Classics

Classics is the study of the ancient Greek and Roman worlds through their languages, literatures, histories, philosophies, and material cultures. It is among the oldest of the university disciplines, and it remains one of the most demanding and intellectually rewarding, not because it deals with the distant past but because the questions that ancient thinkers raised about justice, democracy, the nature of knowledge, the proper conduct of war, and the relationship between the individual and society are still very much alive. Engaging with ancient thought on its own terms, in its own languages, is a uniquely formative intellectual experience.

At the University of Bristol you will study across three years on a full-time programme, with a foundation year available to provide thorough preparation for degree-level work. Bristol's classics department engages with real-world issues through the lens of the ancient world, asking what Greek and Roman thought can contribute to contemporary debates about gender and sexuality, law and crime, health and wellbeing, and power and identity. You will have the opportunity to study Greek and Latin at whatever level you enter, including beginners, and to develop your proficiency through close reading of texts in the original.

Alongside language study you will explore ancient history, archaeology, philosophy, and literary and cultural criticism, developing the analytical and interpretive skills that the discipline demands. Seminars, tutorials, and independent study combine to develop close reading, sustained argument, and clear writing as the core intellectual competencies of the degree.

Classics graduates are among the most intellectually prepared of any cohort for demanding professional and academic careers. Law, the civil service, journalism, publishing, politics, and management consultancy all attract graduates who can think rigorously, argue precisely, and communicate with clarity. Teaching classics at secondary level and academic careers in classics, ancient history, or philosophy are well-established directions.

Many graduates proceed to postgraduate study in classics, ancient history, philosophy, archaeology, or law, and Bristol's research environment provides excellent preparation for the most competitive postgraduate programmes.