Classical Studies

Classical studies opens a window onto the civilisations of ancient Greece and Rome, the foundations of much of European law, philosophy, literature, political thought and art. Unlike Classical languages degrees, which centre on Latin and ancient Greek, classical studies approaches antiquity through a broader lens, combining literary and historical texts in translation with archaeology, material culture, mythology, religion and the afterlife of the ancient world in later periods. It is an inherently interdisciplinary subject, drawing on history, literary criticism, art history, philosophy and anthropology to reconstruct and interpret societies that are both distant and deeply familiar.

At the University of Liverpool, you will study this programme full time over three years, and the structure includes a year abroad, giving you the opportunity to immerse yourself in a different academic tradition and, in many cases, to engage directly with the physical remains of the ancient world in southern Europe. The typical entry tariff for this programme is around 120 UCAS points.

You will explore topics such as Greek and Roman history, ancient mythology and religion, the archaeology of the Mediterranean, ancient drama and epic, and the reception of classical antiquity in subsequent periods including the Renaissance and the modern world. The programme encourages you to think critically about how ancient texts and objects have been interpreted, used and sometimes distorted in different historical contexts, which is itself a valuable form of critical thinking about the relationship between past and present.

Classical studies graduates are equipped with strong analytical, writing and research skills that employers across many sectors value highly. Career paths include work in museums and heritage organisations, archives, publishing, education, journalism and public administration. The discipline also provides excellent preparation for postgraduate study in classical archaeology, ancient history, classical reception, museum studies or related humanities fields.

Many graduates enter the law, civil service, politics and management consulting, where the capacity to synthesise complex material and communicate it clearly is consistently in demand. Teaching classics and ancient history at secondary level is another well-established route.