Classics and Archaeology

We offer a multidisciplinary and a multiethnic perspective on Graeco-Roman, Aegean, Egyptian and Near Eastern civilisations and, at the same time, emphasise their connections and interactions with each other and the wider Eurasian region in antiquity and the early middle ages.

We teach a wide variety of subjects in Classics (study of literature, philosophy, myth, art and architecture of prehistoric and classical Greece and Rome), ancient history, Archaeology, and ancient languages (Greek, Latin and Egyptian).

Our program also offers access to world-class research facilities such as the classics and archaeology collection at the Ian Potter Museum of Art

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Making students job-ready

Our graduates leave university with robust, wide-ranging, and flexible training in writing, research, scientific skills of observation, and critical thinking. We challenge students to study difficult texts, to synthesise a range of sources of information, and to show their ability to judge the strength of divergent interpretations—and to present their conclusions in a variety of formats with an eye to a number of different audiences.

Our students are also equipped with a broad set of transferable skills, cultural literacy, and a high level of digital literacy. They learn to conduct complex data searches, receive training in field methods and material analysis, and work in a variety of digital environments.

This demanding course of study ensures that our students are job-ready for careers in areas such as (among many others) the museum sector, tertiary and secondary education, business, government, administration, and consultancy, as specialist experts and field technicians who are capable of meeting the needs of a rapidly changing economy.

Our impact in the community

The program furthermore has a broader impact on our community through the Community Access Program, Summer Schools and the public lecture program organised by The School of Historical and Philosophical Studies, to which staff, researchers and visiting scholars regularly contribute. Secondary school communities can participate in our vibrant academic culture and the program provides support for students studying the Classics.

We regularly collaborate on a variety of lectures and events with institutions such as the Classical Association of Victoria (CAV) with whom the program is affiliated, and we ourselves directly engage with the wider community through a range of activities such as interviews, podcasts, and public presentations. As such, our program is an important pillar of Melbournian society and Australia’s cultural economy.