Classical Studies

Classical studies is the interdisciplinary exploration of the civilisations of ancient Greece and Rome, two cultures that have shaped the intellectual, political, artistic, and legal foundations of Western civilisation more profoundly than any others. The discipline encompasses the literatures, histories, philosophies, religions, arts, and social structures of the ancient world, approached through the evidence of texts, material culture, and archaeological remains. It asks both historical questions, what life was like in ancient Athens or Rome, and philosophical ones, why the ideas of Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, and Virgil continue to matter today.

The Open University offers classical studies through distance learning and part-time study, making it accessible to people with existing commitments who want to pursue a rigorous and rewarding education in the ancient world. The OU's approach combines high-quality written and online materials with close engagement with primary texts in translation, guided study of archaeological and artistic evidence, and online discussion with fellow students and tutors. Many students come to classical studies with a passion for the subject that pre-dates formal study, and the OU model allows that passion to be developed into something academically serious.

You will engage with epic poetry and tragedy, with historical narratives from Thucydides to Livy, with philosophical dialogues, with Roman oratory, and with the material culture of ancient cities, sanctuaries, and households. The skills of close textual reading, historical interpretation, and the construction of well-evidenced arguments are central to what classical studies develops, alongside a deep and nuanced understanding of two of history's most consequential civilisations.

Graduates in classical studies work in education, publishing, museums and heritage, journalism, the law, and general professional roles where the analytical and communication skills developed by humanities study are valued. Many students study classical studies alongside careers in other fields, using the degree as an intellectual enrichment of professional life. Postgraduate study in classical studies, ancient history, or archaeology is a natural route for those who want to develop academic expertise in the field.