Classical Studies & Byzantine & Modern Greek Studies

|

BA

|

Full Time

| UCAS code: QR79
A unique opportunity to study a degree exploring aspects of the ancient, medieval and modern worlds. Study modern Greek plus either classical Greek or Latin languages. The course is based in central London and includes a year abroad.

KEY BENEFITS
Classics:
  • 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 the Museum of London, 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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Byzantine & Modern Greek
:
  • King's is one of only three UK institutions that teach Byzantine & Modern Greek to BA degree level.
  • The Centre for Hellenic Studies at King's is the largest of its kind with all staff active in research at international level in a wide range of fields.
  • Location makes collaboration possible with many Greek cultural organisations based in London.
  • Students are offered the opportunity to improve their language skills during a year studying abroad.
  • Graduates go into a wide range of professions, including law, government service, journalism, teaching and the financial services industries.

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UCAS code
QR79
Programme type
Joint honours
Duration
Four years
Location
Strand Campus
Year of entry 2014
Offered by
School of Arts and Humanities
Centre for Hellenic Studies
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 continuity of Greek culture from ancient times to the present day offers a unique opportunity to explore aspects of the ancient, medieval and modern worlds (literature, history, archaeology, art) in a single degree programme. Language study of modern Greek (including a year abroad), plus either classical Greek or Latin, is an integral part of the programme, while the range of module options allows you either to concentrate or to broaden your focus as you choose.

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) at King's: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/artshums/depts/classics/about/greek/index.aspx




ABOUT THE Centre for Hellenic Studies

CAREERS
Language students are always sought after, and many of our students find it very useful to have one of the less common EU languages. A qualification in Byzantine & Modern Greek Studies will often catch the eye of an employer looking for independent-minded graduates. Our students go into a wide range of professions: law, government service, the financial industries, journalism, school and university teaching etc. Many of them choose to continue to travel and to work in careers with an international aspect.

Recent graduates have found employment as:
• Academic university posts in the UK, US, Greece & Cyprus
• Political Researcher
• Trainee Chartered Accountant, Pricewaterhousecooper
• Financial Journalist
• Theatre Director
• Post Doctoral Researcher, Centre for Asia Minor studies

TEACHING STYLE
Most of our modules are taught in small groups. Language teaching is communicative, using a wide range of authentic materials, including video/DVD and computers, while also providing a firm grounding in writing and grammatical skills. Literature, history and linguistics classes are discussion-based.

STRUCTURE OF PROGRAMMES & ASSESSMENT
The normal length of study is four years, of which the third is spent studying abroad. Assessment is by a mixture of coursework and examination. On your year abroad (if applicable) you will carry out assessed coursework contributing towards your degree.

LOCATION
The exceptionally rich Burrows Library of Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies is part of King's Library, now magnificently housed in the Maughan Library, Chancery Lane. Our geographical position makes it possible for us to collaborate with the many Greek cultural organisations based in London.

SPECIAL NOTES
All degree programmes include the requirement that the third year should be spent in study abroad, which may be either wholly in Greece or Cyprus or wholly in another country relevant to your programme of study, or be divided between the two. Exemptions from the year abroad are possible for some categories of students, including native speakers of Greek.


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

Core modules:

  • Latin or Classical Greek language
  • Modern Greek language

First year students choose two from a range of optional modules, which may include options such as:

  • Art & Archaeology of Greece & Rome
  • Introduction to Ancient History (c. 1200 BC-AD 600)
  • Art & Empire: The Legacy of Byzantium
  • Reading Modern Poetry Comparatively

Department of Classics full module descriptions: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/artshums/depts/classics/modules/index.aspx

Centre for Hellenic Studies (Byzantine & Modern Greek Studies) full module descriptions: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/artshums/depts/chs/modules/index.aspx


YEAR 2
Core modules:
  • Modern Greek language

Second year students choose one or two from a range of optional modules, which may include options such as:

  • Modern Greek language
  • Views of Antiquity
  • Languages & Literature
  • Greek History down to 322BC
  • Greek Drama
  • Hellenistic Art
  • The Byzantine Empire, 600-1453
  • Constantinople: Imperial Capital - Medieval Metropolis
  • Modernity & the Nation in Greek Fiction since 1922.

Department of Classics full module descriptions: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/artshums/depts/classics/modules/index.aspx

 

Centre for Hellenic Studies (Byzantine & Modern Greek Studies) full module descriptions: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/artshums/depts/chs/modules/index.aspx



YEAR 3
Normally spent abroad.

