Classics and Ancient Civilizations at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Do you want to become an expert in the literature and linguistics of classical languages or in the cultures and religions of Ancient Greece, Rome or the Near East? Then the Master's in Classics and Ancient Civilizations – with its two distinct specialisations – may be the programme for you.

Gain an in-depth understanding of ancient cultures

This Master’s is offered jointly by the University of Amsterdam and VU Amsterdam – combining their expertise in Archaeology, Ancient History and Classics in the Amsterdam Centre for Ancient Studies and Archaeology (ACASA). This merging of specialisations encourages collaboration and extends the options for the supervision of your Master’s thesis. Not only is the teaching strongly related to the research expertise of the staff, but you’ll also be a partner in research during your studies.

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Classics and Ancient Civilizations

The one-year Classics and Ancient Civilizations Master's programme allows you to explore the theoretical frameworks and methodologies currently used in Classics or Ancient Studies.

Explore ancient languages, cultures and histories

During the programme, you’ll gain a thorough knowledge of the Greek and Latin languages or of themes in the field of Ancient History and Ancient Studies, such as Religion, Gender and Urban History. You’ll receive excellent training in classical linguistics, intertextuality and narratology, and post-classical Greek and Latin. And you’ll gain an in-depth understanding of the social, cultural and religious history of Ancient Greece, Rome and the Near East. 

Teaching takes place in small group classes with plenty of direct personal contact between you and your tutors. Plus, you’re able to follow and develop your own personal interests by tapping into the wide range of expertise held by the professors at the UvA and VU Amsterdam.

Facts and figures

The Study Programme

In the first semester, you’ll take two compulsory interdisciplinary courses. If you decide to specialise in Classics, you’ll follow an additional course on the methodology of textual analysis and another course on Greek and Latin linguistics. If you choose to specialise in Ancient Studies, you’ll delve into the specifics of urban life in the ancient world, and the religious developments of Late Antiquity. Assyriologists take two courses on Ancient Near Eastern language and culture (Akkadian). In the final period of the semester, you’ll work on a term paper, which can be related to either the interdisciplinary classes or  a topic of your own choice.
In the second semester, you’ll take two more courses in the field of your specialisation. And finally, you’ll write your Master’s thesis on your own area of research.

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Classics and Ancient Civilizations

Having graduated from the Classics and Ancient Civilizations Master’s programme, you’ll have excellent analytical skills at academic level, top-notch reflective skills, and a thorough grounding in interdisciplinary thinking – all of which are in high demand on the job market.

As specialist skills, you’ll also have excellent reading abilities in Greek and Latin, as well as the ability to compare phenomena in contemporary society with similar ones in the past.

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Classics and Ancient Civilizations

I have an international degree

Admission to the Master’s programme is possible for an applicant who has obtained an academic (WO) Bachelor’s degree in: 

• Classics (Griekse en Latijnse Taal en Cultuur)
• Ancient Studies (Oudheidwetenschappen)
• History with Ancient History as specialization
• Archaeology
• Religious Studies
• Assyriology
• A similar degree programme with a relevant specialization.

You must demonstrate the following knowledge, understanding and skills:

• knowledge: knowledge of current research methods and theories within the field of Classics and Ancient Civilizations
• understanding: the ability to interpret linguistic, literary or historical texts and/or archaeological data from an interdisciplinary perspective

Special requirements for the specialisation Classics

Applicants who wish to follow the specialisation Classics must, in addition to the provisions in paragraph 1, also meet the following requirements: 

• The ability to translate, interpret and analyse Greek and Latin texts of average difficulty with the help of the scholarly apparatus (grammar, dictionary, commentary, secondary literature);
• Bachelor’s degree in Greek and Latin language and culture, or a similar degree programme.

Special requirements for the specialisation Ancient Studies

Applicants who wish to follow the specialisation Ancient Studies must, in addition to the provisions in paragraph 1, also meet the following requirements:

• the ability to carry out a survey of primary sources (literary or material) and secondary literature and to derive from this a ‘status quaestionis’

English language requirements

You must always present official test results proving your proficiency in English. You can apply online without having the test results, but in case you haven’t taken a test yet we advise you to plan a test date as soon as possible. The qualification or test result must have been awarded no more than two years prior to the proposed date of enrolment. Below you will find the minimum English test scores for the English taught programmes at the Faculty of Humanities:

• TOEFL score 600 paper based with a minimum of 55 in each of the subtests plus 4.0 in TWE, score 250 computer based or score 100 internet based with a minimum of 20-23 in each of the subtests).
• IELTS score of 7.0 overall band score (with none of the separate section scores dropping below a minimum score of 6.5).
• Cambridge English: Cambridge Proficiency Exam with score A, B, or C; or Cambridge Advanced Exam with score A, B, or C.

Exemptions from providing the English test scores are applicable to students, who:

• have completed an English-taught secondary or higher education degree in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand or Australia; or
• have earned a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in an English-taught programme accredited by NVAO in the Netherlands, or
• have earned a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in an accredited English-taught programme in another member state of the European Union

The required evidence should, if possible, be included with the complete application. If either unsatisfactory or no evidence of English language proficiency has been provided with the application, admission will be conditional upon the provision of such evidence. This condition will be clearly indicated on the offer letter and must be fulfilled before enrolment at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

See the Admission and language requirements page for further information on the general requirements.

I have a Dutch university level (WO) Bachelor’s degree (VU Bachelor's degree, VU premaster or Bachelor's degree at another university)

Admission to the Master’s programme is possible for an applicant who has obtained an academic (WO) Bachelor’s degree in: 

• Classics (Griekse en Latijnse Taal en Cultuur)
• Ancient Studies (Oudheidwetenschappen)
• History with Ancient History as specialization
• Archaeology
• Religious Studies
• Assyriology
• A similar degree programme with a relevant specialization.

You must demonstrate the following knowledge, understanding and skills:

• Knowledge: knowledge of current research methods and theories within the field of Classics and Ancient Civilizations
• Understanding: the ability to interpret linguistic, literary or historical texts and/or archaeological data from an interdisciplinary perspective

Special requirements for the specialisation Classics

Applicants who wish to follow the specialisation Classics must, in addition to the provisions in paragraph 1, also meet the following requirements: 

• Skills: the ability to translate, interpret and analyse Greek and Latin texts of average difficulty with the help of the scholarly apparatus (grammar, dictionary, commentary, secondary literature);
• Bachelor’s degree in Greek and Latin language and culture, or a similar degree programme.

Special requirements for the specialisation Ancient Studies

Applicants who wish to follow the specialisation Ancient Studies must, in addition to the provisions in paragraph 1, also meet the following requirements:

• Skills: the ability to carry out a survey of primary sources (literary or material) and secondary literature and to derive from this a ‘status quaestionis’

Proof of sufficient proficiency in English

New Master's students should be able to speak, read, write and understand English at an advanced academic level. Please check carefully whether you already meet the English language requirements or whether you need to arrange to take an official English language test.

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Übersicht der Masterstudiengänge - Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

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