Study at Cardiff | Postgraduate

History and Archaeology of the Greek & Roman World (MA)

Course Aims

The MA in the History and Archaeology of the Greek and Roman World is an interdisciplinary programme designed to develop skills in interpreting literary, artistic and archaeological evidence from the ancient world. It is suitable for students who have taken combined undergraduate degrees in Ancient History and Archaeology, and for those who have taken Ancient History, Classics or Archaeology alone and wish to extend the scope of their studies.

Special Features

• The Cardiff School of History and Archaeology is an ideal place for interdisciplinary study.
• Training in Research methods and skills, including writing and public speaking.
• The flexible programme allows students to pursue their special interests.
• Students can take a course at the British School in Athens or Rome.

Course Description

The MA in the History and Archaeology of the Greek and Roman World is suitable for students who have taken combined undergraduate degrees in Ancient History and Archaeology, and for those who have taken Ancient History, Classics or Archaeology alone and wish to extend the scope of their studies. The programme of taught modules and individual research is designed to be flexible, enabling students to pursue their own interests whilst gaining a solid foundation of research skills. The MA can serve as a basis for doctoral research, but it also provides transferable skills, which will be valuable for a career in any field.

The taught element of the MA runs from October to May, and combines research training modules, study of an ancient language, and a choice of specialised options (listed below). It is also possible to take a residential course at the British School in Athens or the British School in Rome. During the taught stage of the MA, students lay the foundations for the second part of the course, which is an individual research project, carried out between May and September, leading up to a dissertation of 20,000 words. The course can be taken full-time in one year, or part-time over three years.

Course Structure

Students take a total of 180 credits of modules, consisting of:

• 40 credits of core skills modules
• 20 credits of language modules
• 60 credits of option modules selected by the student
• 60 credit dissertation (topic or theme chosen by the student in consultation with academic staff)

Please see the Ancient History website for more course and module information.

Skills Acquired

In addition to helping students obtain a detailed and critical knowledge of the historical and archaeological evidence for their chosen area of the ancient world, the MA offers them the chance to acquire and perfect valuable skills that are applicable to careers in many different fields. Often referred to as transferable or generic skills, these skills expand students' individual capabilities and make it easier for them to obtain employment and enter their careers with abilities that are widely considered essential for professional success.

Upon completion of the MA in the History and Archaeology of the Greek and Roman World, students will have acquired the following skills:

• Intellectual skills, including the ability to critically evaluate evidence and its interpretation and to be tolerant of differing interpretations; to sustain a logical argument and reach a conclusion that can be defended; to synthesise and analyse information; to compare and contrast theoretical explanations and to integrate different methodologies.
• Communication skills, including the ability to communicate orally in an appropriate professional manner; to make presentations both as an individual and as part of a group; to write effectively at an advanced level.
• Language skills, including the ability to read and interpret texts in either Latin or ancient Greek.
• Numeracy skills, including the ability to display and present numerical data in appropriate formats; and to analyse numerical data and solve basic mathematical and statistical problems.
• Information technology skills, including the ability to produce and calculate values using a spreadsheet; to produce and query databases; to use electronic resources for ancient historians and classicists; to find, manage and utilise information and data.
• Personal skills, including the ability to manage workloads; to adapt and apply skills to new contexts; to assess and formulate priorities, constraints and goals, and to adapt to changing circumstances.

Above all, by the end of the MA, students will be able to critically assess the work of others and of their own, to engage effectively in debate at an advanced level, to plan, design and carry out a coherent research strategy, and to produce detailed and coherent reports and presentations.

Entry Requirements

1st or upper 2nd class UK Honours degree in an appropriate subject. Suitable for graduates in Ancient History, Classics and Classical Archaeology and related humanities and social science disciplines.

Students whose first language is not English will be required to pass an IELTS test (minimum 6.5) or equivalent.

Note: International students pursuing part-time programmes of study are not eligible for Tier 4 (General Student) visas and must have alternative leave to remain in the UK if they intend to study at the University in person.

How to Apply

Applications can be made for this course via our Online Application Service selecting the MA History and Archaeology of the Greek & Roman World option from the list of courses. Applicants should use the Personal Statement section of the form to outline their area of interest and, if possible, the topic that they hope to research for their dissertation.

Funding

For more information on funding available for Masters students in the School of History, Archaeology and Religion please see the school's funding website.

Next intake: September 2013

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