Organisation profile

Overview of our Research

Classics is one of the University of Galway’s highest-ranked subjects, ranked 51-150 in the world for Classics and Ancient History (QS Subject Rankings 2025).
 
We have a thriving and dynamic research community with particular strengths in the following areas:
  • The Latin Tradition (Antiquity to Middle Ages): manuscript transmission; Hiberno-Latin; Latin education; scientific texts; glosses, glossaries and scholia.
  • Cross-cultural encounters: identity and ethnicity; archaeology of pre- and early Roman Italy; multilingualism and code-switching; Latin and vernacular languages; the heroic tradition.
  • Digital Humanities: digital editions; catalogues; and databases.
Since 2015, Classics has hosted thirty-six research projects, including two Research Ireland Consolidator Laureate Awards. Our research projects are funded through a range of internal and external sources, including Research Ireland, the Research Council of Norway, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, and the Insight Research Ireland Centre for Data Analytics.
 
Our research has led to significant outputs, including publications in high-impact journals and book series; the development of groundbreaking open-access databases and new international research networks; and excellence in research-led teaching.

UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. Our work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  • SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
  • SDG 4 - Quality Education
  • SDG 5 - Gender Equality
  • SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth
  • SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
  • SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities
  • SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities
  • SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production
  • SDG 13 - Climate Action
  • SDG 15 - Life on Land
  • SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
  • SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals