I am planning to pursue a university degree in Classical Philology in Romania. I have a strong interest in ancient history, especially the Greek poleis and Rome, and this major feels like the most suitable choice for me, since I would like to be able to read primary sources in their original languages (Latin and Ancient Greek).
I would prefer to study something I genuinely enjoy and feel deeply interested in, rather than choosing a major solely for the promise of future stability. Because of this, my main concern is what career paths are realistically available with a degree in Classical Philology — not only those strictly centered on the field itself, but also related areas where this kind of background could be useful. I am also not considering leaving Romania, so I am particularly interested in opportunities within the country.
Any advice or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
You are looking for answers to a difficult and very important question. I hope that many people will give you their answer because each story will help you.
When I finished highschool, I couldn’t decide between becoming a dentist or studying more Latin. I worked as an assistant for a dentist during a few months to try it, and decided that this path would lack something essential for me.
I then went to University and did a MA in Latin literature, then studied didactics and pedagogy to become a teacher.
Until recently, I had the great joy to teach Latin in a secondary school. I was the first person to show kids what Latin was about, and I loved it. They were very enthusiastic, even if making them continue to study Latin was challenging - society’s claims about what is useful or not has a big impact.
Last year, I moved to the countryside and found a teaching position in modern languages (it’s a small school, I teach French, German and English). I use Latin almost everyday to explain how languages work and help with vocabulary.
I have never had any regrets because:
I love linguistics and languages. I have so much fun everyday thanks to my studies.
My brain would be completely different without this knowledge. I believe that I would lead a “smaller” life without it, in the sense that life has a deeper meaning with it.
Studying Latin also boosted my self-confidence and helped me have more structure.
I enjoy teaching languages. My favourite subject will always be Latin but teaching in general has been very rewarding.
Humanities in general are a great way to learn how to think. To learn how much you ignore and how to aknowledge your mistakes and correct them.
I’m happy with the money I earn. I don’t wish for/need more.
For me, life is about having fun and learning many things. I would have never obtained my degree had I chosen dentistry. I needed to have fun while suffering a little
There must be other reasons but my answer is already long. So I’ll just add this: some people I know changed their paths completely after finishing their degree.
A student in Medicine became a train driver (after completing 5 years!). A student in Egyptology became an accountant. A Latin student became a banker, a Greek student is now a farmer… and of course many who studied with me became teachers and a few stayed in Academia.
I learnt that unhappy people come from many studies, and in my experience they are quite rare in Classics.
Good luck with your choice, I wish you a lot of fun and succes!
Until almost 3 years ago I studied chemistry and biology. I liked them, but each time I tried to get something more I encountered different obstacles. That was when I started studying Latin, ancient Greek and ancient history. I never imagined I will end up studying classics since my whole adolescence I focused on sciences. Now I cannot imagine studying something else. And, interestingly, everything falls in place at the moment.
And yes, maybe my fear comes from the fact that society thinks Latin and ancient Greek are not useful. A university professor told me yesterday that there is need for more intelligent people that want to pursue ancient languages.
That’s an interesting change of subjects. I would be curious to know how you came to it?
In any case, I would recommend to keep digging and talk with as many people as you can, be it online or in person. There are so many fascinating and fulfilling careers out there! Have fun exploring!
Also, does your University have an Alumni group that organises meetings with former students? Could be helpful too
Around two years ago, I saw an advertisement on Facebook from a university in my country offering free Latin and Ancient Greek courses. Honestly, I had wanted to study modern Greek since I was 15, so when I saw the poster, I enrolled in the program. At first, it was just curiosity, but after a few lessons, I also decided to study ancient history. Last October, I started my third year in these courses. (I even switched chemistry and biology for A-levels in Classical Studies and English Literature.)
I don’t know if this interest in the classics existed in me when I was younger, but what I do know is that my professor’s passion for the subjects made me truly love Latin and Ancient Greek. I’m also very determined to improve my skills in translations and morphology. Usually, I don’t put extra effort into a subject unless I’m genuinely interested and passionate about it—but this time, I really am.
I’m not sure if there’s an alumni group with former students, but I’ll try to find out. The thing is, I’ve talked with a lot of people, and they encouraged me to follow what I truly feel like doing—to choose my major with my heart, because this way I’ll put more effort into my studies.
Wow, thank you for this hopeful story! It is wonderful to discover something you enjoy doing. And I’m glad the people around you are encouraging! Indeed, they are right, it is a good idea to continue with anything that keeps you sustaining effort.
