Since its establishment, the University of Rome Tor Vergata has provided a broad and well-articulated array of advanced training programmes in the field of classical antiquity and its medieval and early modern legacy. Over the past twenty-five years, the two doctoral programmes in Ancient History and in Classical Antiquity and Its Legacy – now consolidated into the doctoral programme in Classical Antiquity and Its Legacy. Archaeology, Philology, History – have consistently ranked among the foremost in national assessments, both on account of the quality of the instruction imparted and the excellence of the outcomes achieved by our students and faculty, and in view of the professional opportunities these programmes afford upon completion of the course of study.
The Course Offering
The courses taught within the Doctoral Programme encompasses a wide range of aspects of the ancient world, spanning philology and history, historiography and archaeology, epigraphy and papyrology, antiquities and topography, among others. Our students are encouraged to undertake innovative research projects under the supervision of multiple faculty members (at least two), while simultaneously cultivating a comprehensive understanding of the ancient world.
A fundamental aspect of this educational approach is the organisation of regular seminar meetings at which doctoral students are invited to present the results of their research to the faculty and to their fellow students. On these occasions, young scholars can frequently also benefit from the valuable expertise of distinguished Italian and foreign specialists who collaborate with the PhD Programme either as external lecturers or as visiting professors. Each year, the Programme also hosts numerous lectures by eminent scholars of classical antiquity, as well as opportunities for doctoral students to undertake research stays abroad at leading centres for the study of the ancient world.
The international vocation of the Doctoral Programme requires prospective doctoral candidates to possess a command of Greek, Latin, and at least two foreign languages. Furthermore, the programme’s curriculum has consistently included seminars and lectures delivered by foreign scholars. Finally, numerous occasions are devoted to the in-depth study of discipline-specific terminology in languages other than Italian.
The Programme’s faculty pay close attention to preparing doctoral students in the use of digital databases on the ancient world, dedicating specific sessions to the development of these skills. Full support is also provided to help students become familiar with the most common software tools for presenting research results.
Considerable attention is devoted to illustrating the research systems of other European countries, both through seminars delivered by Italian scholars who have undertaken substantial periods of research abroad, and by fostering direct contact with staff from foreign research institutions, who present their organisational structures and the possibilities for collaboration they offer.
Enhancement of Research Outcomes and Intellectual Property
Our students are consistently encouraged to engage with the world of scholarly publishing, either directly or through the mediation of faculty members. In particular, they have the opportunity to gain first-hand insight, both as editorial staff and as authors, into the workings of prestigious national and international journals with which the Doctoral Programme maintains collaborative relationships, or which, in some instances, are themselves emanations of the Department to which the Programme belongs.
Frequency of Meetings
The Faculty Board, which is at times extended to include all students and which, for certain specific matters (in particular the planning of teaching activities), always involves the two doctoral student representatives, meets approximately four times a year, or more frequently should the need arise. In addition to these meetings, further opportunities for exchange within the Faculty Board and with our students are provided by scientific-didactic seminars, delivered by eminent Italian and foreign scholars, as well as by the meetings held for doctoral candidates’ annual reports for admission to the subsequent year of study or to the final examination.