With currently six active researchers in the field, whose expertise ranges fromthe Latin West to the Christian Near East and the second century of the Common Era to the Early Middle Ages, the group offers to postgraduate students who wish to specialise in this field a stimulating intellectual environment in which to pursue either research to M.Phil. or Ph.D. level or advanced, research-orientated study leading to the degree of M.A. Research Members of the group offer supervision to research students leading to the degrees of M.Phil. The scheme is in 2 parts. Part I consists of 3 taught courses selected from the list below. There is also instruction in research skills and methodology. Teaching and learning are principally through personal or group tutorials, designed to support and guide the student's own reading and writing in the chosen areas.
Assessment is by presented essays or formal examination.
Part 2 is a dissertation on not more than 20,000 words on a topic chosen in consultation with the teachers. A regular seminar provides a forum for the development of skills in research and its presentation, for student interchange, and the opportunity to discuss ideas with visiting scholars and students in neighbouring fields. Competence in relevant languages is an essential requirement for pursuing advanced research in this area. Those without sucha basic knowledge will be expected to attend classes in one language and successfully complete a course of elementary instruction if they wish subsequently to enrol for a research degree. Those already knowing one language and wishing to acquire another will be encouraged to do so.