Strand Campus
Strand Campus sits along the Thames at London's cultural heart. Alongside world-class teaching spaces, students enjoy access to the pedestrianised Strand Quad, with Somerset House and iconic landmarks just steps away.
Overview
The Classics and the Ancient World MA focuses on the literature, language, and culture of the ancient world and their later reception. In this degree, you can explore classical texts and thought in their ancient context as well as consider how the classical world has been reflected in later periods and how the ancient world has shaped the modern.
This interdisciplinary MA doesn’t require prior knowledge of ancient languages, as you can study texts in translation, but you can learn ancient Greek, Latin, or other ancient languages if you wish, and study ancient texts in the original if you have existing skills. As an intercollegiate course it draws on the strengths of King’s, UCL, Royal Holloway and the Institute of Classical Studies. It typically leads to diverse careers, including education, journalism, finance, politics and the heritage and cultural sector and will also equip you with skills and knowledge to pursue further research.
Key benefits
- Classics at King’s is ranked first in the UK for research excellence (REF 2021).
- Study in one of the UK’s oldest and largest Classics departments. Classics has been taught at King's for over 200 years.
- Learn about the ancient world beyond Greece and Rome.
- Learn an ancient language or enhance existing linguistic skills. One of the widest range of modules offered in the UK, thanks to the intercollegiate Lon
- Enjoy an unrivalled location for the study of the ancient world thanks to London’s unique range of specialist libraries, museums and galleries.
- Unrivalled location for study of the ancient world thanks to London’s unique specialist libraries, museums and galleries.
I chose King’s due to the strong research and teaching reputation. You have the chance to challenge yourself both within and outside your subject area.
RosannaClassics MA
Course essentials
When you study the Classics and the Ancient World MA at King’s, you’ll join the best Classics department in the UK for research excellence (REF 2021), giving you access to exceptional ancient world expertise in one of the largest UK Classics departments. Through participation in the intercollegiate London MA we draw too on the teaching of leading Classics academics at UCL, Royal Holloway and the Institute of Classical Studies.
Your MA starts with a required module to train you in essential research skills and methodologies for your degree. In it you can choose to focus on studying either classical literature in its ancient context or the reception of Classics in later cultures.
The rest of your MA comprises optional modules. Typical classical literature and reception options at King’s range from Hellenistic poetry to ancient pantomime, Roman comedy to Neronian literature, explorations of Black Classicisms to Modern Greece's engagement with its past.
You can also take ancient history, art and archaeology modules, exploring the ancient world from Britain to Persia, and from the Bronze Age Aegean to Late Antiquity. Typical topics at King's include Greek religion, Pompeii, Roman frontiers, Christianity at Rome, late antique magic, ancient sculpture and mosaics, Constantinople, or the afterlife of Persepolis.
Through the intercollegiate MA you can select modules in all these areas at UCL, Royal Holloway, and the Institute of Classical Studies. You can also study Latin and Ancient Greek at beginner or intermediate level, and apply your skills to studying ancient literature.
Opportunities to study epigraphy, papyrology, or digital classics will be especially valuable to students interested in further research, as will be the option to study a modern language at King's. At the end of your degree your dissertation will be a substantial piece of research, supervised by Classics department staff, tackling a research question you’ve developed.
During your MA you’ll access the world-class research library at the Institute of Classical Studies and be invited to its rich programme of seminars, conferences and lectures, as well as events at King’s.
Outside the classroom you can also take part in the King’s Greek Play. Performed every year since 1953, it’s a fun way to experience production and performance. The KCL Classics Society also offers exciting extracurricular opportunities.
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