Access Ancient Languages

Although most of the degree courses in the King's College London Department of Classics do not require knowledge of an ancient language, we at King's are committed to supporting all students who wish to study Ancient Greek and/or Latin, including those who have no prior experience of learning the languages.

Access to Classics (Greek & Latin)

King’s is unique in the UK in offering an intensive ‘access to Classics’ 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). Such an opportunity is not available at any other UK classics department (where similar programmes all take four years).

For whom is this course appropriate?

Some successful ‘Access to Classics’ students will have particularly enjoyed modern languages at school, but you do not need to have done a modern language at GCSE or A level to be eligible for this course, and all applications are assessed individually. Every year we have first year students who discover a real gift for language study even though they have done little or no language work before. Such students come from many different backgrounds, though it is often noticeable that they were good at maths at school, or have taught themselves to code, or are good musicians (who may have found music theory interesting). Some may be students who speak a language other than English at home – bilingualism is an advantage for future language learning.

How to apply for the Access to Classics course

Any student who wishes to follow this path simply applies to King’s as normal for either Classical Studies, Ancient History, or Classical Archaeology. In their first year, students who are interested in the access programme begin either Latin or Greek, and take the 'Introduction to Greek and Latin Literature' module, alongside their other choices. If the student does well in their ancient language in their first year, they can then apply to switch onto the BA in Classics. To accelerate their language learning and achieve parity with other students by the end of their degree, they attend two language-focused summer schools, one between the first and second year, and one between the second and third year. The fees for these summer schools are included in the tuition fee.

‘Access to Classics’ is an intensive route which requires a high level of personal motivation and commitment, but offers a unique opportunity in a world-class department: no other UK degree programme gives you the opportunity to reach an advanced level in both ancient languages from scratch in three years.

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.