Objectives and competences

The master's degree in Ancient Cultures and Languages is unique in Europe, due to its specific character and course structure. It provides instruction in the three fundamental ancient languages' Greek, Latin and Hebrew ' and offers the chance to specialize in the cultures of two geographical areas of the ancient world, the Mediterranean and the Middle East, which were immersed in a process of 'fruitful interaction' for many centuries. The course plots a course from the origins of Mesopotamian civilization to the present day, taking in the languages, scripts and cultural manifestations of the ancient world.

Students will acquire an initial level of compulsory, in-depth knowledge of the Semitic or Indo-European languages of the regions, their writing systems (from cuneiform to the alphabet) and their literary systems, and learn to appreciate their differences and similarities within a common framework. Then students will complete their training in one of these two great cultural areas by choosing between the specializations Classics and The Bible and the Ancient Near East, acquiring a mastery of the relevant languages (Greek and Latin or Hebrew and Near Eastern Languages). Students will have direct access to these cultures' works of literature and art situated in their historical, anthropological and social contexts and they will gain an understanding of how the legacy of the ancient world has been received and perpetuated in our own culture. Students will develop a rigorous expertise in the sciences of antiquity.

Basic information

TypeMaster's degree
Faculty or schoolFaculty of Philology and Communication
Branch of knowledge
  • Philology, classical studies, translation and linguistics
Mode of delivery
  • Face-to-face
Credits60
Number of places available20
Length of course1 academic year
Language(s) of instruction80 % Catalan - 20 % Spanish
Approximate price per credit27.67 euros per credit (82 euros for students who are not EU nationals and do not currently reside in Spain). Fees for the academic year 2023-2024
CoordinationSERGIO RAMON GRAU GUIJARRO
Course detailsIndicators
Open pre-enrolmentYes
Open enrolmentNo
Lead to doctoral studiesYes
Admission for applicants not holding a degree qualificationNo
Bridging coursesYes
Specializations
  • Classics
  • The Bible and the Ancient Near East

Objectives and competences

Objectives

The objective of this master's degree is to train researchers specializing in the ancient cultures of the Mediterranean and Near East.

Competences

General competences:



  • Students will learn how to read and interpret texts critically, applying to their analysis the tools needed to acquire knowledge (sources, bibliography, auxiliary disciplines), and give special attention to the timely monitoring of advances in the international scientific community.

  • Students will develop their knowledge creatively, present it with clarity and mastery of the written and oral techniques used to disseminate the results obtained, and engage in debates with intellectual rigour and honesty.

  • Students will develop the capacity to work in multidisciplinary teams and to adopt approaches that integrate diverse cultural traditions. They will also acquire the capacity to use their acquired knowledge of the ancient world to interpret today's reality.


Specific competences:



  • All students in the master's program will understand and master the fundamental concepts of the ancient cultures and languages of the Mediterranean and Near East.

  • They will also know how to assess the historical dimension of their document and material sources, being able to identify, initially, the interrelationships between the ideological, social, political, religious and cultural aspects of these civilizations, and subsequently the lasting presence of their literary and cultural tradition in the West.


With respect to the specific competences for the specializations, students in Classics will attain the capacity to generate knowledge on Greco-Roman culture based on original texts in Greek and Latin and through the use of the methodology and critical reasoning employed in this scientific discipline. Students specializing in Bible and the Ancient Near East will attain the capacity to generate knowledge on the cultures of the region through the analysis of historical accounts in their various languages (Sumerian and Semitic and Indo-European languages) and through the application of the specific

Access and admission

Applicant profile and access requirements

Recommended applicant profile

Applicants for this master's degree should have an interest in studying the ancient cultures and languages of the Mediterranean and Near East and their reception and continued influence in later periods. Applicants should be aware that the key to interpreting the cultures of the ancient world lies in the mastery of ancient languages and the study of original texts. As a consequence, students need to be willing to work hard to master these languages and draw from their readings the information needed for them to find relationships with other manifestations of culture (religion, art, mythology, science) in order to obtain a deep and comprehensive knowledge of the ancient world. Applicants will also benefit from an immediate appreciation of the importance of understanding past in order to interpret today's reality. As a result, students are recommended to have previous studies in philology (especially Classics and Semitic languages), history, archaeology, philosophy and theology, with special training in Greek, Latin, Hebrew and the history of religions of the Ancient Near East.

