The Research Master’s programme in Classics and Ancient Civilizations: Egyptology is offered in collaboration with a number of institutions of renown, such as the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities, the Papyrological Institute (both housed in Leiden) and the Netherlands-Flemisch Institute in Cairo. The courses of the programme correspond directly to the research, so that the students can become directly involved in the most recent developments in the field. Students learn to collect sources and secondary literature and to report on the results of their research in a clear and well-argued manner.

Study Plan

At the start of their studies, students are required to hand in the form Study Plan Research MA Classics and Ancient Civilizations to the Co-ordinator of Studies in order to check if the study plan meets the requirements of the Research Master programme.

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.

Programme details

The study load of the Research Master programme runs up to 120 EC and is spread over four semesters. To complete the specialisation Egyptology, students attend 55 EC of track electives within the specialisation track Egyptology, of which 15 EC is reserved for "Egyptology in the Field: Research and Facilties in Egypt", taught in Cairo. Though some of these track electives are shared with the regular Master programme, students in the Research Master programme follow these courses at a more advanced level. 

In addition to the track electives, two core common courses are part of the programme (compulsory for all students), concentrating on "The Commentary in Ancient Civilizations" and "Cultural Contact in the Hellenistic World". Research MA students also take a course offered by a research school. OIKOS (the National Research School in Classical Studies) offers a module on “Egyptian Epigraphy” where students learn the skills required to handle, read and edit original inscriptions in the Egyptian language in any of its scripts. Students apply for a full membership of OIKOS via the online applications form. 

The structure of the study programme: 

First semester 
- Common core course 1 (10 EC) 
- Track electives (15-20 EC) 
- Egyptology in the Field: Research and Facilities in Egypt (5 EC) 

Second semester  
- Egyptology in the Field: Research and Facilities in Egypt 10 EC) 
- Course research school (10 EC) 
- Track electives (10 EC) 

Third semester 
- Common core course 2 (10 EC) 
- Tutorial in preparation for the thesis (5 EC)  
- Track elective (10-15 EC) 

Fourth semester 
- Thesis presentation and research proposal (5 EC) 
- Master thesis (25 EC)

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