Classics

The Classics track of the MA in Classics & Ancient Civilizations offers education in a wide range of skills to the aspiring classicist: from in-depth analysis of all aspects of a Greek or Latin text to interdisciplinary and thematic studies of important facets of Classical Antiquity.

The Classics track is a highly flexible interdisciplinary one-year programme, offering a variety of research-led courses on Greek and Latin literature, language and culture.

You can enter the programme with or without prior knowledge of Greek or Latin, and can tailor your studies to your interests. We offer courses both in the original languages and in translation. Specializations include:

Latin literature (prior Latin needed)
Greek literature (prior Greek needed)
Classics and the modern world (prior Greek and/or Latin optional)
Language acquisition and consolidation
Educational MA (prior Greek and Latin needed)

You will write a thesis and take an interdisciplinary course , on the interface of literary studies with ancient history or classical archaeology. You may also integrate ancient history courses and organize a placement.

Our alumni are skilled writers and have an eye for detail as well as the bigger picture. They are sought-after employees in many fields, including education, publishing, the cultural sector, journalism and the government.

The course is taught in English; Dutch-speaking students may produce their written work in Dutch.

The course is also offered on a part-time basis. For information, contact the study advisor (studieadviseur.gltc rug.nl).

Facts & Figures

Degree: MA in Classics & Ancient Civilizations
Course type: Master
Duration: 12 months (60 ECTS)
Croho code: 60821
Language of instruction: English
Start: February, September
Faculty: Arts

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Why study this programme in Groningen?

Ability to specialise
Integration of literature, languages, history
Particular expertise in Greek literature of the Classical and Hellenistic period, Latin poetry of the early Empire, Latin republican rhetoric, Late Antique literature, reception studies, literature in its spatial and socio-cultural context, cognitive humanities, Greek linguistics, Greek religion
Friendly, relatively small community
Internationally oriented research climate
Excellent teaching: two staff members elected Lecturer of the Year
Vibrant, international university city

Programme

All students write a thesis on a topic related to Greek or Latin literature and its reception, supported by a thesis and methods course. They also follow an interdisciplinary course in translation, on the interface of literary studies with ancient history or classical archaeology. Recent examples include: Landscape and Memory, and Text, Language and Religion.

Beyond this, they are free to choose from a wide range of courses at Groningen itself or taught within the Masterlanguage programme of Dutch universities. The offering typically includes

two courses on Latin subjects. Recent topics include: Exemplarity in Roman Imperial Literature, Ethno-biography, Late Antique Latin Poetry
two courses on Greek subjects. Recent topics include: Tragic Women, Ecphrasis and the Visual Imagination, Friendship in Ancient Literature
a course on the interaction of ancient and modern literature (in translation), e.g. Tragedy from Ancient Greece to the Present (2023-2024)
Beginners' Latin
Beginners' Greek
two research seminars in Ancient History
further courses on Latin and Greek literature (Masterlanguage)
courses on Latin and on Greek epigraphy (Masterlanguage)
courses abroad at the Royal Netherlands Institute in Rome and the Netherlands Institute at Athens
courses in archaeology, religion, and other relevant areas.

	Semesters
CoursesCourse Catalog >	1a	1b	2a	2b
Interdisciplinary course: Landscape and Memory (5 EC)
Tragic Women (5 EC)
Commentary Course: Aristophanes and Plautus (10 EC)
Greek epigraphy (Masterlanguage) (5 EC, optional)
Late Antique Latin Poetry (5 EC)
Interdisciplinary research seminar (Faculty courses) (10 EC, optional)
Master's Thesis (20 EC)
Master's work placement (10 EC, optional)
Power and Cult in the Hellenistic World (Research Seminar Ancient History) (10 EC, optional)

Curriculum

In addition to the range of course units provided by this track itself, students can also follow Masterlanguage courses. Masterlanguage is a national programme that offers courses for students of European languages, but also of Greek and Latin. The courses are jointly organized by lecturers from Radboud University, the University of Groningen, Leiden University, Utrecht University, the University of Amsterdam and VU University Amsterdam. More information about the courses, entry requirements and registration can be found on the Masterlanguage website: http://www.masterlanguage.nl. You may follow Masterlanguage courses in consultation with the Board of Examiners of your Master's degree programme.

You can also choose to do a placement. Such placements offer students the opportunity to gain work experience and orientation in the labor market. You can do a placement at an institution, organization or company in the Netherlands or abroad, e.g. a museum, a library, or a research school. It would be your responsibility to find a placement yourself, but the Office for Student Affairs can offer help where necessary.

Study abroad

Study abroad is optional

Contact for more information on studying abroad: study advisor drs. R.P. van der Borg (studieadviseur.gltc rug.nl).

Entry requirements

Admission requirements

Specific requirements	More information
previous education	Student with a Bachelor's degree in Classics, Archaeology or History from a Research University are directly admissible to this Master's programme. Students with a different Bachelor's degree from the Faculty of Arts at the University of Groningen, who have completed the pre-Master/ Minor Classics and Ancient Civilization (30 ECTS) are also admissible to the Master's track.
language test	Additional requirements English: A VWO diploma or a subject certificate for VWO English (mark 6 or higher), minimum requirement of TOEFL iBT 90 (with a minimum of 21 on all items), or IELTS 6.5 (with a minimum of 6 on all items). Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a minimum score of 180.
other admission requirements	Prior knowledge of Greek and/or Latin is not a requirement since we offer courses both in the original and in translation, as well as language acquisition courses. However, for students wishing to pursue the Educational Specialisation to become school teachers in the Netherlands, there are mandatory courses that are only open to students who in the opinion of the Board of Examiners have sufficient command of Greek and Latin. Students with a Dutch Bachelor's Degree in Classical Studies satisfy this condition.

