Classics and Ancient Civilizations

Check whether you meet the programme requirements and apply

• I have a Dutch university level (WO) Bachelor’s degree (VU Bachelor’s degree, VU pre-master's or Bachelor’s degree at another university)

  Student profile

  The admission requirements are:

  • For the track Classics, you must have a Bachelor’s degree in Classics from an accredited university;
  • For the track Ancient Studies, you must have a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university and must have taken academic courses equivalent to at least one full-time semester of academic studies (30 EC) in Classics, Ancient Studies, Archaeology or History (with demonstrable relationship to Ancient Studies).

  As a student in the Master’s programme in Classics and Ancient Civilizations you are expected to have the following knowledge, insight and skills:

  • You are able to conduct research independently and know how to formulate consistent and functional research questions, collect data, apply theory, and write a thesis;
  • You are familiar with the interpretation of literary and historical texts as well as material culture from an interdisciplinary perspective;
  • You are deeply interested in the languages, history and material culture of the ancient world;
  • You wish to participate in and contribute to a vibrant teaching and research community.

  English language requirements

  You must always present official test results proving your proficiency in English. You can apply online without having the test results, but in case you haven’t taken a test yet we advise you to plan a test date as soon as possible. The qualification or test result must have been awarded no more than two years prior to the proposed date of enrolment. Below you will find the minimum English test scores for the English taught programmes at the Faculty of Humanities.

  An applicant should demonstrate that he or she has sufficient level of proficiency in English by meeting at least one of the following standards, no more than two (2) years before the start of the programme at the VU:

  • (academic) IELTS: 7.0, with a minimum of 6.5 on each item;
  • TOEFL paper based test: 600, with a minimum of 55 on each component and 4.0 in TWE;
  • TOEFL internet based test: 100, with a minimum of 20-23 on each component.

  The TOEFL ITP will not be accepted

  Exemptions from providing the English test scores are applicable to students, who:

  • completed an English-taught secondary or higher education degree in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand or Australia or 
  • have earned a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in an English-taught programme accredited by NVAO in the Netherlands, or
  • have earned a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in an accredited English-taught programme in another member state of the European Union, or
  • have a Dutch VWO diploma, or
  • have obtained a Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) or a Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (CAE) with a score of A, B, C

• I have a Dutch higher vocational education (HBO) Bachelor’s degree (pre-master's)

  It is not possible to apply to this programme with a degree from a Dutch University of Applied Sciences (hbo). We do not offer a pre-master’s programme for this Master's programme.

• Application with a Dutch degree

  You can apply for the Master's programme under the label Oudheidstudies (Classics and Ancient Civilizations) via Studielink and select the correct track. The application deadline is: 1 June.

  If you have a Dutch diploma, follow this application procedure.

  What happens after I have applied?
  After you have applied for the Master’s programme in Studielink, you will receive two emails with your login details for your personal dashboard on vu.nl. Please complete your application in in your personal dashboard. Don’t forget to fill in the Master’s programme track: Ancient Studies or Classics.

  Your application for the Master's programme should contain the following documents. Submit these documents via your personal dashboard:

  • transcript of records (scan of original)
  • curriculum vitae
  • literature list
  • course description

  Please note: students of the Faculty of Humanities at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam do NOT need to upload these documents.

  Your application will be reviewed by the Admission Board of Faculty of Humanities. You will be informed whether you have been admitted via Studielink.

• I have an international degree

  Student profile

  The admission requirements are:

  • For the specialization Classics, you must have a Bachelor’s degree in Classics from an accredited university;
  • For the specialization Ancient Studies, you must have a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university and must have taken academic courses equivalent to at least one full-time semester of academic studies (30 EC) in Classics, Ancient Studies, Archaeology or History (with demonstrable relationship to Ancient Studies).

  As a student in the Master’s programme in Classics and Ancient Civilizations you are expected to have the following knowledge, insight and skills:

  • You are able to conduct research independently and know how to formulate consistent and functional research questions, collect data, apply theory, and write a thesis;
  • You are familiar with the interpretation of literary and historical texts as well as material culture from an interdisciplinary perspective;
  • You are deeply interested in the languages, history and material culture of the ancient world;
  • You wish to participate in and contribute to a vibrant teaching and research community.

  English language requirements

  If you are applying for one of our English-taught Master's degree programmes you will have to demonstrate sufficient English language proficiency by submitting English test results.  

  Although complete applications are preferred, you can begin your application before you have completed the test and then submit your passing score once you have been conditionally admitted. 

  You can find an overview of all accepted tests and scores that can be used to demonstrate your English language proficiency on the language requirement page.

• Application with an international degree

  Required format and required documentsApplication documents

  To apply you are required to provide the following documents:

  • Scan of your passport or national ID card (ID for EEA students only) valid at the start date of the programme
  • Master Application File please download the correct file from this page. In this file you can see which documents are required to apply for your programme.
  • Proof of English language proficiency (if already obtained): upload your proof of English language proficiency or English language test results. Please find the English language requirements here.

  After having prepared the required documents, please follow the online application procedure. 

  Application fee & deadlines

  All students seeking admission to an international Master’s programme with an international degree are required to pay a non-refundable €100 application fee. Only after you have paid this fee will we be able to start the evaluation of your application file. If you are applying for more than one programme, you will only need to pay the application fee once. Your application fee payment is valid for two years.
  
  Information on how to apply with an international university degree and deadlines can be found here. 

  Grants and scholarships

  As an international student planning to study at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, you can apply for a variety of grants and bursaries. Detailed information about scholarships and deadlines can be found on www.vu.nl/scholarships or www.grantfinder.nl.

  International Student and Alumni Ambassadors 

  Our International Student and Alumni Ambassadors are happy to tell you all about their experiences with studying at VU Amsterdam and living in Amsterdam.

  • Our Student Ambassadors are current students at VU Amsterdam that represent a wide variety of programmes and countries.
  • Our International Alumni Ambassadors are VU Amsterdam graduates who are currently either working in the Netherlands or abroad, or doing a PhD or (second) Master's.

  You will find the full overview of our Ambassadors here: vu.nl/ambassadors. There you can chat with them directly.