Bachelor's Ancient Studies - Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Get acquainted with a new world

Understand contemporary events and phenomena

Are you fascinated by antiquity and the cultural history of the Mediterranean region? Keen to go on a study trip and stand face to face with the ancient world?

However much our world now revolves around smartphones, apps and likes, the influence of the ancient world endures to this day. As a student of Ancient Studies, you use historical knowledge to understand contemporary events and phenomena. You explore the visual arts, literature, architecture, for example the pyramids, the Parthenon, the epics of Gilgamesh, Homer and Virgil, and much more. You learn about different cultures and the surprisingly close ties between them. You approach these topics from different disciplinary perspectives, from archaeology and history to language and literature studies. Interested in what students do during a course? Check out this video essay.

You can tailor your degree to your own interests by choosing one of five specialisations: Archaeology, Ancient History, Ancient Near Eastern Studies, Ancient Greek or Latin. The programme has a small-scale setup and you enjoy close personal contact with your lecturers. You follow a number of courses together with students from the other ACASA programmes. You will also go on an excursion with them, for example to Sicily.

The Ancient Studies programme is offered in collaboration between the two Amsterdam universities, VU Amsterdam and the University of Amsterdam (UvA). These institutions have clustered their knowledge and expertise in the Amsterdam Centre for Ancient Studies and Archaeology (ACASA). All lectures are delivered on the UvA campus in the city centre, next to the Allard Pierson Museum. This combination makes for an inspiring and stimulating environment.

Would you prefer to follow this programme in Dutch? Take a look at Oudheidwetenschappen.

The start date of this programme is September 1^st.

Facts and Figures

VU Bachelor's Day - 10 February 2024

Get to know our study programmes

Pre-register now

VU International Bachelor’s webinar

Watch the recording to find out more about studying at VU Amsterdam as an international student

Go to Campus online

Archaeology

Analyse the similarities and differences between European settlements by studying their remains. Gain deeper insight into ancient societies by investigating how they treated their dead.

Ancient History

How were international and political relations organised thousands of years ago? What do we know about the multicultural climate in antiquity? Studying Ancient History gives you a solid grip on the past.

Latin

Translate and interpret Latin texts from ancient historians such as Tacitus and Livius. Investigate in depth an important theme from post-Classical Latin literature.

Greek

Learn to read post-Classical Greek and identify the key characteristics of ancient historiography. Immerse yourself in texts about the Trojan War and by ancient historians such as Herodotus.

Ancient Near Eastern Studies

Learn to read cuneiform script and understand Akkadian, the precursor of Latin as the language of science. Deepen your knowledge about Mesopotamia, the birthplace of ancient civilisation.

1st year
2nd year
3rd year

First year

In the first year, you acquire a solid grounding in the cultural history of antiquity, including those elements of ancient cultures that survived into later periods. You examine the material and textual sources for our knowledge of antiquity. You follow courses such as The Classical Canon 1: The Heritage of Antiquity about the canon, as well as courses on ancient philosophy and on cultural contacts between the Middle East and the Mediterranean region. You can also take elective courses to figure out which specialisation you would like to follow later.

Subjects

A Cultural History of the Ancient World 1: The Near East and the Greek World
English Language Test
The Classical Canon 1: The Heritage of Antiquity
A Cultural History of the Ancient World 2: The Hellenistic World, Italy and Rome
Cultural Contact: East and West
Historical sources
Archaeology of Prehistoric and Roman Europe
Classical Mythology
Elementary Akkadian and A History of Ancient Mesopotamian Literature 1
Archaeology and Society
Classics beyond Antiquity
Elementary Akkadian and A History of Ancient Mesopotamian Literature 2
Seminar Ancient History
Ancient Philosophy

You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide.

Second year

In your second and third year, you will follow interdisciplinary modules ‘Cultural Contact: Mediterranean Connections’, which concerns the interaction between the inhabitants of the Mediterranean region; ‘Religion in Antiquity’; and ‘Lieux de mémoire’, in which you study the way in which places gain importance because people connect stories to them. At the end of the second year you will go on a trip to Sicily, together with students of Archaeology and Classics.

Subjects

Cultural Contact: Mediterranean Connections
Philosophy of the Humanities (ACASA)
Religion in Antiquity
Past and Present: Critical Approaches to Antiquity and Archaeological Heritage
ACASA Excursion
The Classical Canon 2: The Sociology of Cultural Selection
Classical Reception and Creative Writing
What is Archaeology ?
Archaeology of Cult
Theory in Archaeology
Field School 1
Field School 2

You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide.

