Classical Archaeology and Ancient History

Program Overview

The MPhil/PhD in Classical Archaeology and Ancient History at Birkbeck is a postgraduate research degree that allows students to conduct original research and submit a substantial dissertation. The program offers a variety of resources to support research, including regular work-in-progress seminars, courses on ancillary skills, and PhD thesis-writing workshops. The program prepares students for careers in academia, research, museums, cultural heritage institutions, education, and other fields.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This degree offers you the opportunity to:

• Develop highly advanced conceptual skills in the pursuit of new knowledge
• Apply these skills within or beyond academic and scholarly contexts
• Channel your creativity into critical, innovative reasoning
• Develop expertise in research methods and methodologies
• Contribute to your chosen field of study with original research

Current research interests at Birkbeck include:

• Cultural and social history of ancient Greece
• Hellenistic world
• Ancient Italy and Rome
• Reception of the 'classical' past
• Approaches to identity in the ancient world
• Cultural change in the Hellenistic and Roman worlds

Outline:

• Regular work-in-progress seminars
• Courses on ancillary skills (reading medieval and early modern documents, locating sources, languages, computing)
• PhD thesis-writing workshops
• Methodological masterclasses
• Student-organized conferences
• Special courses that teach non-English languages for research

Teaching:

The program utilizes a variety of teaching methods, including:

• Regular meetings with your supervisor(s)
• Seminars
• Workshops
• Masterclasses
• Access to online resources

Careers:

Other:

• The program emphasizes its strong research culture and its proximity to major research institutions.
• Birkbeck was ranked in the top eight universities in the UK for its History research in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework.
• Students can benefit from a variety of financial support options, including scholarships, loans, and flexible payment plans.

Conclusion:

The Classical Archaeology and Ancient History MPhil/PhD program at Birkbeck offers a rigorous and comprehensive program for students seeking to pursue advanced research in this field. The program's emphasis on research excellence, supportive environment, and diverse learning opportunities make it an ideal choice for aspiring researchers and scholars.

• Part-time home students: £2,539 per year
• Full-time home students: £4,786 per year
• Part-time international students: £7,525 per year
• Full-time international students: £14,885 per year
Students are charged a tuition fee in each year of their course. Tuition fees for students continuing on their course in following years may be subject to annual inflationary increases. Fees and finance PhD students resident in England can apply for government loans of over £26,000 to cover the cost of tuition fees, maintenance and other study-related costs. We offer a range of studentships and funding options to support your research.