Open

Duration One year FT, two years PT, September to September.

Study mode Full-time, Part-time

Credit value UK 180/ECTS 90

Course intake 15-20.

Course leaders Dr Daniel Orrells

Further details

Course contact for further information Postgraduate Admissions Team, Admissions Office tel: +44 (0)20 7848 7000 fax: +44 (0)20 7848 7200

Course contact form Postgraduate admissions

Awarding institution King's College London

Faculty Faculty of Arts & Humanities

Department Department of Classics

Locations

 

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Course detail

Description

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

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.

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:

www.kcl.ac.uk/artshums/depts/classics/about/greek/index.aspx

 

 

Course format and assessment

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

Your performance will be assessed through a combination of coursework and written/practical examinations. Forms of assessment may typically include coursework essays, written examinations and individual or group presentations. Coursework contributes approximately 50% and examinations approximately 50% to your final mark.

Location

This course is primarily taught at the King’s College London Strand Campus. Our location in the heart of London offers you access to a city with one of the world’s most extensive collections of museums and cultural offerings. You will benefit from our own resources, as well as the world-leading Classics library at the Institute of Classical Studies and other University of London libraries.

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.

Regulating body

King's College London is regulated by the Office for Students.

Structure

Year 1

Courses are divided into modules. You will normally take modules totalling 180 credits.
Required Modules

You are required to take:

· Research Training & Dissertation in Classics (60 credits)

Optional Modules

In addition, you are required to take 120 credits, of which at least 40 credits must test your knowledge of Greek or Latin, from a range of optional modules, which may typically include:

· Beginners’ Ancient Greek for Research (40 credits)

· Intermediate Ancient Greek for Research (40 credits)

· Medieval Latin Literature* (40 credits)

· Skills for Medievalists: Palaeography (20 credits)

· Homer (40 credits)

· The Reception of Roman Comedy (20 credits)

· Homeric Presences in Greek Poetry & Shorter Prose Since 1890 (20 credits)

· Modern Greek Poetry & the Epic Tradition (20 credits)

· Tacitus & Nero (40 credits)

· Early Modern Latin Poetry I (20 credits)

· Latin Epigraphy (40 credits)

· Roman Britain (40 credits)

· CP Cavafy: the Making of a Modernist (20 credits)

· One God, One Sea: Byzantium & Islam, 600–800 (20 credits)

· Persepolis (20 credits)

· Classical Frontiers: Northern Black Sea in Antiquity (20 credits)

· The City of Rome (British School at Rome Annual Postgraduate Course) (40 credits)

· The Classical Art of the Body: Greek Sculpture & its Legacy (40 credits)

· The Art of Making: Craft Production from Classical Antiquity to Today (40 credits)

· Exhibiting Classical Antiquities (20 credits)

· Living in Byzantium I: Material Culture & Built Environment in Late Antiquity (20 credits)

· Living in Byzantium II: Material Culture & Built Environment in the Middle Ages (20 credits)

· Up to 20 credits from modules offered by King’s Modern Language Centre · Master’s modules offered by UCL Department of Greek & Latin, UCL Department of History, UCL Institute of Archaeology, RHUL Department of Classics and RHUL Department of History, subject to approvals

If you are a part-time student, you will take the required module in your second year, along with 40 credits of optional modules. In your first year, you will take 80 credits of optional modules, of which 40 credits must test your knowledge of Greek or Latin.

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.

Entry requirements & how to apply

Classics MA Entry Requirements
Minimum requirements  2:1

2:1 BA degree with honours in Classics, Classical Studies, Classical Civilisation, Ancient History, Archaeology, or a related subject such as English, History, Modern Languages, Philosophy and Religious Studies.

Applicants must be able to read texts in Latin and/or Greek.

In order to meet the academic entry requirements for this programme you should have a minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree with a final mark of at least 60% or above in the UK marking scheme. If you are still studying you should be achieving an average of at least 60% or above in the UK marking scheme.
International requirements   Visit our admissions webpages to view our International entry requirements.
English Language requirements Band C Visit our admissions webpages to view our English language entry requirements.

