MA Classics
UCAS code: Q800
Duration: 4 years
Delivery: Full-time
School: History, Classics and Archaeology
College: Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
Introducing MA Classics
In MA Classics you will focus on the study of the languages and literatures of the ancient Greeks and Romans.
- Ancient Greek is the language in which many of the basic concepts underlying western society were expressed for the first time.
- Latin was the language of the most powerful and durable empire of the classical world. It remained the principal language of scholarship, record and literature in western Europe for more than 1,000 years.
The programme combines detailed philological work with the study of Greek and Latin-speaking civilisations in many different contexts, including:
- political
- religious
- philosophical
On this programme you will:
- receive advanced and robust training in both ancient Greek and Latin
- read a broad selection of works of classical literature in their original language
have the opportunity to read texts from archaic Greece, Late Antiquity, Byzantium and the Middle Ages
[MA]: Master of Arts
Year 1
In Year 1, you will take:
- two courses from beginner's or advanced intermediate Greek
- two courses from beginner's or advanced intermediate Latin
- two courses from a broad range of options outside your primary subject
Year 2
In Year 2, you will choose:
- two advanced courses in both Latin and Greek
- two courses from a broad range of options outside your primary subject
Year 3
In Year 3, you will take:
- two courses in Greek and Latin language
- three further Greek and Latin honours courses
The remaining course may be taken from honours courses in:
- ancient history
- classical art/archaeology
- classical literature in translation
- Greek
- Latin
Year 4
A third of your final year’s study will consist of a dissertation on a topic of your choice in classics.
You will also choose two Greek and two Latin honours courses.
Programme structure
Find out more about the compulsory and optional courses in this degree programme.
To give you an idea of what you will study on this programme, we publish the latest available information. However, please note this may not be for your year of entry, but for a different academic year.
Our facilities
The School of History, Classics and Archaeology is located in the heart of the city, in the University's Central Area. Here you will have access to:
- a range of study spaces
- our Student Research Room
- research collections
- an undergraduate common room
You will also have access to the University's libraries and computing facilities, located in George Square.
You will be taught in a range of lecture theatres and seminar rooms in the School and across the University's Central Area.
Take a virtual tour
You can take a closer look at the School of History, Classics and Archaeology and explore our facilities and campus on the University's Virtual Visit site.
External resources
As well as using our own resources and those of the University Library, you can apply for access to the outstanding collections of the:
- National Library of Scotland
- National Museum of Scotland
Study abroad
There are plenty of opportunities to study abroad in Year 3 by applying for one of the University’s many international exchanges.
These cover many parts of the world, including:
- Europe
- Asia
- North America
- South America
- Australia
- New Zealand
These are unique opportunities to immerse yourself in different university systems and cultures.
How will I learn?
You will be taught through a combination of methods, including:
- lectures
- seminars
- small group tutorials
Some classes take you out of the classroom and into the local museums and libraries.
Teaching is often closely inspired by the cutting-edge research of our academic staff, especially at honours level.
How will I be assessed?
You will be assessed by exams and coursework, and sometimes by practical exercises.
You will acquire practical, intellectual and theoretical skills that are highly valued by employers.
You will also gain rigorous mental training in a range of disciplines, enabling you to demonstrate intellectual flexibility and the ability to adapt to new situations and to learn new skills.
Where our graduates work
Classics graduates have gone on to pursue a range of career paths, including:
- journalism
- museums
- teaching
- academia
- accountancy
- finance
- IT
- publishing
- the armed forces
- the legal profession
- the civil service
Standard entry requirement
The standard entry requirement is:
- SQA Highers: AAAB by end of S5 or AAAA by end of S6. BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6.
- A Levels: A*AA.
- IB: 39 points with 666 at HL.
Minimum entry requirement
The minimum entry requirement for widening access applicants is:
- SQA Highers: ABBB by end of S6. BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6.
- A Levels: ABB.
- IB: 34 points with 655 at HL.
More information for widening access applicants
Required subjects
The grades used to meet our entry requirements must include:
- SQA: Highers: no specific Higher subjects required. National 5s: English at C.
- A Levels: no specific A Level subjects required. GCSEs: English at C or 4.
- IB: HL: no specific subjects required. SL: English at 5.
Additional requirements
You may come to do our Classics MA degree with an advanced qualification (e.g. Higher or A-Level or equivalent) in Greek and/or Latin, or as a complete beginner in both languages. We offer carefully tailored advanced and beginners courses in the first year to match your experience in either language.
Find out more about entry requirements
International applicants
We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.
Mature applicants
We welcome applications from mature students and accept a range of qualifications.
Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which will enable you to succeed in your studies.
SQA, GCSE and IB
For SQA, GCSE and IB students, unless a higher level is specified in the stated entry requirements, a pass is required in English at the following grades or higher:
- SQA National 5 at C
- GCSE at C or 4
- Level 2 Certificate at C
- IB Standard Level at 5 (English ab initio is not accepted for entry)
English language tests
We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:
- IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 5.5 in each component.We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
- TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
- C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 176 with at least 162 in each component.
- Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components.
- PTE Academic: total 65 with at least 54 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
- Oxford ELLT: 7 overall with at least 5 in each component.*
We also accept a wider range of international qualifications and tests.
Unless you are a national of a majority English speaking country, your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start of the month in which the degree you are applying to study begins. If you are using an IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL, Oxford ELLT, or Trinity ISE test, it must be no more than two years old on the first of the month in which the degree begins, regardless of your nationality.
(*Revised 24 May 2024 to change PTE Academic requirement from total 62 with at least 54 in each component, and to clarify that we do not accept PTE Academic online. Revised 29 August 2024 to add Oxford ELLT requirements.)
This information is part of a government initiative to enhance the material that higher education institutions provide about their degree programmes.
It is one of many sources of information which will enable you to make an informed decision on what and where to study.
Please note that some programmes do not have Discover Uni data available.
Tuition Fees
Additional costs
If you study abroad in Year 3, your costs will vary by country.
Funding
For more information on how much it will cost to study with us and the financial support available see our fees and funding information.
- Have a query about undergraduate study?
- Send an enquiry
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- Classical Archaeology and Latin (MA) VQ46
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- Classics (MA) Q800
- Classics and English Language (MA) QQ83
- Classics and Linguistics (MA) QQ81
- Greek Studies (MA) Q700
- Latin Studies (MA) Q600
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Search the degree finder
13 degrees in Classics
- Ancient and Medieval History (MA) V190
- Ancient History (MA) V110
- Ancient History and Greek (MA) VQ17
- Ancient History and Latin (MA) VQ16
- Classical Archaeology and Ancient History (MA) VV14
- Classical Archaeology and Greek (MA) QV84
- Classical Archaeology and Latin (MA) VQ46
- Classical Studies (MA) Q810
- Classics (MA) Q800
- Classics and English Language (MA) QQ83
- Classics and Linguistics (MA) QQ81
- Greek Studies (MA) Q700
- Latin Studies (MA) Q600
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