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Classics

MA (NFQ Level 9)

This course is available through the following application route(s)

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The MA in Classics is suitable for graduates with a degree in Classics or related disciplines who want to acquire a deeper understanding of the ancient world. It offers small-group teaching and individual supervision by internationally respected specialists, and it will enable you both to deepen your understanding of the ancient world and to develop transferable skills in research, group discussion, oral presentation, and academic writing.

The UCD School of Classics is a lively community which organises a wide range of events; for instance, we host regular lectures by visiting scholars from Ireland and abroad, mentor conferences organised by graduate students and hold practical workshops in the Classical Museum.

  • Small-group teaching by specialists in the area
  • Intensive student participation
  • The only Irish university with a Classical Museum. It is also the largest collection of Greek and Roman antiquities on display in Ireland

Modules Cover Topics Such as:

  • The Epic Tradition 
  • The Age of Marius and Sulla
  • Exploring New Worlds
  • Warfare and Society
  • Ancient Political Thought

About This Course

  • Analyse primary evidence, place it in its context, and assess its reliability
  • Deliver oral presentations clearly and confidently, and engage constructively in group discussions
  • Demonstrate critical understanding of diverse academic viewpoints
  • Undertake independent research, and deal confidently with the various forms of primary evidence available for research in Classics
  • Students who choose to begin Greek or Latin will read adapted Greek or Latin texts, and answer questions about Greek or Latin grammar and syntax
  • Students who choose to study more advanced modules in Greek or Latin will read unadapted Greek or Latin texts, and answer detailed questions about language and content

Below is a list of all modules offered for this degree in the current academic year. Click on the module to discover what you will learn in the module, how you will learn and assessment feedback profile amongst other information.

Incoming Stage 1 undergraduates can usually select an Elective in the Spring Trimester. Most continuing undergraduate students can select up to two Elective modules (10 Credits) per stage. There is also the possibility to take up to 10 extra Elective credits.

