The Research Master programme in Classics and Ancient Civilizations: Classics is a two year-programme, which gradually leads to the development of specific research skills. Classics refers to the multidisciplinary study of the Greek and Roman world, including Greek and (Renaissance) Latin literature and linguistics, Ancient Philosophy and Ancient History. Students can specialize in one or more of these disciplines in order to prepare themselves for further research after their studies.

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 specialization Classics, students attend 55 EC track electives within the specialization track Classics (seminars or tutorials). 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.

Students can choose from all the courses on offer both in Leiden and at the sister institutions. Also, a number of track electives can be acquired through classes taken abroad. If students choose to attend courses at the Dutch sister institutions or abroad, the maximum of EC for Research Master students that can be acquired at another university is 40 EC. For research activities abroad Research Master students are eligible for the The Uhlenbeck scholarship programme.

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 10 EC courses offered by the National Research School in Classical Studies (OIKOS) (see below). The structure of the study programme:

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

Second semester  
- Track electives/classes abroad (25 EC) 
- Course at 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 at 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 Classics (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.

N.B. The Research Master programme Classics and Ancient Civilizations: Classics does not qualify students (directly) for the Teacher-training programme (in Dutch). Please contact the Co-ordinator of Studies about the requirements you have to meet to qualify yourself for the Teacher-training programme.