This research degree is ideal for those who would like to pursue original research over an extended period. Research proposals are invited on any topic in medieval, early modern or modern history for which staff can provide supervision. The MPhil is a research degree pursued over two years full-time or four years part-time. Students undertake research under the supervision of History staff, and produce a thesis that makes a substantial original contribution to our knowledge and understanding of some aspect of the past. The expertise of the Department of History and Classics spans from the ancient cultures and languages of ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome to the history of late twentieth- and early twenty-first-century Europe. The research of our staff and postgraduates is integral to the life of the department, and it means that Swansea is a dynamic, exciting, and stimulating place to study. A thesis of no more than 60,000 words is submitted, which demonstrates original research that contributes significantly to the understanding of the past. This is followed by an oral examination of the thesis (a viva voce examination, or viva).