The duration of study for the award of the Diploma of Postgraduate Studies is four (4) semesters. The first two semesters are common to the two directions of the MA, while at the beginning of the third semester students choose one of the two specializations offered. Successful graduation requires the preparation of a thesis, which is selected and defined in the fourth semester and completed in no more than one semester beyond the fourth semester. The total number of credits (ECTS) required per semester is thirty (30), ten (10) per course, and the total number of credits required for the award of the MSc is one hundred and twenty (120) credits, as the preparation of the thesis amounts to thirty (30) ECTS. The language of instruction is Greek. The language of the thesis is Greek, but it may also be English.

Graduates from all disciplines, both in the humanities and social sciences as well as in the sciences, are admitted to the Programme. The attendance of the postgraduate courses does not require special knowledge in Social Anthropology or History. The courses are held in physical presence. The content, the expected learning outcomes, the mode of teaching and assessment, the responsible faculty member, the material to be studied and the acquired skills for all courses of the Programme are described in detail in the respective Course Outlines and the Study Guide, which is updated annually and is posted on the Department’s website.

Students are required to attend the lectures and seminars of the postgraduate courses as specified in the curriculum. Postgraduate courses usually combine lecture with seminar-style development of topics. In the lecture, the lecturer develops the topic followed by a discussion. In the seminar, one or more students are responsible for presenting an issue, elaborating on certain aspects of the lecture and setting the stage for a systematic, in-depth discussion with their peers. The exact cycle of lectures and seminars, together with the suggested bibliography, is indicated in the guide for each course. Graduate students are assessed on the basis of oral participation, seminar presentations and written assignments per course.

A prerequisite for the award of the Postgraduate Degree is the preparation of a Thesis, which is, not restrictively, between 12,000 and 15,000 words in length, excluding footnotes, bibliography and any Appendices. It shall be based on historical, archival or anthropological, fieldwork research, but it may also be based on purely bibliographical research. The thesis shall be publicly defended before the three-member evaluation committee and an audience.