Master of Philosophy in Greek and/or Latin Languages and Literature

Differences from 2014/15 to 2023/24

(See also the general notice at the commencement of these regulations.)

The regulations made by the Board of the Faculty of Classics are as follows:

  • 1. QualificationsCourse. Candidates must satisfy the board that they possess the necessary qualifications in Greek and/or Latin to profit by the course.

  • 2. Course. Every candidate must follow for at least six terms a course of instruction in Greek and/or Latin Languages and Literature. Candidates will, when they enter for the examination, be required to produce from their society a certificate that they are following such a course.

  • 32. OptionsSyllabus. See the schedule below.  Candidates are required to offer a thesis (CD) and any two options chosen from Lists A, B, and BC below. 

  • 43. Approval of Options. The choice of options will be subject to the approval of the candidate's supervisor and of the Graduate Studies Committee in Classics,Classical having regard to the candidate's previous experience, the range covered by the proposed options,Languages and the availability of teaching and examining resourcesLiterature. 

  • Not all options may be available in any given year.

    • Candidates

  •  
  • 4.  must submit their provisional choice of options to the Academic Administrative Officers, Ioannou Centre, 66 St. Giles', Oxford OX1 3LU not later than noon on the MondayOne of the weektwo precedingoptions firsttaken weekfrom ofA, Hilary Full Term next after the beginning of their course; the proposed thesis title not later than Tuesday of first week in the Trinity Full Term next following;B and theC proposed titles of any pre-submitted essays (see §§ 5 and 7) as soon as practicable, but in any case no later than noon on the Monday of the week preceding first week of Hilary Full Term of the second year of the course (except that the titles of essays tomust be examinedcompleted atby the end of the first year of study in accordance with cl. 8If belowit shouldis an option to be examined by presubmitted essays, these must be submitted no later than theby noon on the MondayWednesday of Week 6 in the week preceding first week of HilaryTrinity Full Term of the first year of study for the course)M.

      Phil.

    • 5. Examination . Each option in section A will be examined by (i) a written paper (three hours) of passages for translation and comment, in which the passages for comment will be set only from the books listed under α in each case, while passages for translation will be set from the books listed under both α and β in each case, and (ii) by three presubmitted essays (see § 7 below) which between them display knowledge of more than a narrow range of the topic. For the examinations to be set in the options under Section B, see the detailed schedule in the Student Handbook.

    • 6. Any candidate whose native language is not English may bring a bilingual (native language to English) dictionary for use in any examination paper where candidates are required to translate Ancient Greek and/or Latin texts into English.

    • 7. Presubmitted essays. Essays should each be of between 5,000 and 7,500 words (these limits to exclude the bibliography, any text that is being edited or annotated, any translation of that text, and any descriptive catalogue or similar factual matter, but to include quotations, notes and appendices). A note of the word-count must be included.

    • Supervisors or others are permitted to give bibliographical help with, and to discuss a first draft of, such essays.

      The essays (two typewritten or printed copies) must be delivered in a parcel bearing the words ‘Essays presubmitted for the M.Phil. in Greek and/or Latin Languages and Literature’uploaded to the ExaminationUniversity Schoolsapproved online assessment platform, High Street, Oxford OX1 4BG, to arrive  by noon on ThursdayWednesday of sixthWeek week6 in the appropriate Trinity Full Term.

    • 86. The word limits for presubmitted Oneessays ofand for theses exclude only the twobibliography. optionsCandidates takenmay fromapply A and B must be completed byto the endGraduate ofStudies Committee no later than three weeks before the firstsubmission yeardeadline offor study. If it is an optiondispensation to beexclude examinedcertain byother presubmitted essays, these must be delivered as in § 7 above, but to arrive by noon on the Thursday of sixth week in the Trinity Full Term of the first year of study for the M.Phil.

    • 9. In theses and pre-submitted essays all quotations from primary or secondary sources, and all reporting or appropriationtypes of material from thosethe sources,word-count; mustguidance beis explicitlyprovided acknowledgedin the handbook.

