Late Antique and Byzantine Studies

Late Antique and Byzantine Studies (MA)

The MA in Late Antique and Byzantine Studies is designed to provide students with the advanced knowledge, understanding and skills needed to carry out independent research into the history and culture of late antiquity and Byzantium. It takes advantage of the concentration of expertise in late antique history, culture, religion and archaeology in the Centre for Late Antique Religion and Culture (CLARC), which is based in the School. The programme of taught modules and individual research is designed to be flexible, enabling students to pursue their own interests whilst gaining a solid foundation of research skills. The MA can serve as a basis for doctoral research, but it also provides transferable skills, which will be valuable for a career in any field.

The taught element of the MA runs from October to May, and combines research training modules, study of an ancient language, and a choice of specialised options (listed below). During the taught stage of the MA, students lay the foundations for the second part of the course, which is an individual research project, carried out between May and September, leading up to a dissertation of 20,000 words. The course can be taken full-time in one year, or part-time over three years.

Please note that some modules are subject to review and may change prior to academic year 2013-2014.

Research Skills and Theory (60 credits)

All students take a group of modules that provide training in the skills and methods needed for research in late antique and Byzantine studies: current approaches to the field, research design, interpreting sources, bibliographic and computer skills, and written and oral presentation.

Themes in Late Antique and Byzantine Studies - 20 credits (HST946)

Researching and Writing Late Antiquity and Byzantium - 10 credits (HST944)

Speaking the Past - 10 credits (HST306)

Understanding Late Antique and Byzantine Sources - 20 credits (RTT308)

Ancient Language (20 credits)

All students take courses in an ancient language, to enable them to study texts in the original. Tuition is provided at beginners' and advanced levels in Greek (classical or Byzantine), Latin (classical, Patristic or medieval), Hebrew and Arabic; Aramaic and Syriac are also available at advanced level. Advanced classes take the form of reading groups, which study the historical implications of the chosen texts as well as linguistic aspects.

Specialised Options (40 credits)

You can choose from a range of formal taught modules, which introduce you to key themes and approaches through regular classes and seminars, in which students take turns to deliver short presentations, followed by general discussion of issues and problems. Alternatively, the Special Topic modules allow you to research a subject of your choice in depth, under the guidance of a supervisor. We offer a variety of Special Topics linked to the research interests of individual staff, or you can choose the open Special Topic Aspects of Late Antiquity and Byzantium, either to pursue a topic from a taught module in greater depth or to explore a subject that is not covered by the other modules.

Taught modules

Gender, Sexuality and Society in Ancient Greece and Rome - 20 credits (HST018)

Eunuchs of the Roman Empire - 20 credits (HST029)

Post-Roman Britain and Ireland - 40 credits (HST531)

Late Roman Society and Culture - 40 credits (HST928)

Archaeology of the Latin East (12th-16th century AD) - 20 credits (HST934)

Religion and Culture in Late Antiquity - 20 credits (RTT134)

Rhetoric and Philosophy in Late Antiquity - 20 credits (RTT309)

Special Topic modules

Special Topic: Julian the Apostate - 20 credits (HST038)

Special Topic: Medicine and Society in Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages - 20 credits (HST039)

Special Topic: Aspects of Late Antiquity and Byzantium 1 & 2 - 20 credits (HST941/942)

Special Topic: The Golden Age of Byzantium (HST945)

Special Topic: War in the Late Antique and Byzantine Period (RTT310)

Special Topic: Syriac Christianity - 20 credits (RTT311)

Special Topic: Augustine of Hippo and his Times - 20 credits (RTT312)

Special Topic: Celtic Christianity - 20 credits (RTT313)

Special Topic: Christians and Muslims under the Caliphate - 20 credits (RTT314)

Special Topic: Magic and Religion in Late Antiquity - 20 credits (RTT315)

Dissertation (60 credits)

Late Antique and Byzantine Studies Dissertation - 60 credits (HST943)

Assessment is mostly by coursework, including several short written exercises, oral presentations and a portfolio of essays; essay topics are chosen by the student in consultation with a tutor. Language modules are assessed by various combinations of coursework and exams.

Learning Outcomes and Career Preparation

In addition to helping students obtain a detailed and critical knowledge of their chosen area of late antique or Byzantine history, the MA offers them the chance to acquire and perfect valuable skills that are applicable to careers in many different fields. Often referred to as transferable or generic skills, these skills expand students' individual capabilities and make it easier for them to obtain employment and enter their careers with abilities that are widely considered essential for professional success.

Upon completion of the MA in Late Antique and Byzantine Studies, students will have acquired the following skills:

Intellectual skills, including the ability to critically evaluate evidence and its interpretation, and to be tolerant of differing interpretations; to sustain a logical argument and reach a conclusion that can be defended; to synthesise and analyse information; to compare and contrast theoretical explanations and to integrate different methodologies.

Language skills, including the ability to read and interpret texts in either Latin or ancient Greek.

Communication skills, including the ability to communicate orally in an appropriate professional manner; to make presentations both as an individual and as part of a group; to write effectively at an advanced level.

Information technology skills, including the ability to use electronic resources for ancient historians and classicists; to find, manage and utilise information and data.

Personal skills, including the ability to manage workloads; to adapt and apply skills to new contexts; to assess and formulate priorities, constraints and goals, and to adapt to changing circumstances.

Above all, by the end of the MA, students will be able to critically assess the work of others and of their own, to engage effectively in debate at an advanced level, to plan, design and carry out a coherent research strategy, and to produce detailed and coherent reports and presentations.

Admissions requirements

Students applying to take the MA should normally have one of the following qualifications:

At least an Upper Second Class (2.i) undergraduate degree in Ancient History, History, Religious Studies, or a related subject.
A good undergraduate degree in Ancient History, History, Religious Studies, or a related subject from a non-UK university. We encourage applications from students whose undergraduate degrees are from non-UK universities. Please contact the postgraduate admissions tutor to discuss particular requirements.
Experience, qualifications or achievements in another field of relevance. Potential applicants should contact the postgraduate admissions tutor for guidance.