Classics BA

The Classics program is structured as a wide-ranging, interdisciplinary journey that offers an extremely broad perspective from early Iron Age Greece to Byzantine literature. The program profile leverages the largest Classics Faculty in the world, alongside the largest Philosophy department in the UK. Students gain the competency to learn and master ancient languages (Latin and/or Greek) from scratch or at an advanced level, following a redesigned structure that accommodates all candidates regardless of their prior linguistic experience.

A core pillar of the curriculum is the integration of philosophy, which develops the ability to reason logically and criticize complex arguments. Students apply these skills to profound questions regarding knowledge, moral judgments, and the nature of language. The program emphasizes the interaction between dominant philosophical ideas and the literature of their epoch, utilizing the world-class resources of the Ashmolean Museum and the Bodleian Art, Archaeology, and Ancient World Library to ground abstract theories in material history.

Throughout the program, students explore various disciplines in depth, from archaeological excavations to linguistic evolution. The length of the course allows for specialized research into specific interests within the classical world, supported by over sixty full-time academic staff members. Graduates emerge as versatile thinkers with a unique ability to navigate the intersection of art, literature, and history. By mastering the intellectual background of Western civilization, they become experts in critical analysis and logical reasoning applicable to a wide range of global careers.