Classics - Graduate Studies


The Only Program of Its Kind in Canada
The master’s program in Classics focuses on Late Antiquity, the important transitional period between the ancient and medieval worlds. By its complexity, the period favours a multidisciplinary approach that includes history, historiography, paleography, early Christianity and literature. The University of Ottawa is the only university in Canada that offers a master’s program in Classics dedicated to the study of Late Antiquity.
Masters Program

We offer a master’s program leading to the degree of Master of Arts in Classical Studies which comprises one main field: Late Antiquity (A.D. 200-700).The objective of this program is to prepare the students for further study in the field of Late Antiquity, the important transitional period between Antiquity and the Middle Ages. The Department also offers the possibility of studying Coptic, Syriac and Ethiopic (in addition to Latin and Greek). Candidates will acquire a thorough background that will enable them to pursue doctoral studies.
The program aims to refine critical and scholarly skills and to broaden the knowledge of its graduates in certain areas. The ability to conduct detailed research, to argue coherently, to write an academic paper, and other skills learned can be applied in careers outside academia. Several graduates find positions in local or federal government, where their training at the MA level is clearly valued.
The Department offers a collaborative program in Medieval and Renaissance Studies at the MA level.
Program Information
Financial Aid and Awards
We offer a competitive funding package for Canadian citizens and permanent residents: M.A. students with a GPA of at least 8.0 (A-) are eligible for an Admission Scholarship worth $7500 per year for one year (research paper option) or two years (thesis option), plus teaching assistant employment worth an additional $10,000 per year. MA students can also apply for additional funding for research and conference travel.
Students are also encouraged to apply for external funding from the Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) program, the Fonds québécois de recherche (for students domiciled in Québec), and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC); we offer extensive help with scholarship applications. If a student has an Admission Scholarship at the time the student is awarded a major external scholarship, the Admission Scholarship becomes an Excellence Scholarships.
If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident applying for graduate study in Ontario, you qualify for OGS and SSHRC funding. Be aware that scholarship applications are due earlier than graduate program applications—usually in November or December of the year before you plan to begin your studies.
If you are an international student applying for graduate study in Ontario, you qualify for OGS funding.
