Classics and Ancient History

Program Overview

Overview

The Department of Classics and Ancient History has an international reputation for outstanding and innovative research. We are particularly well known for reception studies, which we pioneered in Britain, and interdisciplinary approaches to the study of antiquity. As a research student, you will be a member of a thriving and dynamic community.

Key Information

• Programme duration:
  • MPhil: one year full-time; two years part-time
  • PhD: up to four years full-time; up to eight years part-time
• Start date: January 2025, September 2025, January 2026
• Application deadline:
  • January 2025 start: 1 December 2024
  • September 2025 start: Overseas applicants: 25 July 2025; Home applicants: 1 August 2025
  • January 2026 start: 1 December 2025
• Delivery method: Distance Learning, On-Campus
• Location: Clifton
• Awards available: PhD, MPhil

Programme Structure

• MPhil: a standalone, one-year (full-time) research degree. Students will undertake their own research project, concluding in the submission of a 25,000-word dissertation. Students may have the option to audit units from taught programmes if they are relevant to their research.
• PhD: a research project undertaken across four years (full-time, minimum period of study three years), culminating in an 80,000-word thesis. As well as having the option to audit taught units, there may be opportunities for PhD students to gain teaching experience from their second year of study onwards.
• All research students are offered training sessions: some are run by the department, some by the School of Humanities, and some by the Faculty of Arts, Law and Social Sciences. Students are also expected to attend the fortnightly departmental research seminars.
• The MPhil and PhD can be studied via distance learning.

World-Leading Research

• The University of Bristol is ranked fifth for research in the UK (Times Higher Education).
• 94% of our research assessed as world-leading or internationally excellent.

Entry Requirements

• MPhil: An upper second-class degree or international equivalent. Please note, acceptance will also depend on evidence of your readiness to pursue a research degree.
• PhD: A master's qualification, or be working towards a master's qualification, or international equivalent. Applicants without a master's qualification may be considered on an exceptional basis, provided they hold a first-class undergraduate degree (or international equivalent). Applicants with a non-traditional background may be considered provided they can demonstrate substantial equivalent and relevant experience that has prepared them to undertake their proposed course of study.

Fees and Funding

• Home: full-time £4,850 per year; part-time £2,425 per year
• Overseas: full-time £21,300 per year
• Fees are subject to an annual review. For programmes that last longer than one year, please budget for up to an 8% increase in fees each year.
• Alumni discount: University of Bristol students and graduates can benefit from a 25% reduction in tuition fees for postgraduate study.
• Funding and scholarships: The University of Bristol is part of the South, West and Wales Doctoral Training Partnership (SWW DTP), which will be offering studentships for September 2025.

Career Prospects

• A large number of graduates from this programme develop careers in higher education or work on high-level research projects in the field of classics and ancient history.
• Some graduates go on to careers in museums, education, and journalism.

Meet Our Supervisors

• Dr Lyndsay Coo
• Professor Esther Eidinow
• Professor Patrick Finglass
• Dr Shelley Hales
• Dr Laura Jansen
• Dr Silke Knippschild
• Dr Kurt Lampe
• Professor Genevieve Liveley
• Dr Paul Martin
• Professor Nicoletta Momigliano
• Dr Isabella Sandwell
• Dr Edwin Shaw
• Dr Vanda Zajko

Research Groups

• Members of the department carry out research across the whole range of classical studies: Greek and Latin literature, ancient history and historiography, visual culture, archaeology, philosophy and reception.
• Our work is characterised by a particular focus on interdisciplinary approaches and theoretical questions, and by an interest in the globalisation of classics.
• A special resource is the Bristol Institute of Greece, Rome and the Classical Tradition, which provides a focus for collaborative and interdisciplinary work and support for conferences and other research activities.

Program Outline

Careers:

A large number of graduates from this programme develop careers in higher education or work on high-level research projects in the field of classics and ancient history. Some graduates go on to careers in museums, education, and journalism. We are particularly well known for reception studies, which we pioneered in Britain, and interdisciplinary approaches to the study of antiquity. As a research student, you will be a member of a thriving and dynamic community.

UK: full-time £4,758 per year UK: part-time £2,379 per year Overseas: full-time £20,700 per year