Classical Studies

BA Classical Studies is a particularly diverse and stimulating degree, in which you explore the culture, history, archaeology, philosophy and literature of the ancient Greek and Roman worlds. You will gain valuable expertise in developing and communicating arguments based on the diverse, complex remains from the ancient world, understanding the limits of our knowledge but also how to push them further. You also focus on how studying the Classical world, with all its attractive and disturbing features, can radically transform debates about key contemporary issues.

Why choose this course?

• You can tailor this course to suit your interests and needs from a wide range of options.

• You will benefit from close personal tuition, mentoring and supervision from leading Classicists.

• You can study ancient Greek and/or Latin flexibly, to suit your needs.

• You will benefit from our close links with London museums and archaeological excavations across the Greco-Roman world.

What you will learn

You will gain an advanced understanding of two ancient cultures which have shaped the modern world, but were also radically different from it. This will equip you for careers connected with the ancient world, but also with a new way of thinking about society, politics, education, literature and culture.

You will master the wide range of methods and sources, including texts (ancient plays, speeches and laws) and archaeological remains, needed to reconstruct the ancient world.

How you will learn

You will benefit from instruction from specialist researchers on the ancient world, through seminar teaching and mentoring. We place an emphasis on vibrant discussion, and language teaching in small groups provides the perfect context to make progress in Greek and/or Latin.

In your final year, you will devise your own research project.

This course is available to study full- or part-time. It has an evening timetable with lectures, seminars and classes taking place in the evening.

Foundation Year

If you opt for the Foundation Year route, this will fully prepare you for undergraduate study. It is ideal if you are returning to study after a gap, or if you have not previously studied the relevant subjects, or if you didn't achieve the grades you need for a place on your chosen undergraduate degree.

Highlights

• Birkbeck was ranked in the top eight universities in the UK for its History research in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework.

• Situated in historic Bloomsbury, we are at the heart of academic London with access to unparalleled research resources. Very close by are: the Institute of Historical Research and the Institute of Classical Studies; the British Museum and other world-class galleries and museums; and the British Library.

• The School of Historical Studies at Birkbeck is home to thriving student societies and a number of affiliated research centres that actively run seminars, conferences and other events where some of the world's best scholars present their latest research.

• Get a flavour of our flexible, engaging teaching and research in this area through a wide range of free online and in-person seminars, workshops and tasters.

Careers and employability

On successfully graduating from this BA Classical Studies, you will have gained important transferable skills, including:

• a sophisticated use of written and spoken English

• an advanced critical ability in understanding and applying complex theories

• facility and precision in the use of analytical tools.

• strong skills and initiative in collecting and organising complex materials and writing up clear, well-presented reports or fluent critical arguments.

Graduates from this course have gone on to be employed in areas including:

• the civil service

• arts, heritage and museums

• primary and secondary schools

• libraries

• City and recruitment firms

• self-employed entrepreneurship.

Course modules

For information about course structure and the modules you will be studying, please visit Birkbeck’s online prospectus.