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Examine some of our most fundamental ideas about truth, reality, right and wrong and explore the ancient civilisations of Greece and Rome. Experience these cultures first-hand through our unique collection of antiquities with our BA Philosophy and Classical Studies.
Philosophy and Classical Studies at the University of Reading will equip you with the ability to think logically, to evaluate arguments critically, and to challenge your own ideas and those of other people.
In Philosophy, you will learn about the central philosophical principles, concepts, problems, texts and figures, from leading experts whose research strengths lie especially in moral philosophy and the philosophy of the mind and language.
Small class sizes in both our Philosophy and Classics departments ensure that students receive dedicated individual attention. In 2020 we achieved a 96% overall satisfaction score for BA Philosophy, and a 88%% overall satisfaction score for the Department of Classics, in the National Student Survey.
In Classical Studies, you will learn about the literature, history and culture of ancient civilisations. Through the study of translated texts you can discover how the ancient world has influenced modern literature and culture. You will explore themes of poetry, tragedy and love in classical literature, art, and performance. You can also enhance your knowledge of the ancient world through Latin and Greek language modules or gain an understanding of the period through different media, for example through drama and films from Ben-Hur to Gladiator.
The Department of Classics is ranked sixth in the UK for research overall, third in the UK for research output (Times Higher Education Institutions ranked by subject, 2014, based on its analysis of REF 2014 - Classics), and 100% of our research impact has been recognised as world leading or internationally excellent (Research Excellence Framework, 2014). Modules such as Ancient Philosophy will give you a chance to combine what you have learned in Philosophy and in Classical Studies, as you learn about the philosophy of Plato and Aristotle.
Placement
We encourage you to undertake placements as they provide you with a chance to put your newly acquired knowledge and skills into practice as well as allowing you to gain valuable real-world experience.
You can undertake a placement at any point in your degree and work in a company or charity relevant to your final year studies. For example, a previous student worked at a zoo to learn more about the ethical treatment of animals.
Other students have chosen to study abroad for one term in their second or final year. Partner institutions include universities in Europe, the USA, Canada, Japan or Australia.
Overview
Philosophy and Classical Studies at the University of Reading will equip you with the ability to think logically, to evaluate arguments critically, and to challenge your own ideas and those of other people.
In Philosophy, you will learn about the central philosophical principles, concepts, problems, texts and figures, from leading experts whose research strengths lie especially in moral philosophy and the philosophy of the mind and language.
Small class sizes in both our Philosophy and Classics departments ensure that students receive dedicated individual attention. In 2020 we achieved a 96% overall satisfaction score for BA Philosophy, and a 88%% overall satisfaction score for the Department of Classics, in the National Student Survey.
In Classical Studies, you will learn about the literature, history and culture of ancient civilisations. Through the study of translated texts you can discover how the ancient world has influenced modern literature and culture. You will explore themes of poetry, tragedy and love in classical literature, art, and performance. You can also enhance your knowledge of the ancient world through Latin and Greek language modules or gain an understanding of the period through different media, for example through drama and films from Ben-Hur to Gladiator.
The Department of Classics is ranked sixth in the UK for research overall, third in the UK for research output (Times Higher Education Institutions ranked by subject, 2014, based on its analysis of REF 2014 - Classics), and 100% of our research impact has been recognised as world leading or internationally excellent (Research Excellence Framework, 2014). Modules such as Ancient Philosophy will give you a chance to combine what you have learned in Philosophy and in Classical Studies, as you learn about the philosophy of Plato and Aristotle.
Placement
We encourage you to undertake placements as they provide you with a chance to put your newly acquired knowledge and skills into practice as well as allowing you to gain valuable real-world experience.
You can undertake a placement at any point in your degree and work in a company or charity relevant to your final year studies. For example, a previous student worked at a zoo to learn more about the ethical treatment of animals.
Other students have chosen to study abroad for one term in their second or final year. Partner institutions include universities in Europe, the USA, Canada, Japan or Australia.
Entry requirements A Level BBB | IB 30 points overall
Select Reading as your firm choice on UCAS and we will guarantee you a place if you achieve one grade lower than the published offer.
Typical offer
BBB
International Baccalaureate
30 points overall
Extended Project Qualification
In recognition of the excellent preparation that the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) provides to students for University study, we can now include achievement in the EPQ as part of a formal offer.
BTEC Extended Diploma
DDM
English language requirements
IELTS 7.0, with no component below 6.0
For information on other English language qualifications, please visit our international student pages.
Alternative entry requirements for International and EU students
For country specific entry requirements look at entry requirements by country.
International Foundation Programme
If you are an international or EU student and do not meet the requirements for direct entry to your chosen degree you can join the University of Reading’s International Foundation Programme. Successful completion of this 1 year programme guarantees you a place on your chosen undergraduate degree. English language requirements start as low as IELTS 4.5 depending on progression degree and start date.
