Ancient Philosophy MSt Graduate
The Master of Studies Ancient Philosophy MSt Graduate taught at the University of Oxford leads as a rigorous program for curious individuals with strong intellectual interest in ancient thought. At a time when technology and change seem to spell political and social chaos the typical line-up choices in first-year philosophy – Plato or Aristotle Hellenistic thinkers like Epicurus whose ideas still shape modern understandings of society and knowledge – offer an insight into debate that has stood the test of millennia. Students are exposed to some of the most significant and influential ideas in human history learning to reason critically and analytically. Intended for more advanced students the Ancient Philosophy MSt Graduate proffers syllabus and faculty expertise to support a wide range of research topics both into areas traditionally classified as “ancient philosophy” and into philosophical questions which arise in ancient literature.
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Advanced Ancient Philosophy Studies
What is an Ancient Philosophy MSt Graduate?
The Ancient Philosophy MSt Graduate is a taught graduate degree offering an intensive in-depth study of the rich tradition of ancient philosophy. It tends to be a springboard for doctoral research and an opportunity for immersion in the thought-worlds of antiquity. The syllabus is carefully designed to integrate key subjects by means of lectures, individual supervisions and the submission of a substantial thesis.
The Ancient Philosophy MSt Graduate degree at its core aims for the seminal thinkers in the West Plato and Aristotle whose ideas formed a large portion of what our Western intellect is built out of. Beneath these figures students encounter a fertile landscape of Hellenistic thought including Stoicism, Epicureureanism and Skepticism that admitted ethical logical and physics with profound consequences. The survey also covers Latin philosophy exploring Roman adaptation of original Greek philosophical ideas and their own creative contributions. Such themes are grounded in the traditional ancient Greek and Roman context but with many programs offering introductions to non-Western philosophies that provide students with a wider and more diverse representation of global intellectual heritage.
Learning Methodology: A Blend of Tradition and Modernity
The study of the ancient philosophical traditions in an Ancient Philosophy MSt Graduate is a fascinating mixture of traditional rigor typical to everyone’s academic expectations with more modern cutting-edge pedagogical methodologies. Central to this approach is face-to-face individual supervision. These one-to-one sessions between students and faculty experts ensure individual instruction as students work to understand dense texts and arguments hone a research question, and refine analytical skills. This personal mentorship is essential for intellectual maturation and the preparation of a scholar.
Supervisions are complemented by organised classes and lectures which offer a broader understanding of areas such as key issues historical context methodological approaches. These are environments that encourage participation promote lively discussion and compel people to examine different views critically. And significantly much of the programme is devoted to independent research running throughout the year. This fosters a critical and independent intellectual approach that enables our students to follow their own ideas and initiate original areas of work in the field.
Highly recommended although sometimes optional is the Ancient Greek. Language instruction lessons are recommended for students with little or no previous knowledge. The opportunity to read philosophical texts in the original language results in an enhanced understanding—with a sensitivity to shades of meaning and argumentation that is often lost in translation. Intermediate or advanced students of Greek will be able to continue to build upon and elaborate their existing knowledge in the more advanced classes which will enable them to engage more profoundly with sources.
Deconstructing the Course Structure
Core Academic Requirements
The Ancient Philosophy MSt Graduate is based on a set of core academic requirements that combine structure with choice to provide a thorough and flexible education founded on high levels of independent study. The core of the programme is the this is a significant piece of original research usually between 10,000 and 15,000 words. The thesis is decided upon in discussion with a course Co-Ordinator and potential thesis supervisor, allowing for Specialisation in an area of interest. This thesis is a capstone project that allows students to work independently and develop an argument and present their findings in the scholarly manner.
In addition to the this is students complete two subject options covering different aspects of ancient philosophy. The first choice of subject will usually be taken from a range of undergraduate papers ensuring an understanding of certain core texts and debates. Examples include:
Plato: Republic
Plato on Knowledge Language and Reality in the Theaetetus and Sophist.
