Research Degrees in Classics

Differences from 2015/16 to 2019/20

  • 1.Admission to M.Litt. status

    Applications from Probationer Research Students for transfer to the status of Student for the Degree of Master of Letters will not normally be considered before the beginning of the candidate's third term as a Probationer Research Student. Transfer will normally take place in the third or fourth term.

    The written work to be submitted should be a single essay, preferably typed, on a subject relevant to the candidate's proposed thesis. For candidates in Languages and Literature the essay should not be more than 10,000 words in length; for candidates in Ancient History it should not be more than 5,000 words in length.

  • 2.Admission to D.Phil. status

    Applications from Probationer Research Students for transfer to the status of Student for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy will not normally be considered before the beginning of the candidate's third term as a Probationer Research Student. The board regards the end of the third, or the beginning of the fourth, term as the normal time for this application to be made.

    The written work to be submitted should be a single essay, preferably typed, and should be close in content to a chapter or part of a chapter of the candidate's proposed thesis.

    For candidates in Languages and Literature the essay should not be more than 5,000 words in length; for candidates in Ancient History it should not be more than 10,000 words in length.

    In Languages and Literature candidates will also be required to have attended such classes as the Graduate Studies Committee shall from time to time determine.

  • 3.Confirmation of D.Phil. status

    Applications from Students for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy for confirmation of status should be accompanied by a reasoned statement of the nature of the proposed thesis. Candidates in Ancient History are required to submit in addition a single essay of between 5,000 and 10,000 words in length, which should be close in content to a chapter or part of a chapter of the proposed thesis; candidates in Languages and Literature should be required to submit an essay, of approximately 5,000 words in length. Candidates may also be required to attend an interview.

    In Languages and Literature candidates will also be required to provide evidence of reading competence in German and a second modern language by the time of confirmation. Further details on the modern language policy are set out in the Faculty's D.Phil. handbook.

    The board regards the end of the sixth, or the beginning of the seventh, term from the candidate's admission as a Probationer Research Student as the normal time for this application to be made except in the case of candidates who have been admitted directly to the status of Student for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy of Philosophy after taking the M.Phil. and whose admission as Probationer Research Student is thereafter deemed to have begun when they began the M.Phil.: in this case the normal time is the end of the ninth term after admission to the Status of Probationer Research Student.

  • 4.Theses

    All candidates when they submit their theses must state the approximate number of words therein both (a) including citations and, if they have been granted permission to count citations separately, (b) excluding citations. Theses exceeding the limit are liable to be returned unexamined for reduction to the proper length. Candidates who have submitted in their final term may be allowed a maximum period of two terms to effect the necessary reduction.

    Theses submitted for the Degree of M.Litt. in Ancient History and Archaeology should not exceed 50,000 words, and those submitted for the Degree of D.Phil. should not exceed 100,000 words, excluding the bibliography, any text that is being edited or annotated, and any descriptive catalogue, but including footnotes and appendices. Leave to exceed these limits will only be given in exceptional cases, and upon the presentation of a detailed explanation by the candidate, together with a statement of the excess length required and the written support of the supervisor. Such applications should be made immediately it becomes clear that authorisation to exceed the limit will be required, and in any case not later than the Friday of the fifth week of the term before that in which application is made for appointment of examiners. Every candidate submitting a thesis must state the number of words therein.

    A thesis submitted for the Degree of M.Litt. in Classical Languages and Literature should not exceed 60,000 words. There is no minimum word limit but approximately 50,000 words would be accepted as a guideline. A thesis submitted for the Degree of D.Phil. should not exceed 100,000 words. There is no minimum word limit but approximately 80,000 words would be accepted as a guideline. The word limit excludes the bibliography, any text that is being edited or annotated, translations of Greek or Latin quoted, and any descriptive catalogue, but includes Greek or Latin quoted, footnotes and appendices.

    Candidates submitting archaeological theses incorporating photographs are required to present original photographs in one copy of the thesis only, provided that the copies in the other two are adequately reproduced.