Third year

In the third year, you will write a Bachelor’s thesis in which you demonstrate your ability to address a topic from an interdisciplinary perspective.

Subjects

Bachelor Thesis Ancient Studies
Lieux de mémoire
Archaeology and the City
Death and Commemoration

You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide.

1st year
First year

In the first year, you acquire a solid grounding in the cultural history of antiquity, including those elements of ancient cultures that survived into later periods. You examine the material and textual sources for our knowledge of antiquity. You follow courses such as The Classical Canon 1: The Heritage of Antiquity about the canon, as well as courses on ancient philosophy and on cultural contacts between the Middle East and the Mediterranean region. You can also take elective courses to figure out which specialisation you would like to follow later.

Subjects
A Cultural History of the Ancient World 1: The Near East and the Greek World

English Language Test

The Classical Canon 1: The Heritage of Antiquity

A Cultural History of the Ancient World 2: The Hellenistic World, Italy and Rome

Cultural Contact: East and West

Historical sources

Archaeology of Prehistoric and Roman Europe

Classical Mythology

Elementary Akkadian and A History of Ancient Mesopotamian Literature 1

Archaeology and Society

Classics beyond Antiquity

Elementary Akkadian and A History of Ancient Mesopotamian Literature 2

Seminar Ancient History

Ancient Philosophy

You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide.
2nd year
Second year

In your second and third year, you will follow interdisciplinary modules ‘Cultural Contact: Mediterranean Connections’, which concerns the interaction between the inhabitants of the Mediterranean region; ‘Religion in Antiquity’; and ‘Lieux de mémoire’, in which you study the way in which places gain importance because people connect stories to them. At the end of the second year you will go on a trip to Sicily, together with students of Archaeology and Classics.

Subjects
Cultural Contact: Mediterranean Connections

Philosophy of the Humanities (ACASA)

Religion in Antiquity

Past and Present: Critical Approaches to Antiquity and Archaeological Heritage

ACASA Excursion

The Classical Canon 2: The Sociology of Cultural Selection

Classical Reception and Creative Writing

What is Archaeology ?

Archaeology of Cult

Theory in Archaeology

Field School 1

Field School 2

You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide.
3rd year
Third year

In the third year, you will write a Bachelor’s thesis in which you demonstrate your ability to address a topic from an interdisciplinary perspective.

Subjects
Bachelor Thesis Ancient Studies

Lieux de mémoire

Archaeology and the City

Death and Commemoration

You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide.

1st year
2nd year
3rd year

First year

Subjects

A Cultural History of the Ancient World 1: The Near East and the Greek World
English Language Test
The Classical Canon 1: The Heritage of Antiquity
A Cultural History of the Ancient World 2: The Hellenistic World, Italy and Rome
Cultural Contact: East and West
Historical sources
Archaeology of Prehistoric and Roman Europe
Classical Mythology
Elementary Akkadian and A History of Ancient Mesopotamian Literature 1
Archaeology and Society
Classics beyond Antiquity
Elementary Akkadian and A History of Ancient Mesopotamian Literature 2
Seminar Ancient History
Ancient Philosophy

You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide.

Second year

Subjects

Cultural Contact: Mediterranean Connections
Philosophy of the Humanities (ACASA)
Religion in Antiquity
Past and Present: Critical Approaches to Antiquity and Archaeological Heritage
ACASA Excursion
The Classical Canon 2: The Sociology of Cultural Selection
Classical Reception and Creative Writing
History and Culture of the Ancient Near East
The Decline and Fall of Rome
Politics and International Relations in Antiquity

You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide.

Third year

In the third year, you will write a Bachelor’s thesis in which you demonstrate your ability to address a topic from an interdisciplinary perspective.

Subjects

Bachelor Thesis Ancient Studies
Lieux de mémoire
In search of the Masses of Antiquity
Seminar Heritage and Public History

You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide.

1st year
First year

In the first year, you acquire a solid grounding in the cultural history of antiquity, including those elements of ancient cultures that survived into later periods. You examine the material and textual sources for our knowledge of antiquity. You follow courses such as The Classical Canon 1: The Heritage of Antiquity about the canon, as well as courses on ancient philosophy and on cultural contacts between the Middle East and the Mediterranean region. You can also take elective courses to figure out which specialisation you would like to follow later.