YEAR 4

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:


  • Dissertation on a classical subject
  • Greek Sculpture 750-300 BC
  • The Hellenistic Near East
  • Greek Religion
  • Greek Texts
  • Medieval Cyprus: Art & Architecture
  • Medicine & Society in the Ancient & Medieval World
  • War in Greek Poetry 1897-1981

Full module descriptions can be found on our website: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/artshums/depts/classics/modules/index.aspx


Centre for Hellenic Studies (Byzantine & Modern Greek Studies) full module descriptions: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/artshums/depts/chs/modules/index.aspx



ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Australia
Tertiary Entrance Ranking
97+ ATAR, with an OP of band 2 for Queensland including Ancient or Modern Greek
Austria
Reifezeugnis (Matura)
Reifezeugnis with 1 including Ancient or Modern Greek
Belgium
Certificat D
Certificat D’Enseignement Secondaire Superieur/diploma van Secundair Onderwijs with 8 or 18, including Ancient or Modern Greek
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. Including Ancient or Modern Greek
Bulgaria
School Leaving Certificate
Diploma za Sredno Obrazovanie with the majority of subject marks of 5.5 including Ancient or Modern Greek
Canada
Secondary School Certificate/Diploma
Secondary School Certificate/Diploma with 90% including Ancient or Modern Greek 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.
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. Including Ancient or Modern Greek
China
Gao Kao (University Entrance Examination)
University Entrance Examination with at least a foundation/Access year or one year of undergraduate study from a Chinese university with at least 80% including Ancient or Modern Greek
Cyprus
Apolytirion
Apolytirion (School Leaving Certificate) with 19 including Ancient or Modern Greek plus at least an additional foundation/Access year
Czech Republic
Maturita
Maturita with 1 including Ancient or Modern Greek
Denmark
Studentereksamen or Hjere Forberedelseseksamen
Studentereksamen or Højere Forberedelseseksamen with 11 including Ancient or Modern Greek
Estonia
Gmnaasiumi lputunnistus (Secondary School Leaving Certificate)
Gümnaasiumi lõputunnistus with majority marks of 5 (including Ancient or Modern Greek) and an attestation of success in the state entry examinations (Riigieksamitunnistus)
Finland
Ylioppilastutkinto/Studentexamen (National Matriculation)
Ylioppilastutkinto/Studentexamen with 6 including Ancient or Modern Greek
France
Baccalaureat (including the option internationale baccalaureat)
The Baccalaureat with 14 overall including Ancient or Modern Greek
Germany
Abitur
Abitur with 1.3 overall including Ancient or Modern Greek
Ghana
School Leaving Certificate
the West African Senior School Certificate (WASSC/WASSCE) PLUS 3 international Cambridge-board A levels at AAA including Ancient or Modern Greek
Greece
Apolytirion
Apolytirion with 19 including Ancient or Modern Greek
Hong Kong
Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE)
Three elective subjects at minimum Levels 5, 5, 5 to include plus Level 4 in each of the four core subjects. Applicants must demonstrate knowledge of Ancient or Modern Greek.
Hungary
Erettsegi
Erettsegi with 5 including Ancient or Modern Greek
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. All including Ancient or Modern Greek
Iran
School Leaving Certificate
Pre-University Certificate (Peeshdaneshgahe) OR the National Entrance Exam (Kunkur) with 16 OR 3 Cambridge A levels at AAA. All including Ancient or Modern Greek
Ireland
Irish Leaving Certificate (Higher level unless otherwise stated)
A1 A1 A1 A2 B1 B1 including Ancient or Modern Greek
Italy
Esame di Stato
Esame di Stato with 90 including Ancient or Modern Greek
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. Including Ancient or Modern Greek
Latvia
Atestats par visparejo videjo izglitibu (Certificate of General Secondary Education)
Atestats par visparejo videjo izglitibu with 9 including Ancient or Modern Greek with at least a foundation/Access year or year of undergraduate study at a Latvian university
Lithuania
Brandos Atestatas (Maturity Certificate)
Brandos Atestatas with 90 including Ancient or Modern Greek with at least a foundation/Access year or one year of undergraduate study from a Lithuanian university
Luxembourg
Diplome de Fin D
Diplome de Fin D’Etudes Secondaires with Tres Bien including Ancient or Modern Greek
Malta
Matriculation Certificate - Advanced level
Matriculation Certificate with AAA with A Level Ancient or Modern Greek
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 AAB. Including Ancient or Modern Greek
Moldova
