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How to Apply

The Classics Department is admitting new graduate students for Fall 2025. The application deadline for the Ph.D. program is January 3, 2025.

What is New?

  • The CPAS Graduate Program in Classics now supports students for five years instead of the previous four years.
  • The MA or equivalent qualification for admission is now a preferred requirement but no longer mandatory.

Admissions Process

  • Applications are due in early January of each year.
  • All applicants to the CPAS Doctoral Program in Classics apply to the Department of Classics. The graduate faculty in Classics will review applications; they are typically also evaluated by an interdisciplinary committee of faculty members from the three participating departments: Classics, Philosophy, and History and Philosophy of Science (CPAS). Candidates wishing to visit campus and would like to arrange meetings with available graduate faculty before handing in their application are advised to contact the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS). An online interview is typically conducted in January for applicants taken into closer consideration. Once admitted, applicants usually receive an invitation for a campus visit. The deadline for accepting or rejecting an offer of a graduate student fellowship is April 15.

Admissions Requirements

Applicants must no longer hold a Master of Arts (M.A.) or equivalent qualification in Classics or Classical Studies, although this remains a preferred qualification. Admitted students can transfer credits of relevant graduate coursework at another institution. Transfer credit will not be accepted for courses in which applicants received a grade lower than B or equivalent.

Applicants should have a broad exposure to the cultural history of the ancient Mediterranean and will have demonstrated knowledge of Ancient Greek and Latin appropriate for graduate work. All applicants should be able to demonstrate reading knowledge of at least one modern foreign research language besides English (German, French, or Italian) before beginning the program. Applicants from outside the U.S. must show evidence of having completed a program of study equivalent to a Bachelor or Master of Arts degree and be prepared to present certification of the degree or license at the time of registration. If the credentials are incomplete or unfamiliar, please send a copy of the application to the Office of International Services for evaluation.

For applicants whose first language is not English, please refer to the International Students page to ensure the University’s language requirements are fulfilled.

Required Application Materials

Please note that GRE scores are no longer required.

  • The University of Pittsburgh’s online Application for Admission (note the $75.00 application fee). The Kenneth P. Dietrich Graduate School of Arts and Sciences offers application fee waivers to reduce financial barriers to attending graduate school. Please note that fee waivers are approved case-by-case, and not all requests will be granted. Requests will be reviewed and responded to within 48 hours during normal business hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST. To be considered for a fee waiver, please complete the fee waiver survey for review.
  • To apply, please visit the GradCAS portal.
  • A Personal Statement of Purpose indicating your reasons for pursuing a graduate degree at the University of Pittsburgh and your academic and professional goals. We welcome applicants who approach the intellectual history of the civilizations of ancient Greece and Rome as part of a multicultural and interconnected Mediterranean region. Using specific examples from your past academic experiences and a vision for your future academic trajectory, please write your statement in response to our Mission Statement.
  • One Academic Writing Sample not longer than 20-25 double-spaced pages. You may submit your statement of purpose and writing sample in the “Additional Information” section of the online Application for Admission, which allows you to upload your documents.
  • Official or Unofficial College Transcripts. Admitted students must send copies of their official transcripts by email before they can be enrolled. The transcripts need to come directly from an applicant’s institution.
  • Three Letters of Recommendation. Please submit the names of three referees with your online Application for Admission. The letters should address the applicant’s expertise in Latin and/ or Ancient Greek, ability to conduct independent research, and academic potential. The recommendation form to be included with each letter of recommendation is available for download as a .pdf file once you begin your online application process. Referees receive an automated email requesting recommendation letters and submit them electronically through the GradCAS portal
  • For Non-US Citizens: TOEFL or IELTS scores. The application portal allows you to upload them, but you may submit these scores directly to the department later, preferably by January 15.

N.B. Graduate School fellowship funding for CPAS graduate students in Classics is now guaranteed for five years. Additional competitive departmental funding is available to support students during the summers.

Information about financial aid and stipend amounts can be found with the links on the Graduate Studies website. To expedite the process for visa application once admitted, international students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the information provided by the Office of International Services (OIS).

 

Please direct questions about graduate student applications and program-specific questions to Graduate Student Administrator Mike Orbin or Director of Graduate Studies Christian Wildberg.