How to Apply

Prospective graduate students may apply to either the MA or PhD tracks in Classics. Students who enter the PhD program without a Classics MA will complete a course of MA study as part of their PhD curriculum. Students who enter the PhD program holding an MA in Classics may apply to have their MA credits approved and applied toward the total required credits for completion of the PhD, as well as toward disciplinary track requirements. Transfer credit paperwork will need to be completed and applicants must submit an official MA transcript.

The department reviews applications for admission to the graduate tracks each year for entry at the beginning of the following academic year. Prospective applicants must complete and submit an application by December 15 in order to guarantee full consideration, including consideration for financial assistance. The department does not normally accept applications at other times in the academic year. 

Step 1: Apply Online

Use the link to access our online application system. You should begin by creating an account. Once created, you will be promoted to choose an application, select your term year and program. Please read the directions on your College of Arts and Sciences application carefully. Returning users can use this link to log in to their existing application(s).The completed application, plus all supplemental materials, must be submitted by December 15.  Please note, MA applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

The following required supplemental materials may be uploaded to the online application for faster processing: 

PhD in Classics

• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Copy of Academic Transcripts (Official transcripts are only required if a student is accepted by the department)
  
• Personal Statement
• Writing Sample

PhD in Classics: Mediterranean Archaeology

• curriculum vitae and academic transcripts
• a scholarly writing sample
• three letters of recommendation
• a Statement of Preparation and Departmental Fit, maximum two pages
• a Doctoral Research Proposal, approximately 1,500–2,000 words, excluding bibliography
• a Language and Skills Profile describing current preparation and any additional language, field, laboratory, digital, archival, or technical training that may be required

Applicants may also submit a provisional five-year work plan, presented as a Gantt chart or equivalent timeline. This is optional at the application stage.

Students admitted to the program will be required to develop a formal five-year research and training plan, normally presented as a Gantt chart or equivalent timeline, no later than the end of their first year in the PhD program.

The Statement of Preparation and Departmental Fit should explain the applicant’s academic preparation, intended area of supervision, and the Department resources relevant to the proposed project.

Doctoral Research Proposal

The research proposal should include:

• a provisional title and primary research question
• the research context and relevant current scholarship
• the relationship of the project to departmental expertise or to an advertised research area
• the archaeological materials, datasets, collections, archives, or other evidence to be examined
• the proposed methodology
• the expected scholarly contribution
• relevant previous preparation and additional training needs
• feasibility, access requirements, potential risks, and alternative strategies
• a short bibliography

Applicants should be prepared to explain how their research design might change if new evidence challenges their initial hypothesis or methodology.

Step 2: Submit Additional Supplemental Materials

• GRE scores must be submitted electronically through ETS. (University code: 2925; Department code: 2901) GRE SCORES ARE CURRENTLY WAIVED
  
• Instructions for Letters of Recommendation (written by persons able to discuss your qualifications for graduate work in Classics) can be found in the online application.
• It is also recommended, though not required, that applicants submit a writing sample. This should consist of a paper (minimum 10 pages in length) written by the applicant, preferably on a topic relating to Classics that will enable faculty to evaluate the applicant's aptitude for undertaking graduate-level work in Classics.

All applicants for admission to the PhD program are automatically considered for financial assistance in the form of a teaching assistantship unless the applicant specifically indicates that he/she does not wish to be considered. In some cases, it is possible to extend an offer of financial assistance to PhD applicants who are initially admitted to the program without such an offer at some point during the spring or summer as additional teaching assistantships become available to the department. Applicants to the MA program are not normally eligible for financial assistance. 

Students educated abroad are expected to meet the same general application requirements as those educated in the United States. Applications from international students should be complete and in the hands of the department by December 15 for admission the following fall semester. 

After approval by the department, applications are processed by the Office of Admissions. Students whose native language is not English must demonstrate a satisfactory command of the English language by passing the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), and must have sufficient funds available in the United States to meet their expenses and Immigration and Naturalization Service regulations.

Entering students who will serve as teaching assistants should arrive in Buffalo no later than the third week of August, leaving time to settle in and participate in a required four-day training seminar sponsored by the University prior to the opening of the academic year.

Immediately upon entering the program, a new student meets with the Director of Graduate Studies so that he/she can be assigned an advisor. This is generally a member of the faculty with expertise in the area of Classical studies that is of specific interest to the student. The advisor assists the student in his/her selection of courses and supervises his/her progress within the program and more general development within the field. Also at this time, each entering student must complete two diagnostic examinations, one in ancient Greek and one in Latin, so that the Director of Graduate Studies can determine what level course is appropriate for the student in each of these two languages.