Classical Studies, BA (Hons)

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Course Overview

Classical Studies focuses on the literature of the ancient Greek and Roman worlds, along with the cultures that created it. Studying this three-year BA degree will allow you to read all kinds of texts in translation from around the ancient Mediterranean and develop an understanding of Greek and Roman culture from the archaic period to the fall of the Roman Empire and beyond. You will explore the stories and mythology of Greece and Rome and learn how to perform close analysis with an eye for detail. You may investigate familiar texts, such as epics and tragedies, as well as often overlooked genres from the ancient world, including novels and satire.

While the ancient materials you will study might appear distant from the present day, they have influenced and interacted with western and global cultures right up to now. You will be able to access cultural artefacts which illuminate Greek and Roman history and society, architecture and archaeology, warfare and empire, gender and religion, philosophy, politics and economics–or learn about ancient Egypt (as ancient to the Greeks as those peoples are to us). You can also learn how to develop new, cutting-edge research on marvellous old things.

As part of single honours Classical Studies, you could also opt to pursue one of six more specific dedicated pathways: Greek, Latin, Classics (which is both Greek and Latin), Egyptology, English Literature, and Philosophy. 

This three-year BA honours degree aims to equip you with skills that enhance your future employability in a broad range of careers, by developing your interest and passion for antiquity in all its aspects, especially the texts that have managed to survive for so long. The feel for the creativity of ancient authors and flair for in-depth analysis which we hope to inspire in you will set you apart in the eyes of employers.

Why Classical Studies at Swansea?

We are based in our stunning Singleton Park campus, in parkland overlooking Swansea Bay on the edge of the Gower Peninsula.

Classics at Swansea is ranked:

  • 2nd in the UK for Student Experience (Times Good University Guide 2025)
  • 2nd in the UK for Teaching Quality (Times Good University Guide 2025)
  • Top 5 in the UK for Teaching Satisfaction (Guardian University Guide 2025)
  • UK Top 20 for Graduate Outcomes (Complete University Guide 2025)

If you so desire, you will have the option to study a semester abroad in a location such as the USA, Canada, China, Hong Kong, or Singapore, during your second year, or to spend a full year abroad after your second year.

We have a study trip module which affords you the opportunity to bolster your in-depth study of classical lands overseas by seeing one in real life. Closer to home, the first-year heritage module will, should you choose to do it, give you insight into the past in its place here in fertile and storied Wales.

Your Classical Studies Experience

During your first year, you will be introduced to the ways in which Greeks and Romans came up with their myths, by investigating approaches to storytelling, including the study of Greek tragedy and Ovid’s brilliant and compendious poem, the Metamorphoses. You may also study some Greek and Roman history, or ancient philosophy and rhetoric, to give you a grounding in the worlds which shaped the texts you read. And you could start learning some Latin or ancient Greek as a way to get a greater appreciation for the original authors’ use of language.

In your second year, you can do a module on how to perform what we call ‘close reading’ or ‘practical criticism’, and we have a range of text-based modules, arranged according to genre, which mirror the texts which the academic staff research and work on—these include tragedy, the various ancient novels, Latin elegy, Roman verse satire, and Plato. We teach several of these classes to second- and third-year students together, with different assessments for each year group, to enable student progression over the course of the degree.

Swansea is an established centre for the study of narrative, especially the ancient novel, under the auspices of our research group KYKNOS. Another research group in the department, OLCAP (Object- and Landscape-Centred Approaches to the Past), focuses on material culture in research and teaching. Both research groups welcome undergraduate input. We also have an active guest speaker programme and international links of various kinds.

Throughout your Classical Studies degree, you will each have a peronal tutor from among the teaching staff to lend academic support. We are a close-knit community which enjoys exploring the ancient world beyond the classroom. Our student-run Ancient World Society organises social and cultural events, including museum trips.

Classical Studies Employment Opportunities

To enhance your career prospects, we offer the opportunity to sign up for various employability and engagement-related placements, such as the Week of Work.

We have close links with local schools, in part via the Welsh Classics Hwb, as well as the Schools Work Placement module, where you can gain valuable classroom experience by teaching students about the ancient world for university credit.

Students of Classical Studies receive a comprehensive grounding in how to research, develop, and present complex ideas in a clear and systematic fashion. You will gain a useful attention to detail along with ways and means to approach the unfamiliar with confidence.

Our Classical Studies graduates enter careers in a wide variety of sectors including:

  • Heritage and Tourism
  • Teaching
  • Media and Public Relations
  • Business and Management
  • Politics and Civil Service

Modules

See breakdown of modules per academic year below. 

Classical Studies, BA (Hons)

Classical Studies with a Year Abroad, BA (Hons)

Classical Studies with a Year in Industry, BA (Hons)