Summer Experiences

Summer Experiences

On this page, you can find information for:

• Classical Civilization Research & Travel Study Grant
• Potential Opportunities
  • Independent Research Trips
  • Latin and Ancient Greek Intensive Training
  • Archaeological Experience
• Additional Opportunities and Grants

Classical Civilization Research & Travel Study Grant 2026

Undergraduate students enrolled in a Classics major or minor at the University of Toronto Mississauga are encouraged to apply for a travel, research, and study grant to pursue additional training and gain experience over the summer.

The Classical Civilization program will be able to offer one grant of up to $1500. (You do not have to ask for the full amount if it isn’t needed.) Depending on your interests, this might include either visiting an ancient site or collections at a museum, taking language courses, or participating in an excavation.

To apply, please send your application to Heather Thornton via heather.thornton@utoronto.ca. The application should consist of a one-page (single-spaced) proposal of how you would use the grant, how the grant would facilitate your professional development, and a tentative budget. You are encouraged to contact one of your professors to help you develop a proposal. Please email your application by April 24, 2026. 

Note: Graduating students are eligible as long as the grant is used prior to July 31, 2026.

If successful, you will be required to submit a one-page (single-spaced) report of how you used the grant. Additional details will be provided.

Potential Projects

We have put together a list of some potential uses for the grant, but you may also propose something not on this list.

Research Trips to Sites or Museums

If you haven’t been abroad and would like to propose using the money for travel to a particular site, please outline your suggested travel and explain how this would contribute to your overall professional development. For example, in your budget, you can include costs for your hotel, food, and travel. This is a great opportunity if you are interested in developing an independent research project with one of the faculty in the Classics program at UTM that will allow you to study first-hand a site or objects in a museum, but an independent project isn’t required. For example, you might choose to visit:

• The Annual Conference of the Classical Association of Canada (held every May). NB: This year's conference is at Queen's University in Kingston: https://www.cac-scec.ca/upcoming-annual-conference-2/
• Agora, Acropolis, and National Archaeological Museum (Athens, Greece)
• Roman and Imperial Fora, Capitoline Museum, Vatican Museum (Rome, Italy)
• Louvre (Paris, France)
• Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York City, US)
• Montreal Museum of Fine Art (Montreal, Canada)
• British Museum (London, England)

Latin and Ancient Greek Intensive Training

Greek and Latin Summer Workshops – University of California, Berkeley

• NB: Dates have not yet been released for 2026
• Offers 10-week intensive programs in Greek and Latin
• Scholarships are available directly from them with an early March deadline

The Latin/Greek Institute – The City University of New York

• Offers summer intensive programs in Greek and Latin
• Summer 2026: Basic Program in Latin (in-person, TBA)
• Summer 2026: Basic Program in Greek (in-person, TBA)
• Summer 2026: Upper-Level Programs in Latin (online, TBA)

JACT (Joint Association of Classical Teachers)

• Offers financial support for summer students
• Summer 2026: JACT Greek Summer School (in-person, July 26-August 8, 2026) at Bryanston School, Blandford Forum, Dorset

Archaeological Field Schools and Field Work Experiences

Where to Find Projects

Projects can be viewed at the Archaeological Institute of America. This is a searchable map for projects across the world (not just Mediterranean). 

There is also a list of field schools at the Institute for Field Research.

Archaeological opportunities are also available through the Canadian Institute in Greece.

The American School of Classical Studies offers programs for advanced undergraduates. (AND there are scholarships available)

• Volunteer at the Athenian Agora Excavation (Deadline Dec 8, 2025)
• Six-week summer session, June 8-July 26 (Deadline Jan 5, 2026)
• 2026 Summer seminars (Deadline Jan 5, 2026)
  • Landscape with Figures: Human-Environment Interaction in Premodern Greece (June 15-July 3, 2026)
  • Chalkidike Peninsula: From Hellenic Colonization to Byzantium (July 9 to July 27, 2026)
• Summer Archaeological Sciences courses (Deadline Jan 15, 2026)
  • Several are offered: Bioarchaeology, Geoarchaeology, Micromorphology, Ancient DNA each with a separate week over the summer during which it will run.

Additional Opportunities and Grants

• Sometimes CLA professors at UTM will offer a ROP (Research Opportunity Program). This will be widely announced. If something interests you, please let us know and we can also develop an Independent Study with you.
• Additional scholarships to participate in archaeological excavations are available through the AIA - (deadline March 1, 2026)
  • E.g., Jane C. Waldbaum Archaeological Field School Scholarship for students planning to participate in archaeological field work for the first time ($1000)
• Additional fieldwork scholarships are available through ASOR
  • There are many scholarships for first time fieldwork, BIOPIC scholarships, and those for certain projects.
• Check out a list of awards and fellowships from the Society for Classical Studies (e.g., the Lionel Pearson Fellowship for graduate study at an English or Scottish University).
• The University of Toronto Archaeology Centre (Deadline March 2026 - exact date is TBA)
  • The Joseph and Maria Shaw Student Summer Travel Fellowship - $500 for archaeology fieldwork
  • Dr. Laurence Pavlish Memorial Scholarship in Archaeological Science - $1000
• Department of Classics (UTSG) provides bursaries for students from under-represented groups to defray costs of language courses on the St. George campus over the summer (up to $700 per course)
• The Royal Ontario Museum has some volunteer opportunities available. While not paid, this is a great way to get some experience.
• The Metropolitan Museum in New York City, New York offers undergraduate paid internships.
• The Museum of Ontario Archaeology has volunteer positions and occasional opportunities.

Prior Applicants

Prior students have visited museums, examined ancient sites, and participated in archaeological excavations.