Pre-sessional English language programme
If you need to improve your English language score you can take a pre-sessional English course prior to entry onto your degree.
Structure
Compulsory modules include:
Code | Module | Convenor |
---|---|---|
PP1RA | Reason and Argument | DR Jumbly Grindrod |
CL1TR | Texts, Readers, and Writers | PROF Eleanor Dickey |
CL1SO | Ancient Song | PROF Ian Rutherford |
Optional modules include:
Code | Module | Convenor |
---|---|---|
PP1WRI | Writing the Philosophical Essay | PROF Maximilian De Gaynesford |
PP1MM | Mental Machines | DR Nat Hansen |
PP1RG | The Right and the Good | PROF Philip Stratton-Lake |
PP1RP | Radical Philosophy | PROF Maximilian De Gaynesford |
PP1ML | The Meaning of Life | DR Luke Elson |
PP1GJ | Global Justice | DR Shalini Sinha |
PP1EL | Elementary Logic | DR Severin Schroeder |
MT1CC | The Science of Climate Change | PROF Nigel Arnell |
EC118 | Economy, Politics and Culture in the Roman World | PROF Ken Dark |
EC110 | The Economics of Climate Change | DR Stefania Lovo |
FA1MM | Modernisms & Mythologies | DR James Hellings |
AP1SB1 | Introduction to Management | DR Yiorgos Gadanakis |
AR1REV | Revolutions in Human Behaviour: 4 Million Years BC to the Present | DR Aleks Pluskowski |
AR1REV10 | Revolutions in Human Behaviour: 4 Million Years BC to the Present [10 credits] | DR Aleks Pluskowski |
CL1RH | Roman History: the rise and fall of the Republic | DR Andreas Gavrielatos |
CL1L1 | Latin 1 (C) | MRS Jackie Baines |
CL1GH | Greek History: war, society, and change in the Archaic Age | DR Emma Aston |
CL1G1 | Ancient Greek 1 | MRS Jackie Baines |
LA1PK1 | IWLP Modern Greek 1 | PROF Timothy Duff |
MM1F10 | Student Enterprise | DR Lebene Soga |
ML1IL | Introduction to Linguistics | DR Federico Faloppa |
MC1PP | Presenting the Past | DR Rhi Smith |
MC1HPE | Museum History, Policy and Ethics | DR Rhi Smith |
LS1GL | Globalization and Language | DR Tony Capstick |
Optional modules include:
Code | Module | Convenor |
---|---|---|
PP2OID1 | Oppression, Inequality, and the Enemies of Democracy 1 | MR George Mason |
PP2OID2 | Oppression, Inequality, and the Enemies of Democracy 2 | DR Charlotte Newey |
PP2IDR2 | Ignorance, Doubt, and Relativism 2 | DR Jumbly Grindrod |
PP2HKW2 | Hume, Kant, and Wittgenstein 2 | DR Severin Schroeder |
PP2HKW1 | Hume, Kant, and Wittgenstein 1 | DR Severin Schroeder |
PP2IDR1 | Ignorance, Doubt, and Relativism 1 | DR Jumbly Grindrod |
PP2MM1 | Meaning and the Mind 1 | DR Jumbly Grindrod |
PP2MM2 | Meaning and the Mind 2 | DR Jumbly Grindrod |
PP2GP2 | Global Philosophy 2 | DR Shalini Sinha |
PP2EA2 | Ethical Argument 2: Philosophy and How to Live | DR Luke Elson |
PP2GP1 | Global Philosophy 1 | DR Shalini Sinha |
PP2EA1 | Ethical Argument 1: Philosophy and How to Live | DR Luke Elson |
CL2DR | Ancient Drama | PROF Barbara Goff |
CL2G2 | Ancient Greek 2 (I) | MRS Jackie Baines |
CL2L2 | Latin 2 (I) | MRS Jackie Baines |
CL2G3 | Ancient Greek 3 (I) | MRS Jackie Baines |
CL2RO | Roman History: From Republic to Empire | PROF Annalisa Marzano |
CL2RME | Rome’s Mediterranean Empire; A World of Cities | DR Andrew Souter |
CL2PR | Prospects for Classicists and Ancient Historians | DR Andreas Gavrielatos |
CL2PL | Work placement for Classicists and Ancient Historians | PROF Eleanor Dickey |
CL2LAN | Literature and Society in Late Antiquity | DR Susan Griffith |
CL2L3 | Latin 3 (I) | MRS Jackie Baines |
CL2SI | My Mother's Sin and other Stories | DR Dimitra Tzanidaki-Kreps |
CL2AE | Ancient Epic | PROF Katherine Harloe |
CL2CGH | Greek History: Persian Wars to Alexander | PROF Timothy Duff |
CL2CLE | Cleopatras | DR Rachel Mairs |
MC2CCM | Curatorship and Collections Management | DR Rhi Smith |
MC2LE | Museum Learning and Engagement | DR Rhi Smith |
Optional modules include:
Code | Module | Convenor |
---|---|---|
PP3WMA | Wittgenstein’s Philosophy of Mind and Action | DR Severin Schroeder |
PP3SSG | Society and State in Ancient Greece | PROF David Oderberg |
PP3SPA | Speech Attacks: bullshit, lies, propaganda | DR Nat Hansen |
PP3SCF | The Scandal of Film | PROF Maximilian De Gaynesford |
