The Cambridge course initially encompasses the languages and literatures, the art and archaeology, the history and philosophy of ancient Greece and Rome. But Classics at Cambridge isn’t just studied as a period in the past. We also look at how ancient languages, literatures, art and thought have affected later ages right up to the present day. Our Classics community at King’s has an exceptional reputation for teaching and research, and we try our best to help you realise your potential as a student of the ancient world and its myriad receptions and forge your own way through the field.
The Classics Tripos is a three-year course if you have had a chance to learn Latin and/or Greek up to A-level (or equivalent) at school, or a four-year course if you haven’t. In the four-year course you take up both languages from scratch, with the first year mostly devoted to learning Latin:
Preliminary year (four-year course only) (= settling in): devoted mainly to Latin – but also to exploring the study of the ancient world in all its variety.
First year: Part IA (= laying foundations): you’ll study Latin, start or continue with ancient Greek (many of our students have not studied ancient Greek before; a few come with Greek A-Level: we cater for all comers) and explore the various aspects that make up Classics: the literatures, histories, philosophy, art and architecture, and linguistics of ancient Greece and Rome.
Second year: Part IB (= digging deeper): you’ll continue with Greek and Latin, and study more Greek and Roman literature. In addition, you choose two of the four other subjects (philosophy, history, art and archaeology, linguistics) for more in-depth study.
Third year: Part II (= be yourself): there is a wide range of options on offer, also from neighbouring disciplines, including the chance to write a dissertation on a topic of your own design): choose the four that most appeal to you!
Classics at Cambridge
Undergraduate students and staff talk about studying Classics at the University of Cambridge. To find out more about this course, see www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk While every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in this video is accurate at the time it was uploaded, changes are likely to occur. It is therefore very important that you check the University and College websites for any updates before you apply for the course by visiting…
Number of students per year: six to eight
Typical offer: A*AA or equivalent
King’s is an inspirational place to study Classics, and has one of the largest Classics communities in the University. You benefit from:
- long and lively meetings of the King’s Classical Society
- 24/7 access to the College Library
- close proximity to the Faculty (5 minutes walk [there’s a challenge!])
- joining a global community (you will find people who have studied at King’s teaching in Classics departments all over the world)
- AND, most importantly, a distinctive style of teaching and close personal and intellectual relationships with your supervisors:
Fellows at King's in Classics:
Latin literature (especially Cicero, Virgil, and Ovid); Roman culture; literary and social theory.
Greek political, social, economic and cultural history; the history of Greek art; classical archaeology.
Menander, 5th and 4th Century Athenian Cultural History.
Greek Tragedy; Greek Culture; Literary Theory; Later Greek Literature; Reception.
Greek and Latin literature, philosophy, history, and art; themes in ancient and neo-classical culture; history of classical commentary.
The numbers admitted in Classics at King's vary from year to year, but we rarely admit fewer than six or more than eight students each year. Although there are plenty of obstacles to learning Classics, we have all sorts of ways of overcoming them, and Classicists here come from every kind of educational background. You simply have to be an enthusiast for all things classical!
Subject Requirements
If you are applying for the three year course, you will be expected to have studied Latin to A level. If you are applying for the four year course, we do not require any specific subjects to have been studied.
Subjects that offer a grounding in the skills required for the course, such as languages, classical civilisation, English (language or literature), history, history of art and literary criticism, are particularly useful, but we are happy to admit students with a science-based backgrounds as well.
Written Work
After you apply you (for both 3 and 4 year courses) need to send two marked pieces of written work so that we can see how you think on paper. At least one should be in essay format. We provide information to all applicants how to submit this.
Interviews
If you are invited for interview at King's, these will take place in early December. We will explore with you texts and topics with which you are already familiar to find out what you can do with that knowledge, much as we explore what undergraduates can do with the knowledge they have just acquired in the weekly supervisions.
Giselle has written about their experiences of studying Classics, including what attracted them to the course, the application process, enjoying extra-curricular activities, and the community at King's. Her account is well worth reading to get a sense of what studying Classics at King's is really like.
There is no required reading for Classics applicants but the Director of Studies has provided advice and reading suggestions which you will find useful. We also recommend you explore the Greeks, the Romans & Us (the Cambridge Classics website for prospective students - linked below). If you visit Cambridge, you might like to go to the Museum of Classical Archaeology (there's a highlights pack which may help).
If you can come to an Open Day, you will be very welcome. But if it suits you to arrange a more personal visit we are very happy to meet you so that you can find out what it's really like to study here. Do just contact the Admissions Office. Events which may be of interest in the year before you apply (year 12 in the UK) include Oxford and Cambridge Student Conferences, the Oxbridge Classics Open Day, Classics Taster Day, Sixth Form Study Days, and King's Open Days. Students from backgrounds where there is little tradition of entry to Higher Education might like to think about applying for the Sutton Trust Summer Schools or the CUSU Shadowing Scheme.
