MA by Research in Classics and Ancient History (2025 Entry)

Course code

P-Q8P1

Start date

6 October 2025

Duration

1 year full-time;
2 years part-time

Qualification

MA by Research

Led by

Classics and Ancient History

Location

University of Warwick

Course code

P-Q8P1

Start date

6 October 2025

Duration

1 year full-time;
2 years part-time

Qualification

MA by Research

Led by

Classics and Ancient History

Location

University of Warwick

Meet us

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Explore our Classics and Ancient History Master's by Research degree at Warwick

Study the MA by Research in Classics and Ancient History, and choose from a wide range of specialist areas. Warwick's Classics and Ancient History department, ranked 3rd in the UK in Classics (REF 2021), offers an excellent research environment and expert guidance.

Course overview

Two routes are available:

Route A 

Completion of a 40,000 word dissertation.

Route B

2 x 5,000 word essays; 25,000 word dissertation + language training.

For both routes training in research methods as well as in ancient Greek or Latin are provided.

Teaching and learning

You will have regular monthly meetings with your assigned supervisor. Seminars will introduce you to research methods in addition to skills training and career-oriented talks and workshops. You will also be able to attend our ‘Work in Progress’ research seminars, which take place regularly during term time and offer the opportunity to learn about the work of others. Training in ancient Greek and/or Latin is also provided as required.

Entry requirements

General entry requirements

Minimum requirements

Applicants will need to have achieved or be expecting to achieve a high upper Second Class degree in Classics/Ancient history/Archaeology or a relevant subject to be considered for entry.

Standard offers for successful applicants will typically be conditional on achieving a 2:1 degree with overall average of at least 65% with 68% or over for any dissertation submitted.

English language requirements

You can find out more about our English language requirementsLink opens in a new window. This course requires the following:

Band B
IELTS overall score of 7.0, minimum component scores of two at 6.0/6.5 and the rest at 7.0 or above.

International qualifications

We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications.

For more information, please visit the international entry requirements pageLink opens in a new window.

Academic References

We typically ask for one academic reference for taught courses, and two academic references for research courses.

You will be asked to include an email address for your referee(s) when submitting your application and we will contact them for you.

View our guide to academic references.Link opens in a new window

Additional requirements

There are no additional entry requirements for this course.

Research themes

Our research

The Department offers expertise in a wide range of research areas, including:

Ancient economies
Ancient medicine
Ancient rhetoric
Ancient sexuality and gender
Archaeology of the Roman provinces (Syria, Sicily and North Africa, Greece)
Ceramics and craft
Classical Reception
Epigraphy
Geography and space in Greek and Latin literature
Greek and Roman art, visual and material culture
Greek historiography
Greek literature, especially lyric poetry
Greek political history
Greek religion and Greek sanctuaries
Greek social and cultural history
Greek theatre
Latin literature (Republican and Imperial poetry and prose)
Numismatics
Race and ethnicity in the Greco-Roman world
Roman cultural history
Roman imperial history
Roman philosophy
Theoretical approaches to classical literature

Full details of our research interests are listed on the Classics and Ancient History web pagesLink opens in a new window.

You can also read our general University research proposal guidance.Link opens in a new window

Supervisors and proposals

Find a supervisor

Find your supervisor using the link below and discuss with them the area you'd like to research.

Explore our Classics and Ancient History Staff Directory where you will be able to search by research area.

You can also see our general University guidance about finding a supervisor.Link opens in a new window

Research proposals

If you are applying for a research degree (MA by Research, MPhil, PhD), you need to provide an outline of the chosen research topic. This should be about 500 words and should outline the following:

What area of research you intend to undertake and why (with reference to the most important relevant bibliography)
How you propose to conduct the research
What background in the subject you already have and any skills you will need to develop further (e.g., language training)

Tuition fees

Tuition fees are payable for each year of your course at the start of the academic year, or at the start of your course, if later. Academic fees cover the cost of tuition, examinations and registration and some student amenities.

Find your research course fees

Fee Status Guidance

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Students will be classified as Home or Overseas fee status. Your fee status determines tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available. If you receive an offer, your fee status will be clearly stated alongside the tuition fee information.

Do you need your fee classification to be reviewed?

If you believe that your fee status has been classified incorrectly, you can complete a fee status assessment questionnaire. Please follow the instructions in your offer information and provide the documents needed to reassess your status.

Find out more about how universities assess fee status

Additional course costs

As well as tuition fees and living expenses, some courses may require you to cover the cost of field trips or costs associated with travel abroad.

For departmental specific costs, please see the Modules tab on the course web page for the list of core and optional core modules with hyperlinks to our Module Catalogue (please visit the Department’s website if the Module Catalogue hyperlinks are not provided).

Associated costs can be found on the Study tab for each module listed in the Module Catalogue (please note most of the module content applies to 2024/25 year of study). Information about module department specific costs should be considered in conjunction with the more general costs below:

Core text books
Printer credits
Dissertation binding
Robe hire for your degree ceremony

Scholarships and funding

Scholarships and bursaries

Scholarships and financial support

Find out about the different funding routes available, including; postgraduate loans, scholarships, fee awards and academic department bursaries.

Living costs

Find out more about the cost of living as a postgraduate student at the University of Warwick.

Department

Classics and Ancient History at Warwick

Take your fascination with the ancient world further.

Our Classics and Ancient History department is tailor-made for a community of curiosity. Work closely with award-winning academics while carving your own path through the varied disciplines we study - from literature and history, to philosophy and art.

Share your observations, opinions and developing interests. Develop critical and creative thinking that will prove valuable for your future – wherever in the world this might take you.

Find out more about us on our website.Link opens in a new window

Our Postgraduate courses

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How to apply checklist

Our how to apply checklist helps you prepare for your application

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I'm ready to apply

Learn more about the Applicant Portal.

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Application deadlines

The application process for course that start in September and October 2026 opens on 2 October 2025.

For research courses that start in September and October 2026 the application deadline for students who require a visa to study in the UK is 2 August 2026. This should allow sufficient time to complete the admissions process and to obtain a visa to study in the UK.

Useful links

Applicant portal
After your applied
Admissions statement
Join a Live Chat

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Explore ways to connect with us

We understand how important it is to visit and explore your future university before you apply. That's why we have put together a range of online and in-person options to help you discover more about your course, visit campus, and get a sense of postgraduate life at Warwick. Our events offer includes:

Warwick hosted events
Postgraduate Fairs
Live chats
Talk and Tours
Department events

See 2025 entry »

Why Warwick

Discover why Warwick is one of the best universities in the UK and renowned globally.

Why Warwick

Discover why Warwick is one of the best universities in the UK and renowned globally.

8th in the UK

in the Guardian University Guide 2025

6th Most Targeted University

by the UK's top 100 graduate employers (The Graduate Market in 2024, High Fliers Research Ltd)

69th in the World

out of 1,500 institutions across 104 locations (QS World University Rankings 2025)

Page updates

We may have revised the information on this page since publication. See the edits we have made and content history.

About the information on this page

This information is applicable for 2026 entry. Given the interval between the publication of courses and enrolment, some of the information may change. It is important to check our website before you apply. Please read our terms and conditions to find out more.

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MA by Research in Classics and Ancient History (2025 Entry)

Explore our Classics and Ancient History Master's by Research degree at Warwick

Scholarships and financial support

Living costs

How to apply checklist

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Why Warwick

Why Warwick

Why Warwick

Why Warwick

8th in the UK

6th Most Targeted University

69th in the World

5th best student city in the UK

Gold standard teaching

92% of our research

Page updates

About the information on this page

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