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:
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).
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
- A course on a Latin subject. Recent topics include: Exemplarity
in Roman Imperial Literature, Ethno-biography, Late Antique Latin
Poetry
- A course on a Greek subject: 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) | ||||
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.
Contact for more information on studying abroad: study advisor drs. R.P. van der Borg (studieadviseur.gltc rug.nl).
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Study programme | Organization | Transition |
|---|---|---|
| English Language and Culture | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a Pre-Master/ Minor (30 ECTS) in Classics and Ancient Civilization. |
| American 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. |
| Media Studies | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a Pre-Master/ Minor (30 ECTS) in Classics and Ancient Civilization. |
| Frisian Language and Culture | 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. |
| European Languages and Cultures | 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. |
| Dutch Languages and Cultures | 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. |
| Communication and Information Studies | 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. |
| Study programme | Organization | Transition |
|---|---|---|
| Classics (part-time) | All Research universities | No additional requirements |
| History (part-time) | All Research universities | No additional requirements |
| Archaeology | All Research universities | No additional requirements |
| Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch students | 15 August 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
| 15 January 2026 | 01 February 2026 | |
| 15 August 2026 | 01 September 2026 | |
| EU/EEA students | 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
| non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch students | 15 August 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
| 15 January 2026 | 01 February 2026 | |
| 15 August 2026 | 01 September 2026 | |
| EU/EEA students | 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
| non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
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.
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.
