Classical Studies

Classical Studies is the scholarly exploration of the ancient Greek and Roman worlds in their full complexity. It encompasses literature and philosophy, political history and social structure, art and archaeology, religion and everyday life, drawing together a rich and diverse body of evidence to reconstruct and interpret civilisations that shaped Western thought, culture and institutions in ways that remain deeply present today. At Birkbeck College, this BA is available through part-time evening study, making it genuinely accessible to students who need to fit their degree around work or other commitments.

You will engage with the culture, history, archaeology, philosophy and literature of ancient Greece and Rome, developing expertise in constructing and communicating arguments from the complex, often fragmentary remains of the ancient world. The programme encourages you to think rigorously about what we can know from the evidence available and to push those limits through careful inquiry. Crucially, the course also explores how the study of the classical world, with all its attractive and disturbing features, can transform debates about contemporary issues, giving your engagement with antiquity a genuine intellectual relevance to the present.

You will encounter questions about democracy, slavery, gender, empire and the nature of political community that are as alive today as they were in Athens or Rome.

Graduates in Classical Studies develop a set of skills that translate well into a wide range of careers. Critical reading, careful argument, research in complex sources and clear communication are all qualities that employers across many sectors value. Teaching, journalism, the civil service, heritage, museum work, law and publishing are common career directions.

The interdisciplinary nature of the degree also means that graduates are well prepared for postgraduate study in classical archaeology, ancient history, philosophy, medieval studies or comparative literature, should they wish to pursue their engagement with the ancient world at a deeper level.