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BA Classics

Start date
September
Duration
3 years
UCAS code
Q800
Course Type
Undergraduate, Single Honours
Fees

Annual tuition fees for 2025/26:
£9,535 (UK)
£24,470 (International)
More detail.

Our BA Classics degree at the University of Birmingham will enable you to explore the classical world and gain expertise in both Greek and Latin by reading in the original languages. If you have studied Latin at A level and are looking to further your Latin knowledge, then this varied and interdisciplinary degree programme is for you.

You will encounter the classical world in all its diversity — exploring its literature, culture, religion and history, and the many ways in which classical antiquity lives on in our world today. By reading sources in the original languages, you will be able to understand Greek and Latin in greater depth.  

 Our degree offers you an exciting opportunity to explore not only the classical civilisations of Greece and Rome, but also the cultures of Egypt and the Byzantine Empire. You will have access to a range of learning resources including the Classics, Ancient History and Archaeology Museum and the Eton Myers Collection.  

 If you’re interested in Classics but are not currently studying Latin at A Level and do not have a Grade 7 in Latin or Modern Language at GCSE level, you may be interested in our companion course, Classical Literature and Civilisation.  

International undergraduate scholarships available in the College of Arts and Law

We are proud to offer 10 scholarships to international students in the form of £3,000 tuition fee awards for year one entry only.

Learn more about our scholarships and apply

 

First year compulsory modules cover such different and interesting areas of ancient history, literature and archaeology that I don't feel restricted in my learning. All the modules are interesting, the lecturers are engaging and I can't wait for the study tour next year.

Jessica

Why study this course?

BA Classics is for you if you want to...

  • Experience unique study tours – Our unique Study Tour gives you the opportunity to undertake travel to countries such as Italy and Greece to visit sites, monuments and museums of interest.
  • Immerse yourself in an ancient language – Take advantage of learning another languages and dive deeper into literatures that will shape your knowledge of the Classics.
  • Enjoy personalised support – Benefit from smaller class sizes including one-to-one support on coursework and feedback whilst also becoming part of our ever-growing careers network of highly skilled graduates. 
  • Learn from the very best – You will study alongside some of the finest minds in the field. We are 8th in the country for our performance in the latest Research Excellence Framework exercise 2021 (based on 4* research). 
  • Have unparalleled access to history - Explore our Cadbury Research Libraries collections consisting of over 200,000 rare books dating from 1471 and more than four million manuscript items.

Modules

Please note: You will take 120 credits of modules in each year of study. The modules listed on the website for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods. Unless indicated otherwise, the modules listed for this programme are for students starting in 2025. On rare occasions, we may need to make unexpected changes to compulsory modules; in this event we will contact offer holders as soon as possible to inform or consult them as appropriate.

First year

Compulsory modules

  • The Roman World (20 credits)
  • Project A (10 credits)
  • Project B (10 credits)
  • Greek World (20 credits)
  • Rethinking the Ancient World A: Mythology and Identity (10 credits)
  • Rethinking the Ancient World B: Other Voices (10 credits)

Optional modules

  • 40 credits of language modules depending on your existing language qualifications.

Detailed descriptions of first year Classics modules

Second year

Compulsory modules

  • CAHA Study Tour (20 credits)
  • Classical Epic (20 credits)

Optional modules 

  • Students take 80 credits of optional modules; including appropriate level language modules. Language module selection will depend on how many credits have already been achieved at level LC, as students must complete 40 credits or more of Language modules by the end of their degree to quality for BA Classics. It is expected that BA Classics students will study languages in all three years of their degree. Students with A-Level Latin choose 60 credits of optional modules, which may include LI Latin Texts AND/OR LI Greek Texts. Students without A-Level Latin choose ONE 20 credit optional module in Semester 2. Students with A-Level Latin and Greek choose 80 credits of optional modules, which may include LI Latin Texts AND/OR LI Greek Texts (as above).

Detailed descriptions of second year Classics modules

Year Abroad

You can apply to study abroad for a year in an approved university around the world. If you achieve a grade of 2.1 or above in your first year, you will be eligible to apply for a Year Abroad in your second year. If your application is successful, you will go abroad in your third year and return to us for your final year.