 

The Department offers a Graduate Diploma in Classical Studies, which can act as a conversion course for those with degrees in other areas who want to go on to take the MA Classics. 

 

Application procedure

Your application will be assessed by the Postgraduate Admissions Tutor, and by other academics as appropriate. We do not usually interview applicants, but we do encourage you to visit the department before applying, or after we have made you an offer. Alternatively we can arrange to talk to you by telephone or Skype. We aim to process all applications within four weeks although this may take longer in February and March, and over holiday periods.

Applications must be made online using King’s online application portal apply.kcl.ac.uk and a non-refundable application fee of £70 applies.

 

Personal statement and supporting information

You will be asked to submit the following documents in order for your application to be considered:

Classics checklist
Personal Statement Yes

A personal statement is required. This can be entered directly into the online application form (maximum 4,000 characters) or uploaded as an attachment to the online application form (maximum 2 pages). In your personal statement, please tell us briefly why you want to undertake the MA in Classics, and what you are hoping to do afterwards. 
Previous Academic Study Yes A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing the subjects studied and marks obtained. If you have already completed your degree, copies of your official degree certificate will also be required. Applicants with academic documents issued in a language other than English, will need to submit both the original and official translation of their documents.
References Yes One academic reference is required. A professional reference will be accepted if you have completed your qualifications over five years ago. In some cases, we may request an additional reference from you.
Other Optional Applicants may wish to include a CV (Resume) or evidence of professional registration as part of their application.

 

Application closing date

We recommend that you submit your application as soon as possible. Our first application deadline is the 26th March 2021. After this date, the programme will remain open only if places are still available and will be closed as soon as it is full.

For programmes that remain open beyond this date, the final application deadlines for the following fee statuses are listed below:

  • EU or overseas (international) fee status: 30th July 2021
  • Home fee status: 27th August 2021

Please note, you will not be eligible for an application fee refund if you apply after the first application deadline in March, and we are unable to process more offers as places are filled before the final application deadlines above.

Help and support

If you don't have a suitable qualification for direct entry to a UK university, or if English isn't your first language, our academic preparation courses can help you get ready for study in the UK.

Preparation courses

Fees and funding

  • Full time Home fees: £10,500 per year (2021/22)
  • Full time overseas fees: £23,460 per year (2021/22)
  • Part time Home fees: £5,250 per year (2021/22)
  • Part time overseas fees: £11,730 per year (2021/22)

These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King’s terms and conditions.

Deposit

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 31st March, payment is due by 30th April 2021.
  • If you receive an offer between 1st April and 30th June, payment is due within one month of receiving the offer.
  • If you receive an offer between 1st July and 31st July, payment is due within two weeks of receiving the offer.
  • If you receive an offer on or after 1st August, payment is due within one week of receiving the offer.
  • If you receive an offer from late August onwards, payment is due within 2 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.

Additional costs/expenses

In addition to your tuition fees, you can also expect to pay for:

• books if you choose to buy your own copies

• clothing for optional course related events and competitions

• library fees and fines

• personal photocopies

• printing course handouts

• society membership fees

• stationery

• travel costs around London and between campuses

• graduation costs 

Please visit our web pages on fees and funding for more information.

Financial help and support

Visit the fees and funding webpages to find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans and other financial help available at King's.

Career prospects

Many of our graduates use the skills and knowledge they develop with us to pursue further research in our Department, whilst others go on to excel in careers in teaching, journalism, cultural management or the financial sector.

Testimonials

Rosanna

Rosanna

"I chose King’s due to the strong research and teaching reputation, along with the involvement that postgraduate students can have with seminars between different departments. You have the chance to challenge yourself both within and outside your subject area."

Blue box with King's College London rankings. Starting with, 7th in the UK for research quality. Followed by, 6th in the UK for research power. Concluding with, 4th among multi-faculty universities for research Impact. The source is research excellence framework 2014

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