Aristotle: Nicomachean Ethics
Aristotle on Nature Life and Mind.
Knowledge and Scepticism in Hellenistic Thought.
Latin philosophy.
Teaching for these subjects is provided in supervisions, lectures and classes to offer various forms of learning. The second option is usually comprised of two classes that rotate from year-to-year reflecting the department’s current research and topic trends in the field. These courses provide exposure to more intellectually advanced or more recent interpretations of ancient ideas. Recent Such Classes Included the following:
Plato on Education
Happiness in Ancient Philosophy and Time.
Seneca’s Moral Letters.
Aristotle on Natural Slavery and Its Implications
Techne in Ancient Philosophy
Vice in Ancient Philosophy
The Stoic theory of Kalliphron on Moral Virtue and the Eros-Hero Register.
The Ontology of Action: Aristotelian Perspectives DialogInterface, didascalia.
The Stoics on Emotions
Plato and Aristotle on Truth
Prudence in Aristotle’s Ethics
Plato and aristotle on sophistry and fallacy
Plato’s Political Philosophy
Seminars, Workshops, and Conferences
An MSt in Ancient Philosophy is much more than formal classes and supervisions – the faculty community provides a lively intellectual environment that enhances a student’s sense of belonging to and participation in. During each term faculty give a large variety of graduate courses and research seminars to which students are expected to fully participate. These sessions are for the presenting of work-in-progress critical discussion and feedback from other PD scholars.
Many philosophy faculties also have weekly workshops of ancient philosophy. Such workshops provide an active forum in which faculty and graduate students present works-in-progress presentations often include speakers from the host institution as well as invitees. Graduate students working in ancient philosophy are particularly urged to do so as they will gain access not just to the latest work but also to a community of scholars in this field.
In addition institutions may have special lecture series including the Nellie Wallace lectures which invite high-profile speakers from outside of the university who give a series and seminar. Such events are great opportunities for cross-disciplinary encounter and receiving exposure to different academic views. Many students are also encouraged to take any graduate or undergraduate classes seminars and lectures university-wide that interest them (so long as they are available to them).
Gradpire students also have the authority to coordinate their own seminars and reading groups encouraging peer based learning and academic curiosity. A lot of departments have student-run philosophy societies and one might host international guest speakers while another allows grad students to give papers in front of other grads. One of the highlights for graduate students each year is an annual Graduate Philosophy Conference attended by all and at which they are guaranteed a time to present work and network with the broader community. There is usually no fieldwork or industrial placement or year abroad section for this course (although students can attend external conferences workshops and research training to develop their academic skills).
Resources and Supervision
World-Class Academic Resources
Students studying for the MSt in Ancient Philosophy have access to an unparalleled range of resources to aid their work. Core to this support infrastructure are the libraries— these can range from the large research-based libraries through to faculty departmental and institute based libraries. For example the Bodleian Libraries holds over 13 million printed items and shelves some 3 million e-journals while offering a wide range of special collections such as rare books and manuscripts classical papyri medieval things (painted or otherwise) maps. I’d lean on these if I were doing exhaustive philosophical studying.
In addition to classic library services wide-ranging IT services are provided for students and in particular operate core university systems tools and infrastructure. Generally these services also incorporate a variety IT training courses to support study and academic needs as well as advice concerning technology adoption for new students. Modern Foundations for Science Education Today’s Schools of Science are being transformed too. For example it might be home to a grand new Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities have several of its faculties and institutes based within its walls boast scores of excellent teaching and seminar rooms encourage interdisciplinary — indeed anti-disciplinary work. Such centre frequently have dedicated philosophy libraries with significant loans materials plenty of general reader/graduate study spaces and 24/7 study space as well as being provided with electronic resources and subject librarians.
