Study Abroad with Classics

Studying Classics abroad offers invaluable firsthand experiences of ancient sites and artifacts, deepening understanding beyond textbooks.

Roman colosseum
We encourage all Classics students (and, indeed, non-Classics students!) to study abroad during their undergraduate years, whether for an intersession, a summer program, a semester or a year. The Study Abroad Office can help guide your plans, but we also recommend talking to Classics faculty about the possibilities.

Program Information

There are a variety of study abroad formats, including faculty-led intersessions, semester-long programs, and summer programs, each catering to different needs and academic goals.

A 2-week study abroad course led by one of our own faculty is perhaps the simplest way to study abroad. These courses are open to students of all majors, but Classics students are given priority. 

Past and Upcoming Study Abroad Courses:

JANUARY INTERSESSION 2024 ClC 326
Eternal Cities: Study Tour of Rome and the Bay of Naples

Dr. Pasco-Pranger will lead this on-site course centered on the art and archaeology of Rome and its environs with a 3 day trip south to see Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Naples. The program cost for 2024 of $2700 includes tuition, study abroad fees, international health insurance, transportation during the program, several meals, and all entrance fees to sites. Not included in the program cost are airfare, transportation to and from the airport, and some meals. NEXT PLANNED FOR JANUARY 2026. For more information, contact Dr. Pasco-Pranger. 

These are UM affiliated programs that are good options for semester study in Classics: 

  • College Year in Athens  offers full semester study in Athens with a full slate of Classics offerings, but also courses focusing on the other aspects of modern Greek culture. CYA also offers summer and  January courses. 
  • The Centro (Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies in Rome) is an excellent Classics-centered semester program based in Rome, with fewer than 36 students each term. The program centers on a 6-credit history and archaeology course called “The Ancient City”, with each student choosing two more courses from a small set of options. 
  • SAI at John Cabot University, Rome is a more traditional university structure, where you can choose from a wide variety of courses; this is an American university, with all courses taught in English. 

It is also possible to study for a semester abroad through one of the university’s exchange programs in places aside from Athens and Rome and still take some Classics courses. 

Explore these options for summer study abroad.

Find Your Classics Destination

See a few of the incredible destinations where students have ventured!
Students at Study abroad location

Herculaneum

Ancient Graffiti Project participants in Herculaneum.

Theater of Marcellus

Theater of Marcellus

Student Sarah Beth Bexley gives a site report on the Theater of Marcellus in Rome for her classmates in Dr. Pasco-Pranger's Eternal Cities course.

Students at Study abroad location

Pompeii

Students in Dr. DiBiasie-Sammons' Eternal Cities course visit a "popina" or snack bar in Pompeii.

Study abroad location

Roman Forum

The Roman Forum seen from the Palatine Hill.

Herculaneum

Herculaneum

Madeleine McCracken, Mweyeria Offord, and Arianna Kitchens record graffiti in a house in Herculaneum.

Student looking up at Study abroad location

Rome

Amya Franklin takes in the domed ceiling of the Roman Pantheon.

The Pantheon

Rome

The Pantheon and Piazza della Rotunda, Rome.

Three students sitting on a wall at VillaD'Este

Tivoli, Italy

Students enjoy the Renaissance water gardens at Villa d'Este in Tivoli, Italy.

Mt. Vesuvius

Mt. Vesuvius

Mt. Vesuvius, seen from Herculaneum

Portrait of Sydney Lynch

My Study Abroad Experience

Studying abroad throughout my academic career has been an amazing way to enhance my knowledge of my field of study and the world. As a Classics major, the opportunity to study in Italy deeply enriched my understanding and passion for the field, as I was able to study the material culture of classical antiquity so closely.

Sydney Lynch

Classics and Art History double major with minors in Museum Studies, and Intelligence & Security Studies

Financial Aid and Scholarships

Paying for study abroad can be daunting, but the rewards are great. Many of the programs offer some financial aid. Plan early and be aggressive about pursuing scholarships. 

Some financial aid you’ve already qualified for may be transferable to your program, and more so for faculty led or affiliated programs. Whether you usually do or not, fill out a FAFSA in January of the year you plan to study abroad. Since the costs of studying abroad are almost always higher than staying home, you may qualify for some aid even if you usually don’t. Consult with the Office of Financial Aid on this issue.

Office of Financial Aid

The Office of Study Abroad also keeps a list of study abroad scholarships that are available, including one dedicated to students in the College of Liberal Arts.

If you are a Pell Grant recipient, note especially the Gilman International Scholarship Program.

Many of the programs listed also have program specific scholarships or financial aid, some of which can be quite substantial.

Through a generous gift of alumni Mike and Mary McDonnell of Memphis, the Department of Classics is able to give substantial support to Classics majors for study travel through the McDonnell Endowment.

A second gift from the family of a 2023 Classics graduate has created the Dr. Carmen Posada-Pepper and St. Amant Family Classics Endowment, which supports unexpected or ancillary costs for students studying abroad, with priority given to students with demonstrated financial need.

Requests for support from both these endowments are accepted throughout the year and will be considered on a rolling basis.

To apply, please send to Dr. Pasco-Pranger a letter (e-mail attachment is fine) describing the planned program and how it fits into your educational and/or career plans, and a budget showing your costs and any resources you already have to cover them.