More about a Year Abroad

Final year

Compulsory modules

  • Classics Dissertation (40 credits)

Optional modules 

  • 80 credits of optional modules including language modules, which may include 20 credits of language modules.

Detailed descriptions of final year Classics modules

Fees

The University will charge the maximum approved tuition fee per year. If your offer is for 2025 year of entry, we expect that the tuition fee for your first year of study will be £9,535. If Parliament agrees on an increase in tuition fees, the University will increase fees for each year of study normally in line with these changes and will communicate any change in the fees to you without delay. If you are applying for 2026 year of entry, you will be advised of the annual tuition fee closer to the time. Visit our tuition fees page for more information.

Fees for 2025/26 are as follows:

  • UK: £9,535
  • International: £24,470

Eligibility for fees can be verified with Admissions. Learn more about fees for international students.

For further information on tuition fees, living costs and available financial support, please see our pages on undergraduate fees and funding.

Tuition fees when studying abroad

For those spending a whole academic year abroad (where available):

  • Students who are classed as UK for fees purposes are required to pay 15% of their normal annual tuition fee
  • Students who are classed as International for fee purposes are required to pay 50% of their normal annual tuition fee

For those studying abroad for just one semester (where available), normal annual tuition fees apply.

Note - Study abroad opportunities vary between courses; please see the course description for details of study abroad options offered.

Additional Course Costs

Approximately 33% of the cost of the study tour to a European country to visit sites and museums relevant to the study of the Ancient World. 

How To Apply

Standard offer

International Requirements



Number of A levels required:
3
Typical offer:
ABB
Required subjects and grades:
A level Latin at grade B, or GCSE Latin, Greek, or a Modern Language at grade 7 is required.
General Studies:
Accepted.

IB Diploma:
6,5,5 in Higher level subjects plus 32 points overall, including Latin / MFL or GCSE grade 7/A in Latin, Greek or a Modern Foreign Language.

BTEC qualifications:

  • BTEC Extended Diploma: DDM, plus a B at A level in the required subject/s mentioned above.
  • BTEC Diploma: DD, plus a B at A level in the required subject/s mentioned above.
  • BTEC Subsidiary Diploma: D, plus AB at A level, including the required subject/s mentioned above.

Other qualifications are considered - learn more about entry requirements.

Alternative offers through our Pathways to Birmingham programmes and our Contextual Offer scheme

Students who are eligible and successfully complete a Pathways to Birmingham programme will receive special consideration from admissions tutors and an alternative offer (typically two grades below the standard offer). In addition, our Contextual Offer Scheme recognises the potential of students whose personal circumstances may have restricted achievement in school or college. If you are eligible to benefit from the contextual offer scheme, you will receive an offer which is one grade lower than the standard offer.

International Students

We welcome applications from international students and invite you to join our vibrant community of over 4500 international students who represent 150 different countries. We accept a range of qualifications, our country pages show you what qualifications we accept from your country.

Depending on your chosen course of study, you may also be interested in one of our foundation pathways, which offer specially structured programmes for international students whose qualifications are not accepted for direct entry to UK universities. Further details can be found on Birmingham International Academy web pages.

Support

You will have access to a comprehensive support system to help you make the transition to higher education when you start at Birmingham. 

Personal tutors – You will be assigned your own personal tutor who will get to know you as you progress through your studies. They will provide academic support and advice to enable you to make the most of your time here at Birmingham.

Wellbeing Officers –You will also have access to dedicated wellbeing officers who provide professional support, advice and guidance to students across a range of issues. They can meet with you to discuss extensions, disabilities, reasonable adjustments, extenuating circumstances, or to talk through any problems you might be experiencing, and help you access wider support on campus and beyond if you need it.

Our Academic Skills Centre helps you to become a more effective and independent learner through a range of high-quality support services. The centre offers workshops on a range of topics, such as note-taking, reading, academic writing and presentation skills.

The Academic Writing Advisory Service (AWAS) provides guidance on writing essays and dissertations if you need it. You can receive individual support from an academic writing advisor and meet with postgraduate tutors who specialise in particular subjects too.

Our Student Experience Team will help you get the most out of your academic experience. They offer research opportunities, study skills support, and help you prepare for your post-university career. They also organise social events, including trips.

