English and Modern Greek

English and Modern Greek is a combination that brings two of the world's great literary and linguistic traditions into dialogue. English literature and language studies offer engagement with one of the richest bodies of writing in existence, spanning a thousand years of poetry, drama, fiction, and criticism, while developing the analytical and interpretive skills that close reading and literary scholarship demand. Modern Greek connects you to a living language with ancient roots, to the literature, culture, and contemporary society of Greece and the Greek-speaking world, and to one of Europe's most historically layered intellectual traditions.

At Oxford, this four-year full-time programme combines practical linguistic training with critical analysis of texts from various periods and in both languages. Tutorials are the central mode of teaching, requiring you to prepare close arguments and defend them in one-to-one and small-group sessions with expert tutors, which develops intellectual rigour and the ability to think under scrutiny. The degree includes a year abroad, which gives you time to deepen your linguistic competence and cultural understanding in a Greek-speaking environment.

The typical entry tariff of 184 points reflects the highly competitive nature of entry at Oxford.

You will develop exceptional skills in close reading, textual analysis, and critical writing in both English and Modern Greek, alongside the cultural knowledge and linguistic proficiency to engage seriously with Hellenic literature and society.

Graduates pursue careers in publishing, journalism, academia, the cultural sector, diplomacy, translation and interpreting, law, and any field where sophisticated reading, writing, and communication skills are valued. The comparative range of the degree, spanning two quite different literary traditions, is an unusual asset in a competitive graduate market. Postgraduate study in English literature, Modern Greek studies, comparative literature, or linguistics is a well-established continuation.