At a glance

• A Greek-focused pathway within the MPhil in Literature, Culture and Thought, combining theoretical training with in-depth study of Greek literary and cultural materials.

• Faculty: Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics

• Study Routes: By Thesis | By Advanced Study

• Duration: 9 months (full-time) - part-time option available

• Assessment:

  • By Thesis: 30,000-word thesis + viva

  • By Advanced Study: essays and supervised written work

• Focus: Greek literature, culture, and thought within a comparative and theoretical framework

• Progression: Suitable preparation for PhD research

• Further details: Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics

The Greek Studies Pathway forms part of the MPhil in Literature, Culture and Thought (LCT) at the University of Cambridge and offers advanced training in the study of Greek literature, culture, and thought, from antiquity to the modern period. It is designed for students wishing to pursue focused, research-led work on Greek texts, traditions, and cultural forms, while engaging with broader comparative, theoretical, and interdisciplinary perspectives.

The pathway provides an intellectually rigorous framework for the study of ancient, Byzantine, and modern Greek literature and culture, including their historical contexts, afterlives, and reception. Students are encouraged to situate Greek materials within wider debates in literary and cultural theory, intellectual history, translation, and comparative literature.

Students are fully enrolled on the MPhil in LCT and benefit from its methodological breadth, while undertaking concentrated work in Greek Studies, supported by specialist academic supervision.

Routes of Study

Students on the Greek Studies Pathway may follow one of two routes within the MPhil in Literature, Culture and Thought, subject to eligibility and approval.

MPhil by Thesis (Greek Studies)

The MPhil by Thesis is a research-intensive route culminating in a 30,000-word thesis based on original research in Greek Studies. It is intended for students in exceptional circumstances who already possess substantial familiarity with Greek literary, cultural, or intellectual history and who enter the programme with a clear and well-defined research project.

Research topics may engage with, for example:

• Greek literary texts across historical periods;

• Greek cultural and intellectual traditions;

• the reception of Greek literature and thought;

• relationships between Greek texts and wider European or global contexts.

Students normally attend the Core Course in Michaelmas Term and may, with approval, attend selected taught modules. Formal assessment is based solely on the thesis and a viva voce examination.

This route is particularly appropriate for students who:

• have strong prior preparation in Greek literature, language, or culture;

• already know the area in which they wish to conduct sustained research;

• intend to proceed directly to doctoral study in Greek or related fields.

Authoritative details on regulations, assessment, and supervision are maintained by the Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics.

MPhil by Advanced Study (Greek Studies)

The MPhil by Advanced Study is a taught route combining core theoretical training, specialist modules, and supervised written work. Students follow the Core Course in Michaelmas Term and select modules in Lent Term, including options directly relevant to Greek literature, language, and culture, as well as comparative and theoretical modules that complement Greek-focused study. View a list of available modules by visiting Lent term 2026 Modules. The modules specific to Greek Studies are GK Myth: Women and the Subversive Power of Myth (Dr Liana Giannakopoulou) and GK Syntactic Change: Syntactic change in Greek through an acquisition perspective.

This route is suitable for students who wish to deepen their knowledge of Greek Studies while developing broader skills in literary and cultural analysis, critical theory, and research methods.

For more detailed information, visit:

• MPhil in Literature, Culture and Thought;
• Core Course Overview;
• Core Course Lectures;
• Lent term 2026 Modules.

Teaching, Supervision, and Assessment

Students on the Greek Studies Pathway receive training in critical theory and methods of textual analysis, alongside opportunities for advanced study of Greek literary and cultural materials in their historical, theoretical, and comparative dimensions. Teaching and supervision support engagement with Greek texts and traditions while encouraging independent, critical research.

Assessment arrangements depend on the route followed:

• By Thesis: examination of the thesis by internal and external examiners, followed by a viva voce examination.

• By Advanced Study: assessment through submitted essays and, where applicable, a shorter dissertation.

Supervision follows University norms and is agreed between students and supervisors.

Entry Requirements and Applications

Applicants are expected to have a strong academic background in a relevant discipline and appropriate linguistic and/or cultural preparation for advanced work in Greek Studies. This may include prior study of Greek language, literature, history, or related cultural fields.

Official entry requirements, deadlines, and application procedures are maintained by the University and the Faculty.

Further Enquiries

Prospective applicants interested in pursuing advanced work in Greek Studies are encouraged to explore staff research interests within the Faculty and, where appropriate, to make informal enquiries in advance of applying.

Application

For general information on applying to the Faculty, visit Applying for Postgraduate Study  and for advice specific to the MPhil in Literature, Culture and Thought, visit Becoming an LCT MPhil Student.