MPhil and MSt course details.pdf

Master of Philosophy in Greek and/or Latin
Languages and Literature
The regulations made by the Board of the Faculty of Classics are as follows:
• 1. Course. Every candidate must follow for at least six terms a course of instruction in
Greek and/or Latin Languages and Literature.
2. Options. See the schedule below. Candidates are required to offer a thesis (D) and any
two options chosen from A, B, and C.
3. Approval of Options. The choice of options will be subject to the approval of the
candidate's supervisor and of the Graduate Studies Committee in Classics, having regard
to the candidate's previous experience, the range covered by the proposed options, and
the availability of teaching and examining resources. Options under B6-B8 in disciplines
other than Greek and/or Latin Languages and Literature require the approval of both the
Graduate Studies Committee for Classical Languages and Literature and the Graduate
Studies Committee responsible for the discipline concerned.
Candidates must submit their provisional choice of options to the Academic
Administrative Officers, Ioannou Centre, 66 St. Giles', Oxford, OX1 3LU not later than
noon on Monday of Week 0 of Hilary Full Term in the first year of their course; the
proposed thesis title not later than Tuesday of Week 1 in the Trinity Full Term of their
first year; and the proposed titles of any pre-submitted essays (see §§ 5 and 6) no later
than noon on the Monday of Week 0 of Hilary Full Term of the second year of the course
(except that the titles of essays to be examined at the end of the first year of study in
accordance with cl. 7 below should be submitted no later than the noon on the Monday of
Week 0 of Hilary Full Term of the first year of the course).
Not all options may be available in any given year.
4. Examination. The texts for the options in Section A will appear in the M.St./M.Phil.
handbook issued in Week 0 of the Michaelmas Term preceding the examination. Each of
these options will be examined by (i) a written paper (three hours) of passages for
translation and comment, in which the passages for comment will be set only from the
books listed under α in each case, while passages for translation will be set from the
books listed under both α and β in each case, and (ii) by three presubmitted essays (see §
6 below) which between them display knowledge of more than a narrow range of the
topic. Passages for translation and comment will be set from the editions listed in the
M.St./M.Phil. handbook: for any option approved under 11 the edition will be specified
by the Graduate Studies Committee in Classical Languages and Literature.
5. Any candidate whose native language is not English may bring a bilingual (native
language to English) dictionary for use in any examination paper where candidates are
required to translate Ancient Greek and/or Latin texts into English.
6. Presubmitted essays. Essays should each be of between 5,000 and 7,500 words.
• The word limit excludes only the bibliography. Candidates may apply to the Graduate
Studies Committee no later than three weeks before the submission deadline for
dispensation to exclude certain other types of material from the word-count; guidance is
provided in the handbook.
Supervisors or others are permitted to give bibliographical help with, and to discuss a
first draft of, such essays.

The essays (two typewritten or printed copies) must be delivered in a parcel bearing the
words ‘Essays submitted for the M.Phil. in Greek and/or Latin Languages and Literature’
to the Examination Schools, High Street, Oxford OX1 4BG, to arrive by noon on
Wednesday of Week 6 in the appropriate Trinity Full Term.
7. One of the two options taken from A, B and C must be completed by the end of the
first year of study. If it is an option to be examined by presubmitted essays, these must be
delivered as in § 6 above, but to arrive by noon on the Wednesday of Week 6 in the
Trinity Full Term of the first year of study for the M.Phil.
8. In theses and pre-submitted essays all quotations from primary or secondary sources,
and all reporting or appropriation of material from those sources, must be explicitly
acknowledged. Each candidate must submit a signed declaration of authorship in a sealed
envelope together with the thesis or pre-submitted essay.
9. Oral Examination. Candidates are required to present themselves for oral examination
if summoned by the examiners.
10. Distinction. The examiners may award a distinction for excellence in the whole
examination.