Module Type Module   Trimester Credits
Stage 1 Core Modules
 GRC40130 Research Skills I Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
 GRC40140 Research Skills II Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
 GRC40350 Thesis Summer  30
Stage 1 Options - A)50CR:
Select a minimum of 5 of the following modules. Up to 20 credits may be selected from GRK and LAT modules.
Students wishing to pursue research beyond the MA are strongly advised to take Greek or Latin as part of the taught MA. If you are uncertain as to what level is most suitable please contact the Head of Greek and the Head of Latin to discuss any previous study.
 GRC40190 The Epic Tradition Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)50CR:
Select a minimum of 5 of the following modules. Up to 20 credits may be selected from GRK and LAT modules.
Students wishing to pursue research beyond the MA are strongly advised to take Greek or Latin as part of the taught MA. If you are uncertain as to what level is most suitable please contact the Head of Greek and the Head of Latin to discuss any previous study.
 GRC40330 Exploring New Worlds Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)50CR:
Select a minimum of 5 of the following modules. Up to 20 credits may be selected from GRK and LAT modules.
Students wishing to pursue research beyond the MA are strongly advised to take Greek or Latin as part of the taught MA. If you are uncertain as to what level is most suitable please contact the Head of Greek and the Head of Latin to discuss any previous study.
 GRK10090 Greek Language I Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)50CR:
Select a minimum of 5 of the following modules. Up to 20 credits may be selected from GRK and LAT modules.
Students wishing to pursue research beyond the MA are strongly advised to take Greek or Latin as part of the taught MA. If you are uncertain as to what level is most suitable please contact the Head of Greek and the Head of Latin to discuss any previous study.
 GRK20140 Intermediate Greek Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)50CR:
Select a minimum of 5 of the following modules. Up to 20 credits may be selected from GRK and LAT modules.
Students wishing to pursue research beyond the MA are strongly advised to take Greek or Latin as part of the taught MA. If you are uncertain as to what level is most suitable please contact the Head of Greek and the Head of Latin to discuss any previous study.
 GRK30060 Greek Texts: Aeschylus Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A)50CR:
Select a minimum of 5 of the following modules. Up to 20 credits may be selected from GRK and LAT modules.
Students wishing to pursue research beyond the MA are strongly advised to take Greek or Latin as part of the taught MA. If you are uncertain as to what level is most suitable please contact the Head of Greek and the Head of Latin to discuss any previous study.
 GRK30100 Greek Texts: Herodotus Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A)50CR:
Select a minimum of 5 of the following modules. Up to 20 credits may be selected from GRK and LAT modules.
Students wishing to pursue research beyond the MA are strongly advised to take Greek or Latin as part of the taught MA. If you are uncertain as to what level is most suitable please contact the Head of Greek and the Head of Latin to discuss any previous study.
 LAT10090 Beginners' Latin I Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)50CR:
Select a minimum of 5 of the following modules. Up to 20 credits may be selected from GRK and LAT modules.
Students wishing to pursue research beyond the MA are strongly advised to take Greek or Latin as part of the taught MA. If you are uncertain as to what level is most suitable please contact the Head of Greek and the Head of Latin to discuss any previous study.
 LAT20140 Intermediate Latin Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)50CR:
Select a minimum of 5 of the following modules. Up to 20 credits may be selected from GRK and LAT modules.
Students wishing to pursue research beyond the MA are strongly advised to take Greek or Latin as part of the taught MA. If you are uncertain as to what level is most suitable please contact the Head of Greek and the Head of Latin to discuss any previous study.
 LAT30030 Tacitus Agricola: Empire and Resistance Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A)50CR:
Select a minimum of 5 of the following modules. Up to 20 credits may be selected from GRK and LAT modules.
Students wishing to pursue research beyond the MA are strongly advised to take Greek or Latin as part of the taught MA. If you are uncertain as to what level is most suitable please contact the Head of Greek and the Head of Latin to discuss any previous study.
 LAT30120 Virgil's Aeneid Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A)50CR:
Select a minimum of 5 of the following modules. Up to 20 credits may be selected from GRK and LAT modules.
Students wishing to pursue research beyond the MA are strongly advised to take Greek or Latin as part of the taught MA. If you are uncertain as to what level is most suitable please contact the Head of Greek and the Head of Latin to discuss any previous study.
 GRC40010 Warfare and Society in the Ancient World Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)50CR:
Select a minimum of 5 of the following modules. Up to 20 credits may be selected from GRK and LAT modules.
Students wishing to pursue research beyond the MA are strongly advised to take Greek or Latin as part of the taught MA. If you are uncertain as to what level is most suitable please contact the Head of Greek and the Head of Latin to discuss any previous study.
 GRC40290 The Plays of Euripides Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)50CR:
Select a minimum of 5 of the following modules. Up to 20 credits may be selected from GRK and LAT modules.
Students wishing to pursue research beyond the MA are strongly advised to take Greek or Latin as part of the taught MA. If you are uncertain as to what level is most suitable please contact the Head of Greek and the Head of Latin to discuss any previous study.
 GRC40320 Making History in Antiquity Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)50CR:
Select a minimum of 5 of the following modules. Up to 20 credits may be selected from GRK and LAT modules.
Students wishing to pursue research beyond the MA are strongly advised to take Greek or Latin as part of the taught MA. If you are uncertain as to what level is most suitable please contact the Head of Greek and the Head of Latin to discuss any previous study.
 GRK10100 Greek Language II Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)50CR:
Select a minimum of 5 of the following modules. Up to 20 credits may be selected from GRK and LAT modules.
Students wishing to pursue research beyond the MA are strongly advised to take Greek or Latin as part of the taught MA. If you are uncertain as to what level is most suitable please contact the Head of Greek and the Head of Latin to discuss any previous study.
 GRK20110 Greek Texts: Plato Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - A)50CR:
Select a minimum of 5 of the following modules. Up to 20 credits may be selected from GRK and LAT modules.
Students wishing to pursue research beyond the MA are strongly advised to take Greek or Latin as part of the taught MA. If you are uncertain as to what level is most suitable please contact the Head of Greek and the Head of Latin to discuss any previous study.
 GRK30020 Greek Texts: Thucydides Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - A)50CR:
Select a minimum of 5 of the following modules. Up to 20 credits may be selected from GRK and LAT modules.
Students wishing to pursue research beyond the MA are strongly advised to take Greek or Latin as part of the taught MA. If you are uncertain as to what level is most suitable please contact the Head of Greek and the Head of Latin to discuss any previous study.
 GRK30090 Greek Texts: Euripides Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - A)50CR:
Select a minimum of 5 of the following modules. Up to 20 credits may be selected from GRK and LAT modules.
Students wishing to pursue research beyond the MA are strongly advised to take Greek or Latin as part of the taught MA. If you are uncertain as to what level is most suitable please contact the Head of Greek and the Head of Latin to discuss any previous study.
 GRK30110 Greek Texts: Epic Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - A)50CR:
Select a minimum of 5 of the following modules. Up to 20 credits may be selected from GRK and LAT modules.
Students wishing to pursue research beyond the MA are strongly advised to take Greek or Latin as part of the taught MA. If you are uncertain as to what level is most suitable please contact the Head of Greek and the Head of Latin to discuss any previous study.
 LAT10100 Beginners' Latin II Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)50CR:
Select a minimum of 5 of the following modules. Up to 20 credits may be selected from GRK and LAT modules.
Students wishing to pursue research beyond the MA are strongly advised to take Greek or Latin as part of the taught MA. If you are uncertain as to what level is most suitable please contact the Head of Greek and the Head of Latin to discuss any previous study.
 LAT20130 Catullus Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - A)50CR:
Select a minimum of 5 of the following modules. Up to 20 credits may be selected from GRK and LAT modules.
Students wishing to pursue research beyond the MA are strongly advised to take Greek or Latin as part of the taught MA. If you are uncertain as to what level is most suitable please contact the Head of Greek and the Head of Latin to discuss any previous study.
 LAT30020 Ovid and Lucan: Successors to Virgil Spring  5

