Course summary

The PhD is a three to four-year research degree, examined by a thesis of up to 80,000 words. Candidates work independently and closely with their supervisor, a senior member of the Classics Faculty, and also have a secondary supervisor. Classes are provided in specialist research skills (eg epigraphy, palaeography, numismatics, and Linear B). When appropriate you are encouraged to work away from Cambridge, perhaps to undertake fieldwork or study manuscripts in libraries abroad. Doctoral students spend most of their time working independently, researching their own specialist topic, but there is a wide variety of postgraduate seminars offered in the various subject areas (Greek and Latin Literature, Philosophy, History, Art and Archaeology, Philology and Linguistics, and Interdisciplinary Approaches to the Ancient World), and you will be encouraged to participate actively in one or more each term. If you need to acquire any further specialist skills, you will be entitled to attend any lectures you wish from the University's extensive undergraduate lecturing programme, in Classics or any other discipline; and the Faculty currently offers specialist research training (see above) and classes in a range of ancient and modern languages.