11. A candidate who fails to satisfy the examiners may enter for the examination on one
(but not more than one) subsequent occasion (as provided under the appropriate
regulation). If it is the opinion of the examiners that the work done by a candidate, while
not of sufficient merit to qualify for the degree of M.Phil., is nevertheless of sufficient
merit to qualify for the degree of M.St. in Greek and/or Latin Languages and Literature,
the candidate shall be given the option of resitting the M.Phil. or of being granted leave to
supplicate for the degree of Master of Studies.
Schedule
Section A
• A1. Historiography
A2. Lyric Poetry
A3. Early Greek Hexameter Poetry
A4. Greek Tragedy
A5. Comedy
A6. Hellenistic Poetry
A7. Cicero
A8. Ovid
A9. Latin Didactic
A10. Neronian Literature*
• A11. Latin Literature from Titus to Trajan*
A12. Any other text or combination of texts approved by the Graduate Studies Committee in
Classics.
• The exact prescribed texts for each of options A1-A11 will be as listed in the Student
Handbook.

*N.B. University classes will only be given for one of options A10. Neronian Literature and
A11. Latin Literature from Titus to Trajan each year. For further details, please see the course
handbook.
Section B
• B1. The transmission of Greek texts, and the elements of palaeography and textual
criticism, with closer study of Euripides, Orestes 1-347 and 1246-1693. Candidates will
be required (i) to presubmit two essays on some aspect of the transmission of Greek texts
or textual criticism, (ii) sit a paper on Greek Palaeography (1.5 hours), and (iii) to take a
paper (Honour School of Literae Humaniores, subject 513: 3 hours) of transcription and
of comment on passages in the set text.
B2. The transmission of Latin texts, and the elements of palaeography and textual
criticism, with closer study of either (a) Seneca, Medea: manuscripts, texts,
interpretation: manuscripts, texts, interpretation or (b) Catullus 1-14, 27-39, 44-51, 65-7,
69-76, 95-101, 114-1610: manuscripts, texts, interpretation. Candidates will be required
(i) to presubmit two essays on some aspect of the transmission of Latin texts or textual
criticism, (ii) to sit a paper on Latin Palaeography (1.5 hours), and (iii) to take a paper
(Honour School of Literae Humaniores subjects 515 or 524: 3 hours) of transcription and
of comment on passages in the set text.
B3. Greek and Latin Papyrology, with special reference to literary papyri. Candidates
will be required (i) to submit two essays that between them display more than a narrow
range of the topic, and (ii) to undertake a practical test, in their own time. In the practical
test, they are to prepare and submit an edition, in proper scholarly form, of an original
papyrus or small group or papyri. A papyrus or group of papyri will be assigned to each
candidate not later than Saturday of Week 6 in the Hilary Full Term preceding the
candidate’s final term. The edition (two typewritten or printed copies) must be delivered
in a parcel bearing the words ‘Papyrology practical test submitted for the M.Phil. in
Greek and/or Latin Languages and Literature’ to the Examination Schools, High Street,
Oxford OX1 4BG, to arrive by noon on Wednesday of Week 6 in the appropriate Trinity
Full Term.
B4. Comparative Philology, with special reference to the history of the Greek and/or
Latin language. Two papers will be set. Paper (i), Essays, will cover (a) basic questions
about the comparative and/or historical grammar of Greek and/or Latin, and (b) questions
about the history of the Greek and/or Latin language. Paper (ii), texts for translation and
linguistic commentary, passages set from Greek dialect inscriptions and/or Latin archaic
inscriptions, from Greek and/or Latin literary texts, and from Linear B and/or Oscan and
Umbrian.
B5. Reception: Theory and Methods
• Option B5 will be examined by means of four pre-submitted essays and require
attendance at the associated classes.
B6. Any option available in the M.Phil. in Classical Archaeology, Schedule B. This
option will be examined either by two presubmitted essays or by a dissertation of not
more than 10,000 words. The deadlines for submission of essays will be those of the
MPhil in Greek and/or Latin Languages and Literature.
B7. Any option available in the M.Phil. in Greek and/or Roman History, Lists B and C.
