The research master's programme in Classics and Ancient Civilizations: Hebrew and Aramaic Studies is a two year-programme, which gradually leads to the development of specific research skills. The specialization Hebrew and Aramaic Studies uniquely offers a thorough education in Hebrew and Aramaic in various language phases, which may be studied from a linguistic, socio-religious or historical context. Other Northwest Semitic languages, often preserved in epigraphic texts, are also offered.

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 for the research master's programmme runs up to 120 EC and is spread out over four semesters. To complete the specialisation Hebrew and Aramaic Studies, students attend 55 EC worth of track electives within the specialisation Hebrew and Aramaic Studies (seminars, tutorials, reading lists). Though some of these track electives are shared with the regular master's programme, students in the research master's 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. The structure of the study programme:

First semester 
- Common core course 1 (10 EC) 
- Track electives (20 EC)

Second semester  
- Track electives (25 EC) 
- Course research school (5 EC)

Third semester 
- Common core course 2 (10 EC) 
- Tutorial in preparation for the thesis (5 EC)  
- Track elective (10 EC) 
- Course research school (5 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 Hebrew and Aramaic Studies (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.