A general knowledge of ancient history and literature is required, as well as a reasonable competence in reading both Greek and Latin prose and poetry, as indicated by the successful completion of an undergraduate major in classics or its equivalent. Students may apply just for the M.A. without fellowship. Students may also apply directly to the Ph.D. program, in which case the M.A. is awarded upon completion of the requirements; if a student enters the Ph.D. program with an M.A. in Classics, blanket credit of 32 points is awarded.

All students admitted to the Ph.D. program will receive a Henry M. MacCracken Fellowship. This comprehensive five-year award includes a nine-month (September-May) stipend ($21,000 in 2007-2008), two or three years of valuable teaching experience, full tuition scholarship, full remission of registration and service fees, and partial subsidy of the mandatory student health insurance provided through New York University. Classics doctoral students are also eligible for the Lane Cooper Fellowship, the Dean's Dissertation Fellowship, and grants for travel and study abroad from the Department, the Graduate School of Arts and Science, and the Center for Ancient Studies.