Applications for full-time or part-time research will be considered. An MA or equivalent higher degree is normally a requirement for application to the PhD programme but other relevant experience will be considered, so please get in touch if this applies to you.

All PhD students are initially registered for a Master of Philosophy (MPhil), and the PhD registration is confirmed after the successful completion of a probationary assessment (at the end of year 1 for full-time students and year 2 for part-time).

You may begin your studies in either October or February.

Students who wish to fund their own studies can apply for October or February entry at any point in the year, with the following cut-off dates:

For 1st October start, the closing date for applications is 31st March.

For 1st February start, the closing date for applications 31st August.

There are also a number of funding opportunities for Postgraduate Research in Classical Studies at the OU. Please note, however, that for some of them, such as the Open-Oxford-Cambridge Doctoral Training Partnership, the deadlines for application differ from those for self-funded applications and usually fall in the second week of January.

Before formally applying you should have a well thought-out research project, and should discuss this project with the department. The project should set out to add to the scholarly understanding of the chosen topic, and should be feasible in terms of your skills, time and circumstances. We have written some guidance notes on how to complete your preliminary proposal form to help you with this task. After you have read the guidance notes you should complete and return the preliminary proposal form. Please send this to the department’s Postgraduate Co-ordinator Dr Jasmine Hunter Evans.

Further details, including the formal application process, entrance requirements, application dates, residence requirements, facilities and periods of study, are available from the Research Degrees website of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

For any queries about pursuing research with the Department of Classical Studies, contact the department’s Postgraduate Co-ordinators, Dr Jasmine Hunter Evans and Marchella Ward.