Classical Studies with a Foundation Year, BA (Hons)

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Key Course Details

BA (Hons) 4 Year Full Time With a Classroom based Foundation Year

UCAS Code: Q814
Mode of Study: Campus Based
Typical Offer (view equivalents): CDD-DDD
Location: Singleton Park Campus

Start Date	Tuition Fees - Year 1
Sep 2026	£ 5,760

BA (Hons) 4 Year Full Time With a Classroom based Foundation Year

UCAS Code: Q814
Mode of Study: Campus Based
Typical Offer: CDD-DDD - More Information
Location: Singleton Park Campus

Start Date	Tuition Fees - Year 1
Sep 2026	£ 19,300

Develop your Interest and Passion for Antiquity and Ancient Culture

Swansea University students at Messene Odeon

Course Overview

Classical Studies offers you the opportunity to study Ancient Greek and Roman literature, culture, and optionally, languages.

This programme, including a Foundation Year, gives you an exciting introduction to higher education, setting you up with the skills, confidence and knowledge that you’ll need to be successful on your undergraduate degree. It’s ideal if you need a little more support after further education or are returning to education after a gap.

Studying this 4-year BA degree with a Foundation Year will allow you to read all kinds of texts in translation from around the ancient Mediterranean, while developing a deep understanding of Greek and Roman culture from the archaic period through to the fall of the Roman Empire and beyond.

You will explore the fascinating myths and stories, history and culture, thoughts and beliefs of the Greeks and Romans through the study of texts that may be familiar, such as epics and tragedies, and the less well-known, such as love poems and ancient novels.

The programme will include the option of studying ancient Greek and/or Latin, although neither is compulsory if this doesn’t align with your interests or ambitions.

In addition to Greek and Roman literature modules, there are also options primarily taught in Ancient History, Egyptology, and Philosophy that are available for you to study. Classical Studies is innovative in its range of assessments, and in its inclusion of teaching-placement and creative project modules. The analytical and interpersonal skills that you will acquire throughout your degree will open up a range of exciting career opportunities in a broad range of professions.

Why Classical Studies with a Foundation Year at Swansea?

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

You will be joining a leading Classics programme at Swansea, which is currently ranked:

2nd in the UK for Teaching Quality (Times Good University Guide 2026)
3^rd in the UK for Student Experience (Times Good University Guide 2026)
5^th in the UK for Student Satisfaction (Complete University Guide 2026)
8^th in the UK for Teaching Satisfaction (Guardian University Guide 2026)
9^th in the UK for Graduate Prospects (Guardian University Guide 2026)

Your Classical Studies with a Foundation Year Experience

During your Foundation Year, you will learn the key skills you’ll need to make your degree a success, while developing your knowledge in relation to Classical Studies. You will then start the BA course in your second year, with flexible content that enables you to shape your learning around your own interests.

This degree offers you the opportunity to undertake a rich and detailed exploration into the complex histories of the ancient Greek and Roman worlds, studying their literature, history, philosophy, art, and cultural significance.

The programme challenges existing beliefs, inviting you to articulate your own points of view. The combination of compulsory and optional 20-credit modules allows you to decide what to focus on with your optional modules, with themes including classical literature, Ancient History, Egyptology, Philosophy, classical art, and ancient languages

Your studies will culminate in a 40-credit extended research project, giving you the opportunity to explore a relevant topic of personal interest in great detail.

We are a close-knit community who enjoy exploring the ancient world beyond the classroom. Our student-run Ancient World Society organises a variety of social and cultural events. You will be encouraged to engage with our established research groups, and we regularly welcome expert guest speakers.

The programme includes opportunities to undertake a Semester or Year Abroad, spent in locations such as the USA, Canada, China, Hong Kong, or Singapore, enhancing your learning and offering invaluable life experience.