Access requirements and conditions

General requirements
In accordance with Article 16 of Royal Decree 1393/2007, of 29 October, students wishing to be admitted to a university master's degree must hold one of the following qualifications:

  • Official Spanish university degree.

  • A degree issued by a higher education institution within the European Higher Education Area framework that authorizes the holder to access university master's degree courses in the country of issue.

  • A qualification issued by an institution outside the framework of the European Higher Education Area. In this case, applicants must request homologation of the degree to its equivalent official Spanish university qualification or obtain express approval from the University of Barcelona, which will conduct a study of equivalence to ensure that the degree is of a comparable level to an official Spanish university qualification and that it grants access to university master's degree study in the country of issue. Admission shall not, in any case, imply that prior qualifications have been recognized as equivalent to a Spanish master's degree and does not confer recognition for any purposes other than that of admission to the master's degree course.

Specific requirements

Applicants for this master's degree should hold a bachelor's degree or equivalent undergraduate degree preferably in Classics (llicenciatura or EHEA bachelor's degree), Arab and Hebrew Studies (EHEA bachelor's degree), Hebrew Studies or Semitic Languages (llicenciatura degree) or, alternatively, a llicenciatura degree or EHEA bachelor's degree in linguistics, history, ancient history and archaeology, philosophy or theology. When they apply for admission, all applicants regardless of specialization should be able to provide accreditation that their previous university qualifications cover sufficient knowledge of Greek (equivalent to 10 ECTS credits), Latin (equivalent to 10 ECTS credits), Hebrew (equivalent to 5 ECTS credits) and history of religions of the Ancient Near East (equivalent to 5 ECTS credits). Applicants who do not have this knowledge must complete bridging subjects worth up to a maximum of 30 ECTS credits during their master's degree. The specific requirements for each applicant will be determined by the Admission Committee and may include: 2 Greek language subjects (Introduction to Classical Greek I and II (10 ECTS credits)); 2 Latin subjects (Introduction to Classical Latin I and II (10 ECTS credits)); 1 Hebrew subject (Modern Hebrew I) and 1 subject on religions of the Ancient Near East (Religions of the Ancient Near East).


Pre-enrolment

Calendar

13 February - 15 September 2024.

Notes:

  • Pre-enrolment fee: A pre-enrolment fee of 30,21 euros is charged. Students who apply to more than one master's degree must pay the fee for each pre-enrolment request. Pre-enrolment requests cannot be processed until this fee has been paid.Fees will only be refunded if the master's degree in question is suspended.
  • Reserved places: A maximum of 5% of the new places of the master's degree are reserved for students who meet the general and specific access requirements and accredit the recognition of a degree of disability equal to or greater than 33%.

Required documentation

Selection criteria

On the basis of documentation submitted by candidates, the Admissions Committee assesses applications according to the following criteria:

  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent degree in: classics, Hebrew studies, Semitic languages, Arabic and Hebrew studies, linguistics, history, ancient history and archaeology, philosophy and theology (50%).
    For candidates who do not hold one of the above qualifications, credit is given for university-accredited knowledge of Greek, Latin, Hebrew and the history of Ancient Near East religions.
  • Academic or professional experience in the fields of study covered by the master's degree (15%).
  • Academic transcript (15%).
  • Statement of interest (10%).
  • Knowledge of foreign languages relevant to the study of ancient science (10%).

Notification

The Admissions Committee is responsible for the admissions process during the pre-enrolment period. The same process applied to all master's degrees taught at the Faculty of Philology.

Online application is open from February to 15 September each year. The Admissions Committee meets once per month to discuss the applications and supporting documentation received and issues its decisions at the ending of each month.

