Faculty of Classics University of Oxford |
Frequently Asked QuestionsSelect category: Your Application | Selection | Funding | Studying at Oxford Your ApplicationThe university's application procedure for graduates is outlined in the Graduate Studies Prospectus. Our applying page explains how this applies to classical courses, and our courses page gives help on choosing your course. 1. Which is the most appropriate course for experience of graduate work and life without firm commitment to the D.Phil., the M.St. or the M.Phil.? Q1. Which is the most appropriate course for experience of graduate work and life without firm commitment to the D.Phil., the M.St. or the M.Phil? The normal route to the D.Phil. is via a Master's degree, either at Oxford or at another institution. It is unusual to be accepted for the D.Phil without a Master's degree. Of the two Oxford Master's courses, the one-year Master of Studies is taken by the majority of Languages and Literature students. When people are doubtful, we tend to urge them in the direction of the M.St., thinking that there is great value in having as many of the cohort as possible taking the same course; there are usually special reasons when people choose to do the M.Phil. instead (for instance, cases where a student requires a particularly large amount of language strengthening before going on to the D.Phil). The majority of Ancient History students, however, take the two-year M.Phil. Q2. Should I apply to a particular college because the person I hope will be my supervisor is a fellow there? Most graduate students are not in the same college as their supervisor. It makes very little difference, other than the amount of exercise taken in going to meetings with your supervisor. Q3. Do all colleges accept Classics graduates? Most, but not all, colleges accept Classics graduates, see the Graduate Prospectus for further information and contact individual colleges directly if in any doubt. Q4. I am a mature student. How welcome would my application for a postgraduate classical degree at Oxford be? What difference might my status as mature student make to my experience of graduate life? We warmly welcome applications from mature students. For the experiences and views of some current mature students, see our profiles page. Q5.What exactly is expected of the written work requested as part of the application? Should it be close in subject matter or approach to my proposed thesis topic? Assessors will take note of the declared circumstances under which the written work was done, and access it accordingly. Different standards of content and presentation will be expected from an honours thesis, a weekly essay, or a piece written under exam conditions. Taking these differences into account, assessors will be looking for signs of good basic knowledge, understanding of problems, powers of analysis and expression, and ability to construct a coherent train of thought, to deploy evidence, and to shape an argument. The quality of English expression and of presentation may also be part of the assessment, according to the circumstances under which the work was done. There is no necessary expectation that the subject matter of the written work should be close to the proposed thesis topic.
© C@O 2003: Classics at Oxford, Faculty of Classics. Webmaster. Last updated:
February 12, 2007.
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