Subjects
A Cultural History of the Ancient World 1: The Near East and the Greek World

English Language Test

The Classical Canon 1: The Heritage of Antiquity

A Cultural History of the Ancient World 2: The Hellenistic World, Italy and Rome

Cultural Contact: East and West

Historical sources

Archaeology of Prehistoric and Roman Europe

Classical Mythology

Elementary Akkadian and A History of Ancient Mesopotamian Literature 1

Archaeology and Society

Classics beyond Antiquity

Elementary Akkadian and A History of Ancient Mesopotamian Literature 2

Seminar Ancient History

Ancient Philosophy

You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide.
2nd year
Second year

In your second and third year, you will follow interdisciplinary modules ‘Cultural Contact: Mediterranean Connections’, which concerns the interaction between the inhabitants of the Mediterranean region; ‘Religion in Antiquity’; and ‘Lieux de mémoire’, in which you study the way in which places gain importance because people connect stories to them. At the end of the second year you will go on a trip to Sicily, together with students of Archaeology and Classics.

Subjects
Cultural Contact: Mediterranean Connections

Philosophy of the Humanities (ACASA)

Religion in Antiquity

Past and Present: Critical Approaches to Antiquity and Archaeological Heritage

ACASA Excursion

The Classical Canon 2: The Sociology of Cultural Selection

Classical Reception and Creative Writing

History and Culture of the Ancient Near East

The Decline and Fall of Rome

Politics and International Relations in Antiquity

You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide.
3rd year
Third year

In the third year, you will write a Bachelor’s thesis in which you demonstrate your ability to address a topic from an interdisciplinary perspective.

Subjects
Bachelor Thesis Ancient Studies

Lieux de mémoire

In search of the Masses of Antiquity

Seminar Heritage and Public History

You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide.

1st year
2nd year
3rd year

First year

Subjects

A Cultural History of the Ancient World 1: The Near East and the Greek World
English Language Test
The Classical Canon 1: The Heritage of Antiquity
A Cultural History of the Ancient World 2: The Hellenistic World, Italy and Rome
Cultural Contact: East and West
Historical sources
Archaeology of Prehistoric and Roman Europe
Classical Mythology
Elementary Akkadian and A History of Ancient Mesopotamian Literature 1
Archaeology and Society
Classics beyond Antiquity
Elementary Akkadian and A History of Ancient Mesopotamian Literature 2
Seminar Ancient History
Ancient Philosophy

You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide.

Second year

Subjects

Cultural Contact: Mediterranean Connections
Philosophy of the Humanities
Religion in Antiquity
Past and Present: Critical Approaches to Antiquity and Archaeological Heritage
ACASA Excursion
The Classical Canon 2: The Sociology of Cultural Selection
Reception Studies and Creative Writing
Latin 1: Grammar, Poetry and Prose
Latin 2: Grammar, Poetry and Prose
Latin 3: Rhetorical Prose and Syntax

You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide.

Third year

In the third year, you will write a Bachelor’s thesis in which you demonstrate your ability to address a topic from an interdisciplinary perspective.

Subjects

Bachelor Thesis Ancient Studies
Lieux de mémoire
Latin Epic: Virgil
Latin Literature from Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages

You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide.

1st year
First year

In the first year, you acquire a solid grounding in the cultural history of antiquity, including those elements of ancient cultures that survived into later periods. You examine the material and textual sources for our knowledge of antiquity. You follow courses such as The Classical Canon 1: The Heritage of Antiquity about the canon, as well as courses on ancient philosophy and on cultural contacts between the Middle East and the Mediterranean region. You can also take elective courses to figure out which specialisation you would like to follow later.

Subjects
A Cultural History of the Ancient World 1: The Near East and the Greek World

English Language Test

The Classical Canon 1: The Heritage of Antiquity

A Cultural History of the Ancient World 2: The Hellenistic World, Italy and Rome

Cultural Contact: East and West

Historical sources

Archaeology of Prehistoric and Roman Europe

Classical Mythology

Elementary Akkadian and A History of Ancient Mesopotamian Literature 1

Archaeology and Society

Classics beyond Antiquity

Elementary Akkadian and A History of Ancient Mesopotamian Literature 2

Seminar Ancient History

Ancient Philosophy

You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide.
2nd year
Second year

In your second and third year, you will follow interdisciplinary modules ‘Cultural Contact: Mediterranean Connections’, which concerns the interaction between the inhabitants of the Mediterranean region; ‘Religion in Antiquity’; and ‘Lieux de mémoire’, in which you study the way in which places gain importance because people connect stories to them. At the end of the second year you will go on a trip to Sicily, together with students of Archaeology and Classics. You also dive into your chosen specialisation of Latin.

