UNDERGRADUATE COURSES


We offer full courses in three subjects, Classical Civilisation, Greek, and Latin, all of them designed to give a thorough view of ancient writing and society through study of the original sources. These may be combined in various ways, as explained below.

No knowledge of the classical languages, or indeed of anything classical, is required at entry to University. Greek and Latin may be studied in beginners' courses or in advanced courses, as appropriate.

There are various modes of studying classical subjects. You can either:

The following courses are given at each level:

First level: Classical Civilisation 1A, 1B; Greek 1A, 1B, Latin 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D

Second level: Classical Civilisation 2A, 2B; Greek 2A, 2B; Latin 2A, 2B

Third level: Classical Civilisation 3A, 3B; Greek 3A, 3B; Latin 3 (double module)

Note: an "A" module lasts from October to January, a "B" module from February to June. Teaching is given in modules in the first two years (= "pre-Honours"), but the various courses at Honours level (normally your third and fourth years) vary in duration from one term to two years. Modules are assessed by a mixture of coursework and examination, Honours work mainly by examination.

Honours level:

N.B. Some changes have just been proposed to our Honours Courses. These will increase the possible combinations of classical subjects and enhance the choice of options; they also include some new options. Full details will be given as soon as these are approved by the University Senate; meanwhile provisional details may be obtained from the department.

You may take one of Classical Civilisation, Greek, or Latin either as a Single Honours degree or in Combined (alias "Joint") Honours with another subject. There are some twenty other subjects which may be so combined with a classical one, mostly in the Faculty of Arts but some in the Faculty of Social Sciences. Recent combinations taken by our students include Classical Civilisation and Archaeology, Greek and English Literature, Latin and Politics.

There is a varied range of options in all three classical subjects at Honours level; and as well as the papers outlined below it is possible to take one paper offered by another department.


NOTE ON ADMISSIONS PROCEDURES AND OPEN DAYS

For full information, students should consult the Student Recruitment & Admissions Service, but prospective non-graduating students should make inquiries and applications to the Office for International Programmes.

An important point is that you apply not to the department itself, but to the Faculty of Arts. It is the Faculty's admissions officers who examine your application, and if successful, your place is in the Faculty as a whole. This does not in any way affect the possibility of doing your chosen subject.

Your final choice of courses is not made until the beginning of your first term; and again at the beginning of second year you will still have an element of choice. Application to the Honours course(s) of your choise is usually made in the summer of your second year. The various pathways and prerequisites will be carefully explained in due course.

The Faculty seldom enters Clearing, but any enquiries to the Head of Department at that stage will be welcomed and passed on to the Admissions Officers.

Open Days
There are Faculty Open Days in February and March of each year, to give you opportunities to meet members of the Classics staff and find out more about the department and the University.

In September of each year there is normally a "Highers Open Day" for Classics students in (mainly) Scottish schools. This is usually devoted to talks and lectures on books and topics from the current syllabuses.

Enquiries, whether by post, telephone, e-mail or fax are welcomed at any time.



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