MPhil/PhD Classical Studies

Our webinars, subject masterclasses, question and answer sessions, and student panel talks are a great way to discover what it is like to live and study at the University of Lincoln.

The MPhil/PhD Classical Studies offers you the opportunity to undertake an intensive study of an aspect of Greek and Roman history and/or Greek and Latin languages, literature, and cultures, and to make an original contribution to scholarly understandings of your chosen subject area.

While the emphasis is on your independent research, you will receive guidance from academic supervisors who have expertise in a range of topics in Classical Studies across both local and global contexts, including in Lincoln itself, Britain, Iberia, the Mediterranean world, and the ancient Near East. The School of Humanities and Heritage brings together academics, archivists, librarians and researchers with interdisciplinary interests in both ancient history/classics and the subsequent interpretation and representation of the classical past. We also have a strong relationship with the wider scholarly and professional community.

As an MPhil/PhD student, you are encouraged to participate in the School of Humanities and Heritage's lively research culture of research seminars, as well as postgraduate forums, social events, and training to support the development of your academic skills.

Key Information

Full-time

• MPhil: 1.5-3 years.
• Ph.D.: 2-4 years

Part-time

• MPhil: 2-4 years.
• PhD: 3-6 years

"This information was correct at the time of publishing (July 2023)"

How You Study

Over the course of your studies, you will be expected to complete an original piece of research that makes a contribution to the existing scholarship on, and knowledge of, the subject under scrutiny. You will be guided throughout this process by expert and well-published supervisors, from whom you will receive feedback and advice. Your Ph.D. project might cross disciplinary boundaries and focus on multiple subject areas; in such cases, we will endeavor to support you through the allocation of supervisors in relevant fields.

Due to the nature of postgraduate research programs, a significant amount of time will be spent on independent study and research. You will need to take considerable responsibility for your studies, including time management, project planning, and writing drafts of your work. Students are expected to submit appropriate written work regularly to their supervisors and to act on the feedback received. Students will have regular meetings with their academic supervisor(s) who will discuss the development of the research, comment on written drafts, and agree on the next stage of work.

Students have access to support and training to develop the practical and critical skills necessary for study at the doctoral level, and for interpreting a wide range of evidence. Students will have opportunities to receive tuition in relevant languages.

The School of Humanities and Heritage provides a stimulating research environment within which our postgraduate community plays a central role. Research seminars and staff-student reading groups foster cross-disciplinary debates and collaboration, as well as provide opportunities for career development.

Research Areas, Projects, and Topics

Research students will benefit from a broad range of staff research expertise in Classical Studies across both local and global contexts, including in Lincoln itself, Britain, Iberia, the Mediterranean world, and the ancient Near East. Our interests include:

• Greek and Roman historiography
• Alexander the Great
• Hellenistic history
• Roman London
• The Fall of the Roman Empire in the West
• Language and Literacy in the Western Mediterranean
• Gender and women’s history
• Cross-cultural contacts and exchanges

More broadly, the School of History and Heritage brings together academics, archivists, librarians, and researchers with interdisciplinary interests in both ancient history/classics and the subsequent interpretation and representation of the classical past.

We foster academic links within and beyond the University of Lincoln through welcoming external speakers, hosting international conferences, and contributing to national and international research networks and projects.

Current and recent student research projects in classical studies at Lincoln include:

• Martial as a social commentator on Rome
• Gendered Identities in Roman Britain
• Gender and sexuality in the works of Ctesias of Cnidus

How You Are Assessed

The assessment at this level of study takes the form of a thesis of 80,000 words (Ph.D.) or 40,000 words (MPhil), which is deemed to make an original contribution to knowledge and to be suitable for publication (in whole or in part).

You will normally need to defend your thesis in an oral examination (viva), where you are expected to demonstrate an expert understanding of your subject and to show how your research findings contribute to knowledge or build on existing understandings of the subject.

A doctoral qualification may be regarded as the capstone of academic achievement and may mark the beginning of a career in academia. Our School’s former students have also taken up careers in research, research administration, publishing, arts and heritage, and teaching in various contexts.

The University’s Doctoral School provides a focal point for Lincoln’s community of researchers, where ideas and experiences can be developed and shared across disciplines. It also offers support and training to help equip you for both academic and non-academic careers.