Classics

Courses

More info

Objectives
Programme
Master’s thesis and requirements for graduation
Sector plan

2010-2011

Objectives

The regional Master’s degree programme in Classics builds on the Bachelor’s degree programme. It shares the general objectives of that programme, but aims to achieve them at a more advanced level. The Master’s programme therefore sets out to provide a diverse, balanced and nuanced view of Greco-Roman Antiquity on the basis of an in-depth analysis of the integrated linguistic, cultural-historical and literary sources used in the Bachelor’s programme. The sources on which this analysis is based are, first and foremost, representative primary texts in Greek and Latin and, to a lesser extent, material evidence. The analysis of the sources can be approached from either a linguistic or a literary perspective. A further objective is to ensure that graduates of the Master’s programme in Classics can expertly and critically relate their knowledge of Antiquity to texts and other cultural phenomena of later periods. Moreover, after completing this programme, students will have the knowledge and competence required for an upper secondary teaching qualification or for a PhD candidature and for positions outside the university that require an academic level of thinking.
Also see: http://hum.leiden.edu/students/regulations/

Programme

Structure

The programme contains a number of compulsory elements, including Greek and Latin literature and/or linguistics, and a limited number of courses from the cultural-historical disciplines. There is also an area of free choice, in which cultural-historical subjects and/ or languages may be included. The programme consists of various modes of instruction: 40 ec in the form of seminars, tutorials (supervised independent study) or (supervised) reading lists; 20 ec in the form of a thesis.

Students are required to take at least 45 ec (including a Master Thesis of 20 ec) in Greek and Latin literature or linguistics, and they are required to take at least one course of 10 ec for each language. This structure meets the nationally determined requirements for the language component, and with that also the requirements for admission to the Master’s Education programme. In principle, the compulsory cultural-historical component in the Bachelor’s programme together with the academically more advanced cultural-historical element in the Master’s programme provide an adequate grounding for a teacher in pre-university education.

Entry requirements

This Master requires a BA degree (or equivalent) in Greek and Latin Language and Culture obtained from a university in the Netherlands that offers a Classics programme, or a comparable qualification obtained from a university outside the Netherlands.
If you are a student with an international degree, please show clearly on your application how much original ancient Greek and Latin you have done (indicate e.g. the number of pages read, whether you studied original texts or translations, and specify the contents of the various subjects).

For the MA Classics a thorough proficiency in English is required: IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 570 / 230 / 88-90 for non-native speakers of English. Dutch students with VWO level English are exempt from this requirement.
For more information about the application and admission process see en.mastersinleiden.nl/arrange (English) or mastersinleiden.nl/arrange (Dutch)

Master’s thesis and requirements for graduation

In order to graduate, students must have successfully completed the 60 ec programme and have completed their final thesis as a component of that programme. The thesis for the Classics Master’s programme is worth 20 ec, and as a rule contains a maximum of 17,000 words including notes, bibliography and appendices. All theses are based on a substantial amount of primary texts in Greek or Latin relevant to the line of investigation, which is either of a linguistic or literary nature, or of a cultural-historical nature; in the case of the latter, there are two supervisors, a lecturer from one of the language sections and one from the cultural-historical disciplines. The lecturer from the cultural-historical discipline can act as the first supervisor for the thesis, with a lecturer from the language sections as second reader. In these cases, the thesis plan must be approved by both first and second reader before the start of the writing process.
Also see: hum.leiden.edu/students/regulations.jsp.

Sector plan

The Master’s programme is part of the Regional Sector Plan and is offered in close collaboration with the University of Amsterdam (UvA) and the Vrije Universiteit (VU). Students can choose from all the courses on offer within the Sector Plan, both in Leiden and at the sister institutions. However, at least 40 ec of the 60 ec programme (including the thesis) must consist of courses offered by Leiden University.