Ancient Languages and Cultures (M.A.)
The degree program Ancient Languages and Cultures offers you a unique education in Greek and/or Latin. Delve into the rich history of language, literature and culture of the Ancient world and the medieval period. You can even choose to specialize in the methods of comparative Indo-European linguistics. Our university is renowned across the globe for this unique degree program that offers you profound insights not available in other programs.
Fact Sheet
- Degree
- Master of Arts (M.A.)
- Admission
- Qualification assessment
- Duration of studies
- 4 semesters
- Teaching language
- completely in German
- Faculty
- Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Theology
- Start of degree program
- Winter semester
- Number of students
- 1-50
Program overview
What is the degree program about?
This degree program focuses on the study of Greek and/or Latin and, if Indo-European studies is chosen as a specialization, the methodology of comparative Indo-European linguistics. The degree program provides students with the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the world of ancient languages and of ancient and medieval history than is possible in other degree programs. It is a unique program that is only offered at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg. The skills which are developed over the course of the degree program prepare students for careers at universities, libraries and publishers, as well as teaching (with additional study).
All students take the joint module “Motifs and forms”; the elementary seminar included in this module must be chosen from one of the two areas not chosen as a specialization and not studied during the Bachelor’s degree program.
Joint module
- 1st and 2nd or 2nd and 3rd semester: Motifs and forms (Orient and Occident)
Indo-European Studies
- 1st and 2nd or 2nd and 3rd semester: Topics and history of Indo-European studies (early Indo-European studies), imported module from German linguistics
- 2nd to 3rd semester: Mycenaean and the Greek dialects including, for example, a seminar on the language of Homer; Indo-Iranian and other Indo-European languages, including, for example, an advanced seminar on Old Persian or Veda readings
- 4th semester: Master’s thesis
Greek
- 1st and 2nd semester: Two modules about Greek literature
- 1st and 2nd or 2nd and 3rd semester: Secondary disciplines such as epigraphy and/or papyrology, and literature of the Roman Empire
- 4th semester: Master’s thesis
Latin
- 1st to 3rd semester: Two modules about Latin literature: prose and poetry
- 1st and 2nd or 2nd and 3rd semester: Secondary disciplines such as epigraphy and/or paleography, archeology or ancient history and history of Roman literature
- 4th semester: Master’s thesis
Medieval Latin
- 1st and 2nd semester or 2nd and 3rd semester: Latin literature and language in the High Middle Ages, Media aspects of the pre-modern era, Medieval textuality)
- 2nd and 3rd semester: Latin literature and language in the medieval and early modern period
- 4th semester: Master’s thesis
Students choose two specializations from four areas: Greek, Indo-European, Latin and Medieval Latin.
Enthusiasm for classical languages (Greek, Latin)
Application for a Degree Program
Admission Requirements and Application
Admission
- Master: Qualification assessment
Application deadline
- Winter semester: 15.07.
- Summer semester: nicht möglich
Language skills
- A completed first university degree (Bachelor’s degree or at least equivalent) in Greek Philology, Latin Philology, Medieval Latin or Indo-European Studies.
Content related master requirements
- Applicants require a completed Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Greek, Latin, Medieval Latin or Indo-European studies. Related Bachelor’s degrees in other ancient languages, in particular Germanic languages, are also recognized.
- Applicants with a minimum grade of “gut” (good – 2.5) in their previous degree qualify for admission; applicants with an average grade of 2.51 to 3.00 will be required to attend an individual admission interview.