    The copy of the thesis containing the original photographs should be the one deposited in the Bodleian Library.

  • 5.Written Examination for the D.Phil.

    The board recommends that, when a written examination is held, two papers be set, three hours being allowed for each.

    Questions should be set testing candidates' knowledge of matters germane to, but not specifically included in, their treatment of the subject of their thesis, and command of the methods appropriate to the handling of them. Where submitted work is professedly based upon evidence, literary, material, or monumental, candidates should be required in the written examination to satisfy the examiners that they have adequately studied the original sources of such evidence.

    The examiners are requested to include in their report to the board a statement of their judgement upon the qualifications shown in these regards by candidates.

  • 1. Admission as a Probationer Research Student

    Candidates may apply for admission as Probationer Research Student, or directly to DPhil status, on a full-time or part-time basis. In assessing applications from candidates seeking to undertake a research degree through part-time study, the Graduate Studies Committees of the Board of the Faculty of Classics shall have regard to evidence that the candidate can meet the following attendance requirements for their period of part-time study: attendance for a minimum of thirty days of university-based work each year, normally coinciding with the full terms of the academic year, to be arranged with the agreement of their supervisor, for the period that their names remain on the Register of Graduate Students unless individually dispensed by the Graduate Studies Committees of the Board of the Faculty of Classics. During a candidate's probationary period the attendance arrangements must take account of relevant induction and training events scheduled by the Faculty.

    2. Transfer to M.Litt. and D.Phil. status

    Candidates must submit the documents detailed in the Divisional regulations, above.

     The written work to be submitted should be a single essay on a subject relevant to the candidate's proposed thesis. For candidates in Languages and Literature theThe essay should not be moreapproximately than 5,000 words in length; for candidates in Ancient History it should not be more than 107,000 words in length. In Languages and Literature  candidates will also be required to have attended such classes as the Graduate StudiesSudies Committee shall from time to time determine.

    3. Confirmation of D.Phil. status

    Candidates must submit the documents detailed in the Divisional regulations, above.

    Candidates in Ancient History  are required to submit a single essay of between 5,000 and 10,000 words in length, which should be close in content to a chapter or part of a chapter of the proposed thesis; candidates in Languages and Literature should be required to submit an essay, of approximately 5,000 words in length.

    In Languages and Literature candidates will also be required to provide evidence of reading competence in German and a second modern language by the time of confirmation. Further details on the modern language policy are set out in the Faculty's D.Phil handbook.

    4. Theses

    All candidates when they submit their theses must state the approximate number of words therein both (a) including citations and, if they have been granted permission to count citations separately, (b) excluding citations. Theses exceeding the limit are liable to be returned unexamined for reduction to the proper length. Candidates who have submitted in their final term may be allowed a maximum period of two terms to effect the necessary reduction.

    Theses submitted for the Degree of M.Litt. in Ancient History and Archaeology should not exceed 50,000 words, and those submitted for the Degree of D.Phil. should not exceed 100,000 words, excluding the bibliography, any text that is being edited or annotated, and any descriptive catalogue, but including footnotes and appendices. Leave to exceed these limits will only be given in exceptional cases, and upon the presentation of a detailed explanation by the candidate, together with a statement of the excess length required and the written support of the supervisor. Such applications should be made immediately it becomes clear that authorisation to exceed the limit will be required, and in any case not later than the Friday of the fifth week of the term before that in which application is made for appointment of examiners. Every candidate submitting a thesis must state the number of words therein.

    A thesis submitted for the Degree of M.Litt. in Classical Languages and Literature should not exceed 60,000 words. There is no minimum word limit but approximately 50,000 words would be accepted as a guideline. A thesis submitted for the Degree of D.Phil. should not exceed 100,000 words. There is no minimum word limit but approximately 80,000 words would be accepted as a guideline. The word limit excludes the bibliography, any text that is being edited or annotated, translations of Greek or Latin quoted, and any descriptive catalogue, but includes Greek or Latin quoted, footnotes and appendices.