Classics

Classics is the study of ancient Greece and Rome in its broadest sense: Greek and Latin language, literature, philosophy, ancient history, art and archaeology, and linguistics.

There are two versions of the Cambridge Classics course: the four-year course is intended for those applicants who have not had the opportunity to study Latin to A-level (or equivalent) at school, while the three-year course is for those who will have A-level Latin (or equivalent) on entry. If you have (or are working towards) an A-level in Classical Greek but not Latin, please contact the College for advice.

We normally expect to admit 2-3 classicists per year at Magdalene. Our Director of Studies, Dr Patterson, whose research interests lie in the field of Roman history, generally teaches ancient history for those Magdalene students taking that option. Other subjects are taught by specialists in the appropriate disciplines, both from Magdalene and other colleges.

Magdalene's new College Library has a good stock of Classics books to complement the holdings of the Classics Faculty Library and the University Library. After the exams are over, the annual Classics dinner provides a convivial end to the academic year for students and supervisors alike.

College Prizes are awarded to those who excel in University exams.  Classics students can apply to the Faculty for a travel award if they plan to visit Mediterranean lands in connection with their studies, and Magdalene also offers a number of travel grants.

Magdalene Classics graduates have in the past few years gone on to an impressively wide variety of careers, reflecting the wealth of different intellectual skills taught in the Classics course. Some have made direct use of their classical training, teaching the subject in schools or pursuing postgraduate research; others (to mention only a few examples) are now working in Accountancy, the Civil Service, the Heritage sector, Journalism, the Law, and Librarianship.

More details of the course and the optional papers available can be found on the University’s Undergraduate Study pages and Faculty of Classics website.

We are very happy to consider candidates for either the four-year or the three-year versions of the Classics course.  Essentially, we are looking for students with an enthusiastic interest in the Greek and Roman worlds, and the ability and commitment to learn the ancient languages effectively.

Language-learning is fundamental to both courses: in the four-year course, students begin to learn (or extend their knowledge of) Latin in the first year, and also make a start on Greek; in the three-year course, students who arrive with A-level Latin (or equivalent) similarly begin (or extend their knowledge of) Greek in their first year, as well as enhancing their knowledge of Latin. Language remains central in the second year of the three-year course/third year of the four-year course as well. So having the linguistic skills and capacity for the hard work that language learning involves is crucial.

The study of Greek and Latin Literature is another central component of the course, so we are interested in how candidates engage with literary texts: we would encourage applicants to pursue their own interests and read (in translation) classical literature beyond the specific passages they might have covered in exam syllabuses.

The Classics course however deals with a wide range of aspects of classical antiquity beyond language and literature: undergraduates taking the subject also study philosophy, history, art and archaeology, and linguistics.  So we are keen to find out about candidates’ broader engagement with the classical world.  Do you enjoy reading about the history of Greece and Rome, visiting archaeological sites, looking at classical sculpture or vases in museum collections, thinking about philosophical issues, or are you interested in how different languages work? Would you like to explore these disciplines further? If so, we’d love for you to consider applying!

Nearly all students beginning the three-year Classics course have a good A-level (or equivalent) in Latin. Some of our applicants have A-levels (or equivalent) in both Greek and Latin, but the majority of undergraduates beginning the course have not studied Greek to A-level standard. The Faculty's Intensive Greek course caters both for those who have taken GCSE in Greek, and those without any qualification in the subject. If you are taking Classical Greek but not Latin, please contact us for further information.

Candidates for the four-year course need not have studied Latin or Greek before, but clearly experience of and a qualification in one or more of the classical languages (at GCSE for example), and/or Classical Civilization at A-level, would be advantageous. A high level of achievement in one or more Modern Languages would also be valuable.

Minimum offer

A-level: A*AA 

IB: 41-42 points overall, with 7,7,6 at Higher Level.

Other qualifications: Check which other qualifications we accept 

For the three-year course, candidates without a previous qualification in Greek (A-level, GCSE or equivalent) will be required to carry out preparatory work in that language before beginning their Cambridge course: normally this is done by attending the JACT Greek Summer School. Four-year candidates will be required to carry out preparatory work in Latin before beginning their Cambridge course: normally this is done by attending a Summer School which takes place in Cambridge, usually in early September.

Candidates will normally have two interviews of around 20-25 minutes each.

The interview process aims to assess your intellectual ability, potential, and commitment to the subject.

Applicants for the three-year course will have an assessment of skills in Latin or (for those studying for A-level or equivalent in Ancient Greek but not Latin) in Greek, attached to one of their interviews. 

Applicants for the four-year course will, in addition to their College interviews, have a special language aptitude assessment interview, adapted to their own personal language learning background, with one of the Classics Faculty’s Language Teaching team.

We also usually ask for two samples of written work (such as school essays) to be submitted with the application.

More information is available on the Interviews, Written Work and Assessments page.