Program Overview

Overview of the PhD in Classical and Archaeological Studies

The PhD in Classical and Archaeological Studies at the University of Kent is a research-based program that enables students to undertake a substantial piece of supervised research in the subject, making an original contribution to knowledge and worthy of publication. The program is designed for students who wish to pursue a career as an academic or researcher, and it has become a qualification valued by many employers who recognize the skills and commitment a PhD requires.

Key Information

• Study mode: Full-time or part-time
• Duration: 3 to 4 years full-time
• Start date: September, January, April
• Location: Canterbury

Entry Requirements

• A first or upper-second class BA honors degree or equivalent in a relevant subject
• 65% (or equivalent) or above in an MA program or equivalent in a relevant subject
• All applicants are considered on an individual basis, and additional qualifications, professional qualifications, and relevant experience may also be taken into account when considering applications

International Students

Please see the University of Kent's International Student website for entry requirements by country and other relevant information. Due to visa restrictions, students who require a student visa to study cannot study part-time unless undertaking a distance or blended-learning program with no on-campus provision.

English Language Entry Requirements

This course requires a Good level of English language, equivalent to B2 on CEFR. Details on how to meet this requirement can be found on the University of Kent's English Language requirements webpage.

Funding

The University of Kent offers a range of scholarships for postgraduate researchers, including the Consortium for the Humanities and the Arts South-East England (CHASE) collaborative doctoral partnerships. Please indicate in your application if you want to be considered, and explain your eligibility.

About the Department of Classical & Archaeological Studies

The Department of Classical & Archaeological Studies operates as a department of the Division of Arts and Humanities, with informal links with staff in the rest of the University researching medieval history, the history of science, and social anthropology. The department has good partnerships with high-profile universities and organizations, such as the Universities of Ghent and Lille 3, the Flemish Heritage Institute, UCLA, the Free University of Amsterdam, and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB).

Research Areas

The Department of CLAS is a lively intellectual community that prizes collaboration and thrives on interdisciplinarity. The main areas of research are:

• Archaeology and Heritage
• Classical Studies and Byzantium
• Ancient History and Late Antiquity

Staff Research Interests

Kent's world-class academics provide research students with excellent supervision. The academic staff in this school and their research interests are shown below:

• Dr. Anne Alwis: Late Antiquity and Byzantium; hagiography; the transmission and translation of Greek and Latin texts, and their social, literary, and cultural contexts; Greek palaeography, gender, and narrative
• Dr. Efrosyni Boutsikas FSA: Greek religion, ritual, and mythology; ancient cosmology, sciences, and timekeeping; Greek religious architecture and landscapes; Archaeoastronomy
• Dr. Christopher Burden-Strevens: The political history of the Late Republic, Latin and Greek historiography, ancient education, and Early Roman history
• Dr. Csaba La'da: The Hellenistic and early Roman world, particularly Papyrology, and Hellenistic and Roman Egypt

Your Future

Recent graduates have progressed to careers in a wide range of related professional and leadership areas, including national and local museums, teaching, and senior roles with archaeological organizations (national government institutions, contracting units, and trusts).

Fees and Funding

The 2025/26 annual tuition fees for this course are:

• Full-time: £5,006 (UK), £19,300 (EU), £19,300 (International)
• Part-time: £2,503 (UK), £9,650 (EU), £9,650 (International)

Next Steps

To apply for the PhD in Classical and Archaeological Studies, please visit the University of Kent's website and follow the application process. You can also find more information about the program, including the application deadline and requirements, on the website.