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Late Antique and Byzantine Studies at University of Oxford - UCAS

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2023 - 20242024 - 2025
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Course summary

The information provided on this page was correct at the time of publication (October/November 2022). For complete and up-to-date information about this course, please visit the relevant University of Oxford course page via www.graduate.ox.ac.uk/ucas MSt The MSt in Late Antique and Byzantine Studies has been devised as a multi-purpose introduction to the Roman world in Late Antiquity, to Byzantium, the medieval successor of the East Roman Empire, and to neighbouring peoples and their cultures. This is a nine-month taught course that can be taken as a free-standing degree, or as the first step towards doctoral research. Course structure You have the option of selecting a focus of study dependent on your knowledge of languages or on your primary interests in the field. Two basic pathways lead into each field of study, and you are expected to choose between them at the beginning of the course. Pathway one The first is the language training pathway, which offers intensive training in any one of the following ancient and medieval languages:

  • Greek
  • Latin
  • Slavonic
  • Armenian
  • Syriac
  • Coptic
  • Arabic.
In the first two academic terms you will take a core paper on history, art and archaeology or history and Byzantine literature comprising two sets of weekly classes. You will also take intensive courses in both language and literature. Pathway two The second pathway, is designed for those who already have considerable competence in their chosen language and are able to read primary sources. You will receive instruction in one or two of a range of specialist auxiliary disciplines of papyrology, epigraphy, palaeography, numismatics, sigillography or artefact studies and you will choose a special subject from a list in your preferred subject area, ie in either history, art and archaeology, literature or religion. MPhil This two-year course has been devised as a multi-purpose introduction to the Roman world in Late Antiquity, to Byzantium, the medieval successor of the East Roman Empire, and to neighbouring peoples and their cultures. This course can be taken as a free-standing degree, or as the first step towards doctoral research. The course includes the completion of a 30,000-word dissertation. Course structure You have the option of selecting a focus of study dependent on your knowledge of languages or on your primary interests in the field. Two basic pathways lead into each field of study, one in language training and one in auxiliary disciplines, and you are expected to choose between them at the beginning of the course. Pathway one The first is the language training pathway which offers intensive training in any one of the following ancient and medieval languages:
  • Greek
  • Latin
  • Slavonic
  • Armenian
  • Syriac
  • Coptic
  • Arabic.
In year one, you will take a core paper on history, art and archaeology or history and Byzantine literature comprising two sets of weekly classes taken in the first two academic terms. You will also take intensive courses in both language and literature. In the second year, you will write a thesis of not more than 30,000 words, on a subject approved by your supervisor. You will then choose either:
  • a special subject 10,000-word dissertation on a topic of your choosing, subject to the approval of your supervisor; or
  • one of the language papers on offer (Greek, Latin, Slavonic, Armenian, Syriac, Coptic, Arabic).
Pathway two The second pathway is designed for those who already have considerable competence in their chosen language and are able to read the primary sources. You will receive instruction in one or two of a range of specialist auxiliary disciplines of papyrology, epigraphy, palaeography, numismatics, sigillography or artefact studies and you will choose a special subject from a list in your preferred subject area, ie in either history, art and archaeology, literature or religion.

Entry requirements

For complete and up-to-date information about this course, please visit the relevant University of Oxford course page via www.graduate.ox.ac.uk/ucas

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

No fee information has been provided for this course

Additional fee information

For complete and up-to-date information about fees and funding for this course, please visit the relevant University of Oxford course page via www.graduate.ox.ac.uk/ucas.
Late Antique and Byzantine Studies at University of Oxford - UCAS