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

  • 1. Course. Candidates must follow for at least six terms a course of instruction in Greek and/or Latin Languages and Literature.

    2. Syllabus. Candidates are required to offer a thesis (D) and any two options chosen from Lists A, B, and C below. 

    3. The choice of options will be subject to the approval of the candidate's supervisor and of the Graduate Studies Committee in Classical Languages and Literature. 

  • Not all options may be available in any given year.
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  • 4.  One of the two options taken from A, B and C must be completed by the end of the first year of study. If it is an option to be examined by presubmitted essays, these must be submitted by noon on the Wednesday of Week 6 in the Trinity Full Term of the first year of study for the M.Phil.

  • 5. Presubmitted essays. Essays should each be of between 5,000 and 7,500 words.

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

    The essays must be uploaded to the University approved online assessment platform, by noon on Wednesday of Week 6 in the appropriate Trinity Full Term.

    6. The word limits for presubmitted essays and for theses exclude only the bibliography. Candidates may apply to the Graduate Studies Committee no later than three weeks before the submission deadline for dispensation to exclude certain other types of material from the word-count; guidance is provided in the handbook.

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

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

    9. 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.

A

Candidates may offer up to two options from List A. Each 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. 

A list of available options and the associated prescribed texts and editions will appear in the Handbook issued in Week 0 of the Michaelmas Term preceding the examination. In addition to the options set out in the Handbook, candidates may offer an option based on any other text or combination of texts in Ancient Greek and/or Latin of their choice, subject to the approval of the Graduate Studies Committee in Classical Languages and Literature.  

B

 Candidates may offer up to two options from List B. 

  • B1. The transmission of Greek texts, and the elements of palaeography and textual criticism. Candidates will be required (i) to submit two essays on the transmission of Greek texts or textual criticism, (ii) sit a paper on Greek Palaeography, and (iii) to take a paper (Honour School of Literae Humaniores, subject 513.) of transcription and of comment on passages in the set text.

    B2. The transmission of Latin texts, and the elements of palaeography and textual criticism. Candidates will be required (i) to submit two essays on the transmission of Latin texts or textual criticism, (ii) to sit a paper on Latin Palaeography, and (iii) to take a paper (Honour School of Literae Humaniores subjects 515 or 524.) of transcription and of comment on passages in the set text.

    B3. Greek and Latin Papyrology. 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 to be uploaded to the University approved online assessment platform by noon on Wednesday of Week 6 in the appropriate Trinity Full Term.

    B4. Comparative Philology. This subject will be assessed by two written papers. 

    B5. Reception: Theory and Methods. This subject will be examined by four pre-submitted essays and require attendance at the associated classes.

    B6. An option from Schedule B of the M.Phil. in Classical Archaeology, subject to the approval of the Graduate Studies Committee in Classical Languages and Literature and the Graduate Studies Committee in Archaeology. The submission deadline will be as specified under 4. above. 

    B7. 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.

C

Candidates may 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 approved by the Graduate Studies Committee in Classics. Supervisors or others are permitted to give bibliographical help and to discuss drafts.

The thesis must be uploaded to the University approved online assessment platform. by noon on Wednesday of Week 6 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.