Accelerated Language Pathway
King’s is unique in the UK in offering an intensive Accelerated Language Pathway which allows students with no prior experience of learning a classical language to graduate after three years having achieved an advanced level in both classical languages (ancient Greek and Latin). Similar pathways at other UK Classics Departments take four years.
For whom is this course appropriate?
Students for whom the Accelerated Language Pathway is appropriate come from many different backgrounds. You may have studied modern languages at school. You may speak a language other than English at home – bilingualism is an advantage for learning other languages. You may have been good at maths at school, or taught yourself to code, or are especially musical. Every year we have first-year students who discover a real gift for Greek or Latin even though they have done little or no language work before.
How to take the Accelerated Language Pathway
Accelerated Language is an intensive pathway which requires a high level of personal motivation and commitment, but offers you the opportunity to reach an advanced level in both ancient languages from scratch in three years.
If you wish to follow this pathway, apply to King’s as normal for the BA Classics and the Ancient World degree programme. At King’s, you will be given individual guidance and support by the Language Co-ordinator. In your first year, your module choices will include ancient Greek or Latin for Beginners. If you do well in this module, in your second year you will continue with the first language and begin the other language. You will also attend two three-week intermediate language-learning courses at the King’s Summer School, one between your first and second year, and one between your second and third year. There is no extra fee for these summer courses for students on the pathway. This pathway will equip you for advanced study of classical literature in the original Greek and Latin.
Taster days, available to Year 12 and Year 13 students, can be booked on the University of London website.
King's Ancient Languages Summer School 2023
Students on the access pathway can apply to take this summer course for credit.
We offer two Intensive Courses in Ancient Greek and Latin. These courses are six weeks long, with the option to study either the first three week block (for absolute beginners) or the second three week block (for students at intermediate level).
These courses offer students intensive training designed to bring them from complete beginners to a point where they are able to read simple texts in Greek or Latin.
Session One: Monday 3 July to Friday 21 July 2023
- Beginners’ Ancient Greek
- Beginner’s Latin:
Session Two: Monday 24 July to Friday 11 August 2023
- Intermediate Ancient Greek
- Intermediate Latin
Programme
Students work through the JACT Reading Greek or JACT Reading Latin course in daily language classes and are expected to put in a number of hours of private study to consolidate class work and to complete homework assignments. Staff are on hand to offer private tutorials and surgery hours, as required. Assessment is by three in-class tests.
Applications
If you are a current Classics BA student, you can apply to take this summer school as a module for credit via the internal application form.
All other applicants coming through the Classics department at King’s College London should apply online following the guidance notes here.
Bursaries
We are able to offer a number of bursaries of up to £500.
If you intend to apply for a bursary, please insert BURSARY APPLICANT at the top of your personal statement on your application.
To apply for a bursary- after receiving confirmation of your place - please follow the below steps:
- Send your CV and letter of application (either by post or email) outlining your current school or university; your current or pending qualifications; your future plans for research or teaching; why the summer school will benefit you; any particular financial (or other) circumstances which you would like to draw our attention to.
- Please give the name, address, and email address of one academic referee and ask him/her to send a reference directly to fiona.haarer@kcl.ac.uk.
London Summer School in Classics
London Summer School in Classics 2023 will be held Tuesday 18th to Thursday 27th July 2023 at the Department of Greek and Latin, UCL.
For more information, click here.