Program Overview
The MRes in Late Antiquity at the University of Birmingham is a specialized research and taught program that delves into the fragmentation of the Roman World and its transformation into new states during the 4th to 7th centuries AD. Students explore the historical, textual, archaeological, and art historical aspects of this period, developing research and analytical skills for further study or a variety of careers in academia, museum work, and beyond.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
This program, the MRes in Late Antiquity, offers a deep dive into the fragmentation of the Roman World and its transformation into new states during the period AD 300–700.
Objectives:
The program aims to:
- Develop research skills for both doctoral study and future careers.
- Equip students with the ability to conduct independent research on a chosen topic in Late Antiquity.
- Enhance analytical and research skills through a taught component.
Description:
The MRes in Late Antiquity is a combined research and taught program. It involves a major individual research project supervised by a specialist in the field, along with a taught component that develops research and analytical skills. The program is designed to provide students with the necessary skills and knowledge to pursue further research or a career in related fields.
Outline:
Content:
The program focuses on the Late Antique period, specifically the fragmentation of the Roman World and its transformation into new states. It examines major debates about the period, tackling historical, textual, archaeological, and art historical material.
Structure:
The MRes consists of three taught modules and a 20,000-word supervised research thesis on a topic of the student's choice in the late antique world.
Course Schedule:
The program is a full-time program with a duration of one year.
Modules:
- Core Module: Research and Scholarship in Classics and Ancient History
- Optional Modules:
- Byzantine Archaeology and Material Culture
- Empire and Identity
- Greek (Beginner/Advanced)
- Latin (Beginner/Advanced)
- CAHA Seminar for Social History: Ancient Slaveries
- The Economies of the Late Roman, Byzantine and Frankish East
- Gender in Byzantium
- Ideas, Ideals and Ideologies
- Methodologies of Byzantine Studies
Assessment:
Methods:
The program utilizes a variety of assessment methods, including:
- Essays: Students will be required to write essays on various topics related to Late Antiquity.
- Presentations: Students will present their research findings to their peers and faculty.
- Research Thesis: The final assessment is a 20,000-word research thesis on a chosen topic in Late Antiquity.
Criteria:
The assessment criteria will vary depending on the specific module or assignment. However, general criteria may include:
- Depth of research: Students are expected to demonstrate a thorough understanding of the chosen topic.
- Analytical skills: Students should be able to critically analyze the evidence and draw informed conclusions.
- Writing quality: Students are expected to write clear, concise, and well-structured essays and research papers.
Teaching:
Methods:
The program employs a variety of teaching methods, including:
- Lectures: Lectures provide students with a foundational understanding of the key concepts and debates in Late Antiquity.
- Seminars: Seminars offer a more interactive learning environment where students can engage in discussions and debates with their peers and faculty.
- Workshops: Workshops provide students with practical skills in research methods, writing, and presentation.
Faculty:
The program is taught by a diverse group of faculty members with expertise in various aspects of Late Antiquity, including archaeology, art history, history, philosophy, and literature.
Unique Approaches:
The program benefits from the large postgraduate community in the Department, which works on all aspects of the ancient and late antique worlds. There is a particular concentration of students who work on the Byzantine period.
Careers:
Potential Career Paths:
The MRes in Late Antiquity prepares students for a variety of career paths, including:
- Academic research: Students may pursue a PhD in Late Antiquity or a related field.
- Museum and heritage work: Graduates may find employment in museums, heritage organizations, and archaeological sites.
- Other fields: Graduates may also pursue careers in publishing, fundraising, and other fields where their research and analytical skills are valuable.
Opportunities:
The University of Birmingham offers a range of employability support services to help students achieve their career goals. These services include:
- One-to-one careers advice: Students can receive guidance on job applications, CV writing, and interview techniques.
- Careers fairs, workshops, and conferences: The University offers a variety of events to help students develop their skills and network with potential employers.
Outcomes:
Graduates of the MRes in Late Antiquity develop a broad range of transferable skills, including:
- Research methods: Familiarity with research methods and the ability to manage large quantities of information from diverse sources.
- Analytical skills: The ability to organize information logically and coherently, write clearly and concisely, and critically analyze evidence.
- Communication skills: Expertise in argumentation, debate, and speculation, as well as the ability to base conclusions on statistical research.
Other:
- The University Library has an outstanding research collection with strong holdings in periodicals and other scholarly publications, including those in relevant European languages, and subscriptions to all major online databases and e-resources.
- The Barber Institute of Fine Arts houses one of the most impressive collections of Roman, Byzantine, Sasanian, medieval Islamic, and medieval and modern Hungarian coins in the world.
- The Classics department is ranked 8th out of Classics departments in the UK in the Research Excellence Framework exercise 2021 based on research rated 4 .
- Students have the opportunity to choose modules from a range of opportunities taught by the Department of Classics, Ancient History and Archaeology or the Department of History depending on their interests and research needs.
- The University of Birmingham is the top choice for the UK's major employers searching for graduate recruits, according to The Graduate Market 2024 report.
UK: £6,780 full-time International: £21,840 full-time
Entry Requirements:
- For MRes and MA by Research programmes:
- A good (normally a 2:1 or above) Honours degree, or an equivalent qualification if you were educated outside the UK, usually in a relevant area.
- For PhD programmes:
- A Masters qualification at Merit level or above (or its international equivalent), usually in a relevant area.
International Students:
- General: We accept a range of qualifications from different countries.
- GPA: Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a GPA of 14/20 from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.
Language Proficiency Requirements:
- IELTS: 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band.
- TOEFL: 88 overall with no less than 21 in Reading, 21 Listening, 22 Speaking and 21 in Writing.
- Pearson Test of English (PTE): Academic 59 in all four skills.
- Cambridge English (exams taken from 2015): Advanced - minimum overall score of 176, with no less than 169 in any component. If you successfully complete the course, you will be able to fulfil the language requirement without retaking a language qualification.
