Classical Studies
48N3The ancient Greek and Roman worlds have given us an extraordinarily rich heritage of culture, literature, politics, philosophy, art, architecture and archaeology as well as paving the way for democracy, underfloor heating and the calendar. Whatever you aspire to become – and Classical Studies students have conquered most fields – an understanding of the classical past gives you a keen lens through which to view the modern world.
Course overview
Our BA in Classical Studies focuses specifically on 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, literature, drama, mythology, philosophy, archaeology, art and architecture and spans the Bronze Age to the twenty-first century.
Study begins by establishing a framework for classical studies. You are introduced to key events, figures, themes and concepts via a range of sources and methods.
In Year 2, you explore the nature of classical studies as a discipline and its changing assumptions, methods and definitions. You engage with a range of modules covering classical history, literature and culture. 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.
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.
The innovative, multidisciplinary nature of the course makes for graduates who are curious, broadminded and interested. At the end of your three years, you’ll have a grounding in the cultural, political and economic basics of the Greek and Roman worlds that lends itself to understanding how we continue to interact with the classical world in our modern society. The skills you cultivate on your modules – time management, critical reading and writing skills, independent thinking and public speaking – transfer readily to today’s workplace.
Find out more about the School of History, Archaeology and Philosophy.
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
- Develop critical yet empathetic appreciation of different cultures and worldviews and reflect on the presence of the classical past in the here and now
- Explore diverse aspects of the ancient Mediterranean world
- Commitment to your academic, professional and personal development
- Encounter a range of exciting topics delivered by experts in their fields, from the Minoans and the Bronze Age, Classical Mythology, Roman Sport and Leisure, and the Classical inheritance of the twenty-first century (options are subject to change)
- Supportive, research-active teaching team
- Become part of our tight-knit, friendly Classical Studies community. Enjoy trips and talks with the student-led History Society and attend film screenings and book discussions with students from related programmes
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: 228 hours
Independent learning: 972 hours
Year 2 (Level 5): Timetabled teaching and learning activity*
Teaching, learning and assessment: 240 hours
Independent learning: 960 hours
Year 3 (Level 6): Timetabled teaching and learning activity*
Teaching, learning and assessment: 168 hours
Independent learning: 1032 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)*:
84% coursework
13% written exams
3% practical assessment
Year 2 (Level 5)*:
55% coursework
20% written exams
25% practical assessment
Year 3 (Level 6)*:
71% coursework
15% written exams
14% 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
A consideration of the Greek world (Athens, Sparta, and neighbours) and the Roman world (from foundation through to fall) through topics on culture, political structure, society, economy and religious practice.
Students will encounter key genres, texts, and figures from classical myth and literature and trace the development of key themes, concepts, and ideas from the classical Greek and Roman worlds.
Students will gain familiarity with a range of techniques, methodologies, and sources (e.g., literary, philosophical, and historical texts, art objects, and archaeological evidence) for (re)constructing the classical world.
This module introduces students to the core skills required to study classical studies successfully at degree level.
Modules
Students will explore the nature of classical studies as an ever-changing and, at times, controversial discipline, tracing (re)evolutions in assumptions, methods, and definitions.
Through a combination of historical and archaeological material, this module will look at the development of Greece and its culture from the end of the Dark Ages to the coming of the Romans.
The journey from the foundation of the Roman Republic, its growing pains, expansion, civil war and Augustan restoration.
Classical Studies Optional Modules:
- The Culture of Neoclassicism - 15 credits
- Collecting and Constructing Classics: Power and Politics in the Museum - 15 credits
- Group project (HISH module) - 15 credits
- Work Placement in Classical Studies - 15 credits
Modules
The Dissertation (Extended Independent Study) is an 8,000 -10,000 thesis on a subject of a student’s choice. It makes a significant contribution to historical knowledge and understanding.
Students will reconsider the classical world from perspectives offered by non-elite culture, drawing on a range of sources related to topics such as humour and comedy, festivals and feasts, and games and spectacle.
Depth Studies are the most detailed and exacting part of the taught programme. They are all firmly grounded on a thorough understanding of the pertinent primary and secondary sources and thus represent the culmination of the taught course.
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
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.
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 5.5 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 £79.40 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.
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
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.
