Program Overview

Overview

The Doctor of Philosophy in Classics (PhD) program at the University of British Columbia offers students the opportunity to expand their perspective beyond Greece and Rome to the broader cultural, material, and religious contexts of interconnected ancient Mediterranean and Near East through multi-disciplinary coursework and research. The program is designed to equip students with advanced reading skills in Latin, Greek, and relevant modern languages, as well as competence in archaeological practice and theory.

Program Structure

The PhD program in Classics is a research-based degree that requires students to complete coursework, comprehensive exams, and a dissertation. The program is offered in three streams: Classics (language-based program), Ancient History, and Classical Archaeology. Students in all streams attain advanced reading skills in Latin, Greek, and relevant modern languages.

Admission Requirements

To be eligible for the PhD program in Classics, applicants must meet the minimum academic requirements set by the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, which typically includes a minimum overall average in the B+ range (76% at UBC). Applicants must also provide transcripts from all past post-secondary study, letters of reference, and a statement of interest. International applicants may be required to provide English language proficiency test results.

Tuition and Financial Support

The tuition fees for the PhD program in Classics vary depending on the student's residency status. The estimated tuition fees for the 2022-2023 academic year are $5,626.02 for domestic students and $9,883.98 for international students. The program offers a range of funding opportunities, including teaching assistantships, research assistantships, and academic assistantships.

Research Focus

The PhD program in Classics has a strong research focus, with faculty members specializing in a range of areas, including ancient Greek and Roman material culture, drama and performance, philosophy, reception studies, social history, and translation. Students have access to a range of research resources, including the Graduate Reading Room and the computer lab.

Career Outcomes

Graduates of the PhD program in Classics have gone on to pursue a range of careers, including tenure-track faculty positions, research positions, and careers in government, higher education, and the non-profit sector.

Enrolment and Duration

The PhD program in Classics typically takes four to five years to complete. The program has a small enrolment, with an average of 10 students per year.

Research Supervisors

The PhD program in Classics has a range of research supervisors with expertise in various areas of classics, including ancient Greek and Roman history, literature, and archaeology. Students are encouraged to browse faculty profiles and indicate their interest in working with a particular supervisor in their application.

Sample Thesis Submissions

Recent thesis submissions in the PhD program in Classics include topics such as "Hermeneutical strategies and interpretatio Christiana in Proba's Cento Vergilianus de laudibus Christi" and "Glocalizing archaic Sicily: Aegyptiaca and Mediterranean entanglements".

Related Programs

The University of British Columbia offers a range of related programs, including the Master of Arts in Classics, the Master of Arts in Ancient Culture, Religion and Ethnicity, and the Master of Arts in Classical and Near Eastern Archaeology.

Program Classification

The PhD program in Classics is classified under the following categories:

• Humanities and the arts » History, archaeology and related studies » Historical studies » Classical Greek and Ancient Rome history
• Humanities and the arts » History, archaeology and related studies » Archaeology » Classical archaeology
• Humanities and the arts » History, archaeology and related studies » Religion and religious studies » Classical religion
• Humanities and the arts » Languages and literature » Linguistics » Classical linguistics
• Humanities and the arts » Languages and literature » Literature and literary studies » Greek and roman literatures
• Humanities and the arts » Languages and literature » Literature and literary studies » Classical literatures
• Humanities and the arts » Philosophy » Philosophy (except philosophy of specific fields) » Classical philosophy (Greek, Latin, Medieval)