This course also offers you the opportunity to spend a Year in Industry, in the UK or overseas, giving valuable workplace experience. The University advocates for only paid placements which on average have a salary of over £20,000. Unpaid placements are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Although securing a placement is your responsibility, we work with a number of organisations who provide a range of placement opportunities. You will also be supported throughout your application journey with advice, guidance and additional resources. If you are unable to secure a placement by the end of the second year of your studies, you will transfer onto the equivalent degree programme.

Classical Studies with a Foundation Year Employment Opportunities

By undertaking the BA Classical Studies, you will have the opportunity to gain excellent communication skills, learning to present your ideas in a range of formats.

As a graduate, we expect you to be a critically agile, analytical thinker, adept at research, and with a strong problem-solving skillset, including the ability to make informed decisions.

The programme includes various forms of assessment, and you will be encouraged to develop team-working and communication skills through seminars, as well as project management and independent research skills as part of the dissertation. These skills will ensure that you can compete successfully in the employment market.

Our vision is to shape you into a graduate who not only understands the ancient world, but who can apply its lessons to contemporary challenges with equity, insight, and integrity, and to ensure that you are well-equipped with the knowledge, skills and intellectual flexibility required in the 21st century.

We have close contacts to the heritage sector, and you can gain valuable experience volunteering at a number of local museums, including our own Egypt Centre, which houses over 5,000 genuine Egyptian artefacts on our Singleton Campus.

We also have close links with local schools, in part via the Welsh Classics Hwb, as well as the school placement module, where you can gain valuable classroom experience by teaching students about the ancient world, should you be considering a career in teaching.

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

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

Modules

We're currently reviewing our curriculum to enhance your learning experience and embed skills that will benefit your future career. This means that some modules may be subject to change.

Year 0 (Level 3)

Entry Level 3 / Foundation Year

Compulsory Modules
Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
Academic Writing and Skills Development	September-January (TB1)	20	FY-011
Introduction to Being Human	September-January (TB1)	20	FY-012
Introduction to Research	September-January (TB1)	20	FY-015
Critical Reflection and Problem Solving	January-June (TB2)	20	FY-014
Research Essay	January-June (TB2)	20	FY-016
History, Memory and the Creation of Identity	January-June (TB2)	20	FY-018

Year 1 (Level 4)

FHEQ 4 Undergraduate / HECert

Students choose 120 credits from the following:

Compulsory Modules
Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
Of Gods and Heroes - Greek Mythology	September-January (TB1)	20	CLC101
Ovid's Metamorphoses: Transformations of Mythology	January-June (TB2)	20	CLC102

Optional Modules

Choose Minimum Of 40 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : Choose AT LEAST 2 AND UP TO 4 modules. To enrol in a TB2 Latin or Greek module, you should normally enrol in the corresponding TB1 module. To pursue a pathway in Latin or Greek, select 2 Latin/Greek modules at the appropriate level. If you have studied Latin and/or Greek before and intend to pursue a pathway in Classics, select 2 Latin and 2 Greek modules. Staff can advise on the appropriate level of Latin/Greek modules on request. Do not select more than one language at beginners’ level.

Compulsory modules – Selective
Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
Beginning Greek 1	September-January (TB1)	20	CLG101
Intermediate Greek 1	September-January (TB1)	20	CLG105
Further Greek 1	September-January (TB1)	20	CLG125
Greek History and Society	September-January (TB1)	20	CLH100
Beginning Latin 1	September-January (TB1)	20	CLL101
Intermediate Latin 1	September-January (TB1)	20	CLL105
Further Latin 1	September-January (TB1)	20	CLL125
Introduction to Ancient Philosophy and Rhetoric	January-June (TB2)	20	CLC103
Beginning Greek 2	January-June (TB2)	20	CLG102
Intermediate Greek 2	January-June (TB2)	20	CLG106
Further Greek 2	January-June (TB2)	20	CLG126
Rome from Village to Empire: An Introduction to Roman History	January-June (TB2)	20	CLH150
Beginning Latin 2	January-June (TB2)	20	CLL102
Intermediate Latin 2	January-June (TB2)	20	CLL106
Further Latin 2	January-June (TB2)	20	CLL126
The Past in its Place: History and Heritage Field Trip	January-June (TB2)	20	HHC100

