Ancient Cultures and Languages

Applicants for this master's degree should have an interest in studying the ancient cultures and languages of the Mediterranean and Near East and their reception and continued influence in later periods. Applicants should be aware that the key to interpreting the cultures of the ancient world lies in the mastery of ancient languages and the study of original texts. As a consequence, students need to be willing to work hard to master these languages and draw from their readings the information needed for them to find relationships with other manifestations of culture (religion, art, mythology, science) in order to obtain a deep and comprehensive knowledge of the ancient world. Applicants will also benefit from an immediate appreciation of the importance of understanding past in order to interpret today's reality. As a result, students are recommended to have previous studies in philology (especially Classics and Semitic languages), history, archaeology, philosophy and theology, with special training in Greek, Latin, Hebrew and the history of religions of the Ancient Near East.

In accordance with Article 16 of Royal Decree 1393/2007, of 29 October, students wishing to be admitted to a university master's degree must hold one of the following qualifications:

• Official Spanish university degree.


• A degree issued by a higher education institution within the European Higher Education Area framework that authorizes the holder to access university master's degree courses in the country of issue.


• A qualification issued by an institution outside the framework of the European Higher Education Area. In this case, applicants must request homologation of the degree to its equivalent official Spanish university qualification or obtain express approval from the University of Barcelona, which will conduct a study of equivalence to ensure that the degree is of a comparable level to an official Spanish university qualification and that it grants access to university master's degree study in the country of issue. Admission shall not, in any case, imply that prior qualifications have been recognized as equivalent to a Spanish master's degree and does not confer recognition for any purposes other than that of admission to the master's degree course.

Applicants for this master's degree should hold a bachelor's degree or equivalent undergraduate degree preferably in Classics (llicenciatura or EHEA bachelor's degree), Arab and Hebrew Studies (EHEA bachelor's degree), Hebrew Studies or Semitic Languages (llicenciatura degree) or, alternatively, a llicenciatura degree or EHEA bachelor's degree in linguistics, history, ancient history and archaeology, philosophy or theology. When they apply for admission, all applicants regardless of specialization should be able to provide accreditation that their previous university qualifications cover sufficient knowledge of Greek (equivalent to 10 ECTS credits), Latin (equivalent to 10 ECTS credits), Hebrew (equivalent to 5 ECTS credits) and history of religions of the Ancient Near East (equivalent to 5 ECTS credits). Applicants who do not have this knowledge must complete bridging subjects worth up to a maximum of 30 ECTS credits during their master's degree. The specific requirements for each applicant will be determined by the Admission Committee and may include: 2 Greek language subjects (Introduction to Classical Greek I and II (10 ECTS credits)); 2 Latin subjects (Introduction to Classical Latin I and II (10 ECTS credits)); 1 Hebrew subject (Modern Hebrew I) and 1 subject on religions of the Ancient Near East (Religions of the Ancient Near East).