Classics

Our MA Classics is ideal for graduates with prior knowledge or study of Greek and Latin who want to undertake advanced study of the classical world at postgraduate level. We offer you the chance to explore multiple aspects of ancient Greek and Roman archaeology, history and culture, from the archaic period through the classical era to late antiquity, including Greek and Latin literature and the archaeology and material culture of the ancient Mediterranean. You will learn in a culture of active research, with teaching and supervision from world-leading academics working at the cutting edge in their fields.

This interdisciplinary Master’s degree in classics starts with a broadly chronological introduction to the classical world, from the archaic Mediterranean to the early Christian Roman Empire. You will explore politics and culture, religion, sex and sexuality, the writing of history, and the reception of classical culture in the modern world, particularly the meanings that have been attached to the classical past, which is a particular research strength among our historians, classicists and archaeologists.

You will also continue your study of Greek or Latin, enhancing your language comprehension to an advanced level, while a wide range of option modules allow you to explore and expand your interests more fully. You will receive training in research methods and techniques, which will give you the confidence and skills to research and write a dissertation on a subject of particular interest to you, with guidance and supervision from one of our academic experts.

Highlights

Birkbeck was ranked in the top eight universities in the UK for its History research in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework.

Our research is unique in its range across geographical and chronological boundaries. We are the only university in London to include historians, classicists and archaeologists in the same team of academics who investigate every period from prehistory to the early twenty-first century. We see the study of the past as crucial for our understanding of present-day society, culture and politics.

All Master’s students are eligible to apply for our prestigious Eric Hobsbawm Scholarships, subject to availability. One of the most influential historians of the twentieth century, Eric Hobsbawm taught at Birkbeck for over five decades and embodied what is central to our teaching and research: a continued commitment to critical enquiry and public engagement.

We are at the heart of academic London with access to unparalleled research resources. Situated very close by are: the Institute of Classical Studies, with its library, training facilities and seminars; the British Museum, with its extensive collection of classical antiquities; and the British Library, the largest national library in the world.

Careers and employability

Graduates can pursue career paths in museums or galleries, research and archiving, or education. Possible professions include:

heritage manager

higher education lecturer

museum/gallery curator

newspaper journalist

secondary school teacher

Civil Service fast-streamer.

We offer a comprehensive careers service - Careers and Enterprise - your career partner during your time at Birkbeck and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education and future ambitions.