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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 National Student Survey of 2020, the course was awarded an overall satisfaction score of 100%.
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 offered by other departments 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.
Placement
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.
Overview
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 National Student Survey of 2020, the course was awarded an overall satisfaction score of 100%.
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 offered by other departments 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.
Placement
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.
Entry requirements A Level BBB | IB 30 points overall
Select Reading as your firm choice on UCAS and we'll guarantee you a place even if you don't quite meet your offer. For details, see our firm choice scheme.
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 |
---|---|---|
CL1TR | Texts, Readers, and Writers | PROF Eleanor Dickey |
CL1SO | Ancient Song | PROF Ian Rutherford |
Optional modules include:
Code | Module | Convenor |
---|---|---|
EC110 | The Economics of Climate Change | DR Stefania Lovo |
EC118 | Economy, Politics and Culture in the Roman World | PROF Ken Dark |
AP1SB1 | Introduction to Management | DR Yiorgos Gadanakis |
AR1FOR10 | Forensic Anthropology and the Archaeology of Death [10 credit] | MRS Ceri Falys |
AR1FOR | Forensic Anthropology and the Archaeology of Death | MRS Ceri Falys |
AR1EMP | Early Empires: Mesopotamia, Egypt & Rome | PROF Roger Matthews |
AR1REV10 | Revolutions in Human Behaviour: 4 Million Years BC to the Present [10 credits] | DR Aleks Pluskowski |
AR1REV | Revolutions in Human Behaviour: 4 Million Years BC to the Present | DR Aleks Pluskowski |
AR1MET | Archaeology today: methods and practice | MS Amanda Clarke |
AR1SOC | Contemporary world cultures: an introduction to social anthropology | DR Thomas Grisaffi |
CL1G1 | Ancient Greek 1 | MRS Jackie Baines |
CL1GH | Greek History: war, society, and change in the Archaic Age | DR Emma Aston |
CL1L1 | Latin 1 (C) | MRS Jackie Baines |
CL1RH | Roman History: the rise and fall of the Republic | DR Andreas Gavrielatos |
ML1IL | Introduction to Linguistics | DR Federico Faloppa |
MC1HPE | Museum History, Policy and Ethics | DR Rhi Smith |
MC1PP | Presenting the Past | DR Rhi Smith |
LS1GL | Globalization and Language | DR Tony Capstick |
MT1CC | The Science of Climate Change | PROF Nigel Arnell |
PO1INE | Inequality | DR Jonathan Golub |
PO1FRE | Freedom | DR Rob Jubb |
PP1RP | Radical Philosophy | PROF Maximilian De Gaynesford |
PP1GJ | Global Justice | DR Shalini Sinha |
PP1ML | The Meaning of Life | DR Luke Elson |
Compulsory modules include:
Code | Module | Convenor |
---|---|---|
CL2DR | Ancient Drama | PROF Barbara Goff |
CL2AE | Ancient Epic | PROF Katherine Harloe |
Optional modules include:
Code | Module | Convenor |
---|---|---|
CL2SI | My Mother's Sin and other Stories | DR Dimitra Tzanidaki-Kreps |
CL2L2 | Latin 2 (I) | MRS Jackie Baines |
CL2L3 | Latin 3 (I) | MRS Jackie Baines |
CL2PL | Work placement for Classicists and Ancient Historians | PROF Eleanor Dickey |
CL2PR | Prospects for Classicists and Ancient Historians | DR Andreas Gavrielatos |
CL2LAN | Literature and Society in Late Antiquity | DR Susan Griffith |
CL2RME | Rome’s Mediterranean Empire; A World of Cities | DR Andrew Souter |
CL2RO | Roman History: From Republic to Empire | PROF Annalisa Marzano |
CL2G2 | Ancient Greek 2 (I) | MRS Jackie Baines |
CL2G3 | Ancient Greek 3 (I) | MRS Jackie Baines |
CL2DR | Ancient Drama | PROF Barbara Goff |
ED2TS1 | Development of transferable skills through a school placement 1 | DR Caroline Foulkes |
AR2F17 | Forensic Archaeology and Crime Scene Analysis | PROF Mary Lewis |
AR2M8 | Medieval Europe: power, religion and death | DR Gabor Thomas |
CL2CLE | Cleopatras | DR Rachel Mairs |
CL2CGH | Greek History: Persian Wars to Alexander | PROF Timothy Duff |
MC2LE | Museum Learning and Engagement | DR Rhi Smith |
MC2CCM | Curatorship and Collections Management | DR Rhi Smith |
