Triangle

Research overview

Enjoy the flexibility to follow your own research interests, supported by our expert staff. 

Our friendly research community will encourage you to develop your skills and expand your thinking. This could be through interdisciplinary research, contributing to research seminars, or organising conferences.

We offer a diverse range of expertise, spanning from ancient literature and ancient history, to the visual culture of Greek and Roman antiquity and the reception of the ancient world. Recent student research has included areas such as Dionysian Triumph Sarcophagi, The Female Portrait Statues of Aphrodisias, and Constructions of the Spartan body.

You are also welcome to join the activities and events of our research centres:

Hear from our staff

"We are a department that’s small enough for everyone to know each other, but also big enough for there to be a vibrant community of students and scholars, and we do produce excellent research, as shown by our REF returns."

- Edmund Stewart, Assistant Professor in Ancient Greek History

Read more from Edmund, including top tips for those considering a Classics PhD.

Play video

Course content

This course is mainly made up of independent study, with supervision meetings spread throughout the year. The PhD involves a minimum of two years full-time or four years part-time directed research within the university, although the usual period of study is three years full-time.

At the end of the course, you will produce a dissertation (up to 100,000 words) in your chosen area of research. You will also take a verbal examination called a viva voce, where you discuss your project in depth with an examination panel.

What is the thesis pending period?

All periods of registration are followed by a period of writing-up (called the Thesis-Pending Period) when tuition fees are not paid and students are writing up their thesis.

Annual review

All PhD students take part in annual review assessments to ensure that their project is progressing satisfactorily. An annual review usually consists of a writing sample and a written report.

For full-time students, the first year is probationary (first two years for part-time students), and the reviews for all three years of study involve a viva with an independent internal assessor.

Entry requirements

All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements below apply to 2025 entry.

QualificationPhD
Degree

2:1 (or international equivalent) in classics or a related subject (i.e. archaeology or history) and a masters at Merit level or above

QualificationPhD
Degree

2:1 (or international equivalent) in classics or a related subject (i.e. archaeology or history) and a masters at Merit level or above

International and EU equivalents

We accept a wide range of qualifications from all over the world.

For information on entry requirements from your country, see our country pages.

IELTS7.0 (no less than 6.0 in any element)
English language requirements

As well as IELTS (listed above), we also accept other English language qualifications.

This includes TOEFL iBT, Pearson PTE, GCSE, IB and O level English.

Meeting our English language requirements

If you need support to meet the required level, you may be able to attend a presessional English course. Presessional courses teach you academic skills in addition to English language. Our Centre for English Language Education is accredited by the British Council for the teaching of English in the UK.

If you successfully complete your presessional course to the required level, you can then progress to your degree course. This means that you won't need to retake IELTS or equivalent.

For on-campus presessional English courses, you must take IELTS for UKVI to meet visa regulations. For online presessional courses, see our CELE webpages for guidance.

Visa restrictions

International students must have valid UK immigration permissions for any courses or study period where teaching takes place in the UK. Student route visas can be issued for eligible students studying full-time courses. The University of Nottingham does not sponsor a student visa for students studying part-time courses. The Standard Visitor visa route is not appropriate in all cases. Please contact the university’s Visa and Immigration team if you need advice about your visa options.

We recognise that applicants have a variety of experiences and follow different pathways to postgraduate study.

We treat all applicants with alternative qualifications on an individual basis. We may also consider relevant work experience.

If you are unsure whether your qualifications or work experience are relevant, contact us.

Applying

You will be required to provide a PhD proposal with your application, which will set out the structure of your project.

The basis of a good proposal is usually a set of questions, approaches, and objectives which clearly outline your proposed project and what you want to accomplish. The proposal should also clearly demonstrate how you are going to accomplish this.

A PhD proposal should be a minimum of 1000 words. There is no upward limit for proposals, although successful proposals are often not much longer than about 2000-3000 words. You should consider:

  • the methodologies that you will use in your project (as appropriate)
  • the necessary resources and facilities you will need to carry out your project

It is also helpful to include:

  • a summary of any further research experience, in addition to your academic qualifications.
    This could include work undertaken at undergraduate or masters level, or outside the educational system
  • the name of the supervisor who may supervise the project

Find out more about how to write a research proposal.

We encourage you to get in touch with a member of academic staff about your research proposal before submitting an application. They may be able to help you with your proposal and offer support to find funding opportunities in your area.

Details of research supervisors can be found on the department website.

Our step-by-step guide contains everything you need to know about applying for postgraduate research.

How to apply

Fees

QualificationPhD
Home / UK£5,350
International£23,000

Additional information for international students

If you are a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland, you may be asked to complete a fee status questionnaire and your answers will be assessed using guidance issued by the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA).

These fees are for full-time study. If you are studying part-time, you will be charged a proportion of this fee each year (subject to inflation).

Additional costs

All students will need at least one device to approve security access requests via Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). We also recommend students have a suitable laptop to work both on and off-campus. For more information, please check the equipment advice.

Books

You'll be able to access most of the books you’ll need through our libraries, though you may wish to buy your own copies of core texts. The Blackwell's bookshop on campus offers a year-round price match against any of the main retailers (i.e. Amazon, Waterstones, WH Smith).

