Applications for the 2026 Masterclass are now closed.
The next Masterclass will take place in summer 2027.
The annual week-long “Masterclass Akkadian Lexicography” is held by the Institute of Ancient Near Eastern Studies of the University of Leipzig in cooperation with the Saxon Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Leipzig. It is organized as part of the long-term project “Leipzig Akkadian Dictionary” and offers master's students and doctoral candidates the opportunity to gain insight into the latest research in Akkadian lexicology and lexicography.
Masterclass 2026
The 2nd Masterclass in Akkadian Lexicography will take place from July 13–17, 2026.
We will be joined by guest lecturer Prof. Niek Veldhuis (Berkeley).
The week-long summer school is organized in cooperation with the Leipzig Akkadian Dictionary (LAD) of the Saxon Academy of Sciences. It offers participants insights into the work of the LAD and imparts both fundamental and advanced knowledge of Akkadian lexicology and lexicography.
This year's theme is “Wörter und Sachen” ("Words and Things"). Through the study of various textual sources, aspects of Realienkunde will be explored from the perspective of the Akkadian lexicon. The Masterclass comprises lectures, seminars, and presentations by the participants. It aims to provide young scholars with opportunities for exchange and networking in an informal setting.
Participants are required to prepare and present a half-hour presentation during the Masterclass. They will also work on a thematically relevant dictionary entry in the LAD under the guidance and support of the LAD team, with the goal of publishing it under their own name. Presentation topics will be assigned at the preliminary meeting in April. Participants may submit their own topic suggestions with their application materials.
The detailed program will be announced in April.
Requirements
The Masterclass is aimed at Master's students and doctoral candidates in Assyriology or related fields. In cases of high application numbers, preference will be given to Master's students and doctoral candidates in the early phase of their doctoral studies. The following are required:
- Good knowledge of Akkadian (minimum 4 semesters)
- Good knowledge of German and English. The language of instruction is primarily German, but presentations may be given in English.
Costs
- Participation is free of charge.
- Travel and accommodation must be arranged independently.
Scholarship
Two travel scholarships of €800 each are available for external participants. They will be paid out upon successful completion of the course.
When?
July 13–17, 2026. A virtual pre-meeting for all participants will take place in April (date to be announced).
Where?
Seminar room of the Institute of Ancient Near Eastern Studies, 6th floor, Goethestr. 2, 04109 Leipzig, Germany. The masterclass will be held in person only.
Credits
The module "Masterclass Akkadian Lexicography" is worth 10 ECTS credits. Please contact your academic advisor at your home university regarding the possibility of credit transfer. We will issue a certificate of completion upon successful participation.
Application
To apply for a place in the class and the associated travel grant, please send a letter of motivation (max. 2 pages) and your CV, combined into a single PDF file, to Janine Wende.
The application deadline is March 18, 2026.