Late Antique and Byzantine Studies

This is a two-year taught course that 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.

You have the option of selecting a focus of study dependant 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.

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.

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.

Teaching and examination comprises three papers in the first year of the MPhil:

• for all students, 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 and examined on the basis of two 5,000-word essays on topics of your choosing, subject to the approval of your supervisor, submitted at the end of Trinity term; and
• for those taking the language pathway, intensive courses in both language and literature with examinations at the end of the year; or
• for those taking the other pathway, instruction in one or two auxiliary disciplines and also in a special subject 10,000-word dissertation on a topic of your choosing, subject to the approval of your supervisor, submitted in Hilary term and in Trinity term.

Language and literature as well as auxiliary disciplines will normally be examined by unseen examinations at the end of Trinity term, while attainment in other subjects are assessed on the basis of submitted essays or dissertations submitted at the end of Trinity term.

Teaching and examination comprises two papers in the second year of the MPhil:

• a thesis of not more than 30,000 words, written during the second year on a subject approved by your supervisor, submitted at the end of Trinity term; and
• either a special subject 10,000-word dissertation on a topic of your choosing, subject to the approval of your supervisor, submitted at the end of Trinity term, or one or two auxiliary disciplines or one of the language papers on offer (Greek, Latin, Slavonic, Armenian, Syriac, Coptic, Arabic), examined in Hilary term and Trinity term.

Please note that not every optional subject listed may be on offer every year, depending in part on levels of student demand. Full details of core and optional papers available are available on the course webpage.

Although the two components of the course, Late Antiquity and Byzantium, have been designed to the same specification and are conjoined in a single course, you are expected to concentrate on one or other of the fields.

If you wish to apply for the DPhil you will be encouraged to develop your doctoral proposal in consultation with your supervisor during the first few months of your second year, so that you will be well placed to make a doctoral application.

You should not apply to both the MSc and MPhil in this research area. Both courses have the same entry requirements.

The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Faculty of History and it is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff. Under some circumstances a supervisor outside the Faculty of History may be nominated.

An Oxford academic’s pre-application indication of willingness to supervise an enquiring applicant is not a guarantee that the applicant will be offered a place, or that the supervisor in question has capacity in that particular year.

About a quarter of master’s students proceed to doctoral work at Oxford; others continue academic study at other institutions. Other career destinations are as diverse as, but broadly in line with, undergraduate history career destinations: law, finance, management consultancy, civil service etc.

Changes to this course and your supervision

The University will seek to deliver this course in accordance with the description set out in this course page. However, there may be situations in which it is desirable or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision, either before or after registration. In certain circumstances, for example due to visa difficulties or because the health needs of students cannot be met, it may be necessary to make adjustments to course requirements for international study.

Where possible your academic supervisor will not change for the duration of your course. However, it may be necessary to assign a new academic supervisor during the course of study or before registration for reasons which might include sabbatical leave, parental leave or change in employment.

For further information, please see our page on changes to courses.

Other courses you may wish to consider

If you're thinking about applying for this course, you may also wish to consider the courses listed below. These courses may have been suggested due to their similarity with this course, or because they are offered by the same department or faculty.

All graduate courses offered by the Faculty of History

Economic and Social History MPhil

Economic and Social History MSc

Global and Imperial History MSt

History DPhil

History MSt

History MPhil

History (History of Science and Medicine & Economic and Social History) DPhil

History of Art DPhil

History of Art and Visual Culture MSt

History of Science, Medicine and Technology MPhil

History of Science, Medicine and Technology MSc

Late Antique and Byzantine Studies MSt

Late Antique and Byzantine Studies MPhil

Interdisciplinary courses offered by the Humanities Division

Comparative Literature and Critical Translation MSt

Film Aesthetics MSt

Late Antique and Byzantine Studies MSt

Late Antique and Byzantine Studies MPhil

Medieval Studies MSt

Women's Studies MSt

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Entry requirements