Prominent Universities across the world continue to offer their students the option of doing Greek Studies, as it remains a vital academic discipline, despite the perception that classical studies belong to the past.
Universities continue to use Greek studies as a way of bridging the ancient and modern worlds through the study of the ancient and modern Greek language, literature, history and, obviously, the rich culture of Greece.
Across the world, prestigious universities promote Greek studies to thousands of students who dive deep into the world of ancient thinkers, linguists and historians.
Here are nine leading institutions excelling in Greek Studies:
Harvard’s Department of the Classics is one of the most prominent in the US. It offers extensive programmes in both Ancient and Modern Greek, exploring topics such as ancient, medieval and modern Greek literature, philosophy and archaeology.
The George Seferis Chair of Modern Greek Studies is based there, ensuring a great focus on contemporary Greece alongside its classical roots, offering students a more holistic approach towards Greece and its culture.
Oxford, Britain’s oldest and most prestigious university has a sub-Faculty of Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies. This faculty makes Oxford University a global leader in teaching and researching Byzantine and Modern Greek history and literature.
Its extensive programmes span from Ancient Greece to the Byzantine Empire as well as covering modern times. The university proudly offers students a comprehensive understanding of Greek culture that encompasses millennia of Greek history.
Cambridge is another historic educational institution in England with a long tradition in its Greek Department. Cambridge’s Faculty of Classics excels in Ancient Greek studies, with courses covering ancient and modern Greek language, literature, history and philosophy.
The University of Cambridge also has a Centre for Greek Studies, which promotes interdisciplinary research on Greece’s cultural legacy regardless of timeframe, offering a broader perspective to its students.
Another institution in the UK with a great tradition of offering Greek studies is King’s College, London. The Centre for Hellenic Studies at King’s College, London offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses that span over three millennia of Greek history and culture.
Its innovatively interdisciplinary approach attracts students from diverse academic backgrounds, who want to learn and research more about Greece and its history and culture.
Yale is another American University that combines Ancient and Modern Greek studies under an interdisciplinary framework.
This reputable Connecticut University offers its students the opportunity to explore topics such as the Greek and Hellenistic civilisations as well as contemporary cultural developments. Its robust research opportunities set it apart as a leader in the field.
Another institution in London that has a dedicated Department for Greek studies is University College. UCL’s Department of Greek & Latin teaches Ancient Greek and Latin. It integrates these classical languages with archaeology, philosophy and history.
Its central location in downtown London provides unparalleled access to resources like the British Museum and the British Library, complementing beautifully its own resources.
Italy couldn’t be missing from this list. Its Sapienza University in Rome is renowned for its Classics programmes, offering exceptional resources for studying the Ancient Greek language, literature and archaeology, among others.
Its libraries and museums make it a hub for classical scholarship in Europe at the heart of the eternal city.
The University of St Andrews in Scotland offers flexible degrees in Classics and Greek Studies, focusing on areas such as Hellenistic poetry and historiography.
Its modular system allows students to tailor their studies to their interests and expand their knowledge of ancient Greece.
Another British institution famous for its Greek studies is the Royal Holloway’s Hellenic Institute. This London-based institution specialises in Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies through its postgraduate programmes and PhDs.
It is supported by prominent foundations like the A.G. Leventis Foundation, ensuring high-quality research opportunities for those who choose it for their studies.
Greece’s intellectual and cultural heritage will continue to be important to future generations as long as educational institutions around the world continue to preserve and promote the study of Greek language, history and culture. Greek studies offer to students important insights into the roots of Western civilisation and beyond, whether through literature, philosophy, archaeology or contemporary political theory.
