BA (Hons)

Classical Studies

48N3

Classical studies is the ultimate humanities subject, drawing together insights from an exciting range of related disciplines and approaches. Our BA in Classical Studies is designed with this variety in mind, encouraging you to develop deep appreciation for the history, politics, and culture of the ancient Greek and Roman worlds and their legacy.

Artefacts in a museum

Course overview

Our BA in Classical Studies explores the rich heritage of ancient Greece and Rome and their cultural interactions within the broader Mediterranean. Studying with us, you will gain a critical yet empathetic appreciation of different worldviews on a course that blends the study of history, politics, and culture and spans the Bronze Age to the twenty-first century.
 
Study begins in Year 1 by establishing a framework for classical studies. You are introduced to key events, figures, themes and concepts via a range of sources and methods. The year is a fascinating, multidisciplinary mix of history, literature, politics, mythology and religion, philosophy, archaeology, art and architecture.
In Year 2, you explore the nature of classical studies as a discipline and its changing assumptions, methods and definitions. As well as offering multidimensional insight into the culture, history, and politics of the Greek and Roman worlds, modules also provide opportunities to reflect on the impact of these worlds in later societies, right up to the present day. Topics may include the high point of Athenian democracy, the world of Alexander the Great, the Roman Republic and early Empire, and the construction of the classical past in modern museum collections.
 
In your final year, you will hone your research methods, write a dissertation, and undertake more specialised modules that focus on the areas of academic expertise of the teaching staff. Topics may include gender and sexuality in the classical world and its modern legacy, the Pax Romana, popular culture in the classical world, the Trojan War in the ancient imagination, and ancient approaches to death and ritual.
The course is designed with students' academic, personal, and professional development and well-being in mind, and our sector-leading National Student Survey results are testament to the support we offer to our students. There is no classical languages requirement for our degree, and there is no expectation that you have studied Classical Civilisation or Ancient History at either GCSE or A Level. We are confident in the support we offer to students both new to and familiar with the subject.

Classical Studies is part of the School of Humanities.

What you need to know

Course start date

September

Location

Winchester campus

Course length

  • 3 years full-time
  • 6 years part-time

Apply

48N3

Typical offer

104-120 points

Fees

From £9,535 pa

Course features

  • Sector-leading for student satisfaction: Classical Studies achieved 100% for academic support and teaching quality in the 2024 National Student Survey
  • Study diverse aspects of the ancient Greek and Roman worlds and their reception: Classical studies offers exciting topics delivered by experts in their fields, with particular strengths in women's and gender history, the cultural history of death, and the legacy of the classical world in modern culture
  • Develop intellectual independence, integrity and maturity: Classical Studies graduates are curious, broadminded, and culturally literate

Course details

Learning and Teaching

Our aim is to shape 'confident learners' by enabling you to develop the skills needed to excel in your studies here and as well as onto further studies or the employment market. 

You are taught primarily through a combination of lectures and seminars, allowing opportunities to discuss and develop your understanding of topics covered in lectures in smaller groups.

In addition to the formally scheduled contact time such as lectures and seminars, you are encouraged to access academic support from staff within the course team and the wide range of services available to you within the University.

Independent learning

Over the duration of your course, you will be expected to develop independent and critical learning, progressively building confidence and expertise through independent and collaborative research, problem-solving and analysis with the support of staff. You take responsibility for your own learning and are encouraged to make use of the wide range of available learning resources available.

Overall workload

Your overall workload consists of class contact hours, independent learning and assessment activity.

Teaching is student-centred and designed to develop increasingly independent learners as students progress through the three years of the degree. A broad foundation at the start of the course sets out the chronology and civilisation of the Classical world and introduces students to the relevant disciplines to study it - art, archaeology, architecture, drama, history, literature and philosophy. These themes are developed in Year 2, which also explores the legacy of the Classics, and are studied more intensively during Year 3.

While your actual contact hours may depend on the optional modules you select, the following information gives an indication of how much time you will need to allocate to different activities at each level of the course.

Year 1 (Level 4): Timetabled teaching and learning activity*
Teaching, learning and assessment: 312 hours
Independent learning: 888 hours

Year 2 (Level 5): Timetabled teaching and learning activity*
Teaching, learning and assessment: 300 hours
Independent learning: 816 hours
Placement: 84 hours

Year 3 (Level 6): Timetabled teaching and learning activity*
Teaching, learning and assessment: 276 hours
Independent learning: 924 hours

*Please note these are indicative hours for the course. 

