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Studies & Degrees in Modern Greek Studies

Modern Greek studies is the academic study of the Greek language as it is spoken today and of the societies that use it. The Modern Greek Studies Association (MGSA), founded in 1968, describes the field as interdisciplinary: it covers the language, literature, arts, history, politics, economy and society of modern Greece, Cyprus and the Greek diaspora. The association sets the limits of the field widely, to include not only Greece since independence but also the period of Ottoman rule and the later Byzantine Empire.

Greek is the official language of Greece and one of the two official languages of Cyprus, and it has been an official language of the European Union since 1981. Students therefore learn a living language, and they also read its literature, study the history of the region and follow current Greek and Cypriot society. The subject is separate from classics, which deals with ancient Greek, although the two are often taught in the same department.

Qualifications and levels

Modern Greek is a small subject, and few universities offer a full degree in it. It is taught at several levels:

  • Language courses and electives. Elementary, intermediate and advanced Modern Greek, usually open to students of any degree.
  • A minor or a bachelor's degree. In the United States the subject can be taken as a minor or as a major within a bachelor's degree, often inside a classics department.
  • Master's and doctoral study. Graduate work is usually done inside a wider programme such as classics, history or comparative literature, with a thesis on a Modern Greek topic.
  • Language certificates. The Certificate of Attainment in Greek is the Greek state certificate for learners of Greek as a foreign or second language. It is awarded by the Centre for the Greek Language (Κέντρο Ελληνικής Γλώσσας), and its levels match those of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Programmes differ in how much language they require and in how much of the teaching is in English. Check the list of modules for the current year before applying, because small programmes change from year to year.

Where to study it

SpainExchange lists two active schools for this subject: The Ohio State University in Columbus, in the United States, and the University of London in the United Kingdom.

The MGSA directory of programmes lists Ohio State University in Columbus, with a programme established in 1976 and sponsored by the Department of Classics. According to that profile, a minor was added in 1984, a B.A. in 1988 and an M.A. in 1991, and the programme offers three years of Greek language instruction together with courses on modern Greek literature, film, folklore and Greek-American society. The profile is not dated, so confirm the current offer with the university.

In London the subject is taught in colleges of the University of London. Royal Holloway, University of London has a Hellenic Institute that supports research on Hellenic topics from antiquity to the present. King's College London has a Koraes Chair of Modern Greek and Byzantine History, Language and Literature, established in 1918, and a Centre for Hellenic Studies founded in 1989. Its Department of Classics offers modules on Byzantium and the modern Greek world at BA and graduate level, and doctoral students apply for an MPhil/PhD in Classics and state their interest in Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies.

Teaching in both countries is in English, with Greek taught as a foreign language. Students who want to study at a university in Greece, in Greek, need the language first: according to the Centre for the Greek Language, holders of the B2 certificate can enrol at a Greek higher education institution, and each institution can say which level it requires.

Careers

Graduates use the language and their knowledge of the region in teaching, translation and interpreting, publishing, cultural institutions, tourism, diplomacy and international organisations, and in research. Greek is one of the 24 official languages of the European Union. For translators and interpreters in the United States, the Bureau of Labor Statistics states that a bachelor's degree is typically needed and projects employment to grow 2 percent from 2025 to 2035. In Greece, the Centre for the Greek Language notes that a certificate of Greek is a condition for practising various professions.

Frequently asked questions

Is Modern Greek studies the same as classics?

No. Classics deals with ancient Greek and Latin and the ancient world. Modern Greek studies deals with the language spoken today and with modern Greece, Cyprus and the Greek diaspora, although the subject is often housed in a classics department.

Do I need to know Greek before I start?

Usually not. University programmes outside Greece teach the language from elementary level. Ask the department which level it expects for advanced or graduate courses.

Is there an official certificate of Greek?

Yes. The Certificate of Attainment in Greek is awarded by the Centre for the Greek Language, the official body appointed by the Greek Ministry of Education, and its levels correspond to the CEFR levels.

Which level of Greek do I need to study at a Greek university?

According to the Centre for the Greek Language, the B2 certificate allows foreign students to enrol at a Greek higher education institution. Contact the institution to confirm the level it requires for the programme you want.