BA Classical Studies

Explore the literature of ancient Greece and Rome, consider the legacy of the ancient world in modern culture, and be inspired by the highly regarded and award-winning teaching on our BA Classical Studies course.

Discover the classical world on this course, open to students from any academic background. Through the study of translated texts you can explore genres and themes like poetry, tragedy and love in classical literature, and their influence on the modern world. Broaden your knowledge with optional modules in subjects including art, society, and history, and take advantage of our own unique collection of Greek and Egyptian antiquities. You will learn in a supportive and engaging environment: in the Department of Classics, we achieved a 91% satisfaction score for the teaching on our courses (National Student Survey, 2022). 

You will have the opportunity to pursue your own interests and tailor your degree to your own tastes by selecting from a wide range of modules in classics, classical studies, and ancient history. You can enhance your knowledge of the ancient world through optional Latin and Greek language modules, or explore the modern legacy of the ancient world. For example, if you are interested in cinema, you can choose to study the representation of the ancient world in films like Ben-Hur, Gladiator, and Troy. You can also discover Rome through our unique, award-winning digital model of the city. You can also choose from modules outside of the Department of Classics, such as Archaeology, English Literature or Philosophy.

You will receive careers and employability training in your first and second years and you can also study a modern language as part of your degree.

You can apply to study abroad on all our degrees, with bursaries for independent travel available, as well as popular departmental trips. The British School at Athens and the British School at Rome both offer summer school opportunities. We also have close links to overseas institutions in Europe, Canada, the USA and Australia. You can apply to spend one term or one academic year abroad as part of your degree.

We encourage you to undertake placements as part of your course. You will receive professional training to help you secure a top-quality placement and prepare you for the experience. Placements provide the chance to put your newly acquired knowledge and skills into practice and to gain valuable real-world experience. Students can transfer to a four-year degree in order to benefit from a Professional Placement Year, or you can apply to spend a full academic year studying abroad.

Students in previous years have gained work experience in charities, barristers' chambers, the government's Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, in foreign countries, and in commercial units such as Oxford Archaeology. The University's museums, including the Department's own Ure Museum, also provide a number of voluntary work placements, ranging from helping with school visits to preparing displays and exhibitions.