The mode of assessment will be as specified in the regulations for the M.Phil. in Greek
and/or Roman History. However, the deadlines for submission will be those of the MPhil
in Greek and/or Latin Languages and Literature.

B8. Any other subject approved by the Graduate Studies Committee in Classics, which
will determine the method of examination.
Section C
• C1. Intermediate Greek. There will be one two-hour paper comprising unseen translation
and grammatical questions on prescribed texts and one three-hour paper requiring
translation from prescribed texts. A detailed specification and prescribed texts for the
paper will appear in the MSt/MPhil handbook issued in Week 0 of the Michaelmas Term
preceding the examination. Alternative texts for translation under this head may be
offered by agreement with the Graduate Studies Committee.
C2. Intermediate Latin. There will be one two-hour paper comprising unseen translation
and grammatical questions on prescribed texts and one three-hour paper requiring
translation from prescribed texts. A detailed specification and prescribed texts for the
paper will appear in the MSt/MPhil handbook published in Week 0 of the Michaelmas
Term preceding the examination.
Section D
• A thesis of up to 25,000 words, on a subject to be proposed by the candidate in
consultation with the supervisor, and approved by the Graduate Studies Committee in
Classics. The word limit excludes only the bibliography. Candidates may apply to the
Graduate Studies Committee no later than three weeks before the submission deadline for
dispensation to exclude certain other types of material from the word-count; guidance is
provided in the handbook. Supervisors or others are permitted to give bibliographical
help and to discuss drafts.
The thesis (two typewritten or printed copies) must be delivered in a parcel bearing the
words ‘Thesis for the M.Phil. in Greek and/or Latin Languages and Literature’ to reach
the Examination Schools, High Street, Oxford OX1 4BG, by noon on Wednesday of
Week 6 in the Trinity Full Term in which the examination is to be taken.
The examiners may invite a successful candidate to agree that one copy of his or her thesis be
deposited in the Bodleian Library.
Master of Studies in Greek and/or Latin
Languages and Literature
• 1. Course.
• Every candidate must follow for at least three terms a course of instruction in Greek
and/or Latin Languages and Literature.
2. Syllabus
Candidates must take three options from lists A, B, C, and D below, at least one of which
must be drawn from B or C. Not more than one dissertation (D) may be offered. Every
candidate must offer at least one option that requires detailed study of Greek or Latin or
of texts in those languages. Options which meet this criterion are specified in the
Handbook.

A
The texts for each option will appear in the M.St./M.Phil. handbook issued in Week 0 of the
Michaelmas Term preceding the examination. Each option will be examined by (a) one paper of
translation (1½ hours) and (b) two pre-submitted essays. The texts listed in the handbook are
those which should be studied in preparation for the pre-submitted essays. Passages will be set
for translation only from those texts in section (α); the edition will be that listed in the handbook.
For any option approved under A11 the edition will be specified by the Graduate Studies
Committee in Classical Languages and Literature.
• A1. Historiography
A2. Lyric Poetry
A3. Early Greek Hexameter Poetry
A4. Greek Tragedy
A5. Comedy
A6. Hellenistic Poetry
A7. Cicero
A8. Ovid
A9. Latin Didactic
A10. Neronian Literature*.
A11. Latin Literature from Titus to Trajan*.
• A12. Any other text or combination of texts approved by the Graduate Studies
Committee for Classical Languages and Literature.
*N.B. University classes will be given for only one of options A10. Neronian Literature and
A11. Latin Literature from Titus to Trajan each year. For further details, please see the course
handbook.
B
B1. Methods and Techniques of Scholarship. Candidates choosing this option are required to
offer two of the following topics:
• (a) Greek Literary Papyrology;
(b) Greek Palaeography;
(c) Latin Palaeography;
(d) Greek Metre;
(e) Latin Metre.
Each of these topics will be examined in one paper of 1½ hours, except for (a) Greek Literary
Papyrology, which will be examined by a practical test taken in the candidate's own time (as
prescribed for option B3 Greek and Latin Papyrology in the M.Phil. in Greek and/or Latin
Languages and Literature). Option B1(a) may not be combined with option B9 below.