Teaching staff

Students at the University of Birmingham are taught by a mixture of professors, senior lecturers, lecturers and doctoral researchers, thereby receiving a rich diversity of academic knowledge and experience. Many of our teaching staff have published important works about their areas of expertise, whilst others have taught at international institutions and can offer unique perspectives of their subjects.

You can find out more about the members of staff (including their qualifications, publication history and specific areas of interest) in their academic profiles linked below.

Contact Hours

All Birmingham degrees are set within a credit framework designed to measure your academic achievements. We expect all students to accumulate 120 credits in each full year of study which is equivalent to 40 hours of learning a week. Learning is considered to include contact learning (lectures and seminars), private study, revision and assessment.

For this programme, those 40 hours are estimated to be broken down and split into lectures, seminars and other guided teaching opportunities and then independent study. This is a general rule across the entire academic year and may change week by week.

  • Year 1: 15% Lectures, seminars or similar and 85% Independent study
  • Year 2: 15% Lectures, seminars or similar and 85% Independent study
  • Year 3: 10% Lectures, seminars or similar and 90% Independent study

Assessment Methods

Assessments - you will be assessed in a variety of ways to help you transition to a new style of learning. At the beginning of each module, you will be given information on how and when you will be assessed. Assessments methods will vary with each module and could include:

  • coursework, such as essays
  • group and individual presentations
  • and exams

Feedback - you will receive feedback on each assessment within three weeks, so you can learn from each assignment. You will also be given feedback on any exams that you take. If you should fail an exam, we will ensure that particularly detailed feedback is provided to help you prepare for future exams.

 

Our unique degrees are designed to provide both academic excellence and vocational development; a balance that’s highly sought after by employers in today’s competitive graduate market.

Studying Classics involves analysing the ancient world in a political, social, and cultural context. This develops skills in research and analysis of complex information, working independently and as part of a team, and articulate communication of judgments and arguments. You will also have the opportunity to carry out self-directed project work, which improves self-management, organisation and research skills. The study of Latin and Greek develops analytical and verbal reasoning skills, discipline and application, and it supports the use of a rich and varied vocabulary.

You will be in high demand and well placed to forge a rewarding career in a variety of spheres, including

  • Law
  • Education
  • Media
  • Publishing
  • Local government
  • Museums and charities
  • Cultural and heritage organisations

Therefore studying Classics at the University of Birmingham opens doors to a wide range of careers. Some graduates will go onto undertake further study and research in pursuit of higher education. 

Developing your career

The University of Birmingham is the top choice for the UK's major employers searching for graduate recruits, according to The Graduate Market 2024 report. Our Careers Network are here to offer you tailored, expert advice on your career plans and support you with finding and applying for jobs, internships and further study. There are hundreds of events to help you meet potential employers and learn more about the breadth of opportunities and career sectors available to you.

Support will be offered to you covering the whole job application process, including CVs, LinkedIn, application forms, interviews and assessment centres.  You can also email our experienced Careers Advisors and College Teams to review your applications or answer any careers related question, alongside our on campus and online 1:1 appointments.

We have a number of exclusive work experience programmes such as our B-Experienced programme, which will give you professional experience to set you apart in the graduate market. We also offer work experience bursaries, which allow you to apply for funding to support you during any unpaid internships in the UK and rest of the world.

First years can take part in The Birmingham Project, with themes including celebrating arts and culture and shaping a global society. There’s also a successful Mentoring Programme, where you can gain access to experienced Mentors who can empower, inspire and inform you about their experiences.  As a University of Birmingham student you will also be given access to LinkedIn Learning giving free access to real world training courses to kick-start your careers.

If you want to earn money WorkLink advertises convenient part-time job opportunities on campus to fit round your studies.  

Extra-curricular activities

To enhance your career prospects even further, you may want to engage in extra-curricular activities to broaden your skills and your network of contacts. The Birmingham Award is the University of Birmingham’s employability programme, supporting you to develop and recognise the attributes you gain through extra-curricular activities. The award is supported by graduate employers and offers you an opportunity to showcase participation in activities outside of your degree programme.’

There are 300+ student groups and volunteering opportunities offered by the Guild of Students (our Students’ Union) so you’re bound to find activities that you want to be involved in whilst meeting friends who share your interests.