Admissions and Eligibility

Admissions and Eligibility

The Classical Studies Post-Baccalaureate Program—the oldest of its kind in the world—offers an intensive course of study in Greek and Latin to prepare you for graduate work in ancient languages, archaeology, the civilizations and philosophies of antiquity, and other related fields. The majority of our students have received their undergraduate degree within the last two years. However, we welcome qualified returning students as long as they have the necessary language background. 

Entering students generally have had two years (four semesters) of college-level Greek and two years of college-level Latin, or have reached the equivalent level through intensive language programs. Four semesters of college-level language include a year of grammar and vocabulary and a year of translation classes, usually one semester of prose and one semester of poetry. Students with less language experience may be accepted into the program; however, we generally do not accept anyone who has not started at least one of the languages. Study through the intermediate level in both Greek and Latin is recommended but not required.

Your application to the program will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

  • Undergraduate academic record at an accredited college or university
  • Career objectives and reasons for choosing the Classical Studies Post-Baccalaureate Program at Penn
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores, if applicable

See Application Overview for specific requirements.

Application and deadlines

The application deadline for fall 2024 is April 15, 2024, with rolling admissions thereafter.

The first step toward entering the Classical Studies Post-Baccalaureate Program at Penn is completing the online application.

New Classical Studies Post-Baccalaureate Program student cohorts are admitted for fall terms only. We consider applications submitted by the deadline first, and after that, we will consider applications as they arrive, on a first-come, first-served basis, until the program is full.

Start your application now

Penn's wealth of resources

Students have access to scholarly and career resources, including colloquia, department special events, and mentoring.

Fellowships are available

Fellowships are available

Students can apply for two fellowships that cover tuition and fees plus a stipend for the year.

Celebrating student success

Our students have gone on to study at some of the finest classics, archaeology, and ancient history graduate programs in the world.