Classical Studies BA (International Hons) 2019 entry

The BA (International Hons) in Classical Studies offers two pathways: Greek and Latin, or Ancient History and Archaeology. Both pathways allow you to explore the cultures of the Mediterranean world in great depth, from the Bronze Age through Late Antiquity. You will also have the option to take courses from both pathways, giving you an all-round perspective on the Greek and Roman world. 

The BA (International Hons) is a joint degree delivered by both the University of St Andrews and the College of William & Mary in Virginia, USA. This joint degree allows you to spend two years at each institution.

Applications for 2019 entry for this course have now closed, see which courses are available for the upcoming academic year.

Course type

Bachelor of Arts (International Honours degree)

Course duration

Four years full time

  • Start date: 9 September 2019
  • End date: 30 June 2023

If you started this programme in 2018, you can find information about 2018 entry on the 2018 Classical Studies BA page. Information about all programmes from previous years of entry can be found in the archive.

Entry requirements

The following entry requirements are for students applying to St Andrews. 

SQA Highers AAAB
GCE A-Levels AAA
IB points 38

We accept a wide range of qualifications for entry on to our programmes, please see our entry requirements for more information.

How to apply

You can only apply for the programme through one institution, and each institution will honour the admissions decisions of the other. You must specify which subject area you wish to apply for on your application form.

If you wish to begin your studies at the University of St Andrews, you can apply through the St Andrews direct application form or the Common Application form.

If you wish to begin your study at the College of William & Mary, you should apply through the William & Mary Common Application form.

International applicants

If English is not your first language you will need an overall IELTS score of 7.0, with a minimum score of 6.5 in each component (Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking), or an equivalent English Language qualification.

Do I need to have studied this subject before?

No previous knowledge of this subject is required.

Faculty entry requirements

You must also meet the Faculty of Arts minimum qualifications. These vary depending on which qualifications you hold.

Other qualifications

Passes in other examinations at equivalent levels and subjects may be accepted by the Dean of the Faculty. More information on how to apply via other entry routes or accreditation of prior learning and experience can be found on the University’s entry requirements webpage.

Find out more about Faculty of Arts entry requirements.

Timetables

St Andrews students must meet with their Adviser of Studies at the beginning of Semester 1 in September to complete advising – a compulsory part of the matriculation process. After module choices have been decided, a timetable will be allocated indicating the dates and times of classes.

Reputation

The School of Classics at St Andrews has an international reputation for the diversity of teaching programmes offered. The School has expertise in literature and history from the Greek classical period to Late Antiquity, including the literature of classical Greece, Greece under Roman rule, Roman republican and imperial literature and the literature of Late Antiquity, as well as later engagement with the Classics from the Renaissance to the present day.

The School of Classics was ranked first in Scotland and fourth in the UK by the Guardian University Guide 2019 and third in the UK in the Complete University Guide 2019 for overall student satisfaction and quality of teaching and research.

The School was ranked best in Scotland and second in the UK in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF) for the quality and impact of its research.

The University of St Andrews as a whole was voted top in the UK for student academic experience in The National Student Survey 2018 as 94% of St Andrews final year students gave the University top marks for the quality of the learning and teaching experience.

The University has secured a TEF Gold Award for the quality of teaching and the undergraduate experience.

Find out more about studying Classics at St Andrews.

Course information

The BA (International Hons) in Classical Studies is a four-year course run jointly by the School of Classics at St Andrews and the Department of Classical Studies at the College of William & Mary.

You will study for two years at both St Andrews and William & Mary, spending the first year of the programme at one institution and the second year at the other. You will then be able to choose where you wish to spend your third and fourth years of study and graduate from either university.

You will apply to the university where you intend to spend your first year, and then you will transfer to the other institution for your second year.

What you will study

If you study a BA (International Honours) in Classical Studies, you will choose between two pathways: Greek and Latin, or Ancient History and Archaeology.

If you choose the Greek and Latin pathway, you will be able to take both Greek and Latin at complete beginners' level or at more advanced level if you have substantial previous experience.

If you choose the Ancient History and Archaeology pathway, you will be introducted to, and provided advanced training in, the material culture of the ancient Mediterranean world. 

The BA (International Honours) is a broadly based degree, and other combinations – such as joint Honours degrees – are not available with this programme. However, during the programme you will have opportunities to study a range of other subjects offered by both institutions. Find out more about the St Andrews – William & Mary joint degree.

Find out more about studying Classics at St Andrews.

The coat of arms for the BA (International Honours) programme which features crossed keys, gold diamonds, a rising sun, an open book, a griffin, and a lion rampant
The BA International Honours coat of arms represents each university's unique heraldry and symbols. Find out more about the coat of arms.

 

About the BA (International Honours) programme

The BA (International Honours) is a four-year undergraduate degree that combines the best of the Scottish and American educational experience.

This programme offers an impressive range of modules that students can take without losing the depth of focus by following either a language or Ancient History and Archaeology pathway.

