Classical Civilisation

Classical civilisation is the study of the ancient Greek and Roman worlds, approached through their literature, history, art, archaeology, philosophy, and the enduring influence they have exercised on Western culture and thought. It is an interdisciplinary discipline that does not require you to learn ancient languages, instead allowing you to engage with the full breadth of classical culture through works in translation alongside the material evidence of the ancient world: its buildings, sculpture, pottery, coins, and the landscapes in which they are found. Classical civilisation asks both what the ancient world was like and why it continues to matter.

At Nottingham this four-year full-time programme includes a foundation year, providing academic preparation for students who would benefit from additional grounding before the main degree. The full programme also includes a year abroad, giving you the opportunity to study classical civilisation in a different European or international context, deepening your engagement with the physical remains of antiquity or with the scholarly traditions of another country. Across the programme you will engage with ancient literature in translation, classical art and archaeology, ancient history, myth, religion, and the long afterlife of classical culture in art, literature, and political thought.

You will develop strong analytical, research, and writing skills alongside the contextual knowledge that the discipline demands.

Graduates of classical civilisation enter careers in the heritage sector, museums and galleries, archaeology, publishing, education, journalism, and the civil service, where the research, analytical, and communication skills the degree develops are consistently valued. The breadth of the discipline, spanning literary, historical, visual, and material culture, produces graduates who are intellectually flexible and widely capable. Postgraduate study in classical studies, ancient history, archaeology, or related humanities fields is a natural continuation for those who wish to deepen their expertise.