Enrolment

As a general rule, at the UB you will be required to enrol online. Remember that you can lose your place if you do not enrol on the day you have been assigned

Course curriculum

Subjects and course plans

Distribution of credits

Type ECTS
Compulsory 15
Optional 25
Compulsory placements 0
Compulsory final project 20
TOTAL 60

List of subjects

Subject Type Language Credits
Specialization: BC for admission to the Master's Degree in Ancient Cultures and Languages
Introduction to Classical Greek I Optional 1st semester 5
Introduction to Classical Greek II Optional 2nd semester 5
Introduction to Classical Latin I Optional 1st semester 5
Introduction to Classical Latin II Optional 2nd semester 5
Introduction to Hebrew Optional 1st semester 5
Religions of the Ancient Near East Optional 2nd semester 5

Bridging courses

Subject Type Language Credits
Specialization: Classics
Acadian Language Optional 1st semester 5
Archaic Thought Optional 1st semester 5
Biblical Culture and Hebrew Literature Optional 2nd semester 5
Eastern Indo-European Languages Optional 2nd semester 5
Egypt and the Biblical World Optional 2nd semester 5
Final Project Compulsory 1st semester
2nd semester
20
From the Hellenistic Period to Late Antiquity: Greeks in the Roman Empire Optional 2nd semester 5
Greek Christianity: the Origins of Byzantium Optional 2nd semester 5
History of the Latin Language: from Rome to Romania Optional 1st semester 5
Introduction to the History of Mediterranean and Ancient Near East Cultures Compulsory 1st semester 5
Literary Systems in the Mediterranean and the Ancient Near East Compulsory 1st semester 5
Questions of Indo-European Linguistics Optional 2nd semester 5
Roman Epigraphic Texts Optional 2nd semester 5
Roman Literature: Literary Genres Optional 2nd semester 5
Seminar on the Version and Analysis of Texts Optional 1st semester 5
Sumerian Language II Optional 2nd semester 5
Sumerian Language Optional 1st semester 5
Textual Criticism of Latin Optional 2nd semester 5
Tragedy and the Tragic Optional 2nd semester 5
Ugaritic Language Optional 1st semester 5
Workshop on Publishing Greek Texts Optional 1st semester 5
Workshop on Translation of Greek Texts Optional 1st semester 5
Writing Systems in the Mediterranean and the Ancient Near East Compulsory 1st semester 5
Specialization: The Bible and the Ancient Near East
Acadian Language Optional 1st semester 5
Archaic Thought Optional 1st semester 5
Biblical Culture and Hebrew Literature Optional 2nd semester 5
Eastern Indo-European Languages Optional 2nd semester 5
Egypt and the Biblical World Optional 2nd semester 5
Final Project Compulsory 1st semester
2nd semester
20
From the Hellenistic Period to Late Antiquity: Greeks in the Roman Empire Optional 2nd semester 5
Greek Christianity: the Origins of Byzantium Optional 2nd semester 5
History of the Latin Language: from Rome to Romania Optional 1st semester 5
Introduction to the History of Mediterranean and Ancient Near East Cultures Compulsory 1st semester 5
Literary Systems in the Mediterranean and the Ancient Near East Compulsory 1st semester 5
Questions of Indo-European Linguistics Optional 2nd semester 5
Roman Epigraphic Texts Optional 2nd semester 5
Roman Literature: Literary Genres Optional 2nd semester 5
Seminar on the Version and Analysis of Texts Optional 1st semester 5
Sumerian Language II Optional 2nd semester 5
Sumerian Language Optional 1st semester 5
Textual Criticism of Latin Optional 2nd semester 5
Tragedy and the Tragic Optional 2nd semester 5
Ugaritic Language Optional 1st semester 5
Workshop on Publishing Greek Texts Optional 1st semester 5
Workshop on Translation of Greek Texts Optional 1st semester 5
Writing Systems in the Mediterranean and the Ancient Near East Compulsory 1st semester 5

Previous years

Placements

Career opportunities

What can you work on ?

1. Professional research, generating knowledge in the fields of classical philology (Greek and Latin), Hebrew, Assyriology and Indo-European studies, as well as in all fields related to the humanities (other languages, philosophy, history, archaeology, theology, etc.)

2. Teaching in the areas of study covered by the master's degree syllabus and in other related areas, at all educational levels.

3. Professional cultural activities in areas of the related to the area of humanities, from editorial work, journalism and the organization and promotion of exhibitions and festivals, to participation in social-political projects relating to the Mediterranean region and the Middle East.

Access to the labour market

Data from the university system in Catalonia

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