General information on postgraduate degrees can be found on the main University webpages:
Why should I come to Otago?
Reputation
The Classics Programme at the University of Otago has an outstanding reputation for research both nationally and internationally.
Expert supervision
The Programme can provide expert supervision across a wide range of themes for postgraduate students in Classics.
Classics supervision themes
- Greek drama, women in ancient Greece, Greek mythology (Dr Arlene Allan)
- Cicero, Roman rhetoric, Roman social life (Professor Jon Hall)
- Cicero, Greek and Roman philosophy (Associate Professor Sean McConnell)
- Greek and Roman mythology and religion, Roman political history (Associate Professor Gwynaeth McIntyre)
- Roman Spain, Greek and Roman art and archaeology (Dr Dan Osland)
- Alexander the Great and his successors, Greek history (Associate Professor Pat Wheatley)
Prospective students should familiarise themselves with the expertise of the relevant staff members as they formulate their topic and frame their proposal.
See staff profiles for further information on research areas
Postgraduate research culture
The Classics Programme is committed to fostering an energetic postgraduate community.
Students attend our regular research seminars that feature a range of local and international speakers and frequently participate in the symposia and conferences hosted by the Programme
Grants are available from the Division of Humanities to enable students to attend conferences.
The Programme provides internet access and study space for all postgraduate students.
Scholarships
The University of Otago offers a number of postgraduate scholarships.
See the University website for a full list of scholarships offered
Classics postgraduate scholarship
The Classics Programme offers a university scholarship specifically targeted to classics postgraduates:
Choosing a research area
In choosing a topic, students should keep in mind the research interests and expertise of the staff in the Programme. Wherever possible we try to accommodate student interests, so long as these are consistent with available staff expertise.
Students should also bear in mind the location of major source materials for a proposed thesis.
Finally, students should define a topic which can be completed realistically within the time appropriate for the chosen degree. Students often conceive of a topic which is too broad in scope and needs to be whittled down. This should be done in close consultation with the supervisor.
Supervision arrangements
Initially students' ideas for a topic should be discussed informally with any staff member competent to advise, but ultimately they must be written in the form of a proposal and submitted to the Postgraduate Co-ordinator, Head of Programme and your potential supervisor.
Your supervisor should be a specialist in the field of your research. A secondary supervisor will usually also be assigned. The supervision will be split, and one supervisor has direct responsibility for supervision of your thesis.
In considering accepting a student, a potential supervisor assesses the following:
- Student's background and level of performance
- Student's motivation
- Appropriateness of the topic
- Available resources for the topic
- Level of commitment the supervisor can make, e.g.: Do leave plans interfere? What are the supervisor's existing supervisory commitments?
In considering accepting a particular supervisor, a student should:
- Seek information from other research students and the proposed supervisor about the expectations of the supervisor and support given
- Ask the proposed supervisor about financial and other resources required and about anything which might affect continuity of supervision until completion of the project
Discuss the relationship between the student's and the supervisor's research interests in order to assess if the topic is appropriate to the supervisor's areas of research.
Which degree shall I do?
The Classics Programme is frequently asked what distinguishes the PhD from the MA. The simple answer is that a PhD is a much longer and more demanding exercise, usually taking three to four years of full-time study to complete.
A PhD topic is larger in conception and is expected to make an original contribution to scholarship. An MA, which is expected to be completed in one year of full-time study, is a more limited exercise and does not require the same degree of originality.
If in doubt, contact the Postgraduate Co-ordinator or discuss the matter with a staff member of the Programme.
Entry requirements
MA
An MA student should have graduated with a four-year Arts degree with Classics as a major, and have achieved at least a B average (or equivalent) overall for their degree.
Otago students will normally have completed either the Honours course or the Post Graduate Diploma in Arts with a B average or better and at least a B+ for their long research essay.
Students who have taken their first degree outside New Zealand will have their cases scrutinised individually by the Postgraduate Co-ordinator and/or Head of Programme.
Acceptance as a candidate for the degree depends upon the University being able to provide adequate expert supervision in the intended area of research.
PhD
A prospective PhD student should have graduated with a four-year Arts degree, earning at least an upper second class of honours, or a Master of Arts degree.
University of Otago students will normally have completed either the Honours course or the Post Graduate Diploma in Arts. All candidates are provisional for at least the first six months.
Depending on progress, confirmation is possible thereafter. Students who have been provisionally enrolled for the PhD, but who do not give satisfactory evidence of research and writing ability will be required to re-enrol for an MA if they wish to continue.
The abilities needed to complete a PhD successfully do not always depend on good results at the undergraduate level. The supervisors, Head of Programme and Postgraduate Co-ordinator will also need to be convinced that the student has the time available for the greater commitment, the necessary financial support, and the all-important qualities of diligence, persistence and endurance.
Other requirements
Language requirement
For postgraduate study in Classics, one is expected to have at least 3 semesters worth of training in Latin or Greek at MA level and at least 5 semesters in Latin or Greek at PhD level. Therefore, we recommend that students seeking to enter postgraduate study in Classics to have begun study on one or, preferably, both languages.
Other prerequisites
Other prerequisites may also be required, depending on the topic which has been selected. A topic in economic history, for example, may require papers in economics and statistics. These prerequisite requirements should be considered by students in their undergraduate careers.
If the student has not taken a prerequisite paper as a part of their undergraduate degree it must be taken during the first year of enrolment as an MA student or a provisional PhD.
How do I apply?
Prospective MA and PhD students should contact a potential supervisor in the Programme and develop a detailed proposal which will be considered by the Graduate Research Committee.
PhD students should also provide a resources and proposed research costing outline which they may require during their course of study.
The proposal will be considered by the Graduate Research Committee.
Once your proposal has been approved by the Graduate Research Committee, you can begin the application process:
Fees
Find information about University fees
Contact information
Associate Professor Sean McConnell is the Classics Programme Postgraduate Co-ordinator and may be contacted concerning MA and PhD research degrees.