What is classics?
The fascination of the classical world lies in the richness of its culture and in the fact that we have direct access to it through surviving works of Greek and Roman writers, monuments, art and archaeological evidence. Studying the history, literature, society, art and thought of classical antiquity offers an opportunity to explore two related cultures that have exercised a crucial formative influence on modern civilisation, and provided foundations for western society.
How will I study?
Teaching for most modules is by a mixture of lectures and seminars. Final-year special subjects are usually taught by seminar alone. Where appropriate, visits are arranged – for example, to the British Museum. We also provide Latin and Greek language teaching at both beginners' and advanced level.
For all classics courses, you will take core survey modules, along with more in-depth modules which focus on art, history and literature and introduce you to different types of assessment. You will also have the opportunity to begin or continue an ancient language, to learn techniques for working with Greek and Latin, and to explore the reception of the classical world.
In the second and third years, you choose from a wide range of modules to suit your own interests. An independent module (Independent Second-Year Project) in year two encourages an innovative project on a subject of your own choice, and an extended study prepares you for third-year dissertation work. In the final year you will take a special subject, which involves detailed study of texts or other primary evidence.
If you are a single honours student you will take a combination of compulsory and optional modules during your three years at Nottingham, mainly from those offered by the Department of Classics, but also from a choice of subsidiary modules from outside the Department.
A joint honours degree is split between your two subjects so the classics half of your degree is normally made up of 60 credits each year (although regulations for some joint honours courses allow for a 50/70 split each year to accommodate your module choices).
Assessment
Assessment is by a mixture of written coursework, seminar presentations and reports, projects, dissertations and exams. Successful completion of the first year allows progression to the second, and the final degree classification is determined by work in the second and final years, with more weight given to the final year.
Studying abroad
We offer opportunities to study in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Sweden and the United States. Further information can be found on our study abroad web pages.
Career prospects and employability
Classics graduates find careers in many branches of administration, the media, commerce and industry, in central and local government and in teaching, law and accountancy. All our courses are designed to enable you to develop a wide range of skills and qualities that will be of value to you, whether continuing on to further study or entering into employment.
The average starting salary for 2010/11 full-time graduates of the Department of Classics was £19,928*
*Average starting salary from known destinations of first-degree leavers who studied full-time, 2010/11.
Application and interview
Offers are usually made without interview. Students with non-standard entry requirements, including mature students, may be invited to an interview.
Open days
UCAS visit days for students offered a place are normally held from late January to March. You are welcome to visit at other times – please contact us or for dates of our open days visit
www.nottingham.ac.uk/opendays