The master's program in Classics and Ancient Civilizations: Classics, is a one year-program, which gives students a diverse and well-balanced view of Graeco-Roman antiquity. Seminars on ancient Greek and Latin literature and linguistics form the core of the study program. There are also seminars on Renaissance Latin, Ancient Philosophy and Ancient History. All students participate in the core course Classics Now! Focusing on the current relevance of Classics, this seminar discusses issues of modern society while applying ancient texts as ‘tools for thinking’.

Programme details

The study load of the master's program runs up to 60 EC (one year of full time study). To complete the specialization Classics students take at least 20 EC of classes on Greek and Latin literature and/or linguistics, and at least 5 EC of cultural-historical classes (Ancient Philosophy, Ancient History). Students attend the core course Classics Now! for at least 5 EC (it is also possible to take this course for 10 EC with an additional reading list and paper) and the Classics and Ancient Civilizations Seminar for 5 EC.
Finally, the program has a free component (10 EC) that allows students to choose either an extra seminar from the Classics program (Greek and Latin literature and linguistics, Ancient History, Ancient Philosophy) or an MA elective on a topic that is related and relevant to the Classics specialization: e.g. Greek papyrology, classical archaeology, or historical grammar of Latin.

Students conclude the specialization Classics by writing a 15-EC thesis based on a research question or hypothesis of their own formulation, which involves the interpretation of classical texts, and/or the exploration of linguistic or literary concepts.

Structure of the study program:

• Core course: Classics Now! (5 EC)
• CAC-Seminar (5 EC)
• Seminar/tutorial Greek (10 EC) 
• Seminar/tutorial Latin (10 EC) 
• Seminar/tutorial cultural-historical discipline (at least 5 EC) 
• Electives from the Classics program or related and relevant to Classics (10 EC)
• Master thesis (15 EC)

The Prospectus contains course details for all programs in the Faculty of Humanities (and other faculties). Please consult the Classics section of the Prospectus for more (detailed) information about the program and for recent courses on offer. The information in the Prospectus is updated annually, in June.

N.B. This programme qualifies Dutch students for the Teacher-training program in Classics.

Study Plan

At the start of their studies, students are required to hand in the form Study Plan MA Classics and Ancient Civilizations to the Co-ordinator of Studies in order to check if the study plan meets the requirements of the Master program.
Should the study plan contain other courses than listed on the Prospectus, the Co-ordinator of Studies will send the form to the Board of Examiners for approval.

Guide to Academic Skills Classics and Ancient Civilizations

This guide aims to describe the academic skills that you need to master when following the (Res)MA programme in Classics and Ancient Civilizations. As an MA student, you will need to employ general academic skills: you should be able to conduct research and present the results of that research in papers and theses, or in oral presentations. And you should be able to engage in critical discussions of research with your peers and teachers. Accordingly, the general academic skills that you should master include research skills, writing skills, oral presentation skills, and cooperative skills. This guide provides an overview of these skills, and consists of practical information about relevant sources, reference works and tools, examples of grading forms and lists do’s and don’ts for oral and written presentations.

Masterlanguage and sister institutions

Classics students at Leiden University can attend courses that are offered by Masterlanguage. Masterlanguage is a curriculum of courses offered annually to MA students in several languages (among others, classical Greek and Latin). For Classics the courses concern Epigraphy in Greece and Rome. Participating students sign up for Masterlanguage courses while being enrolled in their own local master programme at the masterlanguage website.

Students are also allowed to take courses in Classics at other academic universities. As a result, students benefit from the expertise of many universities. An overview of all disciplinary courses (Greek and Latin literature and linguistics and cultural-historical courses) is available on the OIKOS website. 

If students choose to attend courses at sister institutions (or abroad), the maximum of EC for Master students that is acquired at another university is 20 EC. For more information about this agreement, please contact the Co-ordinator of Studies.