Teaching Hours

All class based teaching takes places between 9am – 6pm, Monday to Friday during term time. Wednesday afternoons are kept free from timetabled teaching for personal study time and for sports clubs and societies to train, meet and play matches. There may be some occasional learning opportunities (for example, an evening guest lecturer or performance) that take places outside of these hours for which you will be given forewarning.

Assessment

Our validated courses may adopt a range of means of assessing your learning. An indicative, and not necessarily comprehensive, list of assessment types you might encounter includes essays, portfolios, supervised independent work, presentations, written exams, or practical performances.

We ensure all students have an equal opportunity to achieve module learning outcomes. As such, where appropriate and necessary, students with recognised disabilities may have alternative assignments set that continue to test how successfully they have met the module's learning outcomes. Further details on assessment types used can be found by attending an Open Day.

Percentage of the course assessed by coursework

The assessment balance between examination and coursework depends to some extent on the optional modules you choose. The approximate percentage of the course assessed by different assessment modes is as follows:

Year 1 (Level 4)*:

81% coursework
13% written exams
6% practical assessment

Year 2 (Level 5)*:

67% coursework
20% written exams
13% practical assessment

Year 3 (Level 6)*:

80% coursework
7% written exams
13% practical assessment

*Please note these are indicative percentages and modes for the programme.

Modules

Please note the modules listed are correct at the time of publishing. The University cannot guarantee the availability of all modules listed and modules may be subject to change. The University will notify applicants of any changes made to the core modules listed. For further information please refer to winchester.ac.uk/termsandconditions

Modules

Exploring Classical History and Culture 30 Credits

This course presents an introduction to, and an examination of, life in classical Greece and Rome. Work on the Greek world may involve a consideration of the development of the city-state, and polis as a place and concept. The impact of the city-states on Greek warfare, literature, politics, and other social, economic, and political developments may be considered. Work on the Roman world may involve a consideration of Roman civilisation across from its origins in the 8th BC through to its transformation in the late 5th C AD. In addition to the historical and political impact of the Romans, this module may also consider the cultural aspects of everyday life, women in the province, settlement and building projects, and the impact of Romanisation on the local cultures as well as the Romans living there themselves.

This is a foundational module that seeks to connect the different parts of life in ancient Athens/Greece and in Rome, and their influence on contemporary and modern culture, even as it introduces students to the knowledge and skills required for future study of antiquity.

Responding to Classical Myth and Literature 30 Credits

This module provides students with opportunities to respond to the main literary genres of the Classical world and to scrutinise the relationship between literature, myth, and history in ancient Greek and Roman sources. The timeframe considered is approximately from the eighth century BC to the second century AD (from the Homeric epics to the so-called Silver Latin poets). Attention will be paid to elements of continuity and innovation from archaic Greece to Imperial Rome within the genres studied.

This survey of literary material may include epic poetry, lyric, drama, elegy, oratory, historiography, epigram, satire, and other major literary genres. The goal is for students to become familiar with the different forms of literature found in Classical Greek and Roman sources, to be able to identify the distinguishing elements of each literary genre and their best-known practitioners, and to recognise key developments across the periods under examination.

Monuments, Myths and the Mind: (Re)constructing Life in the Classical World 30 Credits

This module is designed to get students thinking productively about how we make sense of the classical world beyond historical and literary analysis. How do we begin to get into the minds of and appreciate the lived experiences of peoples from cultures so unlike our own? Students will work across complementary fields (such as art and archaeology, mythology, religion, and philosophy) and work with a diverse range of primary materials (such as literary, philosophical and historical texts, art objects, and archaeological evidence) to develop a deep and holistic understanding of the ancient Greeks and Romans.

Case Study in History 30 Credits

This module introduces students to the core skills required to study classical studies successfully at degree level.

Modules

Classical Studies: Theories, Methods, and Approaches 30 Credits

The first half of this module introduces students to some of the most influential and significant developments that have shaped the ways the various branches of the discipline think and write about the classical past. We will consider a range of important theoretical movements of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries and trace the impact they had on the study of the classical world. Approaches may include gender studies, reception studies, performance studies, post-  colonialism, and the study of emotions. The second half of this module gives students opportunities to put the theories explored in Term one into practice, as they explore a range of methodologies and approaches relevant to working with a diverse range of classical sources e.g. literary, philosophical, and historical texts, art objects, and archaeological evidence.

The module will encourage students to think reflexively about their own identities as classicists and consider how this will inform their work through the rest of their degree, with particular reference to the dissertation. Students will have the opportunity to formulate their own research question(s) and consider the skills, methods, and approaches needed to complete an independent research project.

