DPhil in Classical Languages and Literature

University of Oxford

About the course

Both in Classical languages and literature, and in ancient history, the DPhil programme is a research degree intended to make it possible for the successful candidate to aspire to a career in research and teaching at university level anywhere in the world where the Classical subjects are studied.

The DPhil takes the form of the composition of a substantial dissertation, of up to 100,000 words, based on new research on a subject of your choice.

The best dissertations are published, many in the Oxford University Press series of Classical monographs which exists for this purpose.

The vision of the DPhil as a necessary stage of an academic career, following on from master's-level education and preparing for postdoctoral work and beyond, is reflected in five other ways.

1. Doctoral students are required to set the topics of their individual specialisation in a larger understanding of developments in the field across the world.
2. They are encouraged to pursue a diversity of scholarly interests on the side of working on their doctoral dissertation, so as to start building a larger portfolio of specialities. They may produce articles or review books in areas somewhat different from that of their dissertation, and towards the end of their doctoral work may begin to contemplate a postdoctoral project.
3. The Classics Faculty assists doctoral students in continuing to develop necessary research skills, and acquiring or improving knowledge of relevant ancient and modern languages. Competence in Latin and/or Greek is an admission requirement.
4. Doctoral students can be trained and given experience (with mentoring) in undergraduate teaching of several different kinds, eg class, lecture, tutorial.
5. There are other structures, within the Classics Faculty, the Humanities Division and the wider University, to help with career-development and with academic placement.

Finally, it is fully recognised that some students will choose not to pursue a professional career in Classics, and the structures mentioned in the points above are tailored to their needs too. The experience of the Classics DPhil programmes is intended to be personally fulfilling and intellectually enriching in itself, and the cognitive skills required are highly transferable to other walks of life.

Assessment

In most cases, you will initially be enrolled as a Probationary Research Student (PRS). You will normally apply to transfer status from PRS to full DPhil student in your third term. Transfer of status is assessed by two examiners on the basis of a 7,000-word sample of written work, a statement of your proposed research and a viva.

You will normally apply for confirmation of your DPhil status at the end of your second year. This is assessed by two examiners on the basis of a 10,000-word sample of written work, a detailed thesis plan and a viva. You will also be required to provide evidence of reading proficiency in German and one other language of scholarship (normally either French or Italian) in order to pass confirmation of status; the faculty organises dedicated classes on these languages.

The degree is awarded on the basis of a thesis of up to 100,000 words based on original research; you are required to discuss the thesis at a viva with two examiners, normally one internal, one external.

Graduate destinations

When details on graduate destinations were last collected, the faculty found that an unusually high percentage of their successful DPhil students (56%) were in university teaching or research posts five years after finishing their doctorates. Others go into a variety of occupations, including teaching, publishing, administration, business and other professions.