PhD in Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations in Toronto Canada | University of Toronto

Our program offers courses and research opportunities across diverse fields: Egyptology, covering archaeology, linguistics, history, and religious studies; Mesopotamian and Near Eastern studies, including archaeology and Assyriology; Syro-Palestinian archaeology; Hebrew and Judaic studies encompassing Biblical and Rabbinic Hebrew, historical research, and religious traditions; Aramaic and Syriac studies focusing on language, history, and religion; Arabic studies; Islamic studies examining the history of the Islamic world and contemporary Middle East, Islamic art, Persian studies, and Turkish studies, including Ottoman language and historical research.
The Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations was established on July 1, 1996, through the merger of two previously independent departments: Near Eastern Studies (NES) and Middle East and Islamic Studies (MEI). These academic units, under various names, have been part of the University of Toronto for more than 150 years. Our department specializes in the interdisciplinary exploration of Near and Middle Eastern civilizations from the Neolithic era to modern times, investigating their archaeology, historical development, mythological traditions, religious philosophies, artistic and architectural achievements, as well as linguistic and literary works (including Akkadian, Ancient Egyptian, Arabic, Aramaic, Coptic, Geez, Hebrew, Persian, Sumerian, Syriac, and Turkish). Our academic programs give students exceptional access to the study of sophisticated non-Western societies and ancient civilizations.