From Homer to Alexander: The Making of Classical and Hellenistic Greece 30 Credits

This module runs from the end of the Late Bronze Age palace societies, the subsequent collapse of many aspects of material culture (‘The Dark Age’), through the gradual redevelopment of the city states during the Archaic period and the height of their power in the Classical period. It concludes with the cultural changes in the Hellenistic kingdoms, the legacy of the redrawn map of the Greek world following the conquests of Alexander the Great. The module is broadly chronological with themed topics of relevance (which may include city planning and public buildings, burial, trade, warfare, gender, slavery, religion, mythology and art), and seeks to connect the different parts of life (political, social and cultural) during this fascinating period through close analysis of both the material remains and the contemporary literary sources (including archaeological sites, art, architecture, historical events, historiography, and major literary works in poetry and drama).

The Roman Republic: from Romulus to Augustus Caesar, 753 BC - AD 14 30 Credits

This module examines the development and history of the Roman Republic from its origins in the early 6th century BC through to the civil wars of the 1st century BC and concludes with the establishment of the Principate under Augustus. The first part of the module examines broadly the development of political and social institutions of the Early Republic and the impact of expansion on political, social, and economic developments in the latter part of the Republic. The second part of the module considers the context of the rise and fall of Julius Caesar and the impact of single-man rule on Rome, culminating with a study of Augustus and the Augustan settlement and subsequent reflection on the longer-term impact of the culture and politics of this era of Roman history.

Optional modules Credits

Classical Studies Optional Modules:

  • The Culture of Neoclassicism - 15 credits
  • Collecting and Constructing Classics: Power and Politics in the Museum - 15 credits
  • Group project - 15 credits
  • Work Placement in Classical Studies - 15 credits

Modules

Dissertation 30 Credits

The Dissertation (Extended Independent Study) is an 8,000-10,000 thesis on a subject of a student’s own devising with advice and supervision from an appropriate history tutor. Through their dissertations, the students will make an original contribution to historical knowledge and understanding, in that it will be drawn from their own engagement with primary sources and interpretation and analysis of existing secondary literature. Building on all previous undergraduate study, students will employ the conventions of a historian whilst developing a range of transferable skills in project planning, management, and delivery, creativity, problem-solving and critical analysis.

Depth Study in History 30 Credits

Depth Study is the most detailed and exacting part of the taught programme where students are given the opportunity to work in depth with one tutor on a single specialist topic. Exploring the rich primary and secondary source material of a specialist area consolidates the skills and competencies of a historian developed throughout the duration of the degree. A variety of topic areas are offered for study each year, examples of which include: Pax Romana; modern reception of the classical world; the Wars of the Roses; civil war, revolution and republic in the British Isles; the United States and the Cold War; Japan at war and under occupation; the Italian Wars 1494-1516 and 1521-1559; genocide in history and memory; ruling England in the second Viking Age; the age of Napoleon; the post-war teenager in Britain; colonialism and its aftermath in north Africa and France; and the Anglo-Norman Civil War 1135-1154.

Popular Culture in the Classical World: Leisure, Culture and Entertainment 30 Credits

This module will focus on aspects of Greek and Roman cultural history including sports and games, pastimes, entertainment, comedy theatre, and other aspects of daily life from the point of the contemporary spectator and participant, contemporary commentary, and, where relevant, later reception and comparison.

‘Fun and games’ in antiquity tended to involve much more than ‘bread and circuses’ (panem et circes), one’s leisure activities were also indicative of social class and moral character. Themes explored might include the ritual origins of sport, festivals, and cultural activities as aspects of religious ritual and civic life; the political use of public sport or theatre as propaganda; and leisure and cultural activities as indicators of status, social/economic class, and moral character.

Students may be tasked to compare and contrast traditions and attitudes across Greek and Roman contexts, review contemporary sources (both written and material), and to consider later reception of these activities, as well as engage with current scholarly approach and debate on the topic.