AND

Choose Maximum Of 40 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : Choose 0 or 1 or 2 of the following modules. If you wish to study Classical Studies with a pathway in Egyptology (CLE) or English Literature (AM or EN) or Philosophy (HUP), choose two of the relevant modules respectively. Note, if you intend to pursue a pathway in Philosophy, you should take two HUP modules, and should also choose CLC103 (see above). If in any doubt, please contact academic-cultureandcom@swansea.ac.uk.

Optional Modules
Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
Introduction to Ancient Egyptian History, Culture and Society	September-January (TB1)	20	CLE120
Monsters, Theories, Transformations	September-January (TB1)	20	EN-100
Creative Writing: Fiction Genres	September-January (TB1)	20	EN-117
English Essentials	September-January (TB1)	20	EN-120
Living Well and Doing Good - An Introduction to Ethics	September-January (TB1)	20	HUP104
Critical Reasoning	September-January (TB1)	20	HUP105
Fundamental Issues in Philosophy	September-January (TB1)	20	HUP127
Introduction to American Literature and Culture	January-June (TB2)	20	AM-113
Age of Empire: Ancient Egypt and her Neighbours	January-June (TB2)	20	CLE115
Approaches to Gender in English Literature	January-June (TB2)	20	EN-112
Literature and Society in Medieval Europe.	January-June (TB2)	20	EN-113
Creative Writing: Styles of Fiction	January-June (TB2)	20	EN-118
Reading Great Works of Philosophy	January-June (TB2)	20	HUP132
Political Philosophy	January-June (TB2)	20	HUP133

Year 2 (Level 5)

FHEQ 5 Undergraduate / HEDip

Students choose 120 credits from the following:

Compulsory Modules
Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
Reading Classical Civilisation	September-January (TB1)	20	CLC206

Optional Modules

Choose Minimum Of 20 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : Select at least one and up to three modules. In total students must pursue a 120cr, split across the semesters, three modules in each semester.

Compulsory Modules - Selective
Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
The Roman Comic Novel: Excrement and Sacrament	September-January (TB1)	20	CLC204
Cicero: Man of Letters	January-June (TB2)	20	CLC2012
Decision and Responsibility: The Tragic Predicament	January-June (TB2)	20	CLC209

AND

Choose Maximum Of 80 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : You may select up to four of the following modules. To enrol in a TB2 Latin or Greek module, you should normally enrol in the corresponding TB1 module. To continue with a pathway in Latin or Greek, select two Latin/Greek modules at the appropriate level. To continue with a pathway in Classics, select two Latin and two Greek modules. Staff can advise on the appropriate level of Latin/Greek modules on request. Do not select more than one language at beginner’s level.

Optional Modules Classics and Ancient Languages
Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
Intermediate Greek 1	September-January (TB1)	20	CLG203
Beginning Greek 1	September-January (TB1)	20	CLG221
Further Greek 1	September-January (TB1)	20	CLG225
Advanced Greek 1	September-January (TB1)	20	CLG227
Guided Research Project	September-January (TB1)	20	CLH2009
The Heirs of Rome: The Making of Christendom, Byzantium, and Islam in the Early Middle Ages, 400-800	September-January (TB1)	20	CLH230
Greek City States	September-January (TB1)	20	CLH264
Intermediate Latin 1	September-January (TB1)	20	CLL203
Beginning Latin 1	September-January (TB1)	20	CLL221
Further Latin 1	September-January (TB1)	20	CLL225
Advanced Latin 1	September-January (TB1)	20	CLL227
Intermediate Greek 2	January-June (TB2)	20	CLG204
Beginning Greek 2	January-June (TB2)	20	CLG222
Further Greek 2	January-June (TB2)	20	CLG226
Advanced Greek 2	January-June (TB2)	20	CLG228
The Imperial Image: Roman Emperors and Imperial Women in History, Literature and Art.	January-June (TB2)	20	CLH2006
Myths and Society in the Greek World	January-June (TB2)	20	CLH2008
Gender in the Roman World	January-June (TB2)	20	CLH267
Intermediate Latin 2	January-June (TB2)	20	CLL204
Beginning Latin 2	January-June (TB2)	20	CLL222
Further Latin 2	January-June (TB2)	20	CLL226
Advanced Latin 2	January-June (TB2)	20	CLL228
Schools work placement: Teaching ancient history and ancient languages	January-June (TB2)	20	CLP202
The Past in the Present: Exploring Heritage Practice and Debates	January-June (TB2)	20	HHC200

