Latin

Latin is one of the great literary languages of Western civilisation, the medium in which Roman poets, historians, philosophers and orators produced some of the most influential texts in the European tradition. Studying Latin at degree level means engaging with original works by Virgil, Cicero, Ovid, Tacitus, Livy and many others, developing both a refined command of the language and the critical understanding needed to interpret what those texts meant in their historical context and how they have been received and reinterpreted across subsequent centuries. It is a discipline that develops sustained attention, precision in reading and argument, and deep knowledge of one of the foundations of European culture.

At Royal Holloway you will study Latin over three years of full-time study, pursuing mastery of the language through engagement with original literary and historical texts alongside the ideas, artefacts and history of ancient Rome. A sandwich year and the opportunity for a year abroad extend the programme and provide the opportunity for academic engagement in an international context. Work placement is integrated into the programme, connecting your classical education to professional contexts.

The typical tariff of 120 reflects a programme that is demanding in its linguistic and analytical expectations but genuinely open to students who bring both enthusiasm for the subject and the commitment to engage with it seriously.

Graduates of Latin and classical studies programmes work in education, where classics teachers are valued and often rare, in publishing, heritage, museums, archives, the civil service, law, journalism and a wide range of professional roles where the intellectual formation provided by classical study is recognised. Many graduates pursue postgraduate study in classics, ancient history, classical reception or related fields. The analytical rigour, linguistic precision and cultural knowledge developed through Latin study are consistently valued by employers across sectors, and the discipline has a track record of producing graduates who think with unusual clarity and argue with unusual care.