Optional Modules Credits

Classical Studies Optional Modules:

  • Troy in the Ancient Imagination - 15 credits
  • Death and Ritual in the Ancient World - 15 credits
  • History and Heritage (HISH module) - 15 credits
  • The Past Matters (HISH module) - 15 credits
  • Histories on Screen (HISH module) - 15 credits

Entry requirements

104-120 points

Our offers are typically made using UCAS tariff points to allow you to include a range of level 3 qualifications and as a guide, the requirements for this course are equivalent to:

A-Levels: BCC-BBB from 3 A Levels or equivalent grade combinations (e.g. BBB is comparable to ABC in terms of tariff points)

BTEC/CTEC: DMM from BTEC or Cambridge Technical (CTEC) qualifications International Baccalaureate: To include a minimum of 2 Higher Level certificates at grade H4

T Level: Merit in a T Level

Additionally, we accept tariff points achieved for many other qualifications, such as the Access to Higher Education Diploma, Scottish Highers, UAL Diploma/Extended Diploma and WJEC Applied Certificate/Diploma, to name a few. We also accept tariff points from smaller level 3 qualifications, up to a maximum of 32, from qualifications like the Extended Project (EP/EPQ), music or dance qualifications. To find out more about UCAS tariff points, including what your qualifications are worth, please visit UCAS.

In addition to level 3 study, the following GCSEs are required:

GCSE English Language at grade 4 or C, or higher. Functional Skills at level 2 is accepted as an alternative, however Key Skills qualifications are not. If you hold another qualification, please get in touch and we will advise further. 

If you will be over the age of 21 years of age at the beginning of your undergraduate study, you will be considered as a mature student. This means our offer may be different and any work or life experiences you have will be considered together with any qualifications you hold. UCAS have further information about studying as a mature student on their website which may be of interest.

International points required

If English is not your first language, a formal English language test will most likely be required and you will need to achieve the following:

  • IELTS Academic at 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in all four components (for year 1 entry)
  • We also accept other English language qualifications, such as IELTS Indicator, Pearson PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and TOEFL iBT.

If you are living outside of the UK or Europe, you can find out more about how to join this course by contacting our International Recruitment Team via our International Apply Pages

2025/6 Course Tuition Fees

  UK / Channel Islands /
Isle of Man / Republic of Ireland 

International

Year 1* £9,535 £16,700

Additional tuition fee information

*(UK / Channel Islands / Isle of Man / Republic of Ireland) £9,535 for the 25/26 academic year. Fees for future academic years will be determined in line with our Terms and Conditions. The fee is currently subject to a governmental fee cap for each academic year. It is our policy to charge tuition fees at the level of the cap set by the Government. If the cap set by the Government changes, then we may increase our Fees in line with governmental policy.

*(International) £16,700 for the 25/26 academic year. Fees for future academic years will be determined in line with our Terms and Conditions. We decide the annual level of increase of our Tuition Fees by taking into account a range of factors including the cost of delivering the course and change in governmental funding.

Remember, you don’t have to pay any of this upfront if you are able to get a tuition fee loan from the UK Government to cover the full cost of your fees each year.

UK Part-Time fees are calculated on a pro rata basis of the full-time fee for a 120 credit course. The fee for a single credit is £79.45 and a 15 credit module is £1,191. Part-time students can take up to a maximum 90 credits per year, so the maximum fee in a given year will be the government permitted maximum fee of £7,145

International part-time fees are calculated on a pro rata basis of the full-time fee for a 120 credit course. The fee for a single credit is £139.14 and a 15 credit module is £2,087.

 

Additional costs

As one of our students all of your teaching and assessments are included in your tuition fees, including, lectures/guest lectures and tutorials, seminars, laboratory sessions and specialist teaching facilities. You will also have access to a wide range of student support and IT services.

There may be additional costs you may encounter whilst studying, for example if you take part in a field trip.

 

 

SCHOLARSHIPS, BURSARIES AND AWARDS

We have a variety of scholarship and bursaries available to support you financially with the cost of your course. To see if you’re eligible, please see our Scholarships and Awards pages.

CAREER PROSPECTS

When top employers look for culturally literate and engaged graduates, Winchester’s Classical Studies students cannot fail to shine. Our graduates are valued in a wide variety of occupations including education, the civil service, local government and museums and heritage. Others teach or write for television, film and radio. Many also pursue postgraduate degrees, and often study MA degrees in related subjects, such as classical archaeology, ancient history, Latin or Greek languages and literature, and classical reception.   

The University of Winchester ranks in the top 10 in the UK for graduates in employment and further study according to the Graduate Outcomes Survey 2023, HESA.

Pre-approved for a Masters

If you study a Bachelor Honours degrees with us, you will be pre-approved to start a Masters degree at Winchester. To be eligible, you will need to apply by the end of March in the final year of your degree and meet the entry requirements of your chosen Masters degree.

OUR CAREERS SERVICE
Student with careers staff member
Read about the amazing placements that three Classical Studies students secured for their summer vacation. Chloe headed to the University of Cambridge for her six-week paid internship; Amy spent three weeks with the British School in Athens and Poppy attended the Belfast Summer School in Ancient Languages.

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