Classics and the Ancient World with Study Abroad BA
London, Bloomsbury
This is the programme information for 2026 entry
Gain an in-depth education in ancient languages and literature through this multidisciplinary degree that incorporates an inspiring year abroad. The Classics and Ancient World with Study Abroad BA enables you to choose unique modules and gain transferable skills valued by employers. Taught at UCL and a top institution abroad, you benefit from access to leading experts and prized resources on Classics and the ancient world. Graduates go on to work in a wide range of sectors, including education, financial services, academia and publishing.
Study mode
Duration
UK tuition fees (2025/26)
Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)
Programme starts
September 2026Application deadline
14 Jan 2026UCAS course code
Entry requirements
- Grades
- AAB
- Subjects
Language and Literature route: Ancient/Classical Greek or Latin at grade A required
Literature, History, Archaeology route: no subject requirements
Ancient Middle Eastern Studies route: no subject requirements.
- GCSEs
- English Language at grade B or 6 and Mathematics at grade C or 4.
Contextual offer information
- Grades
- BBB more about contextual offers
- Subjects
- Language and Literature route: Ancient/Classical Greek or Latin required; Literature, History, Archaeology route: no subject requirements; Ancient Middle Eastern Studies route: no subject requirements.
- GCSEs
- English Language at grade B or 6 and Mathematics at grade C or 4.
- Points
- 36
- Subjects
- A total of 17 points in three higher level subjects including Greek or Latin at grade 6, with no higher level score below 5.
Contextual offer
- Points
- 32 more about contextual offers
- Subjects
- A total of 15 points in three higher level subjects including Greek or Latin at grade 6, with no higher level score below 5. Language and Literature route: Ancient/Classical Greek or Latin at higher level grade 6 required; Literature, History, Archaeology route: No subject requirements; Ancient Middle Eastern Studies route: No subject requirements.
UK applicants qualifications
For entry requirements with other UK qualifications accepted by UCL, choose your qualification from the list below:
Equivalent qualification
Pass in Access to HE Diploma with a minimum of 30 credits at Distinction and 15 credits at Merit, all from Level 3 units. Please note, where subject specific requirements are stipulated at A level we may review your Access to HE syllabus to ensure you meet the subject specific requirements prior to a final decision being communicated.
Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.
D3,D3,M1 in three Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subjects, including Latin or Greek at D3
A,A,B at Advanced Highers (or A,A at Advanced Higher and B,B,B at Higher), including Latin or Greek at grade A at Advanced Higher.
Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.
Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.
International applications
Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.
Access and widening participation
UCL is committed to widening access to higher education. If you are eligible for Access UCL you do not need to do anything in addition to the standard UCAS application. Your application will be automatically flagged when we receive it.Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates
The Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates (UPC) prepare international students for a UCL undergraduate degree who don’t have the qualifications to enter directly. These intensive one-year foundation courses are taught on our central London campus.
Typical UPC students will be high achievers in a 12-year school system which does not meet the standard required for direct entry to UCL.
For more information see: ucl.ac.uk/upc.
English language requirements
The English language level for this programme is: Level 3
-
Information about the evidence required, acceptable qualifications and test providers can be found on our English language requirements page.
A variety of English language programmes are offered at the UCL Centre for Languages & International Education.
Course overview
The main focus of this programme is the study of ancient languages and literature in the context of all aspects of the ancient world in its full chronological, geographical and methodological range. You develop a sophisticated approach to the ancient world and express your own ideas in essays for individual modules and a final-year dissertation.
Your third year is spent at an approved university in, for example, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Spain or Switzerland. This offers you the chance to expand your knowledge and experience within your chosen academic field, as well as learn new skills and enjoy the culture of another country.
The compulsory modules ensure a broad understanding of the ancient world and familiarity with at least one ancient language, and some involve research skills training.
The wide range of optional modules includes ancient language and literature, philosophy and science, ancient history and the various branches of archaeology.
There are three specialist routes that you can take: the Language and Literature route involves the study of ancient Greek and Latin, including the great classic literature and all aspects of the ancient world. The Literature, History, Archaeology route explores the history, culture and archaeology of the ancient world including the lesser-known but impressive ancient Middle Eastern cultures as well as ancient Greece and Rome. You also learn at least one ancient language. Finally, the Middle Eastern Studies route provides an in-depth study of the ancient Middle East, covering the languages, history and archaeology of the area, where you may concentrate on specific languages and cultures.
The course also allows you to take modules from outside the area of Classics and the Ancient World, for example in medieval or modern history, history of science or computing.
In Years one and two, you also study the modern foreign language of the country you intend to visit in your third year.
What this course will give you
UCL is ranked in the top seven universities in the UK for Classics by the Guardian University Guide 2025.
Classics and the Ancient World is run by the Department of Greek and Latin. We are a collaborative department, working closely with our colleagues in History and Archaeology, as well as other departments, including Hebrew and Jewish Studies, Philosophy, and English.
You join a large cohort of students who share your interest in the ancient world and will have access to an unparalleled range of options: from Roman Love Poetry to Greek Palaeography, from Ancient Greek Religion to Roman Epic, from Hittite to Egyptian Archaeology.
UCL has excellent library facilities, and is ideally situated close to world-renowned resources such as the British Museum, the British Library and the Institute of Classical Studies.
