Program description
Classics MA Hons
Greek and Latin literature is some of the most moving and thought-provoking writing produced in any world culture. To study it in the original languages is to enter the thought-world of two vibrant societies which have profoundly influenced cultures around the world. The MA (Hons) in Classics will develop your Latin and Greek language skills. It will also develop skills of literary and cultural analysis which are powerful tools for understanding complex texts and problems in today’s world .
The course will challenge you to engage in depth with a wide range of Greek and Latin texts, from epic poetry and tragedy, to historiography, philosophy, satire and love elegy. You will develop the skills to read and understand these texts in the original languages. In doing so, you will learn about the society, culture, politics and philosophy of the Greeks and Romans. You will also have opportunities also to study complementary subjects such as Ancient History and Archaeology.
Admission requirements
These grades are the overall standards required to consider you for entry. Find out more about Standard, Minimum and Gateway entry requirements using academic entry explained and see which entry requirements you need to look at using the entry requirements indicator.
- SQA Highers
- GCE A-Levels
- IB points
International applicants
If English is not your first language you will need an overall IELTS score of 7.0, with a minimum score of 6.5 in each component (Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking), or an equivalent English language qualification.
For more information about admission requirements, please visit the university website.
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Learn moreProgram content
First Year
Students will take two Greek modules and two Latin modules. The modules you take are dependent on your knowledge of Latin and Greek prior to the course.
Greek
Beginners in Greek will take the following two compulsory modules:\
- Greek Language for Beginners
- Greek Literature for Beginners
Students who have studied Greek to SQA Higher level, A-level, or equivalent will take the following two compulsory modules:
- Greek Language and Literature 1
- Greek Pastoral and Passion
Latin
Beginners in Latin will take the following two modules:
- Elementary Latin 1
- Elementary Latin 2
Students who have studied Latin to SQA Higher, GCE A-level or equivalent will take the following two modules:
- World of Latin 1
- World of Latin 2
Second Year
Students will take two Greek modules and two Latin modules. The modules you take are dependent on your knowledge of Latin and Greek prior to the course.
Greek
Ex-beginners in Greek will take the following two compulsory modules:
- The Landscape of Greek Prose (B)
- The Landscape of Greek Poetry (B)
Students who have studied Greek to SQA Higher, GCE A-level or equivalent will take the following two compulsory modules:
- The Landscape of Greek Prose (A)
- The Landscape of Greek Poetry (A)
Latin
Ex-beginners in Latin will take the following two compulsory modules:
- Latin in Progress 1
- Latin in Progress 2
Students who have studied Latin to SQA Higher, GCE A-level or equivalent will take the following two compulsory modules:
- Latin Language and Literature 1
- Latin Language and Literature 2
Third Year
If you decide to take Classics in your third and fourth years, you will do a minimum of three modules in Greek and three in Latin, and then you can focus the rest of your Honours modules on one classical language or the other, or balance your program with a mixture of both.
Here is a sample of Honours modules which have been offered in previous years:
- Floating Words: Anonymous Writing in Ancient Rome
- Greeks and Barbarians
- Greeks on Education
- Greek Tragedy
- Imagining the Symposium
- Latin Letters
- Lies, History and Ideology
- Roman Biography
- Roman Comedy
- Roman Epic
- Roman Satire
- ‘Satire’, sex and society: Greek ‘Old Comedy’
- Senecan Tragedy
- Texts and Objects in the Greek World
- The Art of Translation: Ovid in English
- The Gods of Greek Literature
- The History of Ancient Greek from Homer to the New Testament
- Violence in Early Greek Poetry
- Women in Myth.
In fourth year, students may undertake a 10,000-word dissertation on a topic of their choice. This independent project enables you to develop key research skills which are desired by both prospective employers and by graduate schools offering postgraduate degrees.
Scholarships & funding
Several scholarship options are available. Please check the university website for more information.
Program delivery
When not attending lectures, tutorials and reading classes, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve:
- reading Greek and Latin texts
- practising language and translation skills
- reading journal articles and books
- undertaking research in the library
- working on individual projects
- preparing coursework assignments and presentations
- preparing for examinations.
Tuition fees
Career opportunities
Classics students at St Andrews have traditionally moved into a very wide range of careers upon graduating. Some continue their academic careers via a postgraduate training degree or doctoral study either in St Andrews or at another university. Other students have often progressed to postgraduate qualifications in teaching, law or finance.
Recent classics graduates have moved into careers in:
- law
- marketing
- museums and heritage
- journalism
- the theatre
- civil service
- teaching
- finance
- applied computing.
A degree in classics will provide you with transferable skills that will equip you for a future career in many sectors. These skills include:
- flexible thinking
- understanding a range of viewpoints and critical approaches
- exercising reflection and critical judgment
- gathering, memorising, organising and deploying information
- better understanding of modern languages
- time management
- project planning
- independent work
- group work
- oral and written expression.
Contact school
About this institute
University of St Andrews
The University of St Andrews is Scotland’s first University. As a 600 year-old institution, we are known across the globe for our world leading quality and depth of research. For six centuries some of the world’s brightest and most promising...
Why study at University of St Andrews
The University of St Andrews is situated in a truly beautiful location. Part of a seaside town it is a picturesque and inspirational location to pursue your studies, where you will have the thinking space needed to be your very best. As a smaller university our size is one of our greatest strengths with class sizes allowing for a close and individual learning experience and giving great access and support from your teachers.
Graduates of St Andrews are highly sought after by employers around the world due to our reputation for excellence. A qualification from St Andrews will help you reach your ambitions and kickstart your career.
Consistently ranked as the best student academic experience in the UK by students in the National Student Survey, your time as a student in St Andrews will be unique and rewarding, leaving you with a prestigious qualification, but also memories and connections to treasure for years to come.
Contact info
University of St Andrews
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