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A pathway in the BA Classics and the Ancient World
BA Classics and the Ancient World: Literature, History, Archaeology
This programme is also available with a Year Abroad
This pathway in the BA Classics and the Ancient World offers a BA in the language, literature, history, archaeology and culture of the Graeco-Roman world and its neighbours for students who want to begin ancient languages from scratch (or at intermediate level). We also offer modules in intellectual history and the reception of the ancient world in the post-classical and modern worlds.
- UCAS code Q802 and then select the pathway.
- Modules available to students
- This pathway is open to those who have no previous experience of ancient languages.
All students must take 60 credits in an ancient language during their degree.
- They can take more if they want, and are free to specialise in ancient languages.
In the first year students must take
- at least 30 credits of an ancient language
- the core module Approaches to Studying the Ancient World; and one history module and one archaeology module
In the second year students must take
- at least 30 credits of the same ancient language (to complete the 60 credit requirement)
- at least 30 credits of Ancient World literature/culture/language modules (usually coded CLAS/GREK/LATN/AMEL)
In the third year students must take
- the Dissertation (30 credits) option
- at least 15 credits of Ancient World literature/culture/language modules (usually coded CLAS/GREK/LATN/AMEL)
(The structure for the BA Classics and the Ancient World: Ancient Literature, History Archaeology with a year abroad is identical, except that in their first and second years students study also need to take 30 + 15 credits in the language of the country they wish to visit unless they can demonstrate proficiency: note that this excludes otherwise allowed optional modules outside the field of Classics and the Ancient World in the first year. Students spend their third year abroad, then take their final year at UCL in their fourth year.)
This gives the following structure:
| Year One | Year Two | Final Year |
| 30 credits of an ancient language | 30 credits of the same ancient language | Dissertation |
| Approaches to Studying Classics and the Ancient World | (student choice) | (student choice) |
| Ancient History module | (student choice) | (student choice) |
| Approved Archaeology module | (student choice) | (student choice) |
| (student choice) | (student choice) | (student choice) |
| (student choice) | (student choice) | (student choice) |
❧ Sample Module Choices
Ancient Literature, History, Archaeology: Sample One
| Year One | Year Two | Year Three |
| Latin for Beginners A* | Intermediate Latin A* | Dissertation |
| Latin for Beginners B* | Intermediate Latin B* | The Roman Republic c. 350 BC - 44 BC |
| Approaches to Studying Classics and the Ancient World* | Roman Britain: History and Archaeology* | Greek Art & Architecture* |
| Greek Myth* | Greek Tragedy* | Race: Antiquity and its Legacy* |
| Introduction to Greek Archaeology* | Babylon from Hammurabi to Alexander (c. 1800-300 BC) | Homer* |
| Introduction to Egyptian Archaeology* | Roman Love Poetry* | Painting and Society in Archaic and Classical Greece* |
| Sources for Greek History* | The Prehistoric Mediterranean* | |
| Emotions in the Ancient World* |
Total 120 credits per year. An asterisk indicates a 15 credit module (usually one term); all others are 30 credits (usually two terms).
This student began the degree with no prior knowledge of Latin or Greek. For the 30 credits of compulsory language in their first year, they chose Latin for Beginners A and B. Another 15 credits were taken up by the compulsory Approaches to Classics and the Ancient World module. With their remaining modules, they pursued interests in classics, archaeology and ancient history, fulfilling the requirement for at least one module in archaeology and history. In their second year, they continued with Latin at Intermediate level, to fulfil the language requirement (60 credits in the same language). They then devoted most of their time to archaeology, while taking the compulsory 30 credits in literature or language modules. In their final year, they maintained a focus on archaeology and history.
Ancient Literature, History, Archaeology: Sample Two
| Year One | Year Two | Year Three |
| Greek for Beginners A* | Intermediate Greek A* | Dissertation |
| Greek for Beginners B* | Intermediate Greek B* | The Roman Empire from Augustus to Theodosius I |
| Approaches to Studying Classics and the Ancient World* | Roman Love Poetry* | Homer* |
| Roman Life and Thought* | Greek Comedy* | Greek Tragedy* |
| Introduction to Greek Archaeology* | The Late Bronze Age Aegean* | Painting and Society in Archaic & Classical Greece* |
| Introduction to Egyptian Archaeology* | The Archaeology of Etruscan Italy* | Stoics Epicureans and Sceptics* |
| The Romans and their Past* | Augustan Culture | |
| Italian Level 1* |
Total 120 credits per year. An asterisk indicates a 15 credit module (usually one term); all others are 30 credits (usually two terms).
This student also began the degree with no prior knowledge of Latin or Greek. For the 30 credits of compulsory language in their first year, they also chose Greek for Beginners A and B, and again, 15 credits were taken up by the compulsory Approaches to Studying Classics and the Ancient World module. The remainder of their first year modules were spread between classics, archaeology and history, fulfilling the requirement for at least one module in archaeology and history. In their second year, they continued with Greek at Intermediate level, to fulfil the language requirement (60 credits in the same language). They began to specialise in language and literature, and also took one half unit module (Italian language) from outside the Ancient World syllabus. The majority of their final year modules involved Classical literature, though they still kept an interest in history and archaeology.
Both students could have taken optional modules in Hittite, Akkadian, Sumerian or Sanskrit.
❧ Notes
- Note that text modules and thematic modules are rotated each year in order to provide maximum choice. Sample modules not running in the current academic year are without a link.
- Your first year modules may include up to 15 credits, and your second and third year modules may include up to 30 credits altogether over the two years, of modules entirely outside the field of Classics.
- See the list of modules running in the current academic year in the Department of Greek and Latin, and all modules available in the Ancient World at UCL.
- Information on our degree programmes with year abroad.