Many opportunities are available to both undergraduate and graduate students (unless otherwise noted). Check program websites carefully for eligibility. Graduate students should also see the Funding for Graduate Students page for opportunities exclusive to graduate students and more detailed information.
Undergraduate students should see Harvard's Office of International Education for general information on study abroad, as well as listings of programs and important deadlines. Students may earn credit not only for programs affiliated with the College, but also non-affiliated programs that are approved for credit. Lists of both affiliated and approved term-time and summer programs are maintained by the Office of International Education. Credit for programs that are not already approved may be granted by student petition to the Office of International Education. Undergraduates should discuss questions of Classics concentration or secondary field credit for coursework taken abroad with the Director of Undergraduate Studies (classicsDUS@fas.harvard.edu).
In addition to the opportunities below, undergraduate students should consult the Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships. The following are popular programs for students of the Classics:
Classics Department Funding: Charles P. Segal Fellowships for Research and Travel
Applications for summer research and travel will be due by Monday, March 4. Applications should be submitted via CARAT.
Department fellowships are available for Classics concentrators and graduate students to pursue research related to the discipline. Grant funds must be put towards research and travel; this research and travel must take place while the applicant holds student status. The maximum award will be $4,000, with preference given to first-time applicants. There is a limited amount of funding and not all proposals will be funded in competitive application cycles. Note that students can only receive one Segal grant per academic year. Recipients write about their experiences in the department newsletter, Nota Bene, and may (with their permission) be highlighted on the department's social media channels.
Applications require a project proposal, a detailed budget, and two letters of recommendation from faculty (consisting of at least one substantial paragraph).
Your proposal should explain your project and outline how it will contribute to your intellectual development and academic progress. If you are applying for a Segal grant to conduct independent research, your proposal should include a list of primary sources, artifacts, or sites you plan to examine, and a description of any preliminary research you have conducted. A graduate student proposal should demonstrate that research/travel will assist the applicant in meeting program milestones (e.g., modern language exams), developing professionally (e.g., attending a conference), and/or achieving clearly stated research outcomes (e.g., conducting research for a conference paper, article, or dissertation chapter).
Graduate students in early G-years are encouraged to apply for a Segal grant, for example, to support intensive language study, to attend an excavation, or to participate in a summer school. An advanced graduate student might apply for a Segal grant, for example, to conduct research on a site or inspect materials in a museum relevant to their work, visit a library with research materials they need, or participate in a specialized workshop/seminar.
Undergraduate applicants might consider participating in a study abroad program, supporting further language study, or visiting places relevant to their thesis work.
Please note that only Classics concentrators and graduate students in the Department of the Classics are eligible to apply. Grant funds must be put towards research and travel; this research and travel must take place while the applicant holds student status. The maximum award will be $4,000, with preference given to first-time applicants. Note that students can only receive one Segal grant per academic year. Recipients will submit a written report about their experiences, which may be published in the department newsletter and may (with the applicant's permission) be highlighted on the department's social media channels.
We award grants in two cycles: for winter/spring break travel (applications typically due in November) and for summer break (applications typically due in March). For general questions about Segal grants, please contact the Department Administrator, Teresa Wu. For questions about the application portal, please contact Ryan Pasco. Please reference the Provost's current travel guidance for updated information.
Term-time Programs for Undergraduates
Spring Break Trips for Undergraduates
- Harvard Alumni Association—Center for Hellenic Studies Spring Break Trips
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Classical Studies 112: Regional Study
- Undergraduate Classics Concentrators in the Classical Civilizations/Ancient History tracks are required to take a course, Classical Studies 112: Regional Study, that involves a spring break trip as part of its curriculum. Currently, the destination of this course is Sicily. Concentrators in the Languages and Literatures track or in Languages and Literatures and an allied field, as well as students completing a secondary field in Classics, can enroll as space permits.
Summer Internships
- Center for Hellenic Studies Internships
- Dumbarton Oaks Summer Internships (Washington, DC)
- Villa I Tatti Summer Internship Program (Florence, Italy)
Summer Programs
Undergraduates wishing to do an intensive summer course in Greek or Latin should consult our preceptor, Dr. Ivy Livingston, about existing options.
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American Academy in Rome Summer Programs
- Note that special funding from GSAS is available (for graduate students only) through the Stocker fund. Once accepted to the summer program or as an affiliate, students may submit a budget of anticipated expenses. Submit the budget to the Department Administrator, Teresa Wu, who will liaise with GSAS Financial Aid.
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American School of Classical Studies in Athens
- The University-administered Charles Norton Fund is available to help fund programs at the ASCSA. Contact the Department Administrator, Teresa Wu, for more information about funding.
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Archaeological Digs
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In the past, Classics concentrators have enjoyed participating in many archaeological digs in Italy, Greece, and Asia Minor. Sample programs include:
- Harvard–Cornell Archaeological Exploration of Sardis (Turkey)
- The Gabii Project (Italy)
- American Excavations at Morgantina: Contrada Agnese Project (Sicily, Italy)
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In the past, Classics concentrators have enjoyed participating in many archaeological digs in Italy, Greece, and Asia Minor. Sample programs include:
- The Archaeological Institute of America
- College Year in Athens Summer Courses
- Harvard Summer Program in Greece
- Leiden University Summer School in Languages and Linguistics
- Thesaurus linguae Latinae Latin Lexicography Summer Workshop in Munich
- UC Berkeley (site with list of projects)
- The Paideia Institute Programs (As an institutional member of the Paideia Institute, Harvard has recently asked for guarantees that the Institute has taken concrete steps to avoid a recurrence of allegations of various forms of bias in its treatment of its staff interns. Students who wish to know more about these allegations and Harvard’s response are encouraged to speak with the DUS.)
Postgraduate Funding: the Arthur Deloraine Corey Fellowship
The Arthur Deloraine Corey Fellowship provides partial support for postgraduate study in a classics-related discipline at institutions in the UK and in other European countries. Recipients of the fellowship are selected by the faculty of the Department of the Classics. A brief letter of application and a concise budget are required from each candidate. Interested students should contact the current Director of Undergraduate Studies. Note that students should secure admission at an institution before seeking Corey funding. See Information for the 2022–23 Arthur Deloraine Corey Fellowship.
Other Funding and Resources
- CARAT Funding Database (Harvard)
- Center for Hellenic Studies Winter Session in Washington, DC
- Dumbarton Oaks Bliss Symposium Awards
- Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships Program (see Harvard-specific information in CARAT)
- Medium's list of Funding for Undergraduate Students of Classical Philology, Ancient History, and Classical Archaeology
- Pivot Database
- SCS Resources
- Compilation of Funded MAs, Bridge Programs, and Pre-Doctoral Fellowships