King's College London

Through this Classical Art & Archaeology MA you will explore the relationship between humans and their visual and material environment in the ancient world. You will examine monuments, art, and objects, making extensive use of the major museum resources in London. Classical archaeology not only focuses on the art of ancient Greece and Italy but has branched out geographically, chronologically and theoretically, reflected in our staff specialisms at King’s, especially beneficial for your dissertation.

During your MA, you’ll study one required taught module. This will train you in research skills for Classical art and archaeology in their broadest sense. Drawing on expertise in universities and cultural institutions in London, it makes extensive use of museum resources, especially the British Museum.

The rest of your MA comprises optional modules, with a minimum of one or two in classical art and archaeology, where we typically explore topics such as exhibiting classical antiquities, ancient Greek sculpture, Roman mosaics and painting, Pompeii and Herculaneum, Roman frontiers, Constantinople, and the afterlife of Persepolis. You will also select further optional modules either in art and archaeology or in ancient history, literature, or reception. Beyond art and archaeology topics range from Greek religion, ancient Persepolis, and Hellenistic poetry through Roman comedy, Christian persecution, and late Antique magic to explorations of Black Classicisms and Modern Greece's engagement with its past. Through our intercollegiate collaboration you can also select options at UCL, Royal Holloway, and the Institute of Classical Studies, as well as appropriate modules from other master’s courses at King’s.

You can also study Latin and Ancient Greek at beginner or intermediate level and acquire technical skills in epigraphy, papyrology, or digital classics. These will be particularly valuable to students interested in further research, as will be the option to study a modern language at KCL’s Modern Language Centre.

At the end of your degree, you’ll write a substantial piece of research in the form of a dissertation. For this you’ll be supervised by a member of the Classics department, tackling a research question in classical art and archaeology you’ve developed.

Alongside your Ancient History MA study, you’ll access the world-class research library at the Institute of Classical Studies and be invited to its rich programme of seminars, conferences and lectures, as well as events at King’s. Outside the classroom you can also take part in the King’s Greek Play. Performed every year since 1953, it’s a fun way to experience production and performance. Other exciting extracurricular opportunities available include those offered by the KCL Classics Society.