B2. Greek textual criticism: Euripides, Orestes 1-347 and 1246-1693: papyri, manuscripts, text.
(Honour School of Literae Humaniores, subject 513).
B3. Latin textual criticism. Either
• (a) Seneca, Medea: manuscripts, text, interpretation (Honour School of Literae
Humaniores, subject 524) or

• (b) Catullus 1-14, 27-39, 44-51, 65-7, 69-76, 95-101, 114-16: manuscripts, text,
interpretation (Honour School of Literae Humaniores, subject 515)
University classes will be given for only one of these options each year.
B4. Historical Linguistics and Comparative Philology. This option includes an introduction to
the methods and aims of historical and comparative linguistics, the reconstruction of the Indo-
European protolanguage and its development into Latin and Greek. The questions set will require
specific competence in one of the two classical languages but not necessarily in both. An
opportunity will be given for (optional) commentary on Greek or Latin texts.
Each of options B2-B4 will be examined in one paper of three hours.
B5. Any option available in the M.St. in Classical Archaeology, Schedule B. This option will be
examined either by two presubmitted essays or by a dissertation of not more than 10,000 words.
The deadlines for submission of essays will be those of the M.St. in Greek and/or Latin
Languages and Literature.
B6. Any option available in the M.St. in Greek and/or Roman History, Lists B, and C. The mode
of assessment will be as specified in the regulations for the M.St. in Greek and/or Roman
History. However, the deadlines for submission will be those of the M.St. in Greek and/or Latin
Languages and Literature.
B7. Reception: Theory and Methods. This option will be examined by two presubmitted essays
and requires attendance at the associated classes.
B8. Greek and Latin Literary Papyrology. This option will be examined by one presubmitted
essay of up to 5,000 words and by a practical test taken in the candidate's own time (as
prescribed for Greek and Latin Papyrology in the M.Phil. for Greek and/or Latin Languages and
Literature). This option may not be combined with option B1(a) above.
B9. Any other subject proposed with the aim of developing skills needed for future research and
approved by the Graduate Studies Committee in Classical Languages and Literature, which will
determine the method of examination.
C
EITHER (1) Classical Greek: either
(a) Elementary Greek. There will be one three-hour paper, consisting of passages of Greek which
will test knowledge of Attic grammar and competence in translation from Greek into English.
or
(b) Intermediate Greek. There will be one two-hour paper comprising unseen translation and
grammatical questions on prescribed texts and one three-hour paper requiring translation from
prescribed texts. A detailed specification and prescribed texts for the paper will appear in the
M.St./M.Phil. handbook issued in Week 0 of the Michaelmas Term preceding the examination.
Alternative texts for translation under this head may be offered by agreement with the Graduate
Studies Committee in Classical Languages and Literature.
OR (2) Latin: either
Elementary Latin. There will be one three-hour paper, consisting of passages of Latin prose
which will test knowledge of classical Latin grammar and competence in translation from Latin
into English.
or
Intermediate Latin. There will be one two-hour paper comprising unseen translation and
grammatical questions on prescribed texts and one three-hour paper requiring translation from
prescribed texts. A detailed specification and prescribed texts for the paper will be published in

the M.St./M.Phil. course handbook not later than Monday of Week 0 of the Michaelmas Term
preceding the examination.
D
A dissertation (if offered) should be of not more than 10,000 words on a subject to be proposed
by the candidate in consultation with the overall supervisor or the supervisor for the dissertation,
and approved by the Graduate Studies Committee in Classical Languages and Literature.