The lively student-run Classics Society organises an annual Classical play (a Greek or Latin drama in translation), which is shown at the Bloomsbury Theatre, as well as other events.
Teaching and learning
In each year of your degree you will take a number of individual modules, normally valued at 15 or 30 credits, adding up to a total of 120 credits for the year. Modules are assessed in the academic year in which they are taken. The balance of compulsory and optional modules varies from programme to programme and year to year. A 30-credit module is considered equivalent to 15 credits in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).
Upon successful completion of 480 credits, you will be awarded a BA (Hons) in Classics and the Ancient World with Study Abroad.
Modules
Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.
-
In the first year, all students on this degree programme take the compulsory module ‘Approaches to Studying Classics and the Ancient World’, which introduces you to all the sub-disciplines of study of the Ancient World: the term ‘Classics’ and its definition, the history or scholarship, methods and approaches in each subfield, key reference works and databases as well as research skills.
Across all years of study, you take a certain number of modules in the areas of language and literature. In the final year, supported by a tutor, you write a final-year dissertation on a topic of your choice and in line with the specialism of your programme route.
Please see the Greek and Latin departmental page for specific details about the compulsory modules for each route.
Compulsory modules
Compulsory modules
Optional modules
Your learning
You will be taught through lectures, seminars and small-group work. Some modules involve direct study of artefacts, including access to the collections of the British Museum.
Typical contact hours vary between 8-12 hours per week, depending on the year of study and module choice, and include lectures, seminars, practice-based activities and e-learning activities. You also pursue independent study (25-30 hours per week), for example, by engaging with key topics and required readings in preparation for class discussion.
Assessment
Most modules combine both in-course continuous assessment and end-of-year written examinations. Some modules are assessed solely by one of these methods.
Accessibility
Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services team.
Visit us
Online - Open day
Greek and Latin information video
Watch this video to find out more about Greek and Latin at UCL, including entry requirements, course structure and other helpful information. Recorded Spring 2024.
The foundation of your career
The Classics and the Ancient World with Year Abroad BA is a rigorous and broad-ranging degree which qualifies you for a remarkably wide variety of jobs. The Department and the Classics Society hosts regular talks from former students, which may help guide you in your future career choices.
Approximately 70% of UCL Greek and Latin graduates went on to postgraduate study or graduate level work in a variety of fields including: teaching, law, IT, accountancy, marketing, financial services, the creative arts, the media, the voluntary sector, policy and government.*
*Graduate Outcomes survey carried out by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), looking at the destinations of UK and EU graduates in the 2017-2022 cohorts.
Employability
Knowledge of ancient languages allows you to develop mental agility and versatility, equipping you with the ability to learn modern languages with comparative ease, opening up a wide range of careers for the future. This degree includes proficiency in a modern language, in addition to knowledge of ancient languages, which opens up the option of a career internationally.
Fees and funding
Fees for this course
| Fee description | Full-time |
|---|---|
| Tuition fees (2025/26) | £9,535 |
| Tuition fees (2025/26) | £29,800 |
Fees are for Undergraduate 2025/26 entry and are for the first year only. Fees for subsequent years may be subject to increase: Student Terms and Conditions. UK fees are in line with the Government announcement on fee cap increases and are subject to the passing of secondary legislation. Overseas fees shown are the fees that will be charged to 2025/26 entrants for each year of study on the programme, unless otherwise indicated below.
Full details of UCL's tuition fees, tuition fee policy and potential increases to fees can be found on the UCL Students website.
Additional costs
The department strives to keep additional costs low within the range of £50-£100. There may be site visits within central London, incurring travel and entry costs. Some modules may require specific books, but purchase is not mandatory as copies are also available in the library. Module descriptions and recommended texts are outlined each year on the UCL Greek and Latin website, normally from February of the preceding academic year.
Please note that study abroad during your programme at UCL is likely to incur additional costs. Studying abroad may cost between £200–£1,000 per month depending on where you choose to study. The cost of studying abroad can be difficult to predict as it will depend on your priorities and choices. There is more information available on the UCL Study Abroad website.
For in-person teaching, UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £114.50. This price was published by TfL in 2024. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide. If you are concerned by potential additional costs for books, equipment, etc., please get in touch with the relevant departmental contact (details given on this page).
Funding your studies
Various funding options are available, including student loans, scholarships and bursaries. UK students whose household income falls below a certain level may also be eligible for a non-repayable bursary or for certain scholarships. Please see the Fees and funding pages for more details.
Scholarships
The Scholarships and Funding website lists scholarships and funding schemes available to UCL students. These may be open to all students, or restricted to specific nationalities, regions or academic department.
Next steps
Your application
We seek to select candidates who, in addition to academic achievement, have the motivation and passion for language learning, for close textual analysis, for inter-cultural inquiry, and who have a deep commitment to developing and finessing their language proficiency to an advanced level.
How to apply
Application for admission should be made through UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). Applicants currently at school or college will be provided with advice on the process; however, applicants who have left school or who are based outside the United Kingdom may obtain information directly from UCAS.
Selection
For further information on UCL's selection process see: How we assess your application.
Each application is carefully assessed. Applicants will be asked to specify their preferred route on receipt of application. Offer holders will be invited to an open day, which will include a Q&A with staff and current students where applicants can discuss the degree programme, studying at UCL, living in London, and take a tour of the campus.
Got questions? Get in touch
UCL is regulated by the Office for Students.