      7. EachAny candidate mustwhose signfirst language is not English may bring a certificatebilingual (first language to theEnglish) effectdictionary thatfor the thesis or pre-submitted essay is the candidate's own work, and that the candidate has read the Faculty's guidelines on plagiarism. This declaration must be placeduse in a sealed envelope bearing the candidate'sany examination numberpaper where candidates are required to translate Ancient Greek and presented together with the thesis /or pre-submittedLatin essaytexts into English. 

    • 108.   Oral Examination. Candidates are required to present themselves for oral examination if summoned by the examiners.

    • 11. Distinction. The examiners may award a distinction for excellence in the whole examination.

    • 129. A candidate who fails to satisfy the examiners may enter for the examination on one (but not more than one) subsequent occasion (as provided under the appropriate regulation). If it is the opinion of the examiners that the work done by a candidate, while not of sufficient merit to qualify for the degree of M.Phil., is nevertheless of sufficient merit to qualify for the degree of M.St. in Greek and/or Latin Languages and Literature, the candidate shall be given the option of resitting the M.Phil. or of being granted leave to supplicate for the degree of Master of Studies.

    Schedule

    Section A

    • 1Candidates may offer up to two options from List A. HistoriographyEach option will be examined by (i) a written paper of passages for translation and comment, and (ii)  three presubmitted essays which between them display knowledge of more than a narrow range of the topic. 

      2.A list of available options and the associated Lyric Poetry

      3. Early Greek Hexameter Poetry

      4. Greek Tragedy

      5. Comedy

      6. Hellenistic Poetry

      7. Cicero

      8. Ovid

      9. Latin Didactic

      10. Neronian Literature

    • The exact prescribed texts forand eacheditions of options 1-10 will be as listedappear in the StudentHandbook Handbook.

    11.issued Medievalin andWeek Renaissance Latin Hexameter Poetry

    α

    In Latin:

      

    1. Walter0 of Châtillonthe Michaelmas Term preceding the examination. In addition to the options set out in the Handbook, Alexandreiscandidates Bookmay 10;

      

    offer 2.an option Petrarch,based Africaon Book 9; Bucolicum Carmen 1 and 3;

      

    3. Vida, Ars Poetica Book 3;

      

    4. Milton, In Quintum Novembris, Mansus, Epitaphium Damonis.

     

    β

    In translation:

      

    1. Walter of Châtillon, Alexandreis Books 1-9;

      

    2. Petrarch, Africa Books 1-8;

      

    3. Vida, Ars Poetica Books 1-2.

    12. Anyany other text or combination of texts approvedin byAncient Greek and/or Latin of their choice, subject to the approval of the Graduate Studies Committee in Classics.

    InClassical 1-11 passages for translationLanguages and comment will be set from the editions listed in the regulations for the Honour School of Literae HumanioresLiterature. The editions to be used for any option approved under 12 will be specified by the Graduate Studies Committee in Classics.  

    SectionB

     Candidates may offer up to two options from List B. 

    • 1B1. The transmission of Greek texts, and the elements of palaeography and textual criticism, with closer study of Euripides, Orestes 1-347 and 1246-1693. Candidates will be required (i) to presubmitsubmit two essays on some aspect of the transmission of Greek texts or textual criticism, (ii) sit a paper on Greek Palaeography (1.5 hours), and (iii) to take a paper (Honour School of Literae Humaniores, optionsubject III513.13: 3 hours) of transcription and of comment on passages in the set text.

    • 2B2. The transmission of Latin texts, and the elements of palaeography and textual criticism,. with closer study of either (a) Seneca, Agamemnon or Catullus 1-14, 27-39, 44-51, 65-7, 69-76, 95-101, 114-161. Candidates will be required (i) to presubmitsubmit two essays on some aspect of the transmission of Latin texts or textual criticism, (ii) to sit a paper on Latin Paleaography (1.5 hours)Palaeography, and (iii) to take a paper (Honour School of Literae Humaniores, optionsubjects III515 or 524.14: 3 hours) of transcription and of comment on passages in the set text.

