Dr. Lea Niccolai

Associate Professor

Build a Statement of Purpose

Generate a tailored SOP for Dr. Lea Niccolai. Improve your application with a focused, well-structured draft.

Biography

Lea Niccolai studied Classics at Scuola Normale Superiore and earned a second MA in Ancient Near East Studies, specializing in Syriac language literature, from the University of Pisa. She completed her PhD in Ancient History at King's College, Cambridge in 2020, and currently serves as an Associate Professor in the Classics Department, focusing on Late Antique and Early Byzantine History. Her research explores how culture, particularly Neoplatonism, influences socio-political change in the Roman Empire. Her monograph, 'Christianity, Philosophy, Roman Power: Constantine, Julian, Bishops Exegesis Empire' (Cambridge 2023), investigates the interplay of fourth-century politics and the writings of Emperor Julian and episcopal texts. Niccolai is also interested in the methodological approaches to late antique exegesis and historiography, the cultural interactions between the Greco-Roman world and the ancient Near East, and the socio-cultural impacts of Neoplatonism. For the academic year 2023-24, she will be lecturing various papers on ancient history.

Research Interests

Experience

Research Fellow

2020-01-01 — Present

Peterhouse • Cambridge, UK

Conduct research in Ancient History, focusing on the role of culture in socio-political changes during the Roman Empire.

Teaching Associate

2020-01-01 — Present

Cambridge Classics Faculty • Cambridge, UK

Teach and supervise students in Ancient History and related areas.

Courses

Part IB, Paper FC2/T4 ('Res publica: inequality social change Roman world') Part II, Paper C4/P7 ('The transformation Roman World, AD 284-476') Paper X3 ('Christianity, Hellenism, Empire', Classics/Divinity)

Requirements for University of Cambridge

Master Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3.7
IELTS
Listening
Required:7
Reading
Required:7
Writing
Required:7
Speaking
Required:7
Overall
Required:7.5
TOEFL
Listening
Required:25
Reading
Required:25
Writing
Required:25
Speaking
Required:25
Total
Required:110
Prerequisites
UK Bachelor's Degree with good Upper Second Class Honours or international equivalent Background in international relations, politics, law, economics, security or history is a definite asset
Application Checklist
  • Two academic references
  • Official transcripts
  • CV/Resume
  • Personal statement (approx 500 words)
  • Research proposal (1-2 pages/500 words)
  • Application fee (£50)
Specialization Notes

Standard postgraduate requirements for Department of Politics and International Studies (POLIS) and related humanities departments.