Subjects
Cultural Contact: Mediterranean Connections

Philosophy of the Humanities

Religion in Antiquity

Past and Present: Critical Approaches to Antiquity and Archaeological Heritage

ACASA Excursion

The Classical Canon 2: The Sociology of Cultural Selection

Reception Studies and Creative Writing

Latin 1: Grammar, Poetry and Prose

Latin 2: Grammar, Poetry and Prose

Latin 3: Rhetorical Prose and Syntax

You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide.
3rd year
Third year

In the third year, you will write a Bachelor’s thesis in which you demonstrate your ability to address a topic from an interdisciplinary perspective.

Subjects
Bachelor Thesis Ancient Studies

Lieux de mémoire

Latin Epic: Virgil

Latin Literature from Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages

You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide.

1st year
2nd year
3rd year

First year

Subjects

A Cultural History of the Ancient World 1: The Near East and the Greek World
English Language Test
The Classical Canon 1: The Heritage of Antiquity
A Cultural History of the Ancient World 2: The Hellenistic World, Italy and Rome
Cultural Contact: East and West
Historical sources
Archaeology of Prehistoric and Roman Europe
Classical Mythology
Elementary Akkadian and A History of Ancient Mesopotamian Literature 1
Archaeology and Society
Classics beyond Antiquity
Elementary Akkadian and A History of Ancient Mesopotamian Literature 2
Seminar Ancient History
Ancient Philosophy

You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide.

Second year

Subjects

Cultural Contact: Mediterranean Connections
Philosophy of the Humanities
Religion in Antiquity
Past and Present: Critical Approaches to Antiquity and Archaeological Heritage
ACASA Excursion
The Classical Canon 2: The Sociology of Cultural Selection
Reception Studies and Creative Writing
Greek 1: Grammar, Poetry and Prose
Greek 2: Grammar, Poetry and Prose
Greek 3: Plato and Grammar

You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide.

Third year

In the third year, you will write a Bachelor’s thesis in which you demonstrate your ability to address a topic from an interdisciplinary perspective.

Subjects

Bachelor Thesis Ancient Studies
Lieux de mémoire
Greek Epic: Homerus
Greek Literature from Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages

You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide.

1st year
First year

In the first year, you acquire a solid grounding in the cultural history of antiquity, including those elements of ancient cultures that survived into later periods. You examine the material and textual sources for our knowledge of antiquity. You follow courses such as The Classical Canon 1: The Heritage of Antiquity about the canon, as well as courses on ancient philosophy and on cultural contacts between the Middle East and the Mediterranean region. You can also take elective courses to figure out which specialisation you would like to follow later.

Subjects
A Cultural History of the Ancient World 1: The Near East and the Greek World

English Language Test

The Classical Canon 1: The Heritage of Antiquity

A Cultural History of the Ancient World 2: The Hellenistic World, Italy and Rome

Cultural Contact: East and West

Historical sources

Archaeology of Prehistoric and Roman Europe

Classical Mythology

Elementary Akkadian and A History of Ancient Mesopotamian Literature 1

Archaeology and Society

Classics beyond Antiquity

Elementary Akkadian and A History of Ancient Mesopotamian Literature 2

Seminar Ancient History

Ancient Philosophy

You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide.
2nd year
Second year

In your second and third year, you will follow interdisciplinary modules ‘Cultural Contact: Mediterranean Connections’, which concerns the interaction between the inhabitants of the Mediterranean region; ‘Religion in Antiquity’; and ‘Lieux de mémoire’, in which you study the way in which places gain importance because people connect stories to them. At the end of the second year you will go on a trip to Sicily, together with students of Archaeology and Classics. You also dive into your chosen specialisation of Greek.

Subjects
Cultural Contact: Mediterranean Connections

Philosophy of the Humanities

Religion in Antiquity

Past and Present: Critical Approaches to Antiquity and Archaeological Heritage

ACASA Excursion

The Classical Canon 2: The Sociology of Cultural Selection

Reception Studies and Creative Writing

Greek 1: Grammar, Poetry and Prose

Greek 2: Grammar, Poetry and Prose

Greek 3: Plato and Grammar

You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide.
3rd year
Third year

In the third year, you will write a Bachelor’s thesis in which you demonstrate your ability to address a topic from an interdisciplinary perspective.

Subjects
Bachelor Thesis Ancient Studies

Lieux de mémoire

Greek Epic: Homerus

Greek Literature from Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages

You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide.

