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Explore the fascinating cultures of ancient Greece and Rome, and develop core academic skills, with our BA Classics with Foundation course.
This four-year programme includes a foundation year that leads directly into the three-year course. It provides an excellent route to a degree in classics if you do not have the typical entry qualifications.
Immerse yourself in ancient cultures which lie at the very heart of western civilisation, and resonate throughout our modern world. Explore the classical world from political, social and cultural perspectives, and study ancient texts in their original languages.
Taught by experts from the Department of Classics, your studies will be enriched by:
- focused language learning. We offer Latin and Greek at all levels, allowing you to gain advanced language knowledge. Each week, you'll receive an impressive three to four hours of language teaching in small groups, working on grammar, vocabulary and translation.
- hands-on learning experiences. Unique artefacts of the classical world are available from the Ure Museum, our internationally important collection of Greek and Egyptian antiquities.
- our research-rich environment. 100% of our research impact has been recognised as world leading or internationally excellent (Research Excellence Framework 2014). Our leading academics — who have won teaching awards — use this research to enrich your learning, ensuring you will know the latest developments in the field.
Our BA Classics with Foundation is flexible, allowing you to follow your interests and choose modules from other departments.
Your learning structure
The aim of the foundation year is to prepare you for your classics degree. As you progress, each stage builds on your prior learning:
- Foundation year: gain a thorough grounding in study at degree level. Core modules will develop key skills to support your learning.
You will complete two skills-based modules: Study Skills develops your academic writing, research, referencing, critical thinking, teamwork, study techniques and study management; and Persuasive Writing explores how writing shapes our lives, and how it's used for social media, journalistic and political persuasion.
Two additional modules develop skills specific to your degree: Identities explores identity in relation to national/race identity, gender, changing identities, and sense of self, examining everything from texts and objects to film and cultural documents; and Perspectives enhances your ability to study and understand problems, events, objects and texts from a variety of perspectives.
- First year: begin your study of Latin and Greek language and explore Greek and Roman culture. You will examine primary sources and explore specific topics in these civilisations.
- Second year: continue your language study and develop an awareness of classical literature, and the role of classics in shaping modern western culture. Optional modules will allow you to study topics of interest in greater depth.
- Third year: deepen your knowledge of Latin and Greek and choose a specialist aspect of classics to explore in greater depth.
Placement opportunities with BA Classics with Foundation
You will be encouraged to undertake a placement as part of your course, a fantastic opportunity to apply your newly acquired skills and knowledge to real-world practice.
Professional training is available to help you secure a top-quality placement and prepare you for the experience.
Previous students have gained work experience in a range of workplaces. These include:
- the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport
- Oxford Archaeology
- the University of Reading's own museums.
Our Department is home to the Ure Museum. A number of voluntary work experience placements are on offer in the museum, ranging from helping with school visits to preparing displays and exhibitions.
Summer school and Study Abroad
As well as popular departmental trips, the British School at Athens and the British School at Rome both offer summer school opportunities.
In your second or final year, you can spend a term studying abroad at one of our partner institutions in Europe, Canada, the USA or Australia. This is a great way to enhance your studies, make new friends and experience life in a different country.
To find out more, visit our Study Abroad site.