An Ancient History degree based in London, which also explores archaeology, art, literature and thought. Students are able to choose Greek or Roman history or both; study significant periods, great individuals or key themes. There is also the opportunity to learn Latin and/or Greek in order to understand original texts.
KEY BENEFITS
- One of the very best classics departments in the country, renowned for its quality of teaching, student experience and cutting-edge research.
- Central location offers collaborations with the British Museum and other cultural institutions, which are incorporated into undergraduate teaching.
- The department stages an annual Greek play in the original language, providing students with an opportunity to experience the Greek dramatic tradition.
- Degree programmes combine focus and flexibility, allowing students to pursue their interests.
- Graduates are equipped with analytical and presentational skills valued by employers, leading to careers in heritage-related professions, the media, education, civil service and the performing arts.
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UCAS code
Q806
Programme type
Single honours
Duration
Three years
Location
Strand Campus
Year of entry 2014
Offered by
School of Arts and Humanities
Department of Classics
Closing date
Please refer to the
UCAS website for application deadline dates, or contact the relevant Admissions Office for further advice
Fees & funding
For information on fees and funding for undergraduate programmes at King's go to
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/ug/funding/ CONTACTS
Address
Department of Classics
King's College London
Strand Campus, Strand
London WCR2 2LS
Email
Tel
020 7848 2350/2374
Fax
020 7848 7200
PROGRAMME DESCRIPTION
The Ancient History BA programme is for students who wish to concentrate on the history of the ancient world. Prior acquaintance with Ancient Greek or Latin is welcome, but not assumed. You are encouraged, but not obliged, to take at least one language module. You can concentrate primarily on Greek or on Roman history, or give equal attention to both; you can look at significant periods (e.g. the Roman Empire), or great individuals (e.g. Alexander) or key themes (e.g. Slavery). You can explore outside the normal range of ancient historical subjects (e.g. Ancient Persia, the world of Byzantium); and you can branch out into other areas entirely (e.g. Greek and Roman archaeology and art, Greek and Latin literature and thought). The historical modules also provide training in the central skills of historical study.
You may either begin this programme in your first year, or transfer into it from another Classics Department BA programme in your second year, provided that you achieve good marks in your first-year courses.
Greek play
Every year (since 1953), students in the Department of Classics have produced and performed a Greek play - the only production in the UK to be performed annually in the original Greek. Read more about the Greek Play (and its history).
Study abroad
It is easier now than ever before to spend part of your time as a King's student studying abroad. The destinations currently favoured by Classics students are both in the US:
- The University of California
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Find out more about studying abroad
ABOUT THE Department of Classics
CAREERS
A King’s Classics degree, particularly the rigour of language learning, will equip you with the transferable skills of research, analysis, presentation and critical thinking that are valued by future employers. Our alumni enter a wide range of professions, including law, banking, the civil service, information technology, librarianship, education, heritage industries, the media, journalism and the performing arts. A significant proportion proceed into higher professional or academic qualifications, often pursuing postgraduate degrees at King’s.
Recent graduates have found employment as
• Assistant Tax Advisor, Ernst & Young
• Human Resources Administrator, Health resources International
• Web Administrator, Intrico Products Ltd
• Illustrator, Self Employed Illustrator
• Marketing and Publishing Graduate scheme, the telegraph Media group
• Research Intern, Environment Agency
• Sales Operations Admin, Associated Press TV news
• Latin Teacher at a university
• Client Relations Associate, Fidelity Investment Managers
• Customer Management Executive, CMC Markets
• Senior Course Support Assistant, Coventry University
TEACHING STYLE
Teaching in the Department of Classics takes a wide variety of forms, including language-classes, large-group lectures, seminars, and individual supervisions. The particular mix will depend in part on your year of study and in part on the combination of courses you choose. A number of courses involve museum and gallery visits, field trips, and the use of study collections; a growing number have their own web resources and e-discussion groups. Seminar presentations and discussion are important in the first- and second-year modules. One-to-one supervision is a special feature of the third-year dissertation. This range of teaching will equip you with the transferable skills of analysis and presentation that employers value.
STRUCTURE OF PROGRAMMES & ASSESSMENT
Our degree programmes combine focus and flexibility. In each programme you take a set number of modules directly related to the programme subject and then choose from a wide selection of optional modules. A generous allowance of free choice means that you can explore much more widely all aspects of the cultures of Greece and Rome. All programmes involve some language work, in either ancient Greek or Latin, or both. Assessment is by a combination of coursework and end-of-year examinations.