Transfer options

Transferring from...

All Research universities

University of Groningen

Study programme	Organization	Transition
Classics (part-time)	All Research universities	No additional requirements
Archaeology	All Research universities	No additional requirements
History (part-time)	All Research universities	No additional requirements

Study programme	Organization	Transition
Classical Studies	University of Groningen	No additional requirements
History (part-time)	University of Groningen	No additional requirements
Archaeology	University of Groningen	No additional requirements
American Studies	University of Groningen	Additional requirements More information: With a Pre-Master/ Minor (30 ECTS) in Classics and Ancient Civilization.
Communication and Information Studies	University of Groningen	Additional requirements More information: With a Pre-Master/ Minor (30 ECTS) in Classics and Ancient Civilization.
English Language and Culture	University of Groningen	Additional requirements More information: With a Pre-Master/ Minor (30 ECTS) in Classics and Ancient Civilization.
European Languages and Cultures	University of Groningen	Additional requirements More information: With a Pre-Master/ Minor (30 ECTS) in Classics and Ancient Civilization.
Dutch Language and Culture	University of Groningen	Additional requirements More information: With a Pre-Master/ Minor (30 ECTS) in Classics and Ancient Civilization.
Information Science	University of Groningen	Additional requirements More information: With a Pre-Master/ Minor (30 ECTS) in Classics and Ancient Civilization.
Media Studies	University of Groningen	Additional requirements More information: With a Pre-Master/ Minor (30 ECTS) in Classics and Ancient Civilization.
Middle Eastern Studies	University of Groningen	Additional requirements More information: With a Pre-Master/ Minor (30 ECTS) in Classics and Ancient Civilization.
International Relations and International Organization	University of Groningen	Additional requirements More information: With a Pre-Master/ Minor (30 ECTS) in Classics and Ancient Civilization.
Arts, Culture and Media	University of Groningen	Additional requirements More information: With a Pre-Master/ Minor (30 ECTS) in Classics and Ancient Civilization.
Art History	University of Groningen	Additional requirements More information: With a Pre-Master/ Minor (30 ECTS) in Classics and Ancient Civilization.
Minorities & Multilingualism	University of Groningen	Additional requirements More information: With a Pre-Master/ Minor (30 ECTS) in Classics and Ancient Civilization.
Linguistics	University of Groningen	Additional requirements More information: With a Pre-Master/ Minor (30 ECTS) in Classics and Ancient Civilization.

Application deadlines

Type of student	Deadline	Start course
Dutch students	15 January 2025	01 February 2025
Dutch students	15 August 2025	01 September 2025
EU/EEA students	01 May 2025	01 September 2025
non-EU/EEA students	01 May 2025	01 September 2025

Admission requirements

Specific requirements	More information
previous education	Student with a Bachelor's degree in Classics, Archaeology or History from a Research University are directly admissible to this Master's programme. Students with a different Bachelor's degree from the Faculty of Arts at the University of Groningen, who have completed the pre-Master/ Minor Classics and Ancient Civilization (30 ECTS) are also admissible to the Master's track.
language test	Additional requirements English: A VWO diploma or a subject certificate for VWO English (mark 6 or higher), minimum requirement of TOEFL iBT 90 (with a minimum of 21 on all items), or IELTS 6.5 (with a minimum of 6 on all items). Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a minimum score of 180.
other admission requirements	Prior knowledge of Greek and/or Latin is not a requirement since we offer courses both in the original and in translation, as well as language acquisition courses. However, for students wishing to pursue the Educational Specialisation to become school teachers in the Netherlands, there are mandatory courses that are only open to students who in the opinion of the Board of Examiners have sufficient command of Greek and Latin. Students with a Dutch Bachelor's Degree in Classical Studies satisfy this condition.

Application deadlines

Type of student	Deadline	Start course
Dutch students	15 January 2025	01 February 2025
Dutch students	15 August 2025	01 September 2025
EU/EEA students	01 May 2025	01 September 2025
non-EU/EEA students	01 May 2025	01 September 2025

Tuition fees

Nationality	Year	Fee	Programme form
EU/EEA	2024-2025	€ 1863	part-time
EU/EEA	2025-2026	€ 1914	part-time

Practical information for:

Dutch students International students

After your studies

Job prospects

As a graduate, there are many career options open to you. If you wish to apply your knowledge of the ancient world and its research, you may work in an academic library or in museums.

Following this one-year also does not exclude the option of becoming a teacher of Classics in secondary school; you can obtain a qualification by following the one-year postmaster LHVO at the college of education (NB this postmaster requires a minimum level of proficiency in Dutch: NT2 programme II).

The skill set of a classicist is highly valued elsewhere, too. Typically, our graduates have a keen sense of language, good writing skills, a critical and analytical mind; having been trained to overview an ancient society in its many aspects, you will be able to reflect on culture and society. You can therefore also work in journalism, the cultural sector, publishing or the civil service.

Job examples

Publisher
Staff member in a museum or (academic) library
Journalist
Communications consultant
Government employee

Research

Research and teaching are closely integrated in this programme. As you study for the MA you will be in close contact with current staff research. For details of that research see our research website.

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Contact

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Drs. Bob van der Borg (Studieadviseur)
Email: studieadviseur.gltc rug.nl
Pascalle van Setten (Student Ambassador)
Admission Office (Contact form)
Telephone: +31-(0)50 363 8976

Study associations

Boreas

Boréas is the study association of the bachelor Greek and Latin Language and Culture and the associated master programs in Groningen.

Boréas organizes several annual events for its members including an introduction camp and a Christmas dinner. Besides leisure activities, Boréas also organizes study related activities such as lectures and excursions.

https://www.boreasgroningen.nl