MA applications - FAQs

A: To start the MA in Classics you must have either Greek or Latin at advanced (typically BA) level.

You do not need Greek or Latin language to start the MA in the Reception of the Classical World. Greek and Latin are of course an advantage, and you may start (or continue) them in a dedicated MA language class as part of your MA degree.

A: For UK students we ask for a good 2:1 degree or higher in a relevant subject, and an equivalent level from students from universities outside the UK. This translates into a minimum GPA of 3.5 for North American students, and 7.5/10 for Greek students. In the case of mature students there is a good deal of flexibility in admissions (see below).

A: The UCL requirement in English for non-native speakers is an IELTS score at 'good' level or recognised equivalent. (Students who have an undergraduate degree from a university in the English-speaking world are exempt from this requirement.)

A: Yes, dedicated MA modules in both languages are run every year, at both Beginner and Intermediate levels.

A: The MA runs for almost a full year, from the beginning of October until the middle of the following September.

Students take taught modules to the value of 120 credits (each module carries 40 or 20 credits) and write a dissertation of approximately 12,000 words. The modules run during the two University teaching terms (October - December and January - March): each term lasts eleven weeks, with a Reading week in the middle. The deadline for coursework is typically the 1st of June. Most of the work on the dissertation takes place after coursework has been submitted (i.e. from June to September).

A: Many students take the MA part-time over two years. This is the only viable option for students who need to work while doing the MA.

Part-time students typically take two modules in the first year, and one course plus the dissertation in the second year. Note that normal coursework deadlines apply for all courses (i.e. course-work has to be submitted by the 1st of June in each year). 

A: A typical MA course is taught in one two-hour seminar per week. A normal load will therefore involve six hours of class time per week. Beginners' language classes may run for three hours per week.

A: MA courses are taught in small seminars or classes, rarely exceeding a dozen participants. MA students are expected to prepare for class each week, typically by reading preparatory material and texts in the original Greek or Latin. In almost all MA courses (apart from Beginners' and Intermediate language classes) students are expected to give one or more presentations during the course of the year.

A: No, modules are almost never scheduled to run after normal office hours. Birkbeck College offers both BA and MA programmes with night classes.

A: Students in the Intercollegiate MA in Classics can take modules at any of the three Colleges. Supervision of dissertations, however, is normally conducted at the student's own College.

Students in the MA in the Reception of the Classical World are allowed to import any MA module from the Intercollegiate MA, subject to permission from the course director.

A: A small number of courses are mixed MA/BA courses. However, instructors must provide MA students with at least 50% of their class hours in a dedicated MA class. MA students may not take more than two courses which make use of BA teaching.

A: No, not unless they are flagged as mixed MA/BA courses. However, MA students may sit in on BA courses with the permission of the relevant instructor.

A: All MA courses are extremely flexible, allowing students to tailor their programmes of study to their specific interests. MA students may import courses both from related MA tracks (Classics, Ancient History, Art and Archaeology, and the Reception of the Classical world), and also from other MA courses in UCL or the University of London (where appropriate).

A: Almost all MA modules require written coursework to be submitted (exceptions include beginners' language courses, which may be assessed by means of an exam). A typical load for an MA modules would be two essays or projects of 5000 words each (or three shorter pieces, max. 10,000 words): it is therefore perfectly normal for an MA student to have six or more pieces of work to submit by the June 1st deadline. Many modules specify that the first piece of work should be submitted by the end of the first term, and the second piece of work by the end of the second term.

A: All instructors have at least two hours a week when they are in their offices and available to see students without appointment ('Office Hours'). It is also possible to make an appointment to see a member of teaching staff.

A: MA students have access to all UCL libraries (holdings in Classics, Ancient History, Comparative Philology and Archaeology are excellent), the library of the Institute of Classical Studies, the library of the University of London in Senate House, and the British Library. In addition, access is generally granted to the libraries of almost all relevant Colleges and Institutes of the University of London.

A: Every year a large number of foreign students joins the MA course: students come from across the European Union, North America, Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere. Historically we have had a consistent number of students from Greece, Italy and Cyprus.

A: Yes, there is always a sizeable minority of students who have not come immediately out of a BA degree; many join us considerably later in life. We welcome applications from people of all ages; admissions criteria are of course more flexible for mature applicants.

A: The deadline for applications is the first Friday in August each year. Most applications arrive between January and May: it is important to apply early if you would like accommodation from UCL.

A: There is some variation from year to year, although MA modules in core subjects are of course run regularly. In general this year's modules on our website will give a good idea of the nature and range of modules on offer in a typical year. Modules for the next academic year are generally posted online in spring; times are not generally fixed until shortly before the term starts.

Please note that due to the very high number of modules on offer it is impossible to avoid some clashes in the timetabling of MA modules.

A: See our funding page for information on studentships and scholarships.

A: The MA is an ideal springboard for a PhD degree. Every year a handful of students go on to start PhD research; acceptance into the PhD programme at UCL depends on performance in the MA (especially the dissertation).