ML2UNR | Unity, Nationalism and Regionalism in Europe | DR Athena Leoussi |
ML2STA | Society, Thought, and Art in Modern Europe | DR Athena Leoussi |
ML2GF | Science, perversion, and dream in global fantastic literature | DR Daniela La Penna |
MM270 | Practice of Entrepreneurship | DR Norbert Morawetz |
LS2LAT | Introduction to English Language Teaching | MRS Suzanne Portch |
LS2LNM | Language and New Media | PROF Rodney Jones |
MT2CC | The Science of Climate Change | PROF Nigel Arnell |
PO2PWS | Politics of the Welfare State | DR Brandon Beomseob Park |
PO2MIR | Modern International Relations | DR Joseph O' Mahoney |
PO2THI | Political Thinking | DR Alice Baderin |
PP2EA1 | Ethical Argument 1: Philosophy and How to Live | DR Luke Elson |
PP2GP1 | Global Philosophy 1 | DR Shalini Sinha |
PP2HKW1 | Hume, Kant, and Wittgenstein 1 | DR Severin Schroeder |
PP2IDR1 | Ignorance, Doubt, and Relativism 1 | DR Jumbly Grindrod |
PP2OID1 | Oppression, Inequality, and the Enemies of Democracy 1 | MR George Mason |
PP2MM1 | Meaning and the Mind 1 | DR Jumbly Grindrod |
Compulsory modules include:
Code | Module | Convenor |
---|---|---|
CL3DP | Preparation for Dissertation in Classics | DR Andreas Gavrielatos |
Optional modules include:
Code | Module | Convenor |
---|---|---|
CL3TH | Transformations of Helen | PROF Barbara Goff |
CL3UL | Urban Life: The Archaeology and Anthropology of Roman Cities | DR John Hanson |
CL3TE | Technology in the Ancient World | PROF Annalisa Marzano |
CL3NH | History, Culture and Society in the time of Nero | DR Andreas Gavrielatos |
CL3L6 | Latin 6 | DR Andreas Gavrielatos |
CL3G6 | Ancient Greek 6 | MRS Jackie Baines |
CL3L2 | Latin 2 (I) | MRS Jackie Baines |
CL3INP | Independent Third Year Project | DR Andreas Gavrielatos |
CL3L4 | Latin 4 (H) | DR Andreas Gavrielatos |
CL3L5 | Latin 5 (H) | DR Andreas Gavrielatos |
CL3G5 | Ancient Greek 5 (H) | MRS Jackie Baines |
CL3G4 | Ancient Greek 4 (H) | MRS Jackie Baines |
CL3EGY | History and Culture of New Kingdom Egypt | DR Hana Navratilova |
CL3DN | Dissertation in Classics | DR Andreas Gavrielatos |
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 |
AR3HCP | THE ANTHROPOLOGY OF HERITAGE AND CULTURAL PROPERTY | DR Alanna Cant |
BI3EF7 | Urban Ecology | DR Phil Baker |
BI3BI8 | Neurobiology | DR Nandini Vasudevan |
GV3TRC | Tropical Rainforests, Climate & Lost Civilisations | PROF Frank Mayle |
GV3ESM | Ecosystems Modelling | DR Shovonlal Roy |
GV3CC | Climate Change | DR Maria Shahgedanova |
ML3IC | Identity and Conflict in Modern Europe | DR Athena Leoussi |
ML3LP | Language and Power | DR Federico Faloppa |
MM302 | Entrepreneurial Project | MR Keith Heron |
LS3IC | Intercultural Communications | DR Erhan Aslan |
LW3CRY | Criminology | PROF Paul Almond |
PO3IPE | International Political Economy | DR Jonathan Golub |
PO3USF | US Foreign and Defence Policy since 1950 | DR Graham O'Dwyer |
PO3FPT | Feminism and Political Theory | PROF David Marshall |
Fees
New UK/Republic of Ireland students: £9,250* per year
New international students: £19,500 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.
Flexible courses (price per 10 credit module)
UK/Republic of Ireland students: £750
International students: £1275
Careers
A degree in classical studies will provide you with a range of transferable skills, including critical thinking, researching, written and oral communication, adaptability, and the ability to understand different cultures. Studying Latin and Greek also demonstrates linguistic flair and provides a firm foundation for learning other languages. Our degrees incorporate specific careers and employability training.
84% of graduates from the Department of Classics are in work or further study within 15 months after the end of their course [1]. They have gone on to a wide variety of careers, including work in accountancy and banking, the 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 Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, University of Oxford, the British Museum, the BBC, the Museum of London Archaeology and the Natural History Museum.
[1] Graduate Outcomes Survey 2017/18; First Degree, Postgraduate (Taught) and Postgraduate (Research) responders from Classics.