MSt in Ancient History at University of Oxford

Programme overview

An intensive nine-month course for students preparing for doctoral work by a shorter route than the two-year MPhil in Ancient History, offering more advanced and independent study than at undergraduate level with tighter structure and supervision than a doctorate.

Faculty: Humanities Division | Department: Faculty of Classics | Duration: 9 months full-time | Intake: 4 October 2027; application deadline 12:00 midday UK time, Tuesday 5 January 2027 | Study mode: full-time | Location: Oxford, England, United Kingdom

What you will study

Two seminar series (Ancient History: Methods and Approaches, and Societies of the Ancient Mediterranean), two options chosen from language classes, skills classes (such as Greek or Roman numismatics, epigraphy and documentary papyrology) and graduate seminars, and a thesis of up to 10,000 words. Students without intermediate Ancient Greek or Latin must take a language option.

Career pathways

Many graduates take doctorates in Oxford or elsewhere and later move into university teaching or research; others go into teaching, publishing, administration, business and other professions.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

A first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours in Classics or a similar course with substantial ancient history components (US degree: GPA normally 3.6 out of 4.0). No GRE or GMAT scores; publications not normally expected. Interviews are not normally held. Three referees are required. Supporting documents are required with the application. English language (higher level, for applicants whose first language is not English): IELTS Academic 7.5 overall with at least 7.0 in each component; TOEFL iBT 110 (Listening 22, Reading 24, Speaking 25, Writing 24; TOEFL tests taken from 21 January 2026 are not accepted until a review of the revised test is complete); C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency 191 overall and 185 per component; Oxford Test of English Advanced 165 overall and 155 per component. Tests must be taken no more than two years before the course start.

Domestic applicants: GBP 18,980 a year (2027/28). Home fee, full-time Source

International applicants: GBP 46,350 a year (2027/28). Overseas fee, full-time Source

Intake: 4 October 2027

Duration: 9 months full-time

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