Kaylin Bednarz
MA 2017

The UCD School of Classics appealed to me because of the structure of the MA programme, and especially the UCD Classical Museum. The museum is a fantastic resource that I was able to utilise both in class and on a volunteer basis. Being able to study the artefacts first hand is a benefit to anyone interested in museums, archaeology, and Classics. The faculty is open to student initiatives, and this was of great benefit to me during my time on the MA, as I was encouraged to research and publish an article about some pieces in the museum collection. The support of the faculty is extraordinary and they have created an environment that allows students to thrive. The MA in Classics at UCD is perfect for anyone interested in the Classical world.

MA Classics (Z044) Full Time
EU          fee per year - € 9330
nonEU    fee per year - € 22600

MA Classics (Z105) Part Time
EU          fee per year - € 4660
nonEU    fee per year - € 11300

***Fees are subject to change

Tuition fee information is available on the UCD Fees website. Please note that UCD offers a number of graduate scholarships for full-time, self-funding international students, holding an offer of a place on a UCD graduate degree programme. For further information please see International Scholarships.

This programme is intended for graduates with degrees in classics or related subjects including English, History, or Archaeology. An upper second class honours degree (NFQ Level 8), or the international equivalent is required.

  • Applicants whose first language is not English must also demonstrate English language proficiency of IELTS 6.5 (no band less than 6.0 in each element), or equivalent.
  • Students meeting the programme’s academic entry requirements but not the  English language requirements, may enter the programme upon  successful completion of UCD’s Pre-Sessional or International Pre-Master’s Pathway programmes. Please see the following link for further information http://www.ucd.ie/alc/programmes/pathways/ 
  • These are the minimum entry requirements – additional criteria may be requested for some programmes 
You may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), as UCD recognises formal, informal, and/or experiential learning. RPL may be awarded to gain Admission and/or credit exemptions on a programme. Please visit the UCD Registry RPL web page for further information. Any exceptions are also listed on this webpage.

Full Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EU) applicants: Yes

Part Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants: No


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General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to Classics:

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Commencing September 2025
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Z105
Classics
Master of Arts

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Commencing September 2025
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