Working together, the Classics departments from both universities offer a unique range of modules. For example, students are able to pursue coursework in Etruscan archaeology and Egyptology (at William & Mary) as well as modules in Late Antique and Bronze Age Archaeology (at St Andrews): this unusual combination of modules is hard to find in any single department. The programme also provides Greek and Latin language students with a more flexible degree, one which can be tailored to your level of study between the two institutions. 

Undertaking a Classics degree in both campuses will also allow students a wider range of postgraduate opportunities in the North American and United Kingdom. As a student on the programme, you will have the unique advantage of knowing the UK and US systems well should you wish to make postgraduate applications.

Modules

Students studying the Classical Studies BA (International Hons) will take the required modules at both institutions in their first and second years.

The following modules are those offered at St Andrews. Find out more about module requirements at William & Mary.

At St Andrews, the compulsory modules in first year are:

  • Greek History to Alexander the Great: provides a broad survey of ancient Greek History from the Archaic period (c. 800 BC) to the reign of Alexander the Great.
  • Roman History from Foundation to Empire: focuses on the rise of Rome to world power from humble beginnings, examining the political, cultural and economic consequences of imperialism.

You must also choose one of the following Latin or Greek module pathways:

  • Elementary Latin 1 and 2: provides an introduction to the Latin language for beginners, concentrating on morphology, vocabulary, and basic syntax.
  • World of Latin 1 and 2 (only available to students who have studied Latin to SQA Higher, GCE A-level or equivalent): enhances understanding of Latin language and literature through study of both verse and prose set texts and regular language classes.
  • Greek Language for Beginners and Greek Literature for Beginners: provides a thorough grounding in the Greek language for beginners or near beginners.
  • Greek Language and Literature 1 and Greek Pastoral and Passion (only available to students who have studied Greek to SQA Higher, GCE A-level or equivalent): involves detailed study of a range of set texts as well as linguistic and translation exercises designed to enhance students' knowledge of Greek and confidence in reading Greek literature in its historical and cultural context.

At St Andrews, you must take two of the following compulsory modules in second year:

  • The Roman Empire: explores the Roman empire with particular reference both to social, religious and economic changes as well as to political and military history.
  • Mediterranean Communities: examines the human settlement and material culture of the entire Mediterranean world throughout classical antiquity.
  • Early Greek Poetry and Philosophy: surveys the diversity of early Greek thought through the poetry and philosophy of the archaic and early classical periods, and explores themes of conflict, love and the relationship between mortals and gods.
  • Culture and Thought in the Late Roman Republic: studies major authors of the Late Roman Republic, such as Catullus and Cicero, against the broader backdrop of Roman art, architecture, politics, culture and social life.

You must also choose one of the following Latin or Greek module pathways:

  • Latin in Progress 1 and 2: examines a wide range of texts in both prose and verse from the Republican period, and enhances Latin language skills through regular language classes.
  • Latin Language and Literature 1 and 2 (only available to students who have studied Latin to SQA Higher, GCE A-level or equivalent): builds on World of Latin 1 and 2; examines a wide range of texts in both prose and verse from the Republican period, and enhances Latin language skills through regular language classes.
  • The Landscape of Greek Prose (B) and Poetry (B): examines a wide range of Greek prose texts and ancient poetry, and enhances Greek language skills through regular language classes.
  • The Landscape of Greek Prose (A) and Poetry (A) (only available to students who have studied Greek to SQA Higher, GCE A-level or equivalent): examines a wide range of Greek prose texts and ancient poetry, and enhances Greek language skills through regular language classes.

Students will spend either their third or fourth year in St Andrews. You will be able to choose from a wide variety of advanced options.

Here is a sample of Honours modules which have been offered at St Andrews in previous years:

  • Greek Tragedy
  • Greek Rhetoric
  • Latin Philosophical Writing
  • Latin Oratory
  • Persia and the Greeks
  • Alexander the Great
  • Art of the Roman Empire
  • Greek Painted Pottery.

If at St Andrews for fourth year, students will have the opportunity to undertake a 10,000-word dissertation on a topic of their choice. This independent project enables you to develop key research skills which are desired by both prospective employers and by graduate schools offering postgraduate degrees.


The sub-honours modules listed here are the compulsory modules that students must take at St Andrews in order to graduate in this subject (depending on year of study). However, most students at St Andrews take additional modules, either in their primary subject or from other subjects they are interested in. For Honours level, students choose from a range of Honours modules, some of which are listed above. A full list of all modules currently available can be found in the module catalogue.

Teaching

Teaching format

Students at St Andrews for their first or second year will be taught through a mixture of lectures, seminars, language classes and set-text reading classes.

In third or fourth year, all teaching is delivered through seminars (10 to 20 students), with a strong emphasis on students’ own contributions in informal class discussion and in group or individual presentations.

In addition to these classes, students at St Andrews are expected to undertake substantial independent, but guided, work outside of the classroom. Typically, this will involve:

  • reading Greek or Latin texts
  • practising language and translation skills
  • reading journal articles and books
  • undertaking research in the library
  • working on individual projects
  • preparing coursework assignments and presentations
  • preparing for examinations.

At St Andrews, you will be taught by an experienced teaching team with expertise and knowledge of Greek, Latin, and Classics. Postgraduate research students who have undertaken teacher training may also contribute to the teaching of classes and seminars under the supervision of the module coordinator. 

