Our MA Classical Civilisation is ideal for graduates with no prior knowledge or study of Greek and Latin who want to undertake advanced study of the classical world at postgraduate level. We offer you the chance to explore multiple aspects of ancient Greek and Roman archaeology, history and culture, from the archaic period through the classical era to late antiquity, including Greek and Latin literature and the archaeology and material culture of the ancient Mediterranean. You will learn in a culture of active research, with teaching and supervision from world-leading academics working at the cutting edge in their fields.

This interdisciplinary Master’s degree starts with a broadly chronological introduction to the classical world, from the archaic Mediterranean to the early Christian Roman Empire. You will explore politics and culture, religion, sex and sexuality, the writing of history, and the reception of classical culture in the modern world, particularly the meanings that have been attached to the classical past, which is a particular research strength in the Department of History, Classics and Archaeology.

You will also have the opportunity to study Greek or Latin from beginners’ to advanced level, while a wide range of option modules allow you to explore and expand your interests more fully. You will receive training in research methods and techniques, which will give you the confidence and skills to research and write a dissertation on a subject of particular interest to you, with guidance and supervision from one of our academic experts.

• Our Department of History, Classics and Archaeology is an international centre of excellence. Since 2001 we have consistently been in the top ten departments evaluated by the Research Excellence Framework (REF).
• Our research is unique in its range across geographical and chronological boundaries. We are the only university department in London to include historians, classicists and archaeologists investigating every period from prehistory to the early twenty-first century. We see the study of the classical past as crucial for our understanding of present-day society, culture and politics.
• All master’s students are eligible to apply for our prestigious Eric Hobsbawm Scholarships, subject to availability. One of the most influential historians of the twentieth century, Eric Hobsbawm taught at Birkbeck for over five decades and embodied what is central to our teaching and research: a continued commitment to critical enquiry and public engagement.
• We are at the heart of academic London with access to unparalleled research resources. Situated very close by are: the Institute of Classical Studies, with its library, training facilities and seminars; the British Museum, with its extensive collection of classical antiquities; and the British Library, the largest national library in the world.

Graduates can pursue a career in museums or galleries, research and archiving, or education. Possible professions include heritage manager, higher education lecturer, museum/gallery curator, or newspaper journalist. This degree can also be useful in a variety of roles within the fields of education and local or national government, such as secondary school teacher or Civil Service fast streamer.

We offer a comprehensive Careers Service to help you advance your career, while our in-house, professional recruitment consultancy, Birkbeck Talent, works with London’s top employers to help you gain work experience that fits in with your evening studies.