Greek and Roman Studies
Explore the ancient world through Greek and Roman Studies at UVic. We’re committed to the study and preservation of the cultures of the Greek and Roman Worlds. In our dynamic MA and PhD programs, you’ll earn a foundation in history, literature, and archeology. Armed with this knowledge, you’ll be ready to face the unique challenges of the modern world.
Degree programs offered
Explore classical language, history, literature and archeology. You’ll spend your first year doing directed readings and working with your supervisor. In your second year, you’ll prepare a thesis that focuses on a particular area or question of interest to you. We encourage you to explore areas that have been under-represented in past scholarship.
All applicants must demonstrate a well-rounded knowledge of the ancient Greek and Roman worlds.
In our PhD program, you’ll apply the ancient world’s knowledge to contemporary issues. You’ll create a meaningful and productive dialogue between the past and the present. During your time with us, you’ll begin to establish yourself as a professional, delivering papers at conferences and travelling for your research.
Our PhD program offers four thematic research areas:
- interconnectivity in the ancient Mediterranean world
- technology in the ancient world
- social and economic history
- gender and identity studies in ancient Greece and Rome
| Program | Expected length | Project and/or thesis | Course-based |
|---|---|---|---|
| MA | 2 years | Yes | No |
| PhD | 4 years | Yes | No |
Quick facts
- Program options:
- Masters, Doctorate
- Program delivery:
- Blended
- Dynamic learning:
- Co-op optional
Areas of focus
- Archeology
- Ancient history
- Ancient languages & literature
- Interconnectivity in the ancient Mediterranean world
- Technology in the ancient world
- Social and economic history
- Gender and identity studies in ancient Greece and Rome
Find a supervisor
All graduate students must have a faculty member who serves as their academic supervisor. When you apply:
- You must list a potential supervisor on your application
- This faculty member must agree to be your supervisor and recommend your admission.
To find a supervisor, review the faculty contacts. When you've found a faculty member whose research complements your own, contact them by email.
Gregory D. Rowe
Associate Professor Interests: Roman History:Greek and Latin epigraphy, Roman public and private law, Jewish and early Christian history.
Alejandro G. Sinner
Associate Professor and Undergraduate Adviser Research focus: social, economic and cultural history of Roman Spain and the western provinces. Most notably, published research in Iberian numismatics and epigraphy, demography, household archaeology, cultural change and identity formation, pre-Roman languages and archaeological method and theory.
Brendan Burke
Professor Greek archaeology; Aegean Prehistory; Anatolian archaeology; Art and Architecture of ancient Greece; Textile production and ancient economies.
Cedric A.J. Littlewood
Professor and Associate Dean (Graduate Studies) Silver Latin poetry, especially Senecan tragedy and Roman satire.
Darrel Janzen
Sessional Instructor Early imperial Latin literature (esp. Seneca, Statius, and Tacitus) & Roman history; spatial approaches to Latin literature and Roman culture; conceptions of self & individual in society; ecocriticism; historiography, early modern Latin literature I work on imperial Roman literature and culture, esp. the relationship between space, identity and culture. I am currently working on a book tentatively entitled 'Seeking Solitude in Early Imperial Roman Literature from Tiberius to Hadrian', a wide-ranging study of voluntary solitude as a social behaviour of the Roman upper classes in the literature of the early Roman empire in the first and early second centuries CE.
Ingrid E. Holmberg
Associate Professor and Chair Early Greek poetry: Homer, Hesiod, the Homeric Hymns, and archaic lyric; particular interest in narrative and gender theory.
J. Geoffrey Kron
Associate Professor Greek and Roman social, economic, and political history, most notably democracy and oligarchy; economic development, particularly agriculture, living standards, nutrition, housing, and trade; social inequality, social welfare, slavery and labour exploitation; and ideologies of social inequality, most notably capitalism, racism, and colonialism
Laurel M. Bowman
Associate Professor Greek literature (tragedy, Hellenistic literature, especially epigram); literature and gender; classical myth; reception studies; myth in popular culture.
Mark Nugent
Assistant Teaching Professor Greek and Latin language pedagogy; Imperial Greek literature; Greek and Latin novels, esp. Petronius; gender and sexuality in Greek and Roman culture; Greece and Rome in modern popular culture, esp. fiction and film
Trevor Van Damme
Limited Term Assistant Professor and Graduate Advisor Greek art and archaeology, household archaeology, ceramics and society, socio-economic inequality in ancient economies, collapse and resilience, and the archaeology of religion
Funding & aid
Graduate students registered in full-time programs are automatically considered for a fellowship. This is based on a qualifying GPA.
Individual award amounts may vary depending on the program.
UVic Fellowship Awards
- Up to $17,500 per year (master's)
- Up to $20,000 per year (PhD)
UVic Graduate Awards
- Up to $10,000 per year (master's and PhD)
Eligibility
- The minimum requirement for funding consideration is a A- average on the last two years of course work
- Full-time registration (3.0 units) for UVic Fellowship holders and at least part-time registration (1.5 units) for UVic Graduate Award holders
- Full-time registration for students registered with the Centre for Accessible Learning (CAL) is 1.5 units
You can also join the co-op program or work as a research or teaching assistant.
Tuition & fees
Visit our tuition calculator to determine the tuition and fees for your program.
When you apply you will be charged an application fee. Your application will not be processed until this payment has been received.
- Application fee for documents from within Canada: $129
- Application fee if any documents originate outside Canada: $169
Application deadlines
- Canadian and International students: February 1 for September entry.
- The application deadline for students who don’t need funding is June 30.
Admission & program requirements
You must meet the minimum graduate school admission requirements.
Review the graduate admission requirements and this program's admission requirements in the Graduate calendar.
If your first language is not English you must provide proof of language proficiency. Learn more about language requirements, including what exemptions and tests are allowed.
Ready to apply?
You can start your online application to UVic by creating a new profile or using an existing one.
Faculties & departments
Need help?
Contact the graduate secretary at grsadmin@uvic.ca or 250-721-8514.