Presentation

Since its establishment, the University of Rome “Tor Vergata” has always provided high-level education in Classics. In the last twenty years, the PhD courses in Ancient History and in Classics and Their Tradition, now merged in the PhD course in Classics and Their Tradition. Archaeology, Philology, History, have constantly reached the top scores in the national rankings both for the global quality of research of our faculties and students and for the job opportunities provided after the conclusion of the courses.

The educational offer

The disciplines taught in the PhD course in Classics and their Tradition. Archaeology, Philology, History cover a wide range of topics related to Greek and Roman civilization, from philology to history, from historiography to archeology, from epigraphy to papyrology etc. Students are encouraged to undertake innovative research projects under the guidance of one or more teachers, and at the same time to develop a comprehensive understanding of ancient world.

A key aspect of our education methods is the organization of monthly seminars in which students are invited to submit the results of their research to the other classmates and to faculty; on such occasions, they can also take advantage of the valuable skill of leading Italian and foreign specialists who collaborate as external or visiting professors. Every year, they can attend at Rome “Tor Vergata” lectures of prominent classical scholars, and during the three-year course they have also the opportunity to spend up to six months in qualified research centers in Italy or abroad.

The international vocation of our courses requires that aspiring students master at least two foreign languages. Furthermore, our didactic offer has always included lectures held by foreign teachers. We also periodically organize in-depth seminars on the special terminology used in the research in Classics.

Faculties pay much attention in preparing PhD students to the use of digital databases on the ancient world and in training them to the advanced use of the most common word processors (included those for the preparation of critical editions), presentation programs, etc.

Great importance is given to the illustration of the research systems of other European countries, both by organizing seminars held by Italian teachers who have matured significant periods of research abroad, and by encouraging direct contact with the staff of foreign research institutions.

Dissemination of the scientific results

As regards the dissemination of the scientific results, students are constantly encouraged to face the world of scientific publications, either directly or through the teachers’ mediation. In particular, they have the opportunity to understand from the inside the editorial life of national and international journals with which the Doctorate has collaborative relationships or are themselves emanations of the Doctorate.

Frequency of PhD meetings

The Faculty board, enlarged to the students, meets at least once a month; in addition, every months there are one or more lectures ore seminars held by Italian or foreign scholars, plus the periodical reports of the PhD students on their researches.

The Coordinator
Prof. Fabio Stok