1st year
2nd year
3rd year

First year

Subjects

A Cultural History of the Ancient World 1: The Near East and the Greek World
English Language Test
The Classical Canon 1: The Heritage of Antiquity
A Cultural History of the Ancient World 2: The Hellenistic World, Italy and Rome
Cultural Contact: East and West
Historical sources
Archaeology of Prehistoric and Roman Europe
Classical Mythology
Elementary Akkadian and A History of Ancient Mesopotamian Literature 1
Material Sources
Archaeology and Society
Classics beyond Antiquity
Elementary Akkadian and A History of Ancient Mesopotamian Literature 2
Seminar Ancient History
Ancient Philosophy

You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide

Second year

Subjects

Cultural Contact: Mediterranean Connections
Philosophy of the Humanities (ACASA)
Religion in Antiquity
Past and Present: Critical Approaches to Antiquity and Archaeological Heritage
ACASA Excursion
The Classical Canon 2: The Sociology of Cultural Selection
Classical Reception and Creative Writing
History and Culture of the Ancient Near East
Archaeology of the Ancient Near East
Intermediate Akkadian

You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide.

Third year

In the third year, you will write a Bachelor’s thesis in which you demonstrate your ability to address a topic from an interdisciplinary perspective.

Subjects

Bachelor Thesis Ancient Studies
Lieux de mémoire
Babylonian Historical Texts
Cuneiform Literature in Context

You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide.

1st year
First year

In the first year, you acquire a solid grounding in the cultural history of antiquity, including those elements of ancient cultures that survived into later periods. You examine the material and textual sources for our knowledge of antiquity. You follow courses such as The Classical Canon 1: The Heritage of Antiquity about the canon, as well as courses on ancient philosophy and on cultural contacts between the Middle East and the Mediterranean region. You can also take elective courses to figure out which specialisation you would like to follow later.

Subjects
A Cultural History of the Ancient World 1: The Near East and the Greek World

English Language Test

The Classical Canon 1: The Heritage of Antiquity

A Cultural History of the Ancient World 2: The Hellenistic World, Italy and Rome

Cultural Contact: East and West

Historical sources

Archaeology of Prehistoric and Roman Europe

Classical Mythology

Elementary Akkadian and A History of Ancient Mesopotamian Literature 1

Material Sources

Archaeology and Society

Classics beyond Antiquity

Elementary Akkadian and A History of Ancient Mesopotamian Literature 2

Seminar Ancient History

Ancient Philosophy

You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide
2nd year
Second year

In your second and third year, you will follow interdisciplinary modules ‘Cultural Contact: Mediterranean Connections’, which concerns the interaction between the inhabitants of the Mediterranean region; ‘Religion in Antiquity’; and ‘Lieux de mémoire’, in which you study the way in which places gain importance because people connect stories to them. At the end of the second year you will go on a trip to Sicily, together with students of Archaeology and Classics.

Subjects
Cultural Contact: Mediterranean Connections

Philosophy of the Humanities (ACASA)

Religion in Antiquity

Past and Present: Critical Approaches to Antiquity and Archaeological Heritage

ACASA Excursion

The Classical Canon 2: The Sociology of Cultural Selection

Classical Reception and Creative Writing

History and Culture of the Ancient Near East

Archaeology of the Ancient Near East

Intermediate Akkadian

You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide.
3rd year
Third year

In the third year, you will write a Bachelor’s thesis in which you demonstrate your ability to address a topic from an interdisciplinary perspective.

Subjects
Bachelor Thesis Ancient Studies

Lieux de mémoire

Babylonian Historical Texts

Cuneiform Literature in Context

You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide.

After the Bachelor’s you can specialise further by following a Master’s programme. As a graduate of Ancient Studies you could work as an information manager or a policy officer in government or the business sector, or as a school teacher.

Explore your future prospects

View of the Pantheon in Rome from an alley

VU International Bachelor’s webinar

Watch the recording to find out more about studying at VU Amsterdam as an international student

Go to Campus online

Open days

Or stop by the UvA's open days from Nov. 4-11 - we'll be there too!

Bachelorweek

Ancient Studies

Choose a specialisation

1st year

Subjects

2nd year

Subjects

3rd year

Subjects

1st year

Subjects

2nd year

Subjects

3rd year

Subjects

1st year

Subjects

2nd year

Subjects

3rd year

Subjects

1st year

Subjects

2nd year

Subjects

3rd year

Subjects

1st year

Subjects

2nd year

Subjects

3rd year

Subjects

Change your future with the Ancient Studies programme

Change your future with the Ancient Studies programme