BA Classics

at Durham University

Year 1
 

In your first year, you will take two interdisciplinary modules that will give you grounding in the central periods of Greek and Roman culture:

• Introduction to the Greek World

• Monuments and Memory in the Age of Augustus.

You will also take courses in Greek and/or Latin language, at the appropriate level.

Other first-year optional modules have previously included:

• Lives of Objects

• Early Greek Philosophy

• The Craft of the Ancient Historian

• Language, Translation and Interpretation.

Year 2
 

You will take a module to study representative examples of Greek and Roman epic; you will be introduced to a wide range of approaches to the study of epic including its role as a device for memorialisation, and explore the ways in which the genre developed in Greek and Roman antiquity, and beyond:

• Traditions of Epic.

Study of Latin and/or Greek continues in the second year.

Many of the other modules in the second year are broad surveys, for example of a historical period or a literary genre.

Historical offerings have previously included:

• The Hellenistic World

• Crisis of The Roman Republic

• Emperors and Dynasties.

Literary, philosophical and cultural topics have previously included:

• Greek Literature and The Near East

• Interpreting Greek Tragedy Today

• Creation and Cosmology

• Ancient Political Thought and Action

• Stoicism

• Dialogues with Antiquity

• Classical Receptions and Contemporary Cultures

• Theatre and Spectacle in Ancient Rome.

Year 3 (Year 4 if undertaking a Year Abroad)
 

You will write a Dissertation in your third year. You choose a topic at the end of your second year in consultation with an adviser, with who you will meet regularly for guidance throughout Year 3. Your study of Latin and/or Greek will proceed to the next level, with the texts becoming more difficult or fragmentary. Most other modules in the third year cover specific topics that arise out of the research interests of the members of staff.

Historical modules have previously included:

• Greeks and Persians

• Roman Syria

• Writing Alexander

• The Life and Times of Cicero

• Urbs Roma

• The Later Roman Empire.

Literary, philosophical and cultural topics have previously included:

• The Literature and Language of Ancient Babylon

• Comedy and Tragedy, Laughter and Sorrow

• Hellenistic Poetry: Theory and Practice

• Roman Law and Latin Literature

• Love and Sex in Ancient Poetry

• Technologies of Knowledge in Antiquity

• Knowledge and Doubt in Hellenistic Philosophy.

A level offer – AAA.
 

BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma/OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma – DDD.
 

IB Diploma score – 37 with 666 in higher level subjects.
 

In addition to satisfying the University’s general entry requirements, please note:

• We welcome applications from those with other qualifications equivalent to our standard entry requirements and from mature students with non-standard qualifications or who may have had a break in their study. For more information contact our Admissions Tutor.

• Classical subjects are not essential, but selectors look for evidence of linguistic ability.

• If you are an international student who does not meet the requirements for direct entry to this degree, you may be eligible to take an International Foundation Year pathway programme at the Durham University International Study Centre

• We are pleased to consider applications for deferred entry.
   

Science A levels
 

Applicants taking Science A levels that include a practical component will be required to take and pass this as a condition of entry. This applies only to applicants sitting A levels with an English examination board.

The tuition fees shown for students are for one complete academic year of full time study and are set according to the academic year of entry. Fees for subsequent years of your course may rise in line with an inflationary uplift as determined by the government.

 

Of those students who graduated in 2019:

• 87% are in paid employment or further study 15 months after graduation across all our programmes

Of those in employment:

• 79% are in high skilled employment

• With an average salary of £23,000.