MA Classics and Ancient Civilizations
Leiden, Netherlands
DURATION
1 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
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EARLIEST START DATE
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TUITION FEES
EUR 8,000 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* per year. Scholarships available covering both tuition fees and living expenses.
Introduction
The MA Classics and Ancient Civilizations at Leiden University covers the entire range of present-day research on the civilizations of Egypt, Mesopotamia, Anatolia, Syria and Palestine, Greece and the Roman Empire. In chronological terms, the program covers thousands of years, from the early origins of Egyptian and Sumerian societies down to the world of Greece and Rome, including its modern reception from the Renaissance to the twenty-first century.
Why study Classics and Ancient Civilizations at Leiden University
Classics and Ancient Civilizations at Leiden University has been ranked 10th in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023. The Master programme distinguishes itself from other similar programmes through its flexibility and wide range of electives, through the diversity of the research-related specialisms offered within the program, and through the collaboration of Assyriology, Classics, Egyptology and Hebrew and Aramaic Studies within one program. The program is well connected with excellent research institutes in Leiden, including the National Institute for the Near East (NINO), the National Museum of Antiquities (RMO) and the University Library, which hosts the Papyrological Institute and a unique collection of ancient and medieval manuscripts. An important goal of the programme is to develop your ability to conduct high-quality scientific research using a wide variety of research methods. Classics and Ancient Civilizations is a particularly exciting field in which to conduct research, with different research sources opening up the possibility of completely fresh interpretations of the past. Many students conduct field research in a country abroad, visiting excavation sites, or participate in one of our department’s own research projects including excavations at Saqqara and the Dakhla Oasis.
Admissions
Curriculum
The one-year (60 EC) master in Classics and Ancient Civilizations provides intensive and comprehensive training covering the entire range of present-day research on the ancient civilizations of Greece and Rome and the Ancient Near East.
The programme offers five specialisations:
- Assyriology
- Classics
- Egyptology
- Hebrew and Aramaic Studies
Programme structure
For a detailed programme, please see the Prospectus. Please note that this guide applies to the current academic year, which means that the curriculum for next year may slightly differ.
The students of all specializations participate in the MA Ancient World Thesis seminar. This seminar provides you with the academic skills that you will need for writing your papers and MA Thesis. It also prepares you for the job market, through meetings with alumni and career advisors. Finally, teams of students will set up a small-scale research project, in order to explore the intercultural connections between ancient civilizations.
Career Opportunities
As a graduate of an MA in Classics and Ancient Civilizations at Leiden University you are qualified to work as a junior academic researcher in an academic environment or carry out further research work on a PhD programme. It is also possible to find employment within the fields of publishing or teaching, at policy-making departments of governmental bodies, within the education sector, or within cultural tourism.
Our graduates end up working in a diverse range of positions, examples include:
- Policy officer for education
- Curator of classical antiquity at a museum
- Education officer at a museum
- PhD candidate at a university
- Research analyst at a consultancy firm
- Teacher of classical languages at a secondary school
- Teacher at an institute for special needs education
- Policy officer at the provincial department of a political party
- Chief desk editor at a publishing house