LOCATION
London is a superb place to study and experience the Greek and Roman worlds, and all the major resources are within easy reach (and often walking distance) from the centrally located Department of Classics at King's. The British Museum houses one of the world's premier collections of not only Greek and Roman but also Egyptian and Mesopotamian archaeology and art, and is supplemented in this by the Soane Museum, the Museum of London, and the Victoria & Albert Museum. We collaborate closely with the British Museum in our undergraduate teaching.
The major London galleries are full of classically-themed work, just as central London is full of Neoclassical, Greek revival and other classically-inspired buildings. Classical and classically-inspired drama can be experienced first-hand more richly and more frequently in London theatres than anywhere else in the world.
For libraries, normal student needs are served by King's Maughan Library and Information Services Centre, as well as the University of London (Senate House) Library; for the investigation of special topics, there are the world-class research collections of the Institute of Classical Studies and the Warburg Institute.
SPECIAL NOTES
The King’s Greek Play has been an annual tradition since 1953 and it is the only production in the country to be performed every year in the original Greek. Students (with all levels of Greek) participate in the direction, production and performance of the play, bringing to the stage playwrights from Aeschylus to Aristophanes.
Students run the Classics Society, which publishes the Satyrica newsletter and organizes regular lectures, theatre outings, themed parties, private tours around museums, nights out and trips abroad – in recent years, group expeditions have been made to Italy and Turkey.
The department also promotes teaching Latin in disadvantaged primary schools through the Iris Project; this offers students a highly unusual experience that is both enriching and will impress future employers.
All students are offered the unique opportunity to study abroad as part of a Classics degree at King’s, and recent popular destinations include The University of California and The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Our students also have opportunities to attend the annual summer schools at the British Schools in Athens and Rome, and participate in archaeological excavations in Greece and Italy, as well as further afield.
King's reviews its optional modules on a regular basis in order to continue to offer innovative and exciting programmes. Therefore, we cannot guarantee that any particular optional course will run in a given year and the options listed below are subject to change.
YEAR 1
Compulsory module:
Choice of optional modules including:
A complete list of modules and descriptions can be found on our website:
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/artshums/depts/classics/modules/index.aspx
YEAR 2
Second year students choose four to six modules from a range of optional modules, which would include options such as:
A complete list of modules and descriptions can be found on our website:
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/artshums/depts/classics/modules/index.aspx
YEAR 3
All final year students may choose to research and write a dissertation on a classical subject and take three or four optional modules, which would include options such as:
Full module descriptions can be found on our website: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/artshums/depts/classics/modules/index.aspx
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Australia
Tertiary Entrance Ranking
97+ ATAR, or an OP of band 2 for Queensland including Classical Civilisation, Ancient History or History preferred
Austria
Reifezeugnis (Matura)
Reifezeugnis with 1 including Classical Civilisation, Ancient History or History preferred
Belgium
Certificat D
Certificat D'Enseignement Secondaire Superieur/Diploma van Secundair Onderwijs with 8 or 18 including Classical Civilisation, Ancient History or History preferred
Brazil
Brazil
High School Leaving Certificate (Certificado de Ensino Médio) with 8 OR B OR Muito Bom PLUS at least one year of Bacharel/Licenciado at a Brazilian University with a GPA of at least 8.0 OR the King’s College London International Foundation Programme OR 3 A-levels with grades of AAA. Classical Civilisation, Ancient History or History preferred
Bulgaria
School Leaving Certificate
Diploma za Sredno Obrazovanie with the majority of subject marks of 5.5 including Classical Civilisation, Ancient History or History preferred
Canada
Secondary School Certificate/Diploma
High School Certificate/Diploma with 90% OR Ontario University Preparatory Course with 90% at five grade 12 4U subjects. The sixth subject may be at 4U or 4U/C level. OR the Quebec CEGEP Cote R with an overall R score of 33. Including Classical Civilisation, Ancient History or History preferred.
