Masters of Research in Classics(Part-time)

Year 2

(Award available for year: Master of Research)

Learning outcomes

On completion of the programme MRes students should have provided evidence of being able:
- to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding and mastery of concepts, information and techniques relevant to research at the forefront of the discipline of Classics. Research training essential to the programme will be delivered through the two core modules, 'Principles & Practices of Research in Classics' and 'Using the Past'.
- to exhibit mastery and innovation in the exercise of generic and subject-specific intellectual abilities. The MRes will offer intensive teaching to develop mastery of key concepts and approaches in Classical research but also space for innovation through the supervisory modules (the Dissertation and 'Researching the Ancient World'), since students will be guided to form their own new research questions in their chosen field of Classical study.
- to take a proactive and self-reflective role in working and to develop professional relationships with others. Through group and one-to-one discussion the MRes students will be guided to articulate their own personal research identity within the various disciplines of Classics (in the study of histories, literatures and cultures of both ancient Greece and Rome) and their own place within the long traditions of Classical scholarship. The aim is for the group to become aware of the diversity of study in Classics and so develop a professional relationship, built on a confident research identity, with not only the other Masters students but also the Classics PhD students.
- proactively to formulate ideas and hypotheses and to develop, implement and execute plans by which to evaluate these. All modules will emphasise and develop the student's own proactive role not only in exploring given research questions but also, and crucially, in formulating entirely new questions with which to interrogate the ancient evidence from Greece and Rome. Weekly contact with tutors in seminars and tutorials, interspersed with one-to-one supervisions, will provide valuable opportunities to evaluate the student's implementation and execution of plans via regular assessment-planning and progress monitoring.
- critically and creatively to evaluate current issues, research and advanced scholarship in the discipline. The Classics MRes, at all stages, is based upon teaching and learning methods that require students to critically evaluate current research and scholarship in Classics and to explore their own chosen areas. Creative research is fostered through recognising and developing the student's own research identity and guiding them to topics and areas where they can undertake independent study. Understanding of the current parameters of the discipline will be fostered through teaching on the history of Classical scholarship, the recent rise of reception studies, digital Humanities, and ongoing debates concerning the continuing contributions of Classics and classical heritage to contemporary thought, scholarship, politics and cultural life.

Transferable (key) skills

MRes students will have had the opportunity to acquire the following abilities through the research training, projects and modules as specified for the programme:
- the skills necessary to undertake a higher research degree, for a future career as a researcher and/or for employment in a higher capacity in industry or area of professional practice;
- evaluating their own achievement and that of others;
- self direction and effective decision making in complex and unpredictable situations;
- independent learning and the ability to work in a way which ensures continuing professional development;
- critically to engage in the development of professional/disciplinary boundaries and norms.

Assessment

Achievement will be assessed by a variety of methods in accordance with the learning outcomes of the modules specified for the year/programme and will involve the achievement of the students in:
- evidencing an ability to conduct independent in-depth enquiry within the discipline;
- drawing on and selecting appropriately from a range of research techniques and methodologies in their enquiries into the discipline;
- demonstrating the ability to apply breadth and/or depth of knowledge to a complex specialist area;
- drawing on a range of perspectives on an area of study;
- evaluating and criticising received opinion;
- make reasoned judgements whilst understanding the limitations on judgements made in the absence of complete data.