Course details

Summary

An understanding of the rich Classical past gives students a keen lens through which to view the modern world. Many issues confronting us now were experienced in the ancient Mediterranean and discussed with great insight by people of the time: questions of cultural identity; abuses of political power and the rise of demagogues; the nature-nurture debate; the plight of refugees and asylum seekers; the problematic nature of empire and colonialism, among others.

The very words by which we know such important concepts as democracy, philosophy, theatre, rhetoric, and psychology are Greek in origin, indicating that they are ancient Greek inventions. Likewise, the cultural legacy of Rome is far-reaching, especially in architecture, administration and law-making, in addition to its literature and art.

Study of pre-industrial cultures such as ancient Greece and Rome affords many insights into the lives and experiences of indigenous peoples today. While differences persist, important parallels in myths, attitudes to warfare and social structures can also be recognised between ancient and some contemporary indigenous cultures.

UC Classics teaches courses on:

• the drama, poetry and philosophy of writers like Homer, Euripides, Vergil and Plato (in both the original languages and translation)
• the artistic and architectural achievements of the Greeks and Romans including masterpieces such as the Parthenon and Colosseum
• the world of politics, warfare and government of leaders like Pericles, Julius Caesar and the Roman emperors
• Ancient Greek and Latin languages
• ancient sport, slavery, sex and gender, daily life, ancient views of art.

The UC Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is a research-only degree carried out under expert supervision and using world-class facilities.

A PhD involves extensive, sustained and original research and study in your chosen subject, with the results being presented in a thesis that will contribute to intellectual knowledge of the field. It is a mark of intellectual ability, self-discipline and commitment. A PhD prepares you for a number of careers, including as an academic.

The minimum period of enrolment for a full-time candidate is two years and the maximum period four years; most PhD students take between three and three-and-a-half years.

Career opportunities

Classics students can conduct internships as part of their studies, for example on material from the Logie collection, enhancing research skills and developing skills central to areas in museums, curatorship studies, and arts management.

The successful study of Classics cultivates highly desirable skills employers want in the twenty-first century: critical and rigorous thinking, evaluating evidence, constructing arguments, reasoning, analysis, and a well-formed awareness of others’ viewpoints and cultural identity.

Many students who have majored in Classics have gone into teaching and academic careers, while others have branched off into other professions such as art conservation, museum curatorship, music, law, administration, public policy, library science and business. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Department of Internal Affairs and Treasury are always on the lookout for good graduates in Classics.

Entry criteria

Enrolment in a PhD requires completion of a research-focused honours or master's degree at first-class or second-class division 1 level (or equivalent qualifications). Applicants with qualifications from outside New Zealand must have been granted admission to the University.

Other English language requirements: TOEFL PBT with a minimum score of 575 and TWE with a minimum score of 4.5; CCEL EAP Level 2 with a minimum B+ grade; CAE or CPE score of 176 with a minimum of 169 in reading, writing, listening and speaking; Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE with an overall score of 64 and no PTE communicative skills score below 58.