School Leaving Certificate
Diploma de Bacalaureat with 9 including 9 in Ancient or Modern Greek
Netherlands
Diploma Voorbereidend Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs (VWO)
VWO with 8.0 including Ancient or Modern Greek
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 Ancient or Modern Greek
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 Ancient or Modern Greek
Norway
Vitnemal-videregaende opplaering (Upper Secondary Leaving Certificate)
Vitnemal-videregaende opplaering with 5 including Ancient or Modern Greek
Pakistan
High School Certificate (HSSC)
High School Certificate with A1 including Ancient or Modern Greek with at least a foundation/Access year or one year of undergraduate study from a Pakistani university
Poland
Matura
Matura with 85% in extended level subjects, including Ancient or Modern Greek
Portugal
Diploma de Ensino Secundário
Diploma de Ensino Secundário with 18 including Ancient or Modern Greek
Romania
School Leaving Certificate
Diploma de Bacalaureat with 9 including Ancient or Modern Greek
Russia
Attest o (Polnom) Srednem Obrazovanii (Certificate of Secondary Education)
Attest o (Polnom) Srednem Obrazovanii with an average of 4.5 including Ancient or Modern Greek with at least a foundation/Access year or one year of undergraduate study from a Russian university
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. All including Ancient or Modern Greek
Singapore
Singapore A Level
AAA in three content-based H2 subjects. Knowledge and Inquiry is not considered as part of the offer
Slovakia
Vysvedcenie Maturitnej Skuska/Maturita
Vysvedcenie Maturitnej Skuska/Maturita with 1 including Ancient or Modern Greek
Slovenia
Maturitetno Spricevalo (Secondary School Leaving Certificate)
Maturitetno Spricevalo with 5 including Ancient or Modern Greek
South Africa
South African Senior Certificate/National Senior Certificate with Matriculation endorsement
The National Senior Certificate with Matriculation endorsement with AAAAB including Ancient or Modern Greek
Spain
Titulo de Bachiller
Titulo de Bachiller with 9 overall including Ancient or Modern Greek
Sweden
Fullständigt Slutbetyg (School Leaving Certificate)
Fullstandigt Slutbeytg with MVG including Ancient or Modern Greek
Switzerland
Federal Maturity Certificate
The Federal Maturity Certificate with an overall mark of 5 including Ancient or Modern Greek
Turkey
Lise Diplomasi (High School Diploma)
Lise Diplomasi with 4 including Ancient or Modern Greek plus at least a foundation/Access year or one year of undergraduate study from a Turkish university
United Kingdom
A levels
AAA
Compulsory subjects
A-level Ancient or Modern Greek
12 unit A level in vocational subjects
Considered on an individual basis
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 Ancient or Modern Greek at Level 3 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 including Classical Greek 
BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma
Considered on an individual basis
Scottish Highers & Advanced Highers
A2 A2 at Advanced Highers plus A2 A2 A2 A2 B3 at Highers including Ancient or Modern Greek
International Baccalaureate
35 points and HL 666 including Ancient or Modern Greek  
European Baccalaureate
85% overall including 80% including Ancient or Modern Greek
USA
Advanced Placement Tests and/or SAT/ACT (SAT/ACT acceptable only where stipulated)
Three AP subjects with 555 including Ancient or Modern Greek. 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 including History and/or a Language preferred with a score of 600 in each

OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Aptitude testing
No test required

APPLYING TO KING'S
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

SELECTION PROCEDURE
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.

Related programme student profile

Classics BA
I understood quite soon why King’s reputation is so good in Classics and Modern Greek. I’m glad I’m part of this and can make the most of it, especially now that is a difficult time for the Greek people.


The modules are incredibly diverse and stimulating, and the Classics Department and Centre for Hellenic Studies hold a large range of events and lectures as well. On top of that, the Classics Society, a student led society, publishes a newspaper and organises an annual trip abroad to keep the long tradition of the Greek play alive. King's is the only university to put on a student-run production of Greek drama in the original language every year, and we get a full house each time.


To witness British and international students’ and academics’ interest for what is part of your heritage and culture is very than touching. The hope of contributing to the best keeps me going.