You can find contact information for all Classical Studies staff on the School of Classics website.

In addition to your studies in the School, optional academic support is available through practical study skills courses and workshops hosted within the University.

The University’s Student Services team can help students with additional needs resulting from disabilities, long term medical conditions or learning disabilities. More information can be found on the students with disabilities webpage.

Assessment

Modules in Classical Studies at St Andrews are assessed by a mixture of coursework and written exams. Coursework includes:

  • research essays
  • literary criticism and commentary exercises
  • class tests, including unseen translation and grammar exercises
  • source analysis
  • learning diaries
  • oral presentations.

Examinations are held at the end of each semester during a dedicated exam diet with revision time provided beforehand.

The School of Classics provides feedback on every assessment, with a view to improving your performance in future.

Undergraduates at the University of St Andrews must achieve at least 7.0 on the St Andrews 20-point grade scale to pass a module. To gain access to Honours-level modules, students must achieve the relevant requisites as specified in the policy on entry to Honours and in the relevant programme requirements. Please note that some Schools offer qualified entry to Honours, and this will be clearly specified in the programme requirements. To find out the classification equivalent of points, please visit the common reporting scale webpage.

Fees

Tuition fees for 2019 entry

BA International Hons £31,530
($40,990)

In the academic year 2018-2019, fees for this programme were £29,1290 ($39,990). These figures were calculated using the exchange rate on 1 June 2018 (1 GBP = 1.37 US Dollars).

The tuition fee for all students on the BA (International Honours) is the same regardless of domicile, and will always be the pound sterling equivalent of the US dollar amount per year, as converted on 1 June preceding the start of each academic year.

If you commence your studies at the University of St Andrews, you will pay your tuition each year to St Andrews regardless of which institution you are studying at for that year.

Find out more about the cost of attendance.

Accommodation fees

Find out about accommodation fees for University accommodation.

Funding and scholarships

The University of St Andrews offers a number of scholarships and support packages to undergraduate students each year.

The BA International Honours Scholarship is available to students entering first year of the BA International Honours Programme commencing at St Andrews.

Further information regarding scholarships available to students on the BA International Honours can be found in the fees and funding section of the BA International Honours webpage.

Careers

The Classical Studies BA (International Hons) provides international experience which will make students more competitive in a globalised job market. Students in Classics, Ancient History and Archaeology commonly pursue careers outside of the subject focus, including:

  • cultural resource management
  • foreign service
  • journalism
  • law
  • politics.

A Classics degree is highly valued for the skills that are built in critical thinking, research and broad understanding of the past.

The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students as well as a programme of events to assist students to build their employability skills.

Student life

Students are fully involved in student life at both universities. Find out more about the student experience at William & Mary.

From the outset, the University of St Andrews offers an array of events and opportunities which result in a truly unique student experience. Students participate in a range of traditions, notably, the red academic gown and the academic family, where older students adopt first year students as ‘children’ and help guide them in a system of mentoring. These traditions and the choice of over 150 sports clubs and student societies to choose from ensures a community feel amongst students from first year onwards.

Students of Classical Studies may be interested in joining the following student societies:

The School of Classics is housed in Swallowgate, an attractive building which overlooks the sea and is close to the University Library and main quadrangle. Students will attend tutorials, seminars and individual meetings with tutors in this building, while lectures are held nearby in St Salvator’s quadrangle.

The Swallowgate building also houses the School of Classics’ Class Library. The Class Library contains books that supplement the extensive holdings in the main Library and closely support the School’s undergraduate programmes.

The town of St Andrews itself has lots to offer. As the campus is located around town, walking around you encounter ancient and modern buildings and areas of greenery and seaside which provide a rich, beautiful backdrop to learning. If you want a change of scenery, St Andrews' position near surrounding towns and cities such as Anstruther, Dundee and Edinburgh make it ideal for getting to know more about Scotland.

Find out more about student life at the University of St Andrews.

“Joining the programme has been one of the best decisions of my life. The friends I have made on both campuses and amongst my WaMStA peers, the places I have explored, the materials I have studied in a subject I love dearly in two different academic styles, and the lessons I have learned transitioning between continents have changed me for the better in a way no study abroad opportunity could. I am a more well-rounded and knowledgeable person because of this programme, and I could not be more thankful for the chance to serve both institutions as a proud WaMStA student.”

Liam (Virginia, USA)

Contact

Admissions
University of St Andrews
St Katharine's West
The Scores
St Andrews
KY16 9AX

Phone: +44 (0)1334 46 2150
Email: admissions@st-andrews.ac.uk

BA International Honours

Policies

Admission to the University of St Andrews is governed by our Admissions policy.

Curriculum development

As a research intensive institution, the University ensures that its teaching references the research interests of its staff, which may change from time to time. As a result, programmes are regularly reviewed with the aim of enhancing students' learning experience. Our approach to course revision is described online. (PDF, 72 KB).

Tuition fees

The University will clarify compulsory fees and charges it requires any student to pay at the time of offer. The offer will also clarify conditions for any variation of fees. The University’s approach to fee setting is described online. (PDF, 84 KB).