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

  • 1. Course.

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

    2. Syllabus

    Candidates must take three options from lists A, B, C, and D below, at least one of which must be drawn from B or C. Every candidate must offer at least one option that requires detailed study of Greek or Latin or of texts in those languages. Options which meet this criterion are specified in the Handbook.

  • 3. The choice of options and/or dissertation will be subject to the approval of the candidate's supervisor and the Graduate Studies Committee in Classical Languages and Literature.
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  • 4.  Presubmitted essays should each be no more than 5,000 words in length. Where two essays are required, they should between them display knowledge of more than a narrow range of the topic. Supervisors or others are permitted to give bibliographical help with, and to discuss a first draft of, such essays.
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  • 5.  The word limits for presubmitted essays and for dissertations 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.
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  • 6. Submission of essays and dissertations:
    • Candidates who offer a combination of options requiring the submission of four or more presubmitted essays in total must submit any two of those essays in Hilary Term.
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    • Candidates who offer a combination of options requiring the submission of fewer than four presubmitted essays in total may submit two essays in Hilary Term if they wish, Alternatively, they may submit the essays in Trinity Term as described below.
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    • Essays to be assessed in Hilary Term should be uploaded to the University approved online assessment platform not later than noon on the Thursday of Week 5 of Hilary Full Term. All remaining presubmitted essays and the dissertation (if offered) should be uploaded to the University approved online assessment platform not later than noon on the Wednesday of Week 6 of Trinity Full Term. 
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  • 7.  Use of bilingual dictionaries in examinations. 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. 
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  • 8.  Candidates are required to present themselves for oral examination if summoned by the examiners.
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A

Candidates may offer up to two options from List A. Each option will be examined by (a) one written paper of translation and (b) two pre-submitted essays. 

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

B1. Methods and Techniques of Scholarship. Candidates choosing this option are required to offer two of the following topics:

  • (a) Greek Literary Papyrology;

    (b) Greek Palaeography;

    (c) Latin Palaeography;

    (d) Greek Metre;

    (e) Latin Metre.

Each of these topics will be examined in one written paper, except for (a) Greek Literary Papyrology, which will be examined by a practical test taken in the candidate's own time, to be uploaded to the University approved online assessment platform not later than noon on the Wednesday of Week 6 of Trinity Full Term. Option B1(a) may not be combined with option B8. 

B2. Greek textual criticism:  (Honour School of Literae Humaniores, subject 513).

B3. Latin textual criticism. Either

  • (a) Seneca, Medea:  (Honour School of Literae Humaniores, subject 524) or

  • (b) Catullus (Honour School of Literae Humaniores, subject 515)

University classes will be given for only one of these options each year.

B4. Historical Linguistics and Comparative Philology.

Each of options B2-B4 will be examined in one written paper. 

B5. 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 6. above. 

B6. An option from Lists B or C of the M.St. 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 6. above. 

B7. Reception: Theory and Methods. This option will be examined by two presubmitted essays and requires attendance at the associated classes.

B8. Greek and Latin Literary Papyrology. This option will be examined by one presubmitted essay of up to 5,000 words and by a practical test taken in the candidate's own time, to be uploaded to the University approved online assessment platform not later than noon on the Wednesday of Week 6 of Trinity Full Term. This option may not be combined with option B1(a) above.

B9.  Any other subject proposed with the aim of developing skills needed for future research and approved by the Graduate Studies Committee in Classical Languages and Literature, which will determine the method of examination.

C

Candidates may offer one of the following. Options C1 and C3 will be examined in one written paper; options C2 and C4 will be examined in two written papers.

C1. Elementary Greek. 

C2. Intermediate Greek. 

C3. Elementary Latin. 

C4. Intermediate Latin. 

D

A dissertation of not more than 10,000 words on a subject approved by the Graduate Studies Committee in Classical Languages and Literature.