AND

Choose Maximum Of 40 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : To continue with a pathway in Egyptology (CLE) or English Literature (EN) or Philosophy (HUP) select two of the relevant modules. Otherwise, students may enquire about taking one module as an elective via the Programme Director.

Optional Modules
Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
Introduction to Egyptian Archaeology	September-January (TB1)	20	CLE214
Language of the Pharaohs: An Introduction to Hieroglyphic Literacy	September-January (TB1)	20	CLE235
Debating Texts: Theory in Literature	September-January (TB1)	20	EN-206
Revolution of the Word: Modernism	September-January (TB1)	20	EN-207
Exploring the Bloody Chamber: Medieval to Postmodern	September-January (TB1)	20	EN-237
Philosophy of the Enlightenment	September-January (TB1)	20	HUP243
Philosophy of Emotion	September-January (TB1)	20	HUP262
Egyptian Art and Architecture	January-June (TB2)	20	CLE220
Fragments of Union: The Cultural Making and Breaking of Britain	January-June (TB2)	20	EN-241
Contentious Shakespeare	January-June (TB2)	20	EN-242
Medieval Encounters	January-June (TB2)	20	EN-266
A Matter of Life and Death: Exploring Existential Philosophy	January-June (TB2)	20	HUP242
Contemporary Moral Controversies	January-June (TB2)	20	HUP244

Year 3 (Level 6)

FHEQ 6 Undergraduate / Honours

Students choose 120 credits from the following:

Compulsory Modules
Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
Classics, Ancient History, Egyptology Dissertation	September-June (TB1+2)	40	CLD300

Optional Modules

Choose Minimum Of 40 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : Select at least two and up to four modules. To enrol on a TB2 Ancient Language, students should normally enrol in the corresponding TB1 module. To pursue a Latin or Greek pathway select two Latin or two Greek modules. To pursue a pathway in Classics select two Latin and two Greek modules. Overall, students must select two modules per semester alongside the dissertation.

Compulsory Modules Selective - Classics and Ancient Languages
Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
The Roman Comic Novel: Excrement and Sacrament	September-January (TB1)	20	CLC304
Intermediate Greek 1	September-January (TB1)	20	CLG321
Further Greek 1	September-January (TB1)	20	CLG325
Advanced Greek 1	September-January (TB1)	20	CLG327
Advanced Greek 3	September-January (TB1)	20	CLG329
Greek City States	September-January (TB1)	20	CLH364
Culture and Control in Roman Britain	September-January (TB1)	20	CLH381
Pompeii and the Cities of Vesuvius	September-January (TB1)	20	CLH394
Intermediate Latin 1	September-January (TB1)	20	CLL321
Further Latin 1	September-January (TB1)	20	CLL325
Advanced Latin 1	September-January (TB1)	20	CLL327
Advanced Latin 3	September-January (TB1)	20	CLL329
Monarchy: Ancient and Medieval	September-January (TB1)	20	HHC372
Cicero: Man of Letters	January-June (TB2)	20	CLC3012
Decision and Responsibility: The Tragic Predicament	January-June (TB2)	20	CLC309
Intermediate Greek 2	January-June (TB2)	20	CLG322
Further Greek 2	January-June (TB2)	20	CLG326
Advanced Greek 2	January-June (TB2)	20	CLG328
Advanced Greek 4	January-June (TB2)	20	CLG330
Myths and Society in the Greek World	January-June (TB2)	20	CLH3008
Pagans, Christians, and the "Falls" of Rome	January-June (TB2)	20	CLH374
Intermediate Latin 2	January-June (TB2)	20	CLL322
Further Latin 2	January-June (TB2)	20	CLL326
Advanced Latin 2	January-June (TB2)	20	CLL328
Advanced Latin 4	January-June (TB2)	20	CLL330
Schools work placement: Teaching ancient history and ancient languages	January-June (TB2)	20	CLP309

