Application period
The M.A. Program in Ottoman History, which is organized by the Department of History and Archaeology of the University of Crete in collaboration with the Institute for Mediterranean Studies/FORTH, invites applications from prospective students. Applications, along with all the supporting documents described below, are to be submitted online from Monday, March 16, until Monday, April 27, 2026. “Ottoman History” is a two-year M.A. Program that leads to the award of a Master’s Degree in Ottoman History.
Application submission – Required supporting documents
Applications and all supporting documents may be submitted ONLY online at https://postgrad.cict.uoc.gr. Applicants must create a user account, fill in the application form, upload the required supporting documents (as pdf files with a maximum file size of 2MB each and a maximum file size of 20MB in total), and finalize their applications by the deadline for applications.
The required supporting documents are as follows:
1. Copy of B.A. degree or official letter confirming completion of undergraduate studies (Final-year students expecting to graduate by September 2026: please see the information under “Eligibility to apply” below).
2. Official transcript of undergraduate studies, including all courses and grades, as well as the applicant’s final graduation grade.
3. Detailed CV.
4. Copies of foreign language certificates (minimum requirement: knowledge of English at B2 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).
5. Written research proposal (approx. 2-3 pages) on a topic in Ottoman history with a clear research question, methodological approach, and relevant bibliography.
6. Sample of written work (B.A. thesis or one [1] seminar essay).
7. Proof of identity (passport or identity card).
8. Any other document that the applicant may consider relevant.
Each supporting document must be in a single pdf file. Partial document scans or photographs of documents will not be accepted. Supporting documents do not need to be certified. However, they must be complete, clear and legible. The Secretariat of the Department of History and Archaeology will verify the authenticity of the documents submitted by successful applicants. In this context, applicants admitted to the Program who hold B.A. degrees and transcripts from non-Greek universities will be asked to submit these documents with certification of the authenticity of the signatures in accordance with the Hague Convention (Apostille). For documents issued in countries where the Hague Convention does not apply, successful applicants must request that the University that issued the documents send them directly from an official institutional email address to , so that the Secretariat of the Department of History and Archaeology can verify them against the copies submitted by the applicants.
In addition, applicants must arrange for at least two (2) university professors who are familiar with their academic abilities and personal qualities to submit letters of reference about them. The letters should be sent directly from the referees’ institutional email addresses to . Letters of reference from members of the Admissions Committee will not be accepted.
Languages of admission applications
Admission applications may be submitted in English or Greek. The B.A. thesis or seminar essay must be submitted in English, Greek, Turkish, or French.
Eligibility to apply
Applicants are required to hold a B.A. degree from a university department or program in the Humanities or Social Sciences. Applications from holders of other B.A. degrees may be accepted at the discretion of the Admissions Committee only if their undergraduate studies are relevant to Ottoman History or if they have successfully completed a sufficient number of courses in Ottoman history.
Holders of B.A. degrees from non-Greek universities who possess a degree equivalence certificate from the competent national recognition authority (Hellenic NARIC – DOATAP) are required to submit it with their application. Otherwise, they must verify whether their university and degree are listed in the National Registry of Foreign Recognized Higher Education Institutions and the National Registry of Foreign Recognized Academic Title Types. If not, applicants are advised to contact the Graduate Secretary of the Department of History and Archaeology, Ms. Anastasia Tzanoudaki, tel. (+30)2831077379, email , before applying.
Final-year students expecting to graduate by September 2026 are welcome to apply for admission to the M.A. Program in Ottoman History. They are required to submit an academic transcript and, if available, an official letter confirming completion of their B.A. studies. If admitted to the Program, they will be required to present their B.A. degree upon graduation.
Admission process – Admissions Committee
The supporting documents submitted with each application for admission to the M.A. Program in Ottoman History will be evaluated by the Admissions Committee, which will also conduct interviews with the applicants.
The Admissions Committee is composed of Professor Antonis Anastasopoulos (chair), Research Director Marinos Sariyannis, and Principal Researcher Yannis Spyropoulos.
Selection criteria
The selection criteria for admission to the M.A. Program in Ottoman History are as follows:
1. B.A. degree (multiplier: 1). For degrees from non-Greek academic institutions, the degree grade will be converted to a 10-point scale (1-10). For final-year students, their grade-point average (GPA) at the time of application for admission to the M.A. Program in Ottoman History will be taken as the degree grade.
2. Evaluation of the submitted B.A. thesis or seminar essay by the Admissions Committee (multiplier: 2).
3. Evaluation of the letters of reference by the Admissions Committee (multiplier: 1).
4. Evaluation by the Admissions Committee of the applicant’s competence in languages other than their native language (multiplier: 1).
5. Evaluation of the applicant’s research proposal by the Admissions Committee (multiplier: 1.5).
6. Evaluation of the applicant’s oral interview by the Admissions Committee (multiplier: 2). Any research or professional experience relevant to Ottoman history, as well as other pertinent information in the applicant’s CV, will be positively considered during the interview.
All of the above will be scored on a ten-point scale.
To be admitted, applicants must achieve a pass mark (5 out of 10) in each of the six fields listed above (1-6) and obtain a total score of at least 60 out of 85.
Interviews
The Admissions Committee will invite all applicants to an interview, either in person in Rethymno or online. Interviews will be conducted in English from May 4 to May 11, 2026. Each applicant will be notified individually by the Secretariat of the Department of History and Archaeology via email of the exact date, time, and mode of their interview (in person or online).
Part of the interview will require applicants to answer questions on the history and institutions of the Ottoman Empire. The Admissions Committee recommends the following indicative bibliography:
1) Caroline Finkel, Osman’s Dream: The Story of the Ottoman Empire, 1300-1923, London: John Murray, 2005
2) Douglas A. Howard, A History of the Ottoman Empire, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2017
3) Donald Quataert, The Ottoman Empire, 1700-1922, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000
Date of announcement of provisional results
The provisional results of the admissions procedure for the M.A. Program in Ottoman History will be communicated to applicants by email on Friday, May 15, 2026.
Deadline for lodging objections
Written objections to the results of the admissions process may be submitted by Friday, May 22, 2026, via email to . Objections must be specific and justified.
Date of announcement of final results
The final results of the admissions procedure will be announced by Monday, June 1, 2026, on the website of the Department of History and Archaeology of the University of Crete, in compliance with personal data protection regulations, and via email to applicants. Successful applicants must contact the Secretariat of the Department of History and Archaeology to complete their registration in the M.A. Program in Ottoman History.
Number of students to be admitted
The maximum number of students to be admitted to the M.A. Program in Ottoman History is seven (7).
Other information
Courses will begin in the last week of September 2026 and will be conducted in person and in English. Written assignments, including the M.A. thesis, may be submitted in English or Greek.
Non-EU applicants are advised to contact the Greek consular authorities in their country of residence promptly about the requirements for obtaining a visa and residence permit for their studies.
Non-Greek applicants are advised to consult https://welcome.uoc.gr/.
Contact information
For information on the M.A. Program in Ottoman History and the admissions procedure, prospective students may contact Ms. Anastasia Tzanoudaki, Graduate Secretary at the Department of History and Archaeology, tel. (+30)2831077379, email . They may also consult the Program’s webpage.
THE DEPARTMENT’S CHAIR
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR ELEFTHERIA ZEI
