Course summary
Our BA Classics immerses you in the Ancient Greek and Roman worlds and offers you a wealth of fascinating areas of study, including history, literature, archaeology and philosophy. This classics degree enables you to develop a high level of competence in Ancient Greek and/or Latin. You can make the language and literature the main focus of your degree or use these skills to enrich your study of a wide range of complementary option modules across not only classics, but also history, archaeology, politics and philosophy. You will develop your skills in one or both languages at a range of levels and you will also have the chance to read ancient texts in depth in the original. In studying for this classics degree, you will examine the nature of our understanding of the classical past and its literature. We encourage you to engage with textual material and to question accepted traditions about the past, so that you develop the ability to construct and present a convincing argument. As a full-time classics student, you must have at least an introductory-level knowledge of either Greek or Latin, which can be acquired, for example, at a summer school immediately before starting the programme. Without this level of preparation, absolute beginners are encouraged to take the four-year part-time version of this course. This course has an evening timetable with lectures, seminars and classes taking place in the evening. 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. Situated very close by are: the Institute of Historical Research and the Institute of Classical Studies, with their specialist libraries, training facilities and seminars; the British Museum and other world-class galleries and museums; and the British Library, the largest national library in the world.
- In history, classics and archaeology, 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 teaching and research in this area through the wide range of free online and in-person seminars, workshops and tasters; check out our Discover the Past and taster courses as well as events at the Raphael Samuel History Centre, a leading centre for public history which the department co-directs.
- archivist
- editorial assistant
- higher education lecturer
- museum/gallery curator.
Modules
For information about course structure and the modules you will be studying, please visit Birkbeck’s online prospectus.
Assessment method
Each module is examined at the end of the academic year in which it is taken (usually by three-hour papers) and you must write a dissertation of 10,000 words on a subject of your choice. Every module you take includes some form of assessment and, in addition, an attendance requirement, so you will need to attend at least 60% of classes in order to pass.
How to apply
This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
International applicants
If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests. We also accept other English language tests.
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
A level
Access to HE Diploma - D: 15 credits M: 15 credits
We welcome applicants without traditional entry qualifications as we base decisions on our own assessment of qualifications, knowledge and previous work experience. We assess each individual application for potential and talent and admission is by a combination of application and interview.
Student Outcomes
There is no data available for this course. For further information visit the Discover Uni website.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
England | £6935 | Year 1 |
Northern Ireland | £6935 | Year 1 |
Scotland | £6935 | Year 1 |
Wales | £6935 | Year 1 |
International | £13215 | Year 1 |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
Provider information
Birkbeck, University of London
Malet Street
Bloomsbury
London
WC1E 7HX
Course contact details
Visit our course pageBirkbeck Student Advice Service
0203 907 0700