PP3RVK | Reason, Value & Knowledge | PROF Philip Stratton-Lake |
PP3REL | Philosophy of Religion | MR George Mason |
PP3MED | Christian, Islamic, and Jewish Mediaeval Philosophy | DR Luke Elson |
PP3AF | Are we free? | PROF Maximilian De Gaynesford |
PP3BESR | Business Ethics and Social Responsibility | DR Charlotte Newey |
PP3AEST | Aesthetics | DR Severin Schroeder |
PP3DIS | Dissertation in Philosophy | DR Jumbly Grindrod |
PP3CP | Chinese Philosophy | PROF John Preston |
PP3HGML | Happy, Good and Meaningful Lives | PROF Philip Stratton-Lake |
PP3FAI | Fairness | DR Charlotte Newey |
PP3LA | Philosophy of Law | MR George Mason |
CL3UL | Urban Life: The Archaeology and Anthropology of Roman Cities | DR John Hanson |
CL3L6 | Latin 6 | DR Andreas Gavrielatos |
CL3NH | History, Culture and Society in the time of Nero | DR Andreas Gavrielatos |
CL3TH | Transformations of Helen | PROF Barbara Goff |
CL3TE | Technology in the Ancient World | PROF Annalisa Marzano |
CL3BSR | British School at Rome Undergraduate Summer School | DR Andreas Gavrielatos |
CL3BSA | Archaeology and Topography of Ancient Greece | DR Emma Aston |
CL3AA | Anatolia and the Aegean in the Late Bronze Age. The Context for the Trojan War | PROF Ian Rutherford |
CL3DN | Dissertation in Classics | DR Andreas Gavrielatos |
CL3DP | Preparation for Dissertation in Classics | DR Andreas Gavrielatos |
CL3EGY | History and Culture of New Kingdom Egypt | DR Hana Navratilova |
CL3G4 | Ancient Greek 4 (H) | MRS Jackie Baines |
CL3G5 | Ancient Greek 5 (H) | MRS Jackie Baines |
CL3L5 | Latin 5 (H) | DR Andreas Gavrielatos |
CL3L4 | Latin 4 (H) | DR Andreas Gavrielatos |
CL3L2 | Latin 2 (I) | MRS Jackie Baines |
CL3INP | Independent Third Year Project | DR Andreas Gavrielatos |
CL3G6 | Ancient Greek 6 | MRS Jackie Baines |
Fees
New UK/Republic of Ireland students: £9,250* per year
New international students: £17,320 per year
*UK/Republic of Ireland fee changes
UK/Republic of Ireland undergraduate tuition fees are regulated by the UK government. These fees are subject to parliamentary approval and any decision on raising the tuition fees cap for new UK students would require the formal approval of both Houses of Parliament before it becomes law.
EU student fees
With effect from 1 August 2021, new EU students will pay international tuition fees. For exceptions, please read the UK government’s guidance for EU students.
Additional costs
Some courses will require additional payments for field trips and extra resources. You will also need to budget for your accommodation and living costs. See our information on living costs for more details.
Financial support for your studies
You may be eligible for a scholarship or bursary to help pay for your study. Students from the UK may also be eligible for a student loan to help cover these costs. See our fees and funding information for more information on what's available.
Careers
Throughout the degree you will have the opportunity to complete career-related modules. These enable you to think about what career you would like and what skills you will require.
Philosophy and Classical Studies will equip you with a range of transferable skills in clear thinking, logical analysis and the critical assessment of argument. Such skills are greatly valued in a variety of professional careers such as law, politics, management and marketing. Overall, 92% of graduates from the Department of Philosophy are in work or further study 15 months after the end of their course [1].
Our recent graduates have gone on to a wide variety of careers, including work in accountancy and banking, government and the civil service, law, heritage and museums, teaching, publishing, public sector management, libraries and archives, and media research and production. Recent employers include GCHQ, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the University of Oxford, the British Museum, the NHS, the Environment Agency, and Sotheby's.
Around one in four of our students continue their studies, including conversion courses, and teacher training.
[1] Graduate Outcomes Survey 2017/18; First Degree responders from Philosophy.