Course description
Our MA Classics and Ancient History is flexible and wide-ranging.
It reflects the broad, multidisciplinary nature of the subject, which includes Latin and Greek language, the history of Greek and Roman antiquity from archaic times to the beginning of the Middle Ages, and Greek and Roman literature, philosophy, and culture.
The course is designed to introduce you to advanced study in your chosen field and equip you with the skills required for doctoral research.
The course and most units within it allow you to tailor your advanced study and research-preparation to your interests, needs and existing knowledge.
We also offer a specialist route through the MA, the City of Rome pathway. This pathway involves taking a course unit at the British School at Rome, for which you prepare by studying a course on Roman social and urban history.
We expect all students to study Greek or Latin at an appropriate level. However, no existing knowledge of Latin or Greek is required, and we welcome students who want to begin their study of the ancient languages during their MA.
For any queries related to the course, please contact Dr Ina Berg .
Aims
On successful completion of this MA, you will be able to:
- demonstrate the enhancement of previously acquired skills at a more critical, reflective, and sophisticated level, especially skills involving synthesising information from a variety of sources, historical and/or literary interpretation, exercising independent and critical judgement;
- understand and respect the 'otherness' of the past by developing specialist knowledge about one or more aspect of Graeco-Roman civilisation;
- describe, analyse, and assess ancient sources, including (as appropriate) literary, non-literary, visual, and material evidence;
- design and complete a substantial piece of independent research;
- work effectively as an autonomous scholar;
- understand complex problems and communicate them clearly in oral and written form, with the help, where appropriate, of visual or graphic aids.
Special features
City of Rome pathway
You can take a specialist route through the MA, the City of Rome pathway.
This pathway involves taking a course unit at the British School at Rome, for which you prepare by studying a course on Roman social and urban history.
Teaching and learning
You will learn through a variety of teaching methods, depending on the units you take. These can include seminars, eLearning and one-to-one sessions.
Taught units involve at least 20 contact hours consisting of student-led and tutor-led discussion, guidance and planning sessions.
You may (with the permission of the Course Director) take a Directed Reading course unit (typically delivered in six 'classroom' hours). These units come in three slightly different forms: (1) a personalised independent study unit, on a topic of your choice, (2) an enhanced Level 3 course unit, in which you attend the scheduled lectures and seminars, but you receive additional seminars at a more advanced level, and (3) a small-group (3-6 students) independent study unit on a specific advertised topic. You must apply to the Postgraduate Course Director if you wish to be considered for one of these units.
Coursework and assessment
Taught units are usually assessed by extended essay, but assessment might also include oral presentations, conference posters, commentary exercises and (particularly for language units) formal examinations.
You will also write a dissertation of 12,000 words.
Course unit details
The MA is made up of a taught element (120 credits) and a dissertation (60 credits).
Course units vary from year to year, depending on staff availability and student enrolment, but you will find below details of the units which we are currently planning to offer in the next academic year.
If you are planning to take the MA part-time over two years, please note that we cannot guarantee that all of these course units will definitely run in in your second year.
If you are particularly keen to take a specific course unit, you are advised to discuss your plans with the Course Director, Dr Ina Berg – ina.berg@manchester.ac.uk .
Research training
Our core unit, 'Studying the Ancient World: Techniques and Approaches', introduces you to the key research questions and methods involved in advanced study of the discipline and, in Semester 2, gives you experience in developing and presenting your own research project.
Language units
If you are a beginner, you will take one of our specially-designed 'intensive' courses in Latin or Greek, which will put you in a position to start reading ancient texts in the original language before the end of your MA.
If you have already studied Greek or Latin, you will continue your study of one or both languages at an appropriate level.
If you are already at a very advanced stage in both languages, you will take a specially-designed course unit which allows you further to develop your language skills.
Taught course units
The remainder of your taught credits are selected from a range of taught units, chosen from a menu covering a range of topics in Greek and Roman history, literature, culture, archaeology, and Egyptology. Most taught units are worth 15 credits.
It is possible for one of these units to be an approved unit from another subject area (for example, History or Museology).
Course unit list
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
| Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| MA Dissertation | CAHE60070 | 60 | Mandatory |
| The Study of the Ancient World | CAHE60510 | 30 | Mandatory |
| Directed Reading (semester 2) | CAHE60002 | 15 | Optional |
| Latin Letters | CAHE60012 | 15 | Optional |
| Climate and Environment in the Ancient World: Integrating written and geoarchaeological evidence | CAHE60051 | 15 | Optional |
| The City of Rome (Course-Unit Provided by the British School at Rome) | CAHE60222 | 30 | Optional |
| Hellenistic Poetry | CAHE60301 | 15 | Optional |
| Heritage, Museums & Conflict | CAHE60462 | 15 | Optional |
| Heritage, Museums and Conflict | CAHE60562 | 30 | Optional |
| Augustan Rome | CAHE64031 | 15 | Optional |
| Displaying 10 of 28 course units | |||
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Facilities
Of special significance for classicists and ancient historians are the impressive collections of papyri, medieval manuscripts and early printed books held at The John Rylands Library.
The library boasts 12,500 books printed between 1475 and 1640 (including the second largest collection of works printed by Caxton), and around 45,000 printed between 1641 and 1700.
The Manchester Museum houses one of the UK's most important collections, including artefacts of particular relevance to ancient historians.
We have our own collection of classical texts, translations and reference works, housed in a recently refurbished study room, which is always available for use.
Find out more on the Facilities page.