Chile
Chile
Licencia de Educación Media with 6 PLUS at least one year of the Licenciatura at a Chilean university with a mark of 5 OR the Kings College London International Foundation Programme OR 3 A-levels with grades of AAA. Classical Civilisation, Ancient History or History preferred
China
Gao Kao (University Entrance Examination)
University Entrance Examination with at least a foundation/Access year or one year of undergraduate study at a Chinese university with at least 80% including Classical Civilisation, Ancient History or History preferred
Cyprus
Apolytirion
Apolytirion (School Leaving Certificate) with 19 plus at least an additional foundation/Access year including Classical Civilisation, Ancient History or History preferred
Czech Republic
Maturita
Maturita with 1 with Classical Civilisation, Ancient History or History preferred
Denmark
Studentereksamen or Hjere Forberedelseseksamen
Studentereksamen or Højere Forberedelseseksamen with 11 including Classical Civilisation, Ancient History or History preferred
Estonia
Gmnaasiumi lputunnistus (Secondary School Leaving Certificate)
Gümnaasiumi lõputunnistus with majority marks of 5 (including Classical Civilisation, Ancient History or History preferred) and an attestation of success in the state entry examinations (Riigieksamitunnistus)
Finland
Ylioppilastutkinto/Studentexamen (National Matriculation)
Ylioppilastutkinto with 6 including Classical Civilisation, Ancient History or History preferred
France
Baccalaureat (including the option internationale baccalaureat)
The Baccalaureat with 14 overall including Classical Civilisation, Ancient History or History preferred
Germany
Abitur
Abitur with 1.2 overall including Classical Civilisation, Ancient History or History preferred
Ghana
School Leaving Certificate
the West African Senior School Certificate (WASSC/WASSCE) PLUS 3 international Cambridge-board A levels at AAA. Classical Civilisation, Ancient History or History preferred
Greece
Apolytirion
Apolytirion with 19 including Classical Civilisation, Ancient History or History preferred
Hong Kong
Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE)
Three elective subjects at minimum Levels 5, 5, 5 plus Level 4 in each of the four core subjects. Electives related to Classical Civilisation, Ancient History or History preferred.
Hungary
Erettsegi
Erettsegi with 5 including Classical Civilisation, Ancient History or History preferred
India
School Leaving Certificate
School Leaving Certificate with 85% overall OR School Leaving Certificate with 75% with at least a foundation/Access year or year of undergraduate study at an Indian university. Including Classical Civilisation, Ancient History or History preferred
Iran
School Leaving Certificate
Pre-University Certificate (Peeshdaneshgahe) OR the National Entrance Exam (Kunkur) with 16 OR 3 Cambridge A levels at AAA. Classical Civilisation, Ancient History or History preferred
Ireland
Irish Leaving Certificate (Higher level unless otherwise stated)
A1 A1 A1 A2 B1 B1 . Classical Studies, or History preferred
Italy
Esame di Stato
Esame di Stato with 90 including Classical Civilisation, Ancient History or History preferred
Japan
School Leaving Certificate
Upper Secondary School Leaving Certificate (Kotogakko Sotsugyo Shomeisho) PLUS 3 Cambridge Board International A-levels at AAA OR an Associate degree or Diploma from a Junior College (Jun-Gakushi) with a GPA of 3.3 or B+ or 4 OR a foundation year. Classical Civilisation, Ancient History or History preferred
Latvia
Atestats par visparejo videjo izglitibu (Certificate of General Secondary Education)
Atestats par visparejo videjo izglitibu with 9 with at least a foundation/Access year or one year of undergraduate study at a Latvian university. Including Classical Civilisation, Ancient History or History preferred
Lithuania
Brandos Atestatas (Maturity Certificate)
Brandos Atestatas with 90 including Classical Civilisation, Ancient History or History preferred
Luxembourg
Diplome de Fin D
Diplome de Fin D'Etudes Secondaires with Tres Bien including Classical Civilisation, Ancient History or History preferred
Malta
Matriculation Certificate - Advanced level
Matriculation Certificate with AAA including Classical Civilisation, Ancient History or History preferred
Mexico
Mexico
The Bachillerato with a mark of 8 PLUS the King’s College London International Foundation Programme OR at least one year of the Licenciado study with an overall average mark of at least 8/10 OR A-levels with grades of AAA. Classical Civilisation, Ancient History or History preferred
Moldova
School Leaving Certificate
Diploma de Bacalaureat with 9 including Classical Civilisation, Ancient History or History preferred
Netherlands
Diploma Voorbereidend Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs (VWO)
VWO with 8.0 including Classical Civilisation, Ancient History or History preferred
New Zealand
National Certificate of Educational Achievement Level 3 (NCEA)
The NCEA level 3 with E in the majority of standards/modules in four subjects including Classical Civilisation, Ancient History or History preferred
Nigeria
School Leaving Certificate
The Senior School Certificate (SSC/SSCE) OR the West African Senior School Certificate (WASSC/WASSCE) PLUS 3 Cambridge International A levels at AAA. Including Classical Civilisation, Ancient History or History preferred
Norway
Vitnemal-videregaende opplaering (Upper Secondary Leaving Certificate)
Vitnemal-videregaende opplaering grade 5 including Classical Civilisation, Ancient History or History preferred
