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A image to illustrate MA Classical Studies part 1 module
The MA in Classical Studies allows you to explore in depth the history, literature, archaeology, and reception of Greek, Roman and associated ancient cultural worlds. This module introduces you to Classical Studies at postgraduate level, helping you to acquire and develop the skills of independent research necessary to complete an extended project. Designed around four thematic blocks of study material, it invites you to explore Classical Studies as an interdisciplinary and changing field which involves discovering new materials and topics, encountering different perspectives, and developing original ways to study and interpret fragmentary ancient evidence.
In Block 1: Classical Studies in the 21st Century, you'll consider what it means to be a researcher in classical studies in the modern era. By working through a series of questions – ‘what’, ‘where’, ‘who’, ‘how’, and ‘why’ – you'll explore the ways in which classical studies is an evolving, living subject. This will include considering: the ways in which classical studies is moving away from its traditional characterisation as a ‘white’, ‘elitist’ subject; the new, contemporary questions that are being asked of the ancient past and which are replacing old paradigms; and the emergence of innovative approaches to studying the ancient world. You’ll also discover how insights gained from investigating the distant past can inform approaches to contemporary global challenges.
Block 2: Lost Cities investigates ways to recover information, interpret evidence and develop an understanding of the distant past through a focus on cities, one of the defining features of the ancient world. You'll explore the concept of the ‘city’ from multiple perspectives, using interdisciplinary approaches to develop research skills and your knowledge and understanding of ancient cities and their relationships to the contemporary world. Case studies investigate cities that were abandoned, destroyed, replaced, forgotten, and some that were only ever written about. You'll also problematise the concept of ‘lost’, discovering how research can transform ‘lost’ into various forms of ‘found’. This is juxtaposed with investigations of different kinds of cities: excavated cities (Pompeii), imaginary cities (Troy), literary cities (Thebes), exemplary cities (Rome) and inspirational cities (Alexandria).
In Block 3: Fragments, you'll delve deeper into the ways in which the classical world is fragmented and how this affects interpretations of the past. Working with fragments will allow you to investigate underrepresented voices of the ancient world (such as women and people with disabilities), shaping both your understanding of the past and new questions you might ask about it as a researcher. You'll encounter fragments in a wide range of contexts (literary texts, broken objects, inscriptions and museum collections) from both ancient and modern perspectives. Topics include the Greek poet Sappho and her later reception; methodological approaches to fragmentation and translation; inscriptions; fragmentation, hybridity and ancient bodies; Roman funerals; and the concept of the fragment in museum collections.
Block 4: People in the World, focuses on relationships between ancient people and the material and social worlds in which they lived. You'll interrogate why these relationships matter, not only in terms of our understanding of ancient lived experiences and particular cultural, social, and economic contexts, but also their ongoing relevance to the contemporary world. Topics you will encounter include the role of sensory experience in reconstructing and evaluating diverse lived experiences; ecocritical approaches to ancient agricultural writing and pastoral poetry; the role of water in ancient life; and religion, landscape, and changing environments. In the final two weeks of the block, you'll be guided through a series of activities that will help you design a research question for your end-of-module assessment and prepare a research plan to answer that question.
This module will:
This module will be of particular relevance if you wish to pursue a career in classical studies, teaching, academic institutions, museums, galleries, heritage and the wider arts sector. In addition to these areas, graduates of courses in classical studies are traditionally highly valued by employers for their very broad skill sets, developed through working with an unusually wide range of source materials that in turn, require unusual levels of intellectual flexibility. Linguistic aptitude, critical analysis, high levels of creativity and skills in researching, organising and presenting material are useful in a wide range of careers.
This module is delivered entirely online. You'll have a tutor to provide online tutorials, help you with the module work, mark and comment on your written work, as well as support you to design and produce your end-of-module assessment project. You are encouraged to take part in the online tutorials with your tutor and tutor group, as well as the module-wide forum. Tutorials will be held throughout the year and can be accessed from any computer with internet access. More details about these learning events will be available at the start of the module.
Course work includes:
You'll have access to a module website, which includes:
You can study this module on its own or use the credits you gain towards an Open University qualification.
A868 is a compulsory module in our:
A868 is an option module in our:
Sometimes you cannot count a module towards a qualification if you have already counted another module with similar content. To verify any excluded combinations with this module, check with an adviser before registering.
MA Classical Studies part 1 starts once a year, in September.
This page describes the module that will start in September 2026.
We expect it to start for the last time in September 2035.
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the academic regulations, which are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.
You must hold a UK honours degree (or equivalent), preferably with at least a 2:1 classification, to study the MA in Classical Studies. Although your degree does not need to be in classical studies, you will need a good knowledge of the ancient Greek and Roman worlds to successfully complete this qualification, as the MA assumes all candidates have the knowledge and skills usually acquired by pursuing the subject at undergraduate level. If your degree or background is not in classical studies (or a related discipline such as Ancient History or Archaeology), we strongly recommend that you complete the preparatory work listed below.
It is expected that your spoken and written English will also be of an adequate standard for postgraduate study. If English is not your first language, we recommend that you will need a minimum score of 7 under the International English Language testing system (IELTS). Knowledge of the Greek or Latin language is not required.
The following resources will be useful preparation for the MA. Some are short volumes that may be useful to read in their entirety; others are collections from which we recommend choosing one or two chapters that interest you.
General introductions to classical studies and the ancient world:
Useful volumes on sub-disciplines:
The set text for Block 1 – this is an extended opinion piece rather than a piece of scholarship which you will investigate and critique during your studies:
Written transcripts of any audio components, image descriptions, and Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) versions of online material are available. Some Adobe PDF components and electronic journals may not be available or fully accessible using a screen. Other alternative formats of the study materials may be available.
StartEndRegister byEngland fee
05 Sep 202630 Jun 202713 Aug 2026£4,200
If you study this module as part of an eligible qualification, you can apply for a postgraduate loan to support your study costs. To find out more, see Postgraduate loans in England.
Studying with The Open University can boost your employability. OU courses are recognised and respected by employers for their excellence and the commitment they take to complete. They also value the skills that students learn and can apply in the workplace.
Over 30,000 employers have used the OU to develop staff so far. If the module you’ve chosen is geared towards your job or developing your career, you could approach your employer to see if they will sponsor you by paying some or all of the fees.
You can pay part or all of your tuition fees upfront with a debit or credit card when you register for each module.
We accept American Express, Mastercard, Visa and Visa Electron.
Please note: your permanent address/domicile will affect your fee status and, therefore, the fees you are charged and any financial support available to you. The fee information provided here is valid for modules starting before 31 July 2027. Fees typically increase annually. For further information about the University's fee policy, visit our Fee Rules.
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