Subject area: Classics

Introducing Classics

Classics will introduce you to the history, cultures, languages, and literatures of some of the world's most important civilisations. Whether you are interested in the archaeology of the Roman empire, the art of ancient Athens, the drama of Euripides, the epics of Homer and Virgil, or the history of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium, you will be able to find a programme suited to your interests and ambitions.

Classics is a wide term which refers to the study of all aspects of ancient Greek and Roman civilisation. It also includes the study of those cultures that the Greeks and Romans came into contact with, of the Greek and Latin-speaking civilisations that followed them, and of the reception of classical heritage in the modern world.

You will learn from our range of expert teaching staff, who are drawn from many countries and maintain strong international links. We offer a wide choice of programmes with strengths across ancient history, Greek and Latin language and literature, and classical art and archaeology.

You will be able to choose from a broad range of courses in classics and related disciplines. In Years 1 and 2, you can also choose option courses from subjects as diverse as astronomy, criminology, and modern languages, subject to availability and to timetabling restrictions.

No previous knowledge is required to study ancient history, classical art and archaeology, or classical literature in translation, and it is possible to learn Greek or Latin from scratch and to progress to the highest level by the end of your programme.

By working with distant sources and inconclusive evidence, you will learn to think logically and to develop sound research and analytical skills. You will learn how to make links between what you already know and what you still need to find out. You will be taught how to compile and critically evaluate evidence in order to formulate and present an argument coherently.