BA Classical Studies / Course details

You'll be taught by leading experts in Greek and Roman literature, language, culture and history, and can choose from a diverse range of course units with topics including ancient storytelling, tragic drama, love poetry and exile literature.

Study with us and you'll also have access to exclusive resources such as the Special Collections of The John Rylands Library (home to papyri, medieval manuscripts and early printed books including very early copies of the Homeric poems) and the Manchester Museum (the University's own on-campus holdings) with its world-class Egyptology collections.

In addition, you can broaden your studies with options as diverse as Alexander the Great, the Roman Family, ancient philosophy and Egyptology.

We also offer further options in related areas, including Modern History, Religions and Theology and History of Art.

You can also study ancient languages, enabling you to explore texts and literature in the original language.

Although language study is not required, all students are encouraged to take a language option and, if successful, to continue language study throughout the course if they so wish. Both Latin or Greek can be studied from beginner level or beginning at advanced level, while it is possible to begin the study of language in any of the three years.

Our  Flexible Honours  initiative may also allow you to study an additional arts, languages or cultures subject in conjunction with Classical Studies.

Placement year option

Apply your subject-specific knowledge in a real-world context through a placement year in your third year of study, enabling you to enhance your employment prospects, clarify your career goals and build your external networks. 

Study abroad

You may apply to spend one semester studying abroad during Year 2. Exchange partners are offered through the Erasmus Exchange scheme (in Sweden) and our international exchange scheme (e.g. USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Singapore).

Explore world-class collections

Enjoy unique opportunities to explore special archived material and carry out research in a wide range of archives, libraries, museums and other research institutions in Manchester and beyond.

Study an additional subject

Flexible Honours may allow you to study an additional arts, languages or cultures subject.

You'll learn through a variety of methods. Lectures will help broaden your understanding of subjects, while small group tutorials and seminars will help you to deep-dive into these topics.

Language classes are taught intensively, with group sizes capped to encourage participation.

Independent study and original research will help you to advance, as well as making the most of the specialist knowledge of your tutors.

Assessment practices in different course units vary, but our basic aim is to achieve a good balance between formal examinations, continuous assessment, and project work.

Written examinations are held at the end of most courses. The third-year dissertation provides 25% of the total marks for your degree.

The John Rylands Library

At The John Rylands Library , you'll have exclusive access to our internationally significant collections, including papyri, medieval manuscripts and early printed books such as very early copies of the Homeric poems.

Manchester Museum

The UK's leading university museum has more than four million objects spanning millennia, including one of the largest collections of ancient Egyptian artefacts in the UK. Go behind-the-scenes to handle, analyse and interpret rare artefacts, including exclusive material specific to ancient history.

Visit our facilities page to find out more.