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Research

Classical Studies

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Staff in the Department of Classical Studies have expertise in a wide range of research areas in Greek and Roman civilization, including: archaeology, art and sculpture; epic, lyric poetry, tragedy and comedy; historiography and philosophy; popular culture and social history; and digital humanities. Research is organised in three clusters:
  • Greek and Latin texts;
  • Greek and Roman material culture;
  • Ancient and modern reception of classical antiquity.

The department encourages applications for research that is based in any of the research clusters. Projects that work across clusters are encouraged. The research clusters overlap in important respects and this informs debate and collaboration across themes as well as providing opportunities for exchange with researchers in other subject areas. The department’s use of digital technology makes key research resources available to all.

The department’s research has been recognised by grant awards from the Arts and Humanities Research Council, the British Academy, the Leverhulme Trust, JISC and Google. Department members also have leading roles in internationally funded projects such as the Linkeage project in Australia (Classics and Theatre) and the European Network of Research in Greek Drama.

The UK’s Research Assessment Exercise (2008) feedback highlighted outstanding contributions by the department to the national and international research environment and we aim to ensure that all our research students (full time and part time, wherever they live) have the chance to benefit from and contribute to international debates in their field.

Key facts

  • Current fully funded studentships include the Michael Comber Studentship in Classical Reception (funded jointly with University of Oxford) and an OU Charter Studentship in Classical Studies.
  • Part-time research students are fully integrated into the department research environment, including regular research days and opportunities to attend conferences and present papers.
  • The department hosts the Classical Reception Studies Network, an international collaboration of researchers working on classical reception. 
  • Places are available each year for OU graduate students to attend the intensive summer course held in Epidauros, Greece, by the European Network of Research in Greek Drama.
  • The department hosts New Voices in Classical Reception, a refereed e-journal for early career researchers. The department also hosts Practitioners’ Voices in Classical Reception, a refereed e-journal which discusses through articles, interviews, audio and video media how arts practitioners in the creative industries (including poets, theatre directors and translators) use Greek and Roman texts, images and ideas in their works.
  • The department hosts a number of international digital classics projects, including Google Ancient Places and Pelagios.

Facilities

The Open University Library is particularly strong in the provision of electronic resources to which research students have access whether working on or off campus.

Research students in Classical Studies are also encouraged to join the Hellenic or Roman Societies. These societies have a joint library based at the Institute of Classical Studies in London. This is an internationally leading research library. Student membership of either of the societies includes borrowing rights (including postal borrowing).

Further information

If you have an enquiry specific to this research area please contact:

Name:
Dr Jessica Hughes
Email:
arts-classics-gen-enquiries@open.ac.uk
Phone:
+44 (0)1908 653247

For general enquiries please contact the Research Degrees Team via the link under 'Your questions' further down the page.