Classics/Politics

Classics is the study of the ancient Greek and Roman worlds in their full complexity, encompassing literature in both languages, history, philosophy, art, archaeology, and the material culture of two civilisations whose influence on Western thought, law, and politics has been immeasurable. Politics, studied alongside it, examines how power is organised, exercised and contested in the modern world, drawing on political theory, comparative government, and international relations to make sense of contemporary democracies and the challenges they face. The combination is particularly fertile: classical thought is the foundation of modern political theory, and the ancient world provides a rich laboratory for comparative and historical analysis of political systems.

At the University of Glasgow you will study this joint degree over four years, with a year abroad embedded in the programme. In Classics you will engage with Greek and Roman texts, history and culture, with the option to study Latin and ancient Greek at any level of prior experience. In Politics you will examine modern political institutions, ideologies and international dynamics, building the theoretical and analytical skills that political science requires.

The year abroad extends both dimensions, giving you access to different scholarly traditions and political contexts.

Graduates of this combination bring together historical depth, linguistic and textual precision, and contemporary political analysis in a way that is genuinely distinctive. Careers include the civil service and public administration, law (usually after further training), political research and consultancy, journalism and broadcasting, heritage, museum and archival work, publishing, and education. The analytical and communication skills developed across both disciplines are valued wherever complex information needs to be understood and clearly explained.

Postgraduate study in classical studies, ancient history, political theory, international relations or a related field is a well-established path for those wishing to develop specialist expertise.