Personalized Supervision Model
Good supervision is critical to good graduate work in philosophy. Graduate supervision For an MSt in Ancient Philosophy you should be assigned to a graduate supervisor by the Faculty of Philosophy. Although every attempt is made to place students with staff of their choosing, we cannot guarantee individual staff placement. In rare cases a supervisor will be located outside the Faculty of Philosophy or Classics and guarantees that no matter what staffing pressures we face internally students receive expert guidance.
Students typically receive four one hour supervision sessions per term with their assigned supervisor. These are very interactive and based on specific research the student is doing. Before each meeting a student must prepare write an essay and submit the work as formative to aid their learning. Students are given personal feedback in their discussion of a detailed written essay plan during the one-to-one tutorials to enable them to go away and develop their argument and writing before then being formally assessed.
Navigating the Assessment Landscape
Components of Evaluation
The MSt in Ancient Philosophy’s assessement is to ascertain that students have approached both the reading of texts and scholarly background with a critical awareness an ability to grasp issues objectively and well-informed judgment. Emphasis is placed on the thesis as a central instrument of assessment where by students must show evidence of original thinking scholarly discipline and capacity to build an extended philosophical argument. This is evidence of how much they have had to explore a subject.
Students are also examined for their subject options through written work in essays in addition to the thesis. The first subject option is normally evaluated by 5000-word essay on a topic selected by the student and approved by their course coordinator. In the case of a second subject candidates are required to write two 5,000-word essays. In both essays students may write on a topic pertaining to one of the two courses for which this option is taken or one essay may be written on each of two subjects. But it’s important not to have a lot of duplicate content between these essays and to have them cover philosophical ground that is wide-ranging enough and somewhat disjoint from each other.
Admission to Ancient Philosophy
Entry Requirements
It is an extremely competitive course that attracts very strong and committed students who have discovered / are just discovering a passion for Philosophy. Eligibility General minimum entry Applicants for the MA are normally required to have or expect to obtain a first or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours in philosophy classics or a related subject. Despite this successful candidates often have (or be about to get) a first-class degree or its equivalent indicating the challenging requirements of these degrees. For example its successful applicants from the USA generally have minimum cgpas of 3.6 on a 4.0 scale though most have achieved a CGPA of 3.7 or above.
Unlike the majority of taught postgraduate courses GRE General Test (or GMAT) scores are not usually required in the application procedure although academic transcripts and references will be considered. What’s more there is no publication condition (for candidates) making the program available to strong researchers still in the beginning of their academic careers. Some institutions also take contextual data into account to help identify the extent of an applicant’s achievement within their own context especially if a candidate’s potential to meet entry requirements has been impacted by exceptional circumstances such as COVID-19 or significant personal adversity.
English Language Proficiency
English Language For overseas applicants with English as a second language, evidence of English language must be ‘higher’ level within the university accepted list of qualifications. This usually means obtaining a set minimum score on an approved test of English language. A table of some common criteria could look something like this:
English Language Test Requirements
| Test | Minimum Overall Score | Minimum Score Per Component |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic (Institution code: 0713) | 7.5 | 7.0 |
| TOEFL iBT, including the Home Edition (use institution code 0490), is also accepted. | 110 | Listening: 22, Reading: 24, Speaking: 25, Writing: 24 |
| C1 Advanced* | 191 | 185 |
| C2 Proficiency† | 191 | 185 |
| Oxford Test of English Advanced | 165 | 155 |
Formerly known as the Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English, or CAE.
This exam was previously called the Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English with Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE) as its title.
Parties should make sure that the test was taken within 2 years before the course’s start date and consult the individual application guide for more information about these requirements.
Application Essentials
How to applyAn MSt in Ancient Philosophy application should be submitted with great care and involves the supply of discrete documents. Applicants will be required to register three academics who can offer an academic assessment of their intellectual ability and suitability for graduate study in philosophy. These referrals are crucial in terms of determining a candidate’s suitability for the program. Applicants must also provide other specified application materials as explained in the application guidelines such as transcripts personal statement and writing sample. NB: Interviews are generally not conducted as part of the admissions process so the written materials get even more weight.