Pakistan
High School Certificate (HSSC)
High School Certificate with A1 with at least a foundation/Access year or one year of undergraduate study at a Pakistani university including Classical Civilisation, Ancient History or History preferred
Poland
Matura
Matura with 85% in extended level subjects, including Classical Civilisation, Ancient History or History preferred
Portugal
Diploma de Ensino Secundário
Diploma de Ensino Secundário with 18 including Classical Civilisation, Ancient History or History preferred
Romania
School Leaving Certificate
Diploma de Bacalaureat with 9 including Classical Civilisation, Ancient History or History preferred
Russia
Attest o (Polnom) Srednem Obrazovanii (Certificate of Secondary Education)
Attest o (Polnom) Srednem Obshchem Obrazovanii with an average of 4.5 with at least a foundation/Access year or one year of undergraduate study at a Russian university including Classical Civilisation, Ancient History or History preferred
Saudi Arabia
School Leaving Certificate
College of Technology Diploma OR Higher Technical Institute Diploma OR Junior Health College Diploma OR Undergraduate Diploma with 85% OR 3 Cambridge International A levels at AAA. Including Classical Civilisation, Ancient History or History preferred
Singapore
Singapore A Level
AAA in three content-based H2 subjects. Knowledge and Inquiry is not considered as part of the offer. Classical Civilisation, Ancient History or History preferred
Slovakia
Vysvedcenie Maturitnej Skuska/Maturita
Vysvedcenie Maturitnej Skuske/Maturita with 1 including Classical Civilisation, Ancient History or History preferred
Slovenia
Maturitetno Spricevalo (Secondary School Leaving Certificate)
Maturitetno Spricevalo with 5 including Classical Civilisation, Ancient History or History preferred
South Africa
South African Senior Certificate/National Senior Certificate with Matriculation endorsement
The National Senior Certificate with Matriculation endorsement with AAAAB. Classical Civilisation, Ancient History or History preferred
Spain
Titulo de Bachiller
Titulo de Bachiller with 9 overall including Classical Civilisation, Ancient History or History preferred
Sweden
Fullständigt Slutbetyg (School Leaving Certificate)
including Classical Civilisation, Ancient History or History preferred
Switzerland
Federal Maturity Certificate
Federal Maturity Certificate with an overall mark of 5 including Classical Civilisation, Ancient History or History preferred
Turkey
Lise Diplomasi (High School Diploma)
Lise Diplomasi with an overall mark of 4 with at least a foundation/Access year or one year of undergraduate study at a Turkish university including Classical Civilisation, Ancient History or History preferred
United Kingdom
A levels
AAA
Compulsory subjects
Classical Civilisation, Ancient History or History preferred
12 unit A level in vocational subjects
Not acceptable
General Studies and Critical Thinking - College policy
Please note that AS/A level General Studies and Critical Thinking are not accepted by King's as one of your A or AS levels. However, if offered the grade achieved may be taken into account when considering whether or not to accept a candidate who has just fallen short of the conditions of their offer
Access to HE Diploma
Access to Humanities (or similar) Diploma study of Classical Civilisation, Ancient History or History preferred with 36 Level 3 credits from units awarded at Distinction, with the remaining credits at Merit. Supplementary information and achievement e.g marks for certain credits/subjects may be required depending on course content.
Cambridge Pre-U
3 Pre-U Principal Subjects with grades of D3 D3 D3. Subjects relating to ancient history/classical civilisation preferre
BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma
Considered on an individual basis
Scottish Highers & Advanced Highers
AAAAB in Highers and AA at Advanced Higher. Classical Civilisation, Ancient History or History preferred preferred
International Baccalaureate
35 points and HL 666. Classical Civilisation, Ancient History or History preferred
European Baccalaureate
85% overall , with preference for study of classical civilisation, ancient history, or history.
USA
Advanced Placement Tests and/or SAT/ACT (SAT/ACT acceptable only where stipulated)
Three AP subjects with 555 including Classical Civilisation, Ancient History or History preferred. Or SAT with a total score of 1900 with at least 600 in each section or the ACT with a score of 27 plus 3 SAT-S with a score of 600 in each
OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Aptitude testing
No test required
If you are interested in coming to King’s, you should apply through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) and apply online via the UCAS website (click on 'apply'). If you are applying through a school or college, you will need to obtain a 'buzzword' from the centre you are applying through. Alternatively, you can apply as an individual, independent of a school or college. Please see the UCAS website for instructions. The UCAS institution code name for King’s is KCL, and the institution code is K60.
There are a few programmes which require direct application to King's, this will be stated above
Offers and invitations to interviews are made on the basis of the UCAS form. Offer holders are also invited to a post–offer open day to meet staff and students. With the exception of Classics BA (Q800) and Greek/Latin with English (Q7Q3), previous acquaintance with ancient Greek and Latin is not required.