Program Overview

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MPhil in Judaism and Christianity in the Graeco-Roman World

The MPhil in Judaism and Christianity in the Graeco-Roman World is a taught course examining the origins of Christianity through the state of Judaism in the Graeco-Roman World. This course is ideal for students wishing to learn more about the origins of Christianity by becoming familiar with the complex evidence for the state of Judaism in the Graeco-Roman World in the first century.

Course Structure

• An emphasis is placed on the detailed study of primary evidence for both Judaism and Christianity in the first and early second centuries CE.
• You will therefore require a good existing knowledge of both Hebrew and Greek.
• The structure and content of the course ensures that you have the opportunity to pay equal attention to the history and primary texts of both religious traditions.
• Core modules examine the literature, history, and institutions of each tradition and you may choose to specialise in one further theme within each tradition.
• You may choose a dissertation research topic which explores a facet of one or other tradition or inter-relating aspects of the two traditions in the period.

Attendance

• The course is full-time and requires attendance in Oxford.
• Full-time students are subject to the University's Residence requirements.

Resources to Support Your Study

• As a graduate student, you will have access to the University's wide range of resources including libraries, museums, galleries, digital resources and IT services.
• The Bodleian Libraries is the largest library system in the UK.
• The University's IT Services is available to all students to support with core university IT systems and tools, as well as many other services and facilities.

Supervision

• The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Faculty of Theology and Religion, in conjunction with the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies.
• Under exceptional circumstances a supervisor may be found outside the Faculty of Theology and Religion and Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies.

Assessment

• Assessment consists of:
  • Two exams in Trinity term on the literature, history, and institutions of Judaism or Christianity.
  • Two further exams in Trinity term of the first year consisting of essay questions and passages for translation and comment from set texts relating to your chosen themes in both Judaism and Christianity.
  • A dissertation due in Trinity term of the second year on a topic in Judaism and Christianity in the Graeco-Roman World.

Graduate Destinations

• Given the selective admission and consequent small numbers of students on this course, it is difficult to offer general statistics about graduate destinations as each case is distinctive.
• The great majority of graduates of the MPhil in Judaism and Christianity in the Graeco-Roman World go on to pursue doctoral research at Oxford or another leading university, in either Jewish studies, New Testament or early Christianity.

Entry Requirements

Proven and Potential Academic Excellence

• As a minimum, applicants should hold or be predicted to achieve the following UK qualifications or their equivalent:
  • A first-class or strong upper second-class (67% or above) undergraduate degree with honours in theology, religious studies or another closely-related field.
• Entrance is very competitive.

Degree-Level Qualifications

• For applicants with a bachelor's degree from the USA, the minimum overall GPA that is normally required to meet the undergraduate-level requirement is 3.6 out of 4.0.
• If your degree is not from the UK or another country specified above, visit our International Qualifications page for guidance on the qualifications and grades that would usually be considered to meet the Universitys minimum entry requirements.

GRE General Test Scores

• Other examination results may be submitted alongside degree qualifications.
• If offered, the minimum Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores normally sought are 160 in verbal reasoning, 5.0 in analytical writing and 150 in quantitative reasoning.

Other Qualifications, Evidence of Excellence and Relevant Experience

• An emphasis is placed on the detailed study of primary evidence for both Judaism and Christianity in the first and early second centuries CE.
• Students therefore require a good existing knowledge of both Hebrew and Greek.

English Language Proficiency

• This course requires proficiency in English at the University's higher level.
• If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence that you meet this requirement.

Funding

• For entry in the academic year, the collegiate University expects to offer over 1,100 full or partial graduate scholarships across a wide range of graduate courses.
• If you apply by the January deadline shown on this page and receive a course offer, your application will then be considered for Oxford scholarships.

Costs

Annual Course Fees

• The fees for this course are charged on an annual basis.
• For the academic year, the annual course fees are:
  • Home: Ł17,910
  • Overseas: Ł43,730

What Do Course Fees Cover?

• Course fees cover your teaching as well as other academic services and facilities provided to support your studies.

Living Costs

• In addition to your course fees and any additional course-specific costs, you will need to ensure that you have adequate funds to support your living costs for the duration of your course.
• For the academic year, the range of likely living costs for a single, full-time student is between Ł1,405 and Ł2,105 for each month spent in Oxford.

College Preference

• Students enrolled on this course will belong to both a department/faculty and a college.
• The following colleges accept students on the MPhil in Judaism and Christianity in the Graeco-Roman World:
  • Blackfriars
  • Campion Hall
  • Christ Church
  • Harris Manchester College
  • Keble College
  • Linacre College
  • Mansfield College
  • Oriel College
  • Regent's Park College
  • Ripon College Cuddesdon
  • St Cross College
  • St John's College
  • St Peter's College
  • Trinity College
  • Wolfson College
  • Worcester College
  • Wycliffe Hall

How to Apply

Before You Apply

• Our guide to getting started provides general advice on how to prepare for and start your application.

Completing Your Application

• You should refer to the information below when completing the application form, paying attention to the specific requirements for the supporting documents.
• For this course, the application form will include questions that collect information that would usually be included in a CV/résumé.

Referees

• Three overall, academic essential
• Whilst you must register three referees, the department may start the assessment of your application if two of the three references are submitted by the course deadline and your application is otherwise complete.

Official Transcript(s)

• Your transcripts should give detailed information of the individual grades received in your university-level qualifications to date.

Statement of Purpose

• A maximum of 500 words
• You should provide a statement of purpose of around 500 words, written in English, evidencing your motivation and suitability for graduate study at Oxford.

Written Work

• Two essays of a maximum of 2,000 words each
• Academic essays or other writing samples from your most recent qualification, written in English, are required.