Funding

There are funding opportunities which are only open to students within the Faculty of Arts.

Postgraduate funding for Faculty of Arts students

There are many ways to fund your research degree, from scholarships to government loans.

Check our guide to find out more about funding your postgraduate degree.

Postgraduate funding

Support

Regular supervision

You will have a team of at least two supervisors. Full-time students will meet with their supervisory team at least 10 times each year (six times for part-time students).

Your supervisors will help you to realise your research project and to guide you through your research. Many students will also attend conferences and publish papers in conjunction with their supervisors, to gain valuable experience and contacts in the academic community.

Teaching opportunities

During your doctoral studies, you may have the opportunity to apply to work as a Postgraduate Teaching Assistant (PGTA) within the Faculty of Arts. We offer a limited number of part-time annualised hours contracts of employment. They provide invaluable teaching experience in delivering and supporting seminars, as well as marking, assessing and giving feedback on students' work. we provide dedicated training and professional development. Applications for PGTA positions are competitive and not guaranteed. 

The Faculty of Arts Researcher Training Programme

All PhD students are enrolled in the Faculty of Arts Researcher Training Programme, which has been designed to meet the requirements of the AHRC for doctoral student training.

Your training will be individually designed around your own needs in consultation with your supervisor, and it can include formal workshops in essential skills (such as academic writing, IT and communication), work placements and public engagement activities.

Researcher training and development

The Researcher Academy is the network for researchers, and staff who support them. We work together to promote a healthy research culture, to cultivate researcher excellence, and develop creative partnerships that enable researchers to flourish.

Postgraduate researchers at Nottingham have access to our online Members’ area, which includes a wealth of resources, access to training courses and award-winning postgraduate placements.

Graduate centres

Our graduate centres are dedicated community spaces on campus for postgraduates.

Each space has areas for:

  • studying
  • socialising
  • computer work
  • seminars
  • kitchen facilities

Student support

You will have access to a range of support services, including:

  • academic and disability support
  • childcare services
  • counselling service
  • faith support
  • financial support
  • mental health and wellbeing support
  • visa and immigration advice
  • welfare support

Students' Union

Our Students' Union represents all students. You can join the Postgraduate Students’ Network or contact the dedicated Postgraduate Officer.

There are also a range of support networks, including groups for:

  • international students
  • black and minority ethnic students
  • students who identify as women
  • students with disabilities
  • LGBT+ students

SU Advice provides free, independent and confidential advice on issues such as accommodation, financial and academic difficulties.

Where you will learn

University of Nottingham Museum

A fascinating collection of archaeological artefacts from Nottinghamshire and the wider East Midlands. 

  • Explore original artefacts - from prehistoric hand-axes to Roman gaming pieces
  • Learn safe handling techniques 
  • Develop communication and interpretation skills through our volunteer scheme  

Careers

Whether you are considering a career in academia, industry or haven't yet decided, we’re here to support you every step of the way.

Expert staff will work with you to explore PhD career options and apply for vacancies, develop your interview skills and meet employers. You can book a one-to-one appointment, take an online course or attend a workshop.

International students who complete an eligible degree programme in the UK on a student visa can apply to stay and work in the UK after their course under the Graduate immigration route. Eligible courses at the University of Nottingham include bachelors, masters and research degrees, and PGCE courses.

This course will develop a range of transferable skills, including:

  • critical analysis
  • evaluating data
  • problem solving
  • communicating clearly and persuasively
  • combining disciplined study with creative responses

Our graduates are equipped to move into a wide range of careers. These include:

  • academia
  • museums and heritage management
  • commercial archaeology
  • conservation and management
  • media and marketing
  • primary and secondary teaching
  • central and local government

100% of postgraduates from the School of Classics and Archaeology secured graduate level employment or further study within 15 months of graduation. The average annual salary for these graduates was £33,000.*

*HESA Graduate Outcomes 2019/20 data published in 2022. The Graduate Outcomes % is derived using The Guardian University Guide methodology. The average annual salary is based on data from graduates who completed a full-time postgraduate degree with home fee status and are working full-time within the UK.

This research programme will set you on a unique journey that crosses geographic, historical and cultural boundaries, from Britain to Europe, the Mediterranean and Asia. By exploring and interpreting the diversity of the ancient world, you will have the opportunity to broaden and challenge our knowledge of the past and reach a more nuanced understanding of the present.”
Dr Tiziana D’Angelo, Assistant Professor in Classics

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Research Excellence Framework

The University of Nottingham is ranked 7th in the UK for research power, according to analysis by Times Higher Education. The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is a national assessment of the quality of research in UK higher education institutions.

  • The Department of Classics and Archaeology placed 23rd out of 81 departments nationally for research activity, with more than 80% of outputs and 100% of both Impact and Environment rated as either 'world leading' or 'internationally excellent'
  • 90%* of our research is classed as 'world-leading' (4*) or 'internationally excellent' (3*)
  • 100%* of our research is recognised internationally
  • 51% of our research is assessed as 'world-leading' (4*) for its impact**

*According to analysis by Times Higher Education ** According to our own analysis.

This content was last updated on 30 July 2024. Every effort has been made to ensure that this information is accurate, but changes are likely to occur between the date of publishing and course start date. It is therefore very important to check this website for any updates before you apply.