3. The choice of options and/or dissertation will be subject to the approval of the candidate's
supervisor and the Graduate Studies Committee in Classical Languages and Literature, having
regard to the candidate's previous experience, the range covered by the candidate's choices, and
the availability of teaching and examining resources. Options under B5, B6, and B10 in
disciplines other than Greek and/or Latin Languages and Literature require the approval of both
the Graduate Studies Committee for Classical Languages and Literature and the Graduate
Studies Committee responsible for the discipline concerned. The options which the candidate
wishes to offer must be submitted to the Academic Administrative Officer, Ioannou Centre, 66
St. Giles', Oxford OX1 3LU, for approval not later than the Wednesday of Week 1 of
Michaelmas Full Term. The candidate should also indicate by this date whether or not he or she
wishes to offer a dissertation; the title of the dissertation need not be given until the Friday of
Week 1 of Hilary Term (see under 8(i) below).
Not all options may be available in any given year.
4. In those options for which candidates are examined by presubmitted essays the essays should
each be no more than 5,000 words in length. Where two essays are required, they should
between them display knowledge of more than a narrow range of the topic. Supervisors or others
are permitted to give bibliographical help with, and to discuss a first draft of, such essays.
Supervisors are also required to certify that, in their tutorial and class work, students have
covered a wider range of topics within the overall subject.
5. The word limits for pre-submitted essays and for dissertations exclude only the bibliography.
Candidates may apply to the Graduate Studies Committee no later than three weeks before the
submission deadline for dispensation to exclude certain other types of material from the word-
count; guidance is provided in the handbook.
6. Candidates are required to present themselves for oral examination if summoned by the
examiners.
7. The examiners may award a distinction for excellence in the whole examination.
8. Approval and submission of essays and dissertations:
• (i) Candidates who offer a combination of options requiring the submission of four or
more presubmitted essays must submit any two of those essays in Hilary Term.
• Candidates who offer a combination of options requiring the submission of fewer than
four presubmitted essays may submit two essays in Hilary Term if they wish,
Alternatively, they may submit these essays in Trinity Term as described under (ii)
below.
• Candidates must submit the proposed titles of any essays which they are expecting to
submit in Hilary Term to the Academic Administrative Officer, Ioannou Centre, 66 St.
Giles', Oxford OX1 3LU, not later than noon on Monday of Week 0 of Hilary Full Term.
• Two typewritten or printed copies of each essay should be delivered in a parcel bearing
the words 'Essays submitted for the M.St. in Greek and/or Latin Languages and
Literature' to the Examination Schools, High Street, Oxford OX1 4BG, to arrive not later
than noon on the Thursday of Week 5 of Hilary Full Term.

• (ii) Candidates must submit the proposed titles of any remaining presubmitted essays to
the Academic Administrative Officer, Ioannou Centre, 66 St Giles’, Oxford OX1 3LU,
not later than noon on Friday of Week 1 of Trinity Full Term.
• Two typewritten or printed copies of each essay should be delivered in a parcel bearing
the words 'Essays submitted for the M.St. in Greek and/or Latin Languages and
Literature' to the Examination Schools, High Street, Oxford OX1 4BG, to arrive not later
than noon on the Wednesday of Week 6 of Trinity Full Term.
• (iii) Candidates offering a dissertation (D) must submit the proposed title of their
dissertation to the Academic Administrative Officer, Ioannou Centre, 66 St. Giles',
Oxford OX1 3LU, not later than noon on Monday of Week 0 of Hilary Full Term.
• Two typewritten or printed copies of the dissertation should be delivered in a parcel
bearing the words 'Dissertation for the M.St. in Greek and/or Latin Languages and
Literature' to the Examination Schools, High Street, Oxford, OX1 4BG, to arrive not later
than noon on the Wednesday of Week 6 of Trinity Full Term.
9. In theses and presubmitted essays all quotations from primary or secondary sources, and all
reporting or appropriation of material from those sources, must be explicitly acknowledged. Each
candidate must submit a signed declaration of authorship in a sealed envelope together with the
thesis or presubmitted essay.
10. Use of bilingual dictionaries in examinations:
Any candidate whose native language is not English may bring a bilingual (native language to
English) dictionary for use in any examination paper where candidates are required to translate
Ancient Greek and/or Latin texts into English.