Classical Civilisation

Classical civilisation is the study of the Greek and Roman worlds in their full complexity, from Homer and the earliest Greek poets to the late Roman Empire and the long afterlife of classical culture that has shaped European thought, art, literature, and politics ever since. Unlike classical languages degrees, which emphasise reading ancient texts in the original, classical civilisation is conducted primarily through primary sources in translation, making the full sweep of ancient history, literature, philosophy, archaeology, and culture accessible to students without prior Latin or Greek.

At Leeds you will engage with ancient literature including epic, tragedy, comedy, history, and philosophy alongside the visual and material culture of the Greek and Roman worlds. You will study how ancient societies organised themselves politically, socially, and economically, and how they understood religion, death, gender, and the natural world. The programme takes seriously the reception of antiquity, examining how classical texts and images have been interpreted, adapted, and contested from the Renaissance to the present day, making it a degree in cultural history as much as ancient history.

The three-year full-time programme includes a sandwich placement year and a year abroad, giving you both professional experience and the chance to engage with classical culture in a European context.

Graduates move into careers in teaching, academia, journalism, publishing, heritage and museum work, the civil service, law, communications, and the arts. Classical civilisation develops the capacity to read critically, argue precisely, and understand the deep cultural roots of Western society, skills that translate readily into a wide range of professional contexts. Many students continue to postgraduate study in classics, ancient history, or related humanities fields.