    • 3B3. Greek and Latin Papyrology, with special reference to literary papyri. Candidates will be required (i) to submit two essays that between them display more than a narrow range of the topic, and (ii) to undertake a practical test, in their own time, into decipheringbe anduploaded commentingto the University approved online assessment platform by noon on original papyri. (The examiners, in consultation with the supervisor and/or the teacherWednesday of theWeek course, will assign each candidate a papyrus or small group of papyri not later than Saturday of sixth week6 in the Hilary Full Term preceding the candidate's final term; he or she must prepare an edition of it, in proper scholarly form, and deliver two typed copies of this edition to the Examination Schools not later than noon on Thursday of sixth week in theappropriate Trinity Full Term in which the examination will be taken. The copies should be accompanied by a statement signed by the candidate to the effect that they are solely his or her own work. This statement must be placed in a sealed envelope bearing the candidate's examination number and presented together with the copies.)

    • 4B4. Comparative Philology,. This with special reference to the history of the Greek and/or Latin language. Two paperssubject will be setassessed by two written papers. 

      B5. PaperReception: (i), Essays, will cover (a) basic questions about the comparative and/or historical grammar of Greek and/or Latin,Theory and (b) questions about the history of the Greek and/or Latin languageMethods. PaperThis (ii),subject texts for translation and linguistic commentary, will include a compulsory question with passages from either Greek dialect inscriptions or Latin archaic inscriptions; other passages will be set from Greek and/or Latin literary texts; there will be an opportunity to show knowledge of Linear B and/or Oscan and Umbrian.

    • 5. Theory and methodology of classical literary studies. Candidates will be expected to be familiar with the major theoretical and methodological issues that arise in the study of ancient literature, and with the major positions in contemporary critical theory and their relationship to classical studies. They will be required to show knowledge of a range of issues in these areas. Examination will beexamined by means of four pre-submitted essays and require attendance at the associated classes.

    • 6. Intermediate GreekB6. ThereAn will be one two-hour paper comprising unseen translation and grammatical questions on prescribed texts and one three-hour paper requiring translationoption from prescribedSchedule texts. A detailed specification and prescribed texts for the paper will be published in the MSt/MPhil course handbook not later than Monday of Week 0B of the MichaelmasM.Phil. Termin precedingClassical Archaeology, subject to the examination.approval Alternative texts for translation under this head may be offered by agreement withof the Graduate Studies Committee.

    •  in 7. IntermediateClassical Latin. There will be one two-hour paper comprising unseen translationLanguages and grammatical questions on prescribed textsLiterature and one three-hour paper requiring translation from prescribed texts. A detailed specification and prescribed texts for the paper will be published in the MSt/MPhil course handbook not later than Monday of Week 0 of the Michaelmas Term preceding the examination. Alternative texts for translation under this head may be offered by agreement with the Graduate Studies Committee in Archaeology. The submission deadline will be as specified under 4. above. 

    • 8B7. An option from Lists B or C of the M.Phil. in Greek and/or Roman History, subject to the approval of the Graduate Studies Committee in Classical Languages and Literature and the Graduate Studies Committee in Ancient History. The submission deadline will be as specified under 4. above. 

      B8. Any other subject approved by the Graduate Studies Committee in Classics, which will determine the method of examination.

    SectionC

    Candidates Cmay offer one of the following. Each of these options will be examined in two written papers. 

    • C1. Intermediate Greek. 

      C2. Intermediate Latin. 

    D

    A thesis of up to 25,000 words, on a subject to be proposed by the candidate in consultation with the supervisor, and approved by the Graduate Studies Committee in Classics. (The thesis word limit excludes the bibliography, any text that is being edited or annotated, any translation of that text, and any descriptive catalogue or similar factual matter, but includes quotations, notes and appendices. A note of the word-count must be included.) Supervisors or others are permitted to give bibliographical help and to discuss drafts.

    The thesis (two typewritten or printed copies) must be delivereduploaded in a parcel bearingto the wordsUniversity ‘Thesisapproved foronline theassessment Mplatform.Phil. in Greek and/or Latin Languages and Literature’ to reach the Examination Schools, High Street, Oxford OX1 4BG,  by noon on ThursdayWednesday of sixthWeek week6 in the Trinity Full Term in which the examination is to be taken.

    The examiners may invite a successful candidate to agree that one copy of his or her thesis be deposited in the Bodleian Library.