Byzantine Greek Summer School

Organizers: Cosimo Paravano and John Kee

The Department of Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies at the University of Vienna is pleased to accept applications for a Byzantine Greek Summer School to be held in person in Vienna 14–25 July 2025. The program will include three hours of intensive language instruction in two 90-minute sessions every morning, combined with thematic seminars, visits to relevant cultural institutions in Vienna, and professional development sessions in the afternoons.

The field of Byzantine literature is going through an exciting time of growth and change, with plenty of fascinating texts—both well-known and recently (re-)discovered—being read through a variety of new lenses. This summer school will present a sample of this astonishing variety along with the tools scholars use to explore it. Vienna is a world-leading center for Byzantine Studies and the program is designed to take advantage of the unique resources of its scholarly institutions.

Morning language sessions will run in two groups (of ca. 10 students each) at the intermediate and advanced level in order to develop reading skills in a representative range of Late Antique and Medieval Greek texts and genres. Afternoon seminars will be led by recognized experts in a range of topics in Byzantine literature and culture from Late Antiquity through the Middle Ages. In addition, we plan to offer group advising sessions to demystify application processes and help young scholars navigate options for MA, PhD, and postdoctoral opportunities in an increasingly international academic world.

The program will run Monday to Friday for the two weeks covering 14–25 July 2025. Approximately 4 to 5 hours each day will be spent in class. Students are expected to spend the remainder of their time preparing these sessions.

Morning sessions will be led by John Kee (Harvard University) and Cosimo Paravano (University of Vienna). Leaders of afternoon seminars and tours are tentatively confirmed to include Christophe Erismann (University of Vienna), Cristian-Nicolae Gaşpar (Central European University), Larisa Ficulle Santini (Austrian Academy of Sciences), Krystina Kubina (University of Vienna), Claudia Rapp (University of Vienna/Austrian Academy of Sciences), Andreas Rhoby (Austrian Academy of Sciences), Alexander Riehle (Harvard University), Giulia Rossetto (University of Vienna), Nikos Zagklas (Austrian Academy of Sciences). All seminars are scheduled to take place in person.

Applications are due by 18 April 2025, with applicants to be informed of the decision by 25 April. The course requires an enrollment fee of 100 €. Participants will be responsible for their own travel and accommodation arrangements. 

We are delighted to be able to offer a limited number of scholarships covering travel and accommodation via reimbursement, as well as waiver of the enrollment fee. Scholarships will be awarded on the basis of both merit and financial need. Students should indicate in their cover letter whether they wish to be considered for a scholarship, as well as whether they have access to funding from their home institution.

Target audience

We welcome applications from BA, MA, and PhD students with interests in any field that benefits from advanced reading skills in Late Antique and Medieval Greek. Applicants are expected to have a minimum of three semesters of university-level Ancient Greek or equivalent; sessions will assume familiarity with the morphology, syntax, and common vocabulary of the classical language.

The course will be conducted in English. The instructors will be mindful of the fact that expressing oneself in a second language may cause additional difficulties; however, participants must be proficient enough in English to translate Greek into it and easily interact with the rest of the group.

Venue

Classes will be held at the Department of Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies (Postgasse 9) in the heart of Vienna’s central district (Innere Stadt). This Department also hosts one of the premier subject libraries in Byzantine Studies in Europe, whose books students will be free to consult.