The Department encourages early application for admission. Information and necessary forms for both admission and financial aid and an on-line version of the catalogue of the Graduate School may be obtained by visiting the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. The application fee is now $85.00*. All applicants interested in obtaining a PhD should apply directly to the PhD program (the MA is earned en route). Under exceptional circumstances, the department will consider applicants who want a terminal MA, but it cannot offer funding for this degree.

In the current admissions cycle (for entry into the program in Fall 2025), the Department will not be requiring GRE scores.

Supporting materials should include transcripts from any higher educational institutions attended (unofficial copies are sufficient at this stage), and at least two letters of recommendation from persons qualified to appraise the applicant's scholarly potential and knowledge of the ancient languages. All of these, including the letters of recommendation, must be submitted online. We also encourage applicants to submit written samples of their work (preferably on a subject in Classics).

The application form, transcripts, recommendations, and writing sample should be sent to the Graduate School via the online application. No specific length is required for the writing sample, but successful submissions have typically been in the range of 12 to 20 pages, double-spaced, and including a bibliography.  All applications for fellowships and other financial aid must be received complete by January 15.  (N.B. It is important to make sure that your application is complete by the deadline, so please inform your letter-writers that their letters must be submitted by January 15.)  Successful applications for fellowship support are usually notified in February and March.

Our Ph.D. program concentrates on language and literature, and we, therefore, stress mastery of the two ancient languages.  Our strongest applicants have typically had at least 3-4 years at the college level of one ancient language and at least 2-3 years of the second language.

After proficiency in languages is established, we expect students to pursue independent scholarly research projects in seminars and in theses and dissertations.  Our offerings include a cycle of courses on the major ancient authors and genres, Greek and Latin composition, and advanced seminars on special topics.  We particularly encourage applications from students whose interests coincide with the research areas of the faculty, and we welcome visits from interested students.

* UVA’s Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs - Diversity Programs is pleased to offer application fee waivers to US citizens and US permanent residents who demonstrate a financial hardship, current or former members of the United States Armed Forces, or those who have participated in specified organizations and training programs.  You can find a complete list of these programs here:

https://graddiversity.virginia.edu/application-fee-waiver

Following the School of Engineering and the School of Data Science, GSAS will now offer application fee waivers to students who are citizens of the following low-income countries.  Applicants who indicate citizenship of any of the listed countries will automatically have an application fee waiver applied at the time of application submission and will not be prompted for payment.

For questions relating to graduate admissions, please contact: