Classics Research MPhil/PhD

Program Overview

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Postgraduate Research

Study

• Research areas
• Course types
• Find a supervisor
• Fees & funding
• How to apply
• King's Doctoral College

Classics Research MPhil/PhD

Key information

Award: MPhil, PhD Study mode: Full time, Part time Campus: Strand Campus Duration: Expected to be: MPhil two years FT, three years PT. PhD three years FT, four-six years PT. October to October, February to February or June to June

We supervise research across an exceptionally wide range of topics in Greek, Roman and Near Eastern history, archaeology and art, as well as Greek and Latin literature and thought, ancient languages, and reception studies.

Other areas of activity we have been developing include Neo Latin, Roman mosaics and mosaicists, ancient religion, disability studies and Greek theatre and performance. We have successful ongoing research projects in collaboration with the College's Department of Digital Humanities and the British Museum. We also work with the Centre for Hellenic Studies, which combines the resources of Classics and Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies in organising major public lectures by leading scholars, international conferences, workshops and seminars.

We have a strong record of attracting major research grants. In recent years the Department received funding from the AHRC, the British Academy and the Leverhulme Trust for major projects including Digitising the Prosopography of the Roman Republic, The Art of Making in Antiquity: Stone Carving and Carvers in the Roman World, Ancient Inscriptions of the Black Sea Region, and Classics & Class.

Latest REF results

King’s Classics research has been ranked first in the country in the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF2021). 100 per cent of the research environment and research impact at the department was recognised as either ‘world leading’ (4) or ‘internationally excellent’ (3).

Research income

As well as funding for major research projects, recent awards include British Academy Postdoctoral and Leverhulme Early Career Research Fellowships, a Philip Leverhulme prize, and substantial grants from the AHRC, Getty Foundation, Humboldt Foundation, and Leverhulme Trust.

Current number of academic staff

24

Current number of research students

25

Partner organisations

British Museum

Recent publications

Please find a list of our recent publications here.

Head of group/division

Dr Will Wootton

How to apply

1. Application procedure

Before submitting an application, it is best to make informal email contact with a potential supervisor. Please consult the ‘People’ section of our Classics pages for details of staff expertise and publications.

Admission to our research programmes will initially be for the MPhil but we expect students to transfer to the PhD after an appropriate period, by agreement with their supervisor, the Departmental Postgraduate Research Committee and the University.

For doctoral research in Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies, the standard procedure is for students to apply for an MPhil in Classics stating their area of specialization. Students will initially be registered for the MPhil. They are expected to upgrade to PhD status following their first year.

2. Personal statement and supporting information

You will be asked to submit the following documents in order for your application to be considered:

• Personal Statement: A personal statement is required. This can be entered directly into the online application form (maximum 4,000 characters) or uploaded as an attachment to the online application form (maximum 2 pages).
• Research Proposal: The proposal should explain in some detail precisely the field of study that you want to contribute to and current research gaps, what you want to do and how you propose to do it. For advice on how to write a winning application, please visit the following page.
• Previous Academic Study: A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing the subjects studied and marks obtained. If you have already completed your degree, copies of your official degree certificate will also be required. Applicants with academic documents issued in a language other than English, will need to submit both the original and official translation of their documents.
• References: One academic reference is required. A professional reference will be accepted if you have completed your qualifications over five years ago.
• Writing Sample: Please include a sample of your previous written work (typically, your MA dissertation) as part of your application.
• Other: Applicants may also wish to include a CV (Resume) or evidence of professional registration as part of their application.

3. Application closing date

We encourage you to apply as early as possible so that there is sufficient time for your application to be assessed. We may need to request further information from you during the application process.

The final application deadlines are detailed below; on these dates, the programme will close at 23:59 (UK time) and we will open for the corresponding intake in 2026 soon after the same intake has passed in 2025.

• February 2025 entry – 20 October 2024 for Overseas fee status and 20 November 2024 for Home fee status
• June 2025 entry – 20 March 2025 for Overseas fee status and 11 April 2025 for Home fee status
• October 2025 entry – 25 July 2025 for Overseas fee status and 25 August 2025 for Home fee status
• February 2026 entry – 20 October 2025 for Overseas fee status and 20 November 2025 for Home fee status
• June 2026 entry – 20 March 2026 for Overseas fee status and 11 April 2026 for Home fee status

Please note that funding deadlines may be earlier than the application deadlines listed above.

Fees or Funding

UK Tuition Fees 2024/25

• Full time tuition fees: £6,168 per year
• Part time tuition fees: £3,084 per year

International Tuition Fees 2024/25

• Full time tuition fees: £24,786 per year
• Part time tuition fees: £12,393 per year

UK Tuition Fees 2025/26

• Full time tuition fees: £6,600 per year
• Part time tuition fees: £3,300 per year

International Tuition Fees 2025/26

• Full time tuition fees: £27,100 per year
• Part time tuition fees: £13,550 per year

These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases.

Scholarships

• Leverhulme doctoral scholarships programme Saints and scholars (late antique, Byzantine and medieval hagiography)
• Greek Archaeological Committee UK (archaeology research for Greek and Cypriot nationals)
• Sylvia Ioannou Foundation (Cyprus-related research for graduates of Greek and Cypriot HEI)

Study environment

Base campus

Strand Campus

Located on the north bank of the River Thames, the Strand Campus houses King's College London's arts and sciences faculties.

You will work mainly with your principal supervisor, who will read and discuss your work with you on a regular basis, advise you about attendance at seminars and direct you to any training opportunities. You will also have a second supervisor who will be able to advise you on particular aspects of your research. Your progress will be monitored through six-monthly individual progress reports. We run regular research seminars, which are both opportunities for staff and students to present and discuss current research and social occasions. You will also have the opportunity to attend the various research seminars organised through the Institute of Classical Studies.

Postgraduate training

We attach great importance to the identification of training needs, and will direct you individually to courses we think will support your research. These are organised through the London Arts & Humanities Partnership, an Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) funded Doctoral Training Centre bringing together King’s UCL and the School of Advanced Study in Senate House. We aim to offer as many students as possible teaching experience as Graduate Teaching Assistants, and we provide training for this as well.

Entry requirements

UK requirements

• Master's degree with Merit or Distinction, in Classics or a closely related subject
• a Bachelor's degree with 2:1 honours (or overseas equivalents)

Equivalent International qualifications

Select a country to view the equivalent qualifications.

English language requirements

English language band: C

To study at King's, it is essential that you can communicate in English effectively in an academic environment. You are usually required to provide certification of your competence in English before starting your studies.

Nationals of majority English speaking countries (as defined by the UKVI) who have permanently resided in this country are not usually required to complete an additional English language test. This is also the case for applicants who have successfully completed an undergraduate degree (of at least three years duration), a postgraduate taught degree (of at least one year), or a PhD in a majority English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI) within five years of the course start date.

For information on our English language requirements and whether you need to complete an English language test, please see our English Language requirements page.