Education

The Ancient Cultures and Classical Civilizations group offers students a broad variety of lectures on the latest insights into the history, archaeology, epigraphy, art, and literature of the ancient Mediterranean world. Covering a period that ranges from Archaic Greece (around 800 BCE) to the world of Late Antiquity (600 CE), our classes are interdisciplinary and include seminars on Persian, Jewish, and early Christian history as well, on both the bachelor (BA) and research master (RMA) level. We teach most of our classes within the framework of the following programmes:

For Bachelor students

Minor Ancient Culture

This minor programme is interdisciplinary and seeks to familiarise students with key methodological approaches in the study of the ancient world, including archaeology, literature, and philosophy. More information (in Dutch).

Minor Archaeology

This minor will help you find your way around the material cultures of the ancient and medieval worlds, from the Mediterranean to our own Domplein in Utrecht. Central questions in this minor are: ‘How do you do archaeology?’ and ‘How can we answer historical questions with the help of archaeology?’ More information.

Specialisation course: Foundations of Europe

This set of courses explores the ways in which the ancient and medieval worlds continue to impact European ideas, values, and practices. We look at the Greco-Roman roots, study the evolution of the medieval world and deal with issues such as: How did Jews, Christians and Muslims think about and interact with each other? More information.

For Master students

Research Master Ancient Studies

We participate in the Research Master’s programme Ancient, Medieval and Renaissance Studies. Within this programme we are in charge of the track Ancient Studies. Here we offer graduate-level, interdisciplinary courses on all the main periods of ancient history including classical Greece, the Hellenistic world, the Roman Empire, and Late Antiquity. We also offer courses on cultural heritage, on the meaning of the past, and on Greek and Latin epigraphy.

Knowledge of Greek or Latin is mandatory. Students can acquire proficiency in these ancient languages as part of their Research Master’s programme. As an additional bonus, students can collaborate with us in the research projects that we do - something that often also includes gaining work experience through an apprenticeship with the various external partners with whom we collaborate.

In all of this we prepare our students so that they are fully equipped to apply to competitive PhD programmess, either with us, elsewhere in the Netherlands, or elsewhere in Europe. Many of our graduates are successful in this.
We finally also train students who want to pursue a career in heritage management, museums, and the cultural sector more generally. All of our classes are taught in English.