Once you have received an offer of a place we will let you know if there are any offer conditions that you must satisfy e.g. a minimum final grade from your current degree course. These terms are specific to academic context. In addition to any academic conditions successful applicants would normally be asked to submit a Financial Declaration in order that issues such as admission and the award of financial support or scholarships may be addressed and so that any relevant unspent criminal convictions can be reported voluntarily by you directly to the University in line with its obligations.
Other influences of acceptance include whether the university will be able to support the student (resources, facilities, instruction) and minimum/maximum quotas to assure ideal learning environments.
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MSt Progression and Career Paths
Pathway to Doctoral Studies
For many the MSt in Ancient Philosophy is a bridge to further study at doctoral level mainly with an Oxford DPhil (Doctor of Philosophy) in Philosophy. Students who obtain a distinction in their MSt are normally able to progress subject to the appropriate Graduate Studies Committee being satisfied that an adequate level of supervision can be offered by Faculty on their chosen thesis topic/outlines. For those who started the MSt with little or no prior knowledge of Ancient Greek attendance at appropriate languae classes is normally a requirement for DPhil continuation. Students who pass the MSt without a distinction may also be accepted onto the DPhil at the committee’s discretion confirming that this is very much seen as a preparatory course.
The MSt is an excellent conversion course for those who want to apply philosophy and especially appealing more widely to students moving into philosophy from other fields whether it be classics history or literature. It affords the required philosophical background and basic methodological skills for further work in ancient philosophy.
Broader Career Implications
Although many MSt graduates progress to academic careers the competences developed through advanced study of ancient philosophy are increasingly sought after skills in a wide variety of professions. The focus on advanced research analytical thinking critical reasoning and persuasive argumentation prepares graduates for intellectually challenging careers in academia and beyond. Success of philosophy graduates In what areas do philosophy graduates have success?
- Academia and Research: To make it to PhD programs, teaching, publications.
- Law: Philosophy’s focus on logic argumentation and ethical consideration is a good background for law.
- Journalism and Publishing: Critical thinking writing is very desirable.
- Public Policy and Government: The capacity to understand complex issues and express oneself cogently is a must.
- Banking and Finance: Analytical & problem-solving skills are important in financial analysis and strategy.
- Computing and Software Systems: You might be surprised to learn that the abstract logic honed in philosophy can come in handy working with tech – especially roles such as systems analysis and software engineering.
- Management and Consulting: Pressed by your strategic thinking, problem-solving capabilities and ethical decision making abilities.
- Academic Disciplines and Military: Focus in bioethics may result in consulting at hospitals and research facilities.
- Education: One who is involved in all sorts of teaching, from high school to college.
- Cultural Affairs: Jobs at museums, galleries and cultural institutions.
The MSt in Ancient Philosophy therefore also offers good training for those who wish to pursue other careers, both inside and outside academia; its range of practical transferable skills makes it appropriate not only as preparation for an academic career but also as a means of supplementing a wide variety of career choices.
Conclusion
Studying Ancient Philosophy is embarking on a journey to the intellectual heart of Western Civilization exploring the thinkers that have proved fundamental and have shaped it for centuries. It is a demanding but highly rewarding academic undertaking which requires intelligence diligence and an ethos of scholarly rigour. The full course of study close supervision and access to some of the best resources in the world create a superb atmosphere for scholarship and research. Above and beyond these direct academic benefits the program develops an array of highly applicable skills which enable a wide variety of exciting and rewarding opportunities inside and outside the ivory tower. It is an experience in which for the student of the enduring heritage of ancient thought learning becomes not simply knowledge but intellectual formation that moulds critical minds shaped to confront complexity in the present day. If you feel drawn to the quest of wisdom and wish to delve deeper into the intellectual heritage that humanity has left behind an MSt in Ancient Philosophy could very well be a great next step for your personal academic/professional pursuit.