BA Classical Studies
About this course
BA Classical Studies is an undergraduate humanities degree focused on the literature, history, and material culture of ancient Greece and Rome. Core topics include Research Methods. Students can optionally undertake a placement year or study abroad for a year. The first year covers foundational study through compulsory modules such as Texts, Readers and Writers, Ancient Song, Greek History: War, Society and Change in the Archaic Age, and The Past in the Present, alongside optional choices like Roman History: The Rise and Fall of the Republic and Ancient Greek 1-3. The second year progresses to deeper exploration with compulsory modules including Ancient Epic, Ancient Drama, and Careers for Classicists and Ancient Historians or Careers for Classicists and Ancient Historians with Placement, while optional modules cover areas such as Greek Sculpture and Architecture and Ancient Egyptian Language and Hieroglyphs. In the final year, students can complete a Dissertation in Classics or Independent Project in Classics alongside advanced options like Aristotle: Philology, Philosophy, Politics and Ancient Ethiopia: The Aksumite Kingdom.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
A level: BBB IB: 30 points overall
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What students say
Based on about 12 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 98%
- Learning opportunities: 88%
- Assessment and feedback: 88%
- Academic support: 100%
- Organisation and management: 90%
- Learning resources: 98%
- Student voice: 89%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 20 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 95%
- Left higher education: 5%
What graduates do next
Based on about 8 graduates who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 65%
- Working and studying: 15%
- Further study: 15%
Most common jobs
- Teaching and Childcare Support Occupation: 15%
- Elementary occupations: 15%
- Business and public service associate professionals: 10%
- Managers, directors and senior officials: 10%
- Sales occupations: 10%
- Find their work meaningful: 65%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 55%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 50%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 65 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 3%
- North West: 2%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 2%
- East Midlands: 4%
- West Midlands: 3%
- East of England: 19%
- London: 25%
- South East: 29%
- South West: 11%
- Wales: 2%
- Northern Ireland: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 15 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 100%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Silver for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- Texts, Readers and Writers
- Ancient Song
- Greek History: War, Society and Change in the Archaic Age
- The Past in the Present
- Roman History: The Rise and Fall of the Republic
- Latin 1-3
- Ancient Greek 1-3
- Presenting the Past: An Introduction to Museum Studies
- Optional Language or University Wide Modules
- Ancient Epic
- Ancient Drama
- Careers for Classicists and Ancient Historians
- Careers for Classicists and Ancient Historians with Placement
- Greek History: Persian Wars to Alexander
- Roman History: From Republic to Empire
- Ancient Greek 1-4
- Latin 1-4
- Greek Sculpture and Architecture
- My Mother's Sin and Other Stories
- Museum Learning and Engagement
- Entertainment and Leisure in Roman Society
- Ancient Egyptian Language and Hieroglyphs
- Optional Language and University Wide Modules
- Dissertation in Classics
- Independent Project in Classics
- Latin 1-6
- Ancient Greek 1-6
- 'Race' and Ethnicity in the Ancient Greek and Roman Worlds
- From Classroom to Courtroom: Mastering the Art of Persuasion in the Ancient World
- Optional Language or University Wide Modules
- History, Culture, and Society in the Time of Nero
- Aristotle: Philology, Philosophy, Politics
- Ancient Biography
- Xenophon's Anabasis
- Ancient Ethiopia: The Aksumite Kingdom
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Classical Studies at University of Reading earn?
The median salary is £25,000 after 15 months, £22,000 after 3 years, £27,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £22,500 and £34,000. The £27,000 median after five years is £4,500 less than the UK median for Classics.
What do graduates of BA Classical Studies at University of Reading do next?
100% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Classical Studies at University of Reading?
98% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA Classical Studies at University of Reading?
The typical offer is BBB at A level, or 30 points in the IB. The average entrant had 126 UCAS points.
Does BA Classical Studies at University of Reading include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has an optional placement year and an optional year abroad.
How many students continue on BA Classical Studies at University of Reading?
95% of students continued into their second year, and 5% left higher education.