AND

Choose Maximum Of 40 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : To continue with a pathway in Egyptology (CLE) or English Literature (EN) or Philosophy (HUP) select two of the relevant modules. Otherwise students may enquire about selecting one of the modules as an elective via the programme director/module convenor. Overall, students must select two modules in each semester alongside the dissertation.

Optional modules
Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
After Empire: Pharaonic Egypt in the first millennium BCE	September-January (TB1)	20	CLE399
Welsh Gothic / Gothic Wales	September-January (TB1)	20	EN-3040
Poetry in the Twentieth Century	September-January (TB1)	20	EN-3043
Written in Blood: Reading the Vampire	September-January (TB1)	20	EN-3050
Graphic Novel	September-January (TB1)	20	EN-3055
African American Literature 1910-1940: The Harlem Renaissance	September-January (TB1)	20	EN-3061
Chaucer	September-January (TB1)	20	EN-314
Reading/Writing Trauma	September-January (TB1)	20	EN-394
Philosophy, Mental Health and Illness	September-January (TB1)	20	HUP308
Philosophy of Emotion	September-January (TB1)	20	HUP336
The Archaeology of Ancient Nubia - Egypt's Neighbour in Africa	January-June (TB2)	20	CLE350
Crime Fiction since 1920	January-June (TB2)	20	EN-3045
The Swansea University International Dylan Thomas Prize Module	January-June (TB2)	20	EN-3053
Beyond Shakespeare	January-June (TB2)	20	EN-3058
Philosophy and Literature	January-June (TB2)	20	EN-3060
Reality and Cognition: Topics in Metaphysics and Epistemology	January-June (TB2)	20	HUP319

Entry Requirements

The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications.

Typical A level Offer

CDD-DDD

How You're Taught

At Swansea, you will benefit from a high-quality, research-informed education that combines a range of effective and inclusive teaching methods, carefully tailored to suit the needs of your course. Most courses are taught in person, on campus, giving you the opportunity to actively engage with other students, academic staff, and the wider university community.

You can expect a mix of lectures, seminars, workshops, and practical sessions - including laboratory work, skills training, or studio-based teaching where relevant to your discipline. These sessions are designed to encourage active participation, collaboration, and the development of both subject-specific and transferable skills.

Digital learning tools are also used to enhance your learning experience. These may include:

Recorded lectures to support flexible study and revision.
Virtual labs or simulated environments, particularly in science, healthcare, and technical disciplines.
Online resources on the university’s virtual learning environment (Canvas), including videos, reading materials, quizzes, and discussion forums.

This approach enables you to engage with and review content at your own pace while benefiting from the structure and support of in-person teaching.

This course may offer some modules taught through the medium of Welsh or bilingually for students who consider themselves to be fluent Welsh speakers. For more details on the provision available see the Welsh Provision expander below.

N.B If you are an international student studying with a Student Route Visa, please note that your timetabled activity, along with any additional supervisory activity (with Swansea University staff present) will take place on campus. In line with UKVI protocol, these sessions will be monitored and data made available on request.

Welsh Provision

No Provision

Unfortunately, there is currently no formal Welsh-medium provision on this course. If you would like to let us know that you are interested in pursuing an element of your course through the medium of Welsh, please email astudio@abertawe.ac.uk to indicate your interest along with your year of entry and we will do our best to see what is possible.

Whilst this course does not offer academic content delivered in Welsh, the University can provide you with the following, and Academi Hywel Teifi is here to support you:

An interview through the medium of Welsh when applying for a place.
The option to receive your personal correspondence in Welsh, English or bilingually.
The option to write and submit your coursework or exams through the medium of Welsh (even if you have chosen to study in English), and your work will be marked in Welsh.
A Welsh-speaking Personal Tutor.
One-to-one support to improve your academic Welsh language skills.
An opportunity to gain an additional free qualification that serves as evidence of your Welsh language ability for future employers.
Opportunity to be a member of the Swansea University Branch of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol.

To learn more about the above and all the opportunities available to you through the medium of Welsh, visit Academi Hywel Teifi's undergraduate pages.

Meet Your Lecturers

Our degrees are taught by experts who have a wealth of knowledge to pass on to you.

You can find out more about our academic expertise on our staff pages.

Tuition Fees

Start Date	UK	International
September 2025	£ 5,760	£ 18,400
September 2026	£ 5,760	£ 19,300

Fees for full-time undergraduate UK students on classroom based foundation programmes will increase from Year 1, and in subsequent years, to the maximum regulated fee level set by the Welsh Government.

You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page.

Current students: You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.

Funding and Scholarships

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study.

To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page.

Academi Hywel Teifi at Swansea University and the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol offer a number of generous scholarships and bursaries for students who wish to study through the medium of Welsh or bilingually. For further information about the opportunities available to you, visit the Academi Hywel Teifi Scholarships and Bursaries page.

Additional Costs

Access to your own digital device/the appropriate IT kit will be essential during your time studying at Swansea University. Access to wifi in your accommodation will also be essential to allow you to fully engage with your programme. See our dedicated webpages for further guidance on suitable devices to purchase, and for a full guide on getting your device set up.

You may face additional costs while at university, including (but not limited to):

Travel to and from campus
Printing, photocopying, binding, stationery and equipment costs (e.g. USB sticks)
Purchase of books or texts
Gowns for graduation ceremonies

Careers and Employability

The Careers and Employability Team will support you at each stage of your career journey helping you build a bright future.

Our career support services include:

Employability workshops, employers’ talks, bespoke events and careers fairs
Individual advice and guidance from professionally qualified Careers Advisers
Help with finding jobs, internships, work placements and volunteering opportunities
Access to information resources on a wide range of career management topics
Advice and guidance on postgraduate study and funding
Funding to support student internship opportunities and Student Society/Club events.

We also provide help and advice for Swansea University Alumni up to two years after you graduate.

Academic Support

As well as subject specific support by college teaching staff and your personal tutor, the Centre for Academic Success provides courses, workshops and one-to-one support in areas such as:

Academic writing
Maths and statistics
Critical thinking
Time management
Digital skills
Presentation skills
Note taking
Revision, memory and exam techniques
English language skills (if English is not your first language).

In addition, if you have a Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD), disability, mental health or medical condition, the Centre for Academic Success have Specialist Tutors to support your learning, working alongside the Disability Office and Wellbeing Service to support all your needs and requirements whilst studying at Swansea University.

Study Abroad and Global Opportunities

To learn more about study abroad, visit our Go Global webpages.

International summer programmes are open to students from all schools. Programmes typically range from 2 to 6 weeks, across destinations such as Sri Lanka, South Korea, Fiji, Bali, the USA and across Europe. For more information about programmes and eligibility visit our Summer Abroad webpages.

How to Apply

Apply now – UK, EU and international students.

For further guidance please visit our how to apply pages.

EU students - visa and immigration information is available and will be regularly updated on our information for EU students page.

Application Deadlines

We recommend that you submit your application to our courses as early as you can in advance of our application deadlines. Courses will close earlier than the application deadlines listed if all available places are filled. You can find further information on our Application Deadlines webpage.

Additional Information

Make an undergraduate enquiry

International students contact our International Team

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Undergraduate Prospectus

Welsh Medium Study

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