Greek

Knowledge of ancient Greek is the key not only to a literature of enormous richness but also to an in-depth understanding of a fascinating culture whose influence on Western thought, art, science, and politics has been profound and enduring. The MA (Hons) in Greek at St Andrews develops your Greek language skills from an early stage through to a high level of reading competence, allowing you to engage directly with the epic poetry of Homer, the tragedies of Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides, the comedies of Aristophanes, the philosophical works of Plato and Aristotle, and the histories of Thucydides and Herodotus. Alongside the language, you will develop skills of literary and cultural analysis that are important not only for understanding ancient texts but for engaging with complex arguments and problems in our own culture too.

At the University of St Andrews, this four-year full-time MA (Hons) programme is taught within one of the UK's strongest departments for classical languages, with expert staff who bring research in Greek literature, religion, philosophy, and history to their teaching. You will develop your Greek progressively, moving from the foundations of the language through increasingly demanding texts and periods, and engage with the cultural, political, social, and religious world of ancient Greece alongside the literary tradition. A year abroad is available, giving you the opportunity to engage with Greek studies in another educational context.

With a typical entry tariff of 200 UCAS points, this is a highly competitive programme at one of the UK's most prestigious universities. Graduates pursue careers in education, academic research, law, the civil service, journalism, publishing, heritage, and the many analytical and communication-intensive professions where the training in close reading, critical argument, and cultural knowledge that classical languages provides is genuinely valued. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in Greek, classics, ancient history, or philosophy.