Classical and Near Eastern archaeologists study the material culture of ancient Greece, Egypt, Mesopotamia, and the Roman Empire both through fieldwork and the study of the history, culture, and literature of the period.
The Department of Ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern Studies offers a unique interdisciplinary Master's program that allows students to specialize in archaeology through the completion of coursework, archaeological fieldwork, and a thesis. Students choose from a broad range of coursework in the archaeology and material culture, religion and mythology, literature and ancient languages, and history and cultures of the ancient Mediterranean and Near East from the Bronze Age to Late Antiquity. In the second year of the program, students write a thesis under the supervision of a faculty member. The degree balances research with fieldwork to best prepare students for a career in archaeology.
Ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern Studies (AMNE) department will be hosting a virtual open house event for students interested in applying to our MA and PhD graduate programs to join our Fall 2026 cohort on Tuesday, November 4, 11:00 am to 2:00 pm PST over Zoom. Faculty members and current graduate students will be present to meet prospective students. Interested students may register on the AMNE Admissions website ( https://amne.ubc.ca/amne-virtual-open-house-for-prospective-students/ ).
If you have any questions about our graduate programs or the application process, please reach out to Sheri, the graduate program advisor, at amne.grad@ubc.ca .
For specific program requirements, please refer to the departmental program website
The MA in Classical and Near Eastern Archaeology is the only program in Canada to offer students the opportunity to engage in such a broad range of coursework and to pursue interdisciplinary research on the material culture, religious beliefs, languages and histories of the ancient Mediterranean and Near East. We have four full-time faculty and active field archaeologists specializing in the Bronze Age Eastern Mediterranean, Greater Mesopotamia, Greece, and the Roman provinces. Our other faculty in Ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern Studies are interdisciplinary researchers whose work regularly engages with material culture. There are fieldwork opportunities for graduate students across Europe and the Mediterranean, including in Romania, Cyprus, and Israel.
We are an engaged department and are able to provide students with programs tailored to individual interests. Students will have frequent interaction with faculty and the academic community.
UBC Ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern Studies (AMNE) will be hosting a virtual open house event for students interested in applying to our MA and PhD graduate programs to join our Fall 2026 cohort on Tuesday, November 4, 11:00 am to 2:00 pm PST over Zoom. Faculty members and current graduate students will be present to meet prospective students. Interested students may register on the AMNE Admissions website ( https://amne.ubc.ca/amne-virtual-open-house-for-prospective-students/ ). If you have any questions about our graduate programs or the application process, please reach out to Sheri, the graduate program advisor, at amne.grad@ubc.ca .
UBC Ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern Studies (AMNE) will be hosting a virtual Graduate Admissions Q & A session on Thursday, November 13, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm PST. Prospective graduate students can ask specific questions about the nuts & bolts of the application process, funding, program requirements, etc. Interested students may register on the AMNE Admissions website ( https://amne.ubc.ca/amne-virtual-open-house-for-prospective-students/ ). If you have any questions about our graduate programs or the application process, please reach out to Sheri, the graduate program advisor, at amne.grad@ubc.ca .
The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies establishes the minimum admission requirements common to all applicants, usually a minimum overall average in the B+ range (76% at UBC). The graduate program that you are applying to may have additional requirements. Please review the specific requirements for applicants with credentials from institutions in:
Each program may set higher academic minimum requirements. Please review the program website carefully to understand the program requirements. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission as it is a competitive process.
Applicants from a university outside Canada in which English is not the primary language of instruction must provide results of an English language proficiency examination as part of their application. Tests must have been taken within the last 24 months at the time of submission of your application.
Minimum requirements for the three most common English language proficiency tests to apply to this program are listed below:
Overall score requirement : 4.5
Reading
4.5
Writing
4.5
Speaking
4.0
Listening
5.0
Overall score requirement : 100
Reading
22
Writing
21
Speaking
21
Listening
22
Overall